July 23, 2012
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{summer love}
yesterday, i spent the afternoon at the beach, ALONE!
the last time that happened was … never!!and.it.was.glorious.
after a busy 2 weeks of daycamp for the kids.
late nights. early mornings.
we decided to skip church and go to the beach together instead.
because sometimes, the best kind of worship is reconnecting as a family.
if you know what i mean.so. we packed up, headed out.
stopping for a box of doughnuts on our way.
cause there’s nothing like breakfast on the beach!
and cause, breakfast or not, we just like doughnuts!a few hours after getting there, shayne got a text that had him having to head home…
and kate was needing to be at church by four for daycamp parents night…
and the little girls were starting to get cranky, getting close to nap time.
so, though earlier than planned, we thought it best to go on back.i was folding up all the towels when shayne said..
“why don’t you just stay.”i stopped for a minute. “really?”
then quickly. “oh, no…
it’ll be less chaotic if i just come.”“no. it’s fine.”
“but you’ll have to come all the way back out to get me.”
he smiled. “i know.”
at that moment i think the wind blew and the sun hit just so against my face..
that wonderful mixture of warmth and coolness at the same time that seems to happen only at the beach.
and i caved. “okay then. i’ll stay.”once he and the kids were gone i admit i felt a little giddy/ stupid.
not sure what to do first.
so i did it all. one after the other. and then again. full circle…read a magazine from cover to cover. {the 2nd time i just looked at pics}
drank my glass of sweet tea, before all the ice melted.
ate chocolate covered raisins.{and shared with no one!!}
laid on my blue {not a speck of sand on it} blanket and read.
and finally, after about the 5th or 6th time, stopped looking up when i heard someone call, “mommy?”
then, dosed off. then went for a swim.i swam alone. and floated in the waves.
watching people. and the paddle boarders. and sailboats in the distance.
i laid back into the water, looking up at the smears of clouds across the perfect blue sky.
thanking God for that kind of beauty.
and the beauty of aloneness like that.
and the beauty of a husband that notices when i need that.
who offers, without me having to ask.
honeymoon- first beach trip together
and then my mind went to him..
as the waves washed over me.
thinking of all the waves we’ve faced together.
nearly drowning by some.
but.. feeling lately, and finally {and only by His grace},
that we’re coming to a place of rhythm again.
you have to do that riding the waves.
you can’t fight them. you must lean back and surrender.when i shut my eyes just now. i can still feel the motion of water all around me.
that feeling of gratitude and rejuvenation.you live long on an afternoon like that!
how do you refuel~ alone or with people?
i read a survey recently that said if you refuel by being with people, you’re an extrovert.
and if you refuel by being alone, you’re an introvert.i felt i was a bit of both-
kinda depends on what kind of refueling i need.i wonder if there’s a category for the intro/extro-vert mixes?
yeah. wack jobs!! ha.haPpy monday everyone!!
Comments (35)
Wow! That was so sweet of him to let you stay! And, I’m glad things are coming together for you. I hope it’s all downhill from here!
I’m a whack job with ya!
Love the sunset on the waves. just beautiful.
I’m in the mixed category too when it come to intro/extro stuff. I’ve even taken tests and been right in the middle. I feel I’d probably be a extrovert except for the fact I’ve gotten used to being an “only child” at home now and don’t mind the quiet for a little bit. It seems like when I’ve been around lots of people for ages I need a break though and vise versa.
God does all things well.
there is a category….ambi-verts!!! I can relate! glad you had such a lovely day. blessings to you and yours.
Sounds like such a perfect afternoon! What a thoughtful man you have to think of that!
I’m a total introvert unless it comes to hanging with my siblings
Ahhh…I can feel my soul sigh with relief just reading this! Wow, that’s a sweet and perceptive husband you have.
So glad for you that you got this refreshing day.
what a lovely thing for your husband to do! about the intro/extro question…I’m not sure I’ve figured that out about myself yet. Maybe I am also a wack job, but I do know that I live in a house w/ two intro’s, who get a little snarly if they’re going and doing too much.
What a nice Sunday together!!! And I totally understand exactly what you mean by sometimes needing together time and at others alone time.
I love that last photo…gorgeous!!!
I felt refreshed JUST READING about your afternoon… “you live long on an afternoon like that!”. Truth! I guess I’m a whack job, hehe. I think I get most of my refueling alone though… especially surrounded by so much beauty.
When I read that Shayne asked if you wanted to stay, tears came to my eyes. Such a thoughtful thing to do for you. Your day, both before and after the family left, sounds lovely. I love the thought of being at the beach alone-ish, but I’d probably like it even better alone with Bill!! I like minutes by myself, but not hours and hours. I don’t necessarily need lots of people around, but I love having my hubby around any and all the time!! I have a feeling he likes a little more time alone than I do!
Yay for recharging!
Hope your weeks is abundantly blessed!
How wonderful! to have a day at the beach all alone.
What a sweet man Shayne is. =)
Happy Monday. xoxo
Oh, I so related to being able to drink your tea before the ice was melted….ah the blanket with no sand…..not sharing…..so wonderful to enjoy at that time and at the same time, so wonderful to be able to share and to be blessed because there is sand because of the little feet that put it there and for the interruptions that come throughout the day…..I recharge by myself more than with others….I don’t recharge that often, not much of a chance to get to do anything by myself…but that’s where long morning showers fill the void sometimes….recharging with others happens when I get adult conversation with like-minded ladies…not very often on that end either…but when it does it sure is a blessing.
Have a blessed week!
