The four hour trip to Salvo took close to six hours and Lil was quite the trooper. As there is basically only one way on the islands, the traffic was MISERABLE. Lily kept looking out the window at the water, telling me all she was going to do when she got to the beach. She is just such a sweetie. She loved loved LOVED the beach last night (only a walk on it), collecting many treasures in the form of broken sea shells. She's in love. :o)
She didn't fall asleep before 10:30 or 10:45 last night and was up with the roosters this morning sometime around 6:00 or so, so I'm quite happy she's decided to throw in the towel and nap this afternoon. In fact, she and Lissie are napping in our room, Paul's snoozing on the couch, Jess, Bob and Ella are at the grocery store, and Gabriel and I are holding down the fort. :oP
Lily, Lissie and I hit the beach around 8:00 this morning and Lily had a fun, if somewhat confusing time. She didn't want to have any sand on her hands or feet, LOL! She kept wanting to wipe them off, silly girl. We sat in the surf for close to an hour and came in around 11:00. We'll go back out this evening before dinner. I swear, I never have as many showers as I do when we go to the beach...
Here are photos from yesterday evening:
Yes, that sand spur did indeed hurt. 
Lil was intrigued by her name in the sand.
I have NO idea what this is. All I can tell you is it seems to be a piece of a boat or something and has been there since I was a kid. It is right at the end of the path from our cottage and marks where we are supposed to be--I never get lost walking up or down the beach because I know when I get to this I'm home. :o)
I caught a ghost crab. :o)
Can you see the camouflaged ghost crab in this picture?
Birthday dinner was sauteed scallops and oh, my, goodness were they DIVINE!! Thanks, Liss!
Jessie's birthday lemon pound cake with flip flop candles. Hee hee!
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I dreamt of Hannah last night. I have had so few dreams of her and in this one, I found all these photos of her that I had never seen before, and they were just beautiful. Then, there she was and she too was beautiful.
I confess, I have had a somewhat difficult time being around the water, not so much with Lil--her natural inclination to shy away from it helps--but for me to be in the water. It's so strange. I have always LOVED the beach and as a kid played and played in the water, body surfing, riding the waves, you name it. Now, I find myself somewhat breathless and uncomfortable. I still love to sit on the beach and watch the waves, sit in the surf and make "witches castles" in the wet sand, walk along the surf. I hope my comfort with the water returns soon, as I don't enjoy the anxiety attacks I have been having when looking at the somewhat cloudy water and thinking...
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Sparklies:
1. The beach! We're here we're here we're here!!
2. Lil is too darn cute and too darn wonderful, tired and all. She was such a sweet thing and was such a wonderful travel buddy yesterday. :o)
3. Hey hey the gang's all here. :oP
4. A/C that works...don't ask.
5. Watching the little kids along the sea shore. They are all so sweet and precious. :o)
Well, I've used up my allotted 'net time today. I'll try to post more photos tomorrow.
HUGS to you all! :o)
34 comments:
So glad that you are having a good time at the beach. Lily's shirt is just too cute. Have a great week.
Hugs from Texas
Stephanie
Sounds like you are having an exquisite time. You deserve it. And your feelings about the water, well, that could only be described as totally NORMAL so don't rush yourself.
I love the ghost crab. I have never seen one of those. Do they bite?? I could imagine it nibbling on your toes, especially since it is invisible!
I was hoping that you would get a chance to post as I have been thinking of you and Lily. Here in Ontario, there have been two beach accidents this weekend, just thinking of those families breaks my heart. I am so glad you are there and having a great time with your family. Take care of yourself.
Love, Pam
Looks like a great time! And Lissie (I wish my family would use THAT nick for me instead of Missy)surely knows how to cook scallops. WELL DONE. I hate hate hate mushy scallops.
I cant wait to get down the shore. I miss it terribly, but we hate the crowds so we always go in September once the season is over. CHOWDAHFEST is done in late September so I think we picked the best time.
Enjoy enjoy enjoy....
(((hugs)))
Wow, Rachel, I'm so impressed and proud of you (even though I've never met you, or even emailed you) that you even tried to go back to a beach, much less let Lily go anywhere near it...or yourself. To go back and have to face all the fears, guilt, memories--wow. You're amazing.
My husband died 3 years ago during a bike race, when our daughter (our only child) was 10 months old. He crashed into a pole and died instantly, and I'm having such a hard time tempering my "Hell NO!" impulse now that Anna's saying she want a bike. She's not quite 4--her birthday is Sept. 4, a few weeks before Hannah's--so it's just a matter of something new that she wants, something big kids get, but still, it's so loaded to me. I honestly wouldn't be fussed if she never learned to ride a bike. I'm terrified of the thought that she might want to take up bike racing (or even more regular bike riding) when she gets older, even if it's something she wants to do to be closer to Charley's memory.
So big kudos to you, Rachel....And big hugs too. I hope the trip goes smoothly and, in the end, balances out as a good trip.
Hugs,
Candice
The pictures are beautiful and makes me miss the NC/SC beaches so much. I hope you all have a wonderful time filled with wonderful memories. How nice you can all go together.
Also glad you had a dream of Hannah :o).
Hi Rach, I'm not surprised you have those feelings. I'd be more surprised if you didn't. You do so well. I am sure you edit what you write, so that others can bear to read it. I am amazed by you. Truly. My wish for you is that throughout your life you find little treasures and pictures of Hannah that you never knew existed, so that you can keep creating new memories of your beautiful girl, to go with the older ones.
