Our escape

In learning about myself, I have discovered that I withdraw when I feel things closing in on me... 

And I like to run...away.

October, usually my favorite month of the year, was just a rough one for me. I struggled physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I felt like I was drowning in a dark abyss, and my hopes were dashed, and my dreams crushed. These feelings used to be alien to me, but over the last year in a half, they have crept in with cycles. The end of October brought everything to a head, and I was desperate.

November washed in with good news and renewed hope, and my sweet sweet husband knew that if I was going to run, that he and the girls should run with me. So he swept us away, and whisked us in the middle of the night to my happy place. Oh, how I love him.

This sight greeted me on my first morning out on the balcony.

And with it, this verse resonated in my soul... "Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and The Lord will protect you from behind." ~Isaiah 58:8

There's nothing like a change of scenery to bring you out of yourself and into the heart of your creator. At home, my spiritual disciplines had left empty coffers, my spirit dulled, but this morning, the Lord opened me up to hear and feel and be filled with Him.

And I returned to my favorite of the Lamentations...

21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."

My girls joined me on the balcony for some quiet time as well...

while Patrick went to Publix for some groceries. We ate our breakfast of champions, brown sugar Pop Tarts, and then headed out to the beach...

This was our family's first voyage to Orange Beach, and we loved it. We have always been Destin/Seaside/30A people, so this uncharted territory made our adventure even more healing. A college ChiO girlfriend gave me lots of recommendations for food and fun, and we set our course with no agenda except for healing and bonding.

The girls amassed a seashell collection unlike any I have ever seen. They made seashell soup, "under the sea" Birthday cakes, and they adorned their sea sand creatures (in lieu of castles) with seashells.

We swam in a heated pool for hours...

And we dressed for dinner and sunsets...

and Breathtaking views...

The first night we tried a restaurant called Fisher's at the Marina. The ambiance was fun and relaxed and the food delicious. We even ran into another Auburn friend there whose husband was the general manager of the restaurant. I enjoyed Shrimp and Grits while listening to good music and watching Auburn roll over Arkansas.

The next morning was the first day of Daylight Savings time, and my big girl woke me up at 5:30. Groggy as I was, I am so thankful that I managed to capture this image before I sent her back to bed.

After we woke up and had some breakfast, Addison and I escaped out to the balcony. I did not know that Patrick took this picture, but I am so glad he did. My big girl and I are kindred spirits in so many ways, and this captures a unique aspect of our relationship. I think I will cherish it for years to come...

Little sister is never one to be left out on any action, so she soon joined us as well...

Then we went back to play on God's most beautiful playground. I loved that this was my view for much of the morning.

It was a little bit chillier on this day, so Patrick dug them sand holes to play in.

I went for a walk with my girls...

And enjoyed a day with my three favorite people in the world...

These three kept burying each other in the sand and making "sand blankets."

We trekked a little bit down the beach to eat lunch at "The Gulf." The atmosphere was so relaxing. We could have stayed there all day long. Patrick and I both got grouper sandwiches and sea salt fries here, and our simultaneous moans as we devoured each bite had our girls giggling.

After lunch, we reclined in this comfy spot and watched our girls play.

Then we headed back to the beach until sunset.

That night we got ready for dinner again...

And went to Cosmo's. Patrick and I shared a Savory appetizer: cheesecake with blackened fish and shrimp; I ordered blackened mahi mahi with parmesan risotto, and Patrick got a shrimp po-boy. It was delicious as well!

The best part of the whole night though was when the Auburn Women's Soccer team walked into the restaurant. At Patrick's urging, I mustered up enough gumption to start approaching them with my big soccer girl who was mesmerized by them. Thankfully, the coach saw our advance, intercepted us, and organized these athletes around us for a picture. They were super sweet to Addy-belle, and they told her to keep practicing her soccer skills so she could play soccer at Auburn too. It is all she has talked about since.

Our last day at the beach was overcast, but my girls still insisted on their sunglasses. I love these shots of them as such sweet sisters...

We got every ounce of playing out of our systems that we could and enjoyed another family walk on the beach.

That afternoon, we showered and packed up and stopped for lunch at Bravos Tacos for our last seafood--we got fish and shrimp tacos, and made the trek home.

I am so thankful for the opportunity to run. I am so thankful for the healing power of the salt water and sand. I am so thankful for new perspectives and fresh mercies. It is hard to come home and keep the worries and fears and pains from seeping back in, but thankfully I can bring these images to mind, reread those verses, and feel the peace I felt so clearly.

