Sister Coffee Date! at the Beach

 My sister and I planned to hit The Blend at the Beach in August before it closed for the season.  Turns out Saturday was their last day- so we made it happen.  Not quite the quiet peaceful coffee date and walk on the beach we had pictured. But it turned out to be an epically great day with the nephews, and my sister. 💖

I had a hard time sleeping Saturday morning and was awake from about 3 am until just before my alarm went off for our long run, naturally.

Waiting for the sun to come up.

I took the dogs on a super fast walk and then headed to OLP for our long run.  My sister met up with us too.  I ran with Laura and Becca but it was a cruddy, grumpy run and I could not wait for it to be over, most of the time trailing behind them. But I did it.

After I got back home Laura and I made our plans to head to The Blend at the Beach.  Evan was napping, whenever he woke, she would come pick me up.

I took a shower and then took a coffee and book time out to work on my attitude!

We headed for the beach, despite it not being a very "beachy" day.  We marveled at lake, normally calm as we drove and once parked stepped out into what felt like a wind tunnel. So crazy!

We decided our first stop would be somewhere for lunch, as the coffee shack didn't have much in the way of eats.

Isaac took my picture in front of a fountain we walked by.

We had a great lunch at Eddie's.  Laura had a fish sandwich and I had a Rueben. Isaac went with a giant pancake.  It was all delicious and that staff was so kind.

 

Then we walked up a couple blocks to the coffee shop.

We took advantage of Isaac's photography skills for a pic together.

Laura had coconut iced coffee and I had salted caramel cold brew. 

This beach also has a tiny carnival/amusement park. Isaac wanted to go on a ride but didn't find any that struck his fancy.  Laura ended up taking him into the arcade for a couple games.  It was not stroller friendly so I walked some laps outside with Evan.

Then we finally made it to the beach! Windy as it was, it was still wonderful.

Isaac had a blast jumping the waves.

Evan got in on the action a little too.

It was a fantastic day, I went to bed exhausted but much lighter than I woke up in that morning!

ToL 6.23

Linked up with Running with Spoons today

Yesterday I started this really pathetic, whiny blog post. I didn't finish it, parts of it are still here. Minus the bad, bad attitude.  Today, I am feeling better. A little more refreshed.  A little more balanced. ;)

I spent more time in the Word. And actually got out there running.  Both helped. A Lot.

I opened up my Jesus Calling devo yesterday morning to read this-

I also read on Hungry Runner Girl's blog this morning about Creating a Life You Love.  It really struck a cord with me.  So many times I find myself sighing and thinking- I hate my life. Which ultimately is not true... but I am thinking it way to much.  What can I do to form it more into a life I love...

For starters Tuesday night I took Hannah to the beach. She called me as I was finishing up at work and asked if I could take her and Ryan to the beach.  My first instinct was to say no.  I had other things I "needed" to do. I told her I needed to think about it.  By the time I got home, I decided life was to short too not spend a little time at the beach.  So she and I, we went.  She swam to her heart's content.

Last night's run and post run game of fetch.

I love this dog.  He brings much joy and laughter to our house...

This-

Amen

Planning to get some summer cleaning out done. Especially my closet and reclaim my craft counter in the basement.  Start Bible journaling and find a way to also incorporate the concept into my Sunday School class.  Get back on track with my training plan...NO Excuses!  Soak up as much summer fun as I can with the kids in the evenings and weekends =)

Thinking Out Loud...the one with the beach...

~ I have been enjoying the studies by both SheReadsTruth on the Women of the Bible and Love God Greatly, on Psalm 119.

This morning's talked about Hannah and her worshipful attitude.

"Oh, Lord, please forgive me for giving my worshipful glances and prayerful pleas to anyone and anything other than you!
Sisters, we serve a powerful, loving, and good God—the God who is like no other.
When our lives ache with need, may we bring them to the throne. When our hearts break, may we pour them out to God. When we rise in the morning, may we rise in worship.

“There is no one holy like the Lord. There is no one besides You!”
- 1 Samuel 2:2"

 The verses today in Psalms talked about God's unfailing love.  Reminding me again of His promises.  That if I am walking in his ways, I can always walk in freedom and confidence. Trying to remember that now as worries and discouragement threaten to take over...

~ This morning was my first run of summer vacation.  I was excited to have extra time since I didn't have to wait on the school bus. The sunshine felt magnificent.  Looking forward to morning summer running and running on Saturday with my mom and aunt in the Yellow Brick Road Run.