Wow! That was a very special thing for Shayne to do. I’m a mixture too. I think becoming a Mom can change so many things about a person. Every year before school starts, I take a day for me. Just me. Shop, eat, all at my leisure. I love it. I don’t want it to end. It totally rejuvinates me. But I get lonely sometimes, esp. when I’m a fulltime Mom, and being with my friends can totally refresh me. Whatever that means.;)
Oh my…lucky you! I’m glad you got this wonderful alone time!
You paint beautiful images with your words alone! Reading this made me happy because I can hear the happiness in you.
that category for the intro~extravertives = mothers
What a wonderful gift from your husband and kids: see how they love you to be comfortable and relaxed and happy. You so deserve it , sweet Amber.
I had this entire week-end for me in my lovely home and finally the summer came in …How holistically we rest when the mind and the senses rest….What a sweet post.
Lieve groeten
Godeliva
I agree that there is no “formula” that fits me, either. Sometimes I feel rejuvenated by being with people, and sometimes I need to be alone. I do appreciate my alone time. Well, my alone time with God — so I guess I am not really alone, but you know what I mean!
Being alone in the wonderful outdoors, always makes me feel closer to Heaven. I am not much of a Beach person…but take me to the mountains….by a cool stream! Oh my it is wonderful! So glad you were able to have some quiet ‘you’ time. Have a refreshed, fun week!
What a wonderful day! I’m with you ~ sometimes, I need to be with people ~ other times, just want to be alone ~
Before I had kids…I ALWAYS wanted to be with people. But now, even though I am definitely still an extrovert, there are times where I need to re-charge alone. So I get what you mean about being a mix of both sometimes.
That is SO awesome that Shayne gave you that gift of a few hours to yourself. I know what you mean about feeling giddy about that. Sounds awesome. Wish I could have been there. But then, that would have spoiled your alone time!
what a wonderful gift Shayne gave you in this! so very sweet of him!
introvert? oh yes. definitely the category i fall into. and, i’m probably redundant in mentioning this, but this book i’m reading, “Introverts In The Church” is soo very good. it has taken me a long, long time to be okay with my introversion, but, i am realizing more and more that it is Not a right vs. wrong thing to be introverted or extroverted…both are very capable of being used in beautiful ways to Glorify Him.
saying a prayer for you today…
hugs, my friend!
what a special and refreshing time for you!
What a gift your husband gave you! Loved your post and so glad you had some “time”. The Lord knows what we need exactly when we need it. I definitely refuel alone….and I think I’m in need of that right now and have put my request in to the Lord!
Thanks for sharing! Beautiful pictures, once again, especially the sun over the water…..love, love. have a great day!
Ah what a great blessing you experienced. Rest is good for the soul, truely!
Wow, that sounds so awesome!!! It’s funny how when we’re with the family we wish for life without all the demands. Then when they’re not there we hardly know what to do with all the time and quiet.
A family day at the beach sounds blissful, and the time by yourself…maybe more so. 
I would’ve been just like you–giddy with excitement, then rolling over and wondering what to do first. 
I’ve been reading here and there about how we need quietness in our lives, and thinking about how I surround myself with so much stimulation. I really want to find ways to make time for quietness. There’s such rejuvenation in that. At the same time, I keep wishing I would’ve been on a towel next to yours. 
What a thoughtful gift by your husband, and it was indeed a gift. As busy wives and moms those attentions matter more than flowers and cards. Cherish that man! The photos are stunning- did God not design an artistic world. I believe we all are “whack jobs” as you say- needing some alone and people time to keep us even.
Blessings on your week!
lovely.lovely.
good man you have to ‘make’ you stay : )
Being alone is just what I need to recharge! How sweet of Shayne to offer to let you stay, he really “gets” you. It’s so nice to be married to someone who understands your heart.
You probably already gave an update about you camera and I missed it but… how’s that going?
an afternoon at the beach alone sounds so amazing!! it’s really not hard to recognize that i am an introvert. time alone is really essential for me to be able to function, although i definitely need others in my life. i am the only introvert in my household, as far as i can tell already. i guess it’s okay. they keep me from becoming a hermit, and i keep them grounded. haha
How absolutely FUN and wow, what a romantic thing for your husband to do for you!
]
[because, wow, after that wonderful gift, there's all kinds of lovey feelings going on, right?!
Seriously though, the ocean, alone time, all that ~ absolute perfection.
I don’t think I’ve had a day like that since I’m married. Various days here and there but not at the ocean.
So glad for you, because I know what soul refreshment comes from times like that!
I would have to say I’m a mixture of the intro/extro ~ whatever that ends up being!
I definitely HAVE to have times alone with God, with just our family after a busy season,
and I most definitely need to be with people too.
Just not too much alone time, or too much of people.
I hope your time in Ohio is simply wonderful!!
xoxo
seriously, shayne does the sweetest things to you… he is just one of those FOREVER guys and it made me so happy to hear that you guys are finding your rhythm again. i get that.
i also went off alone on sunday… spent some time at a pool without any family member. talk about refreshing moments. if only we could’ve hung out together but then again, i’m pretty sure no magazines would’ve gotten read.
lovely post! as always….
i refuel alone… but i LOVE people. is that weird?
Ah I was right there with you for a slight moment but then reality set in ugh!
Glad you had a great day—:)!
Just saw a quote the other day i loved : “you can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.” ah, yes.
I refuel by being alone for sure. It’s needful for me. which is humorous to me that God gave me eight kids which is like a big party of people always.
Glad for you this time! What could possibly be better than a beach in my opinion~