In learning about myself, I have discovered that I withdraw when I feel things closing in on me... 

And I like to run...away.

October, usually my favorite month of the year, was just a rough one for me. I struggled physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I felt like I was drowning in a dark abyss, and my hopes were dashed, and my dreams crushed. These feelings used to be alien to me, but over the last year in a half, they have crept in with cycles. The end of October brought everything to a head, and I was desperate.

November washed in with good news and renewed hope, and my sweet sweet husband knew that if I was going to run, that he and the girls should run with me. So he swept us away, and whisked us in the middle of the night to my happy place. Oh, how I love him.

This sight greeted me on my first morning out on the balcony.

And with it, this verse resonated in my soul... "Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and The Lord will protect you from behind." ~Isaiah 58:8

There's nothing like a change of scenery to bring you out of yourself and into the heart of your creator. At home, my spiritual disciplines had left empty coffers, my spirit dulled, but this morning, the Lord opened me up to hear and feel and be filled with Him.

And I returned to my favorite of the Lamentations...

21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."

My girls joined me on the balcony for some quiet time as well...

while Patrick went to Publix for some groceries. We ate our breakfast of champions, brown sugar Pop Tarts, and then headed out to the beach...

This was our family's first voyage to Orange Beach, and we loved it. We have always been Destin/Seaside/30A people, so this uncharted territory made our adventure even more healing. A college ChiO girlfriend gave me lots of recommendations for food and fun, and we set our course with no agenda except for healing and bonding.

The girls amassed a seashell collection unlike any I have ever seen. They made seashell soup, "under the sea" Birthday cakes, and they adorned their sea sand creatures (in lieu of castles) with seashells.

We swam in a heated pool for hours...

And we dressed for dinner and sunsets...

and Breathtaking views...

The first night we tried a restaurant called Fisher's at the Marina. The ambiance was fun and relaxed and the food delicious. We even ran into another Auburn friend there whose husband was the general manager of the restaurant. I enjoyed Shrimp and Grits while listening to good music and watching Auburn roll over Arkansas.

The next morning was the first day of Daylight Savings time, and my big girl woke me up at 5:30. Groggy as I was, I am so thankful that I managed to capture this image before I sent her back to bed.

After we woke up and had some breakfast, Addison and I escaped out to the balcony. I did not know that Patrick took this picture, but I am so glad he did. My big girl and I are kindred spirits in so many ways, and this captures a unique aspect of our relationship. I think I will cherish it for years to come...

Little sister is never one to be left out on any action, so she soon joined us as well...

Then we went back to play on God's most beautiful playground. I loved that this was my view for much of the morning.

It was a little bit chillier on this day, so Patrick dug them sand holes to play in.

I went for a walk with my girls...

And enjoyed a day with my three favorite people in the world...

These three kept burying each other in the sand and making "sand blankets."

We trekked a little bit down the beach to eat lunch at "The Gulf." The atmosphere was so relaxing. We could have stayed there all day long. Patrick and I both got grouper sandwiches and sea salt fries here, and our simultaneous moans as we devoured each bite had our girls giggling.

After lunch, we reclined in this comfy spot and watched our girls play.

Then we headed back to the beach until sunset.

That night we got ready for dinner again...

And went to Cosmo's. Patrick and I shared a Savory appetizer: cheesecake with blackened fish and shrimp; I ordered blackened mahi mahi with parmesan risotto, and Patrick got a shrimp po-boy. It was delicious as well!

The best part of the whole night though was when the Auburn Women's Soccer team walked into the restaurant. At Patrick's urging, I mustered up enough gumption to start approaching them with my big soccer girl who was mesmerized by them. Thankfully, the coach saw our advance, intercepted us, and organized these athletes around us for a picture. They were super sweet to Addy-belle, and they told her to keep practicing her soccer skills so she could play soccer at Auburn too. It is all she has talked about since.

Our last day at the beach was overcast, but my girls still insisted on their sunglasses. I love these shots of them as such sweet sisters...

We got every ounce of playing out of our systems that we could and enjoyed another family walk on the beach.

That afternoon, we showered and packed up and stopped for lunch at Bravos Tacos for our last seafood--we got fish and shrimp tacos, and made the trek home.

I am so thankful for the opportunity to run. I am so thankful for the healing power of the salt water and sand. I am so thankful for new perspectives and fresh mercies. It is hard to come home and keep the worries and fears and pains from seeping back in, but thankfully I can bring these images to mind, reread those verses, and feel the peace I felt so clearly.