So much love to you.
Jane
Rach,
The boat thing picture really triggered some memories of the beach for me, I would so love to be there! Your pictures of the beach are postcard perfect. It has to be so great to have so many people you love there with you, fun, fun!
Liz
Rachel, Sending ou lots of hugs and glad that you had the dream of Hannah. That is always a comfort.
I don't know if I could be strong enough to do what you did...go to the beach with Lily. I have a hard time just driving by the hospital Jim died in. I turn my head and give it the finger as I cruise by. :)
Have a wonderful vacation and enjoy enjoy enjoy the sun and sand!!!
I had a near miss with my Hannah today and I was thinking of you. I haven't checked in in awhile (it's been crazy around here-my twins were born in May). Look at your frolicking at the beach! How wonderful. I hope it's a blessed and joyous time!
Hugs.
So glad you have a good time so far! You are doing a GREAT job! :)
Hugs and love!
Karey
Great photos, Rach! I wish I could be at the beach about now, especially after seeing those :) Soak it all up, and have a great time! :) Hugs.
Love the pics! Looks like Jess had a great Birthday meal! Enjoy your time!
Love & Hugs,
Jennifer
Rach, I looked up your photo and it is indeed a shipwreck and is called "The Richmond" by the locals.
Rachel,
I sure hope you are relaxing and having as much fun as it looks like Lily is having. You sure have earned it and your birthday feast looks so good!! I hope Brien is having a relaxed time at home too. He sure has earned it too. I love you guys.
Laurie in Ca. (the other beach:)
Have an awesome time (although it looks like you already are!)
Your pics are beautiful as always. And I found the ghost crab (once I enlarged it) These old eyes aren't as good as they used to be. sigh.
beautiful photos!You are doing amazing sweetie!
Looks like a great trip. I so love the beach.
Paul, what a sweet sweet photo of the two of you! :)
I hate sand spurs. I got one in my foot in Myrtle. OUCH! I was surprised it drew blood.
I'm so glad you had a dream about Hannah. I hope you have them forever. It must be a bittersweet experience.
Hugs!
I know you are hurting, but you really are doing so well. And that is a good thing. You and your family are one of the most amazing manifestations of grace and real, enduring love that I have ever encountered.
I am so happy you are all together. As always, I am stunned by your prowess with the camera. To go back to a beach is a mighty strong thing to do. I am thinking of you and hoping that someday the anxiety will lessen for you. Much love to you all.
those pictures are SO beautiful! thanks for sharing.
Beautiful pics, Rach! I'm glad you're there enjoying yourself and having family time. I think you're amazing to be sitting on the beach at all, so there is absolutely nothing wrong with baby steps when it comes to being in the water.
Love and hugs!
I found the ghost crab!! Okay, so i had to enlarge it first, but then I could see him. Isn't it amazing how small some of God's creatures are?
The beach trip looks divine, girl, soak in some Vitamin D for all of us. :-)
Give Hannah a big hug for all of us, next time she visits in her dream. Hugs!
i found you via linda logcabindreamer....
please check out my latest post and approve that i have linked to you in my sidebar.
i realize that i have done so without your blessing. i will remove if you prefer.
but i would prefer to keep you with us...
I found your blog about a year ago. I have been checking in on you every week or two since then. I have thought about you and prayed for you so many times...all the way over in Missouri. I'm praying that God is healing your heart and that you are surrounded by incredible love and supportive people. Hugs and peace to you.
Your pics are fab! I am so proud of you. It couldn't have been easy to work through that anxiety and still have fun. Have a great time with your family
Hi Rach--
I have been a long-time reader but not sure if I have ever commented except for my condolences to you after you lost Hannah.
I wanted to reach out to you because someone at work just lost his daughter to a drowning. Not sure of the details 100% but I believe his wife was visiting her parents, who have a pool in their backyard, and their daughter got up during her nap and went outside without anyone noticing and she drown. I was hoping you could lift them up in your prayers. they have a blog that has not been updated since their daughter's death. it is: www.mwalburger3.blogspot.com
thank you so much! (sorry this is in comments, I couldn't find how to reach you via email)
Love the pics- esp. the ghost crabs. I've always been fascinated by those! I would HAVE to find out the story about the boat thingie sticking out of the water- my curiosity would get the best of me! Hope you all have fun.
Just dropping by to invite you put your name in the hat for some giveaways over at Notes From the Cookie Jar-you can win some great lip balm (4 tubes, one for you and each of your girls), or a $20 GC from Fandango. They will be winding up pretty quick, so you'll want to enter by Friday.
Because you are on my blog roll, you get 2 entries to each :)
Karen
(Scattered Mom)
Oh what fun pictures. I love the beach. Lily is growing so fast. I have really enjoyed this past year watching her growth. The food looked yummy, even though I don't like seafood. Love the flip flop candles...
I just happened to find your blog today, and I have spent the last 2 hours crying, laughing, hurting, smiling, and celebrating with you. I am in love with your writing and the thoughts you have are just so real and honest. It's amazing how you can feel so close to somebody just by the way they express themselves through words. Your bravery to go on and keep going on is an incredible gift. I wish you so many more memories with your family and more beautiful celebrations of the life you enjoyed with your precious Hannah.
Fabulous pics Rach and you are doing so well. *Hugs*
Beautiful photos.
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