Ocean Isle beach, NC

This place is in my blood. I've been going here since i was little.  There's something magical to me about Ocean Isle, and there was something magical about introducing my boys to it. Even the sand sparkles and glows if you rub it hard enough. Seriously, there are little organisms living in the sand that light up. Phosphorus or something like that. The ocean water is warm....an earthy green that hugs and dances you gently back and forth. It dances you back and forth until you feel a smile come back to your face. The one that got worn out. The one that grew bitter from all the inner thoughts, the laundry, the cleaning, the mothering, the cooking...the teaching, the tugging, the pulling of this world. The worries of this world, the deceitfulness of wealth....all of that gets left in the water ... among the salt....among the sound of crashing waves.....
The waves scared Amos. It was his first time at the beach. We were impressed to see anything scare Amos. He is a fearless soul. He found a home among the pools that form at low tide...leaving treasures and critters behind. Little warm pools of treasures. I found a full conch shell. Kevin found lots of hermit crabs.....my dad and Mason found a huge horseshoe crab. My dad was ever the great pioneer of the beach. People wanted to follow him onto the next adventure. The boys found lots of crabs and fish. Mason fished up a puffer fish.....Ashlyn found a large blue crab. Mom found herself all the way to the end of the beach. We walked together, and it will forever be a fond memory for me.
Scott and Amy found time to play together. They brought jet skies for us all to play with.  i saw the kid in Kevin come out again. The family found time to talk and play games. They also found the cold that Amos brought with him. Everyone coughing, sniffling and sneezing.

Bennett left my side and took flight. All boy, with places to go and family to see..playing with Ashlyn and everyone but me. Age 4 going on 14. My heart smiled and broke at the same time. I missed him the whole trip as he explored away from mama's arms.

Amos, on the other hand, needed mama's arms and cried a lot. I got some good time with him.

i got a moment alone one morning. i stole away in the gray morning hours and let myself feel whatever i wanted. I felt anger. i've been angry for a while. i don't even know why. i let God know....( as if He didnt already)....there was peace......there was salt water...there were crashing waves....there was a long walk back. After a good 6 days at the beach there was a long drive back to Nashville. Here are a few pictures from the trip. ....