~ Yesterday was the last day of school...we celebrated it by meeting up with one of my best friends at the beach.  The day dawn gloomy and chilly. But by mid afternoon it was sunny and glorious.

Here's hoping for lots more beach afternoons before the summer is out.

Ryan apparently happened upon them again today while he was out bike riding...

I received a txt saying some weird kid was trying to steal Ashton from the park...along with this picture :P

Tuesday Update

Vacation thus far has been lovely. Yesterday the sun was shining brightly. We went to the board walk and visited a stretch of beach there.  We even dipped our toes in the chilly Atlantic waters. Collected a few more sea shells.  I think Hannah would have been content to sped most of the day playing in the surf.

We had lunch at a local pancake house on our way back to the hotel. We spent most of the afternoon at the hotel pool. :) 

Today was a bit of a rainy day.  We headed to the Wonder Works to spend the afternoon indoors.  The kids very much enjoyed running a muck checking out the various hands on sciencey exhibits.  A favorite was the bed of nails. We wandered around the Broadway at the Beach mall...Hannah made a new best buddy at Build-a-Bear. She still had a gift card from Christmas.  She made EB {a bunny} from the movie HOP.

We have been enjoying family game times.  Laughing, until our bellies ache and tears come to our eyes.

Vacation!!!

Sitting in the hotel living room watching the waves roll in on the beach...

I LOVE the Ocean. So very much! I never get tired of it.

Today is Day Three of our vacation. It is a very long trip from Syracuse area NY to Myrtle Beach,SC...the longest one I have taken in a very long time! ;P At time it didn't seem worth it... especially when I was sitting in the very back seat of the van..it was an adventure getting out at rest stops!....But now that we are here... :D

Yesterday we woke up to snow on the beach!

We walked up the street to the Ocean View Baptist Church. :) It was a great service, although it seemed short.  But spoke to my heart.

Sunday was very enjoyable.The kids went swimming twice in the indoor pool. Mom, Mik and I visited the Myrtle Beach Mall.  Mikayla got a new bathing suit and we found a dress for $20 for her eight grade formal.  She was ecstatic!

We briefly visited the beach.  The wind was very cold yesterday!  Looking forward to visiting the beach again today now that the air is warmer and the sun is shining brightly!

Visit the gift tab at the top to see my list of gifts. :D

Beach!!

Hannah has been eagerly asking about the beach ever since our beach days came to a close last fall.  Finally I told her the beach would not be open until after our Memorial Day camping trip.
This past weekend as we were camping, I was pushing Hannah on the swings.  Suddenly she turned to me with hopeful expectation, "Is the beach open now?!"

"It is indeed!" I replied laughing.

"Yes!!!!"

Much to her chagrin we had to wait two whole days after our camping trip before we made it to the beach.  Yesterday I was actually somewhat reluctant to go.  The morning was overcast, chilly and slightly rainy.  We split our time between the library and cleaning her bedroom.  She sadly lamented as we drove to the library,"It sure isn't a good day for the beach."  Although she was certain to point out the gate to Green Lakes as we passed by.

After lunch time the cloudy skies parted, the sun came out and blue skies spread.   We donned our bathing suits, applied sun screen, grabbed our beach towels and a drink and set off for the beach.  Turned out to be a perfectly marvelous beach day.  Not too hot, the water gloriously refreshing (once you got over the initial shock!)  Only a few other beach patrons so it was quiet, peaceful with lots of room to splash and swim!  She was in her glory!  Proudly showing me how Papa had taught her to do the back float at Myrtle Beach.

I also started Hannah creating a summer journal yesterday. Here is her first entry...
"We had a great day at the beach! Have a great summer." --Hannah

Gifts:

• Finishing Andrew's Quilt!
• Rainbows
• geese and their fuzzy goslings
• picniclunch at GreenLakes
• Blue sky peaking through the dark clouds
• new herb garden
  
• wild flowers
• giving Magda Andrew's quilt
• reading in my hammock
  
• gifts from my preschoolers
• Hannah's graduation
  
• campsite beauty
  
• s'mores
• campfires
• Bike riding with Hannah
• hearing her sing "Glory to your name!" as we rode
• Beautiful sunrise
  
• peacefulness of a quiet morning
• warm sunshine on a chilly morning
• enjoying a good read by the lake
  
• wokring on Liam's quilt by the lake
  
• first beach day of the season
• smell of a charcol grill
• hitting both the library and the beach on the same day!
• getting Hannah's room {mostly} clean
• seeing her play with her toys that had been lost and buried in that room!
• kitty snuggles