The Outer Banks, NC

15 hours of travel

               5 girls

                   1 beach house

                                 7 days

                                        and lots to explore... 

Sunrise from the beach in our backyard

The name of our rented beach house -
which we absolutely loved!

Time on the beach was a must. No, it was not too cold to swim in the ocean apparently. The girls had a ton of fun and the air resonated with their laughter. I enjoyed the chance to sit in the sand and relax, sharing in their joy. 

Surprise!

Pelicans

Mermaid Abi and Jillian

 

Could this girl be any happier?

 Exploring led us to the familiar landmarks of the Outer Banks and to some perhaps not as typical sights.

JD, me, and Julie
(on a windy afternoon)

There are 5 lighthouses on the Outer Bank islands. We were able to visit 4 of them. Lighthouses always remind me of the movie Pete's Dragon (which I love). "I'll be your candle on the water..." 

Cape Hatteras

Currituck 

Bodie 

Ocracoke

One of the things JD really wanted to do was catch a fish and cook it for dinner. Jillian and Abi were excited about the prospect too. Off to the Avon Pier we went. They rented poles and bought some shrimp for bait. The tide was coming in, so prospects were good for fishing. I brought a chair and a good book.

First thing I noticed was how warped the pier had become. I'm not sure there was any part of it that was level. This messed with my fear of heights and falling a little, but I was able to calm my beating heart and enjoy the sun and ocean sounds. 

Another thing I noticed was that while we were in shorts, t-shirts and bathing suits several people on the pier were in jackets, hoods, and one even in a snowsuit looking thing. After a couple hours of wind and sun - with 2 very burnt girls it made a whole lot more sense. 

Poles baited and tutorial on how to release the line and reel it back over, they fished and I read. They tried different places along the pier and I read. I tried switching sides of the pier but it was too windy on the other side. Then Abi starts yelling that she caught something, but was having a hard time reeling it in. I dropped my book and went to get JD. Even she was having a hard time reeling it in - it must be something pretty good sized. By now, several of the other fisherman are gathered around these obvious inexperienced tourists trying to help. Low and behold.. it wasn't quite what she was hoping to catch....

Abi's stingray

They simply cut the line and let it go and all went back to fishing. But sadly... no fish were caught. 

One of the things that helped us explore the area was geocaching. JD and Jillian geocache at home, but none of the rest of us had ever done it. Abi really enjoyed it and became JD's sidekick as each night or morning they looked at various caches we might be able to find. 

Our first cache of the trip

JD and Abi

 There was one cache that JD was not leaving without doing. I call it the adventure cache. The prize was out on a little island in the sound, where there were apparently sting rays. Kindly, a resident allowed us to borrow his kayak and I rowed Abi out to the island while JD and Jillian began to walk out to it.

When the water got deep enough to swim, Jillian started to freak out that she couldn't touch, so I ended up rowing back to pick her up. One of the problems we had was the GPS wasn't working so well on the island and we had no idea where on the island the cache was, so we began to traipse around searching for ground zero. 

The thorns cut our legs. I saw some really large spiders. And then... the bog where poor JD sunk up to her knees. When she reached into the hole to pull out her flip-flop something crawled across her arm. Ummm... why are we out here again?

Definitely NOT a stick in the mud

We finally found ground zero, but then still couldn't find it in all the thick brush - finally we were victorious and all our battle wounds became worth it! Except we still had to get off the island and back to the kayak - back through the muddy thorny bog we went. 

 Of all the caches we tried, there were only 2 we couldn't find. This one found us being eaten by giant mosquitoes within seconds. So we elected to give up and save our blood and sanity from itching.

One should not visit the Outer Banks and not see the wild horses. One wouldn't even think of wild horses being there, but it does make sense. It's amazing that they've been able to protect them and keep them wild for all these years. 

Having some fun in the big chair

I splurged. I can't even remember the last time I had a banana split. I did some serious damage to it before I couldn't eat anymore. 

Birthday cake, banana pudding, and strawberry ice cream
with chocolate, caramel and rainbow sprinkles

On our last day, JD and I went back to Cape Hatteras on our own. We walked about 2 miles along the shore out to the point (fairly close to low tide). It was an absolutely picture perfect day and my happy meter was at 100. If only I had seen a dolphin, I would have just about exploded with joy. 

At the point as the tide was coming back in, the waves were coming from either side of the land and crossing. It was spectacular to see. With the sun beating down, the water felt so refreshing. It didn't matter that I knew I was going to be sunburned or that my feet hurt from walking, it only mattered that God had created that day, and that time for us to see and experience and become a part of. It was the most perfect way to wrap up such a wonderful week. 

Like all great vacations, the sun must set and we must say goodbye. As we left, we took with us many great memories and lots of sand.

See more of the photos here. (they are some of the best ones)

                                     

Avon on Dwellable

Ghana Well Project

I generally don't use my blog to ask you to consider donating to a cause I am not directly involved in, but this well project needs your help. As you know, I was in Ghana last fall and had the opportunity to meet this missionary couple. We have been blessed to spend time together both in Ghana and stateside and their hearts for the people of Ghana are genuine.

The areas where they work are some of the poorest parts of Ghana and a well is very much needed. Water is SOOO important and vital to communities. It will take $5000 to drill the well and they would like to have the money raised before they return to Ghana in the next several weeks.

Please visit their website and click on Well Project. Donate if you can. If you can't please consider passing the word along to others.

http://www.jasmundoutreach.com/

Mud

He see things in black and white. Right and wrong. The sign says no trespassing … What if we get caught? This is wrong. Isn’t it? Always trying to play by the rules. Pounding the dirt path of living by the law.

She sees things with fluid non-defined borders. How can one judge without knowing the circumstances or the lessons that have been learned? She trusts in forgiveness. Swimming in the waters of grace.

The question of law or grace goes way back in time to the first century and we are still trying to figure out the right recipe today.

 It’s not all law nor is it all grace.  But what is it?

 It’s mud.

Yep. Dirty mud.

It is dirt mixed with some water creating something different altogether. It’s almost impossible to separate out just water or just dirt from mud. One always comes along with at least a little bit of the other. The law needs a little grace to soften its dry hardness. Grace needs some boundaries for firmness to walk on.

Law gives a firmer foundation 

while grace provides some cushion.

Might give a whole new meaning to mud-wrestling!

Spring in Boston

BOWLING NIGHT! 

I came in last... as usual

The Japanese anime convention made for some interesting entertainment.
If I had only know I would have packed my Sailor Moon outfit.  

Picnic in the Gardens
It was a little chilly, but the food and company were great.

 

The Museum of Science

Where I worshiped on Easter morning
Stephen's graciously welcoming church

Reflected Light

One of the things Stephen and I did this weekend in Boston was visit the Museum of Science. It was filled with many hand-on exhibits in so many different areas of science. The area we spent the most time in was all about LIGHT. We played with prisms, lasers, black lights and colors.

There was one activity that used light, colored panels and mirrors to make art on a white wall. I could not figure out how to best use the mirrors to shift and move the colors. I either ended up with nothing but shadows on the wall or one square of color. I gave up and went onto the next thing that caught my attention without much thought about it.

Later I would see this in a whole different light.



















A dear friend of mine is in the midst of working through a difficult family situation where emotions are intense. Stephen and I were discussing the best way to help her find the truth in God's Word and encourage her. The exhibit from the museum flashed in my mind. It creatively illustrates the idea of the true light being reflected off our emotional mirrors. If we set up those mirrors (our thought and feelings) right, it can create reflected beauty. But if they are placed incorrectly or turned the wrong way the darkness remains.


Are our emotional mirrors reflecting the light or deflecting it?

The ability to create art with the light of truth is in us. What is being reflected on the wall to be seen? What is being bounced off the emotional mirrors? Are there too many shadows? Is it just one color: all blue with sadness, too much bitter green, or blazing angry red? Turn the mirrors to reflect the beauty of the true light.

And just like the exhibit at the museum, it takes time and it isn't easy, but almost nothing beautiful ever is.

Hanging up Human-ness

Life is like a roller coaster they say, with it's highs and lows, but what about the times when we slow down in the middle sections and it's starting to sway? There are decisions we can't seem to make and emotions get shoved aside because there is a to-do list to get done. People we love need our strength. A snapshot of how different we dreamed our life to be appears and tags 'it' and wants to be chased after, but there is no extra energy to go running in pointless circles. Everything feels just a little bit heavier even though nothing being carrying seemed to have changed. A break from this journey would be nice. Not a unloading, or shutting down, or running away, just a moment to walk away and be different. 

If only we could unzip and step out. Hang up our humanness on the coat rack and walk out the door. 

A floating in oblivion. 

Free from the limitations of the body, the aches and expectations. Free from decisions, failures, desires and disappointments. Free from the weariness of life's journey.

A complete rest. 

Just for a while.

Then coming back inside, lifting our humanness off the hook and quietly slipping back into it. Back for the rest of the ride.