Eleventh Heaven–Girls’ Beach Trip 2011
God’s grace sometimes shows up in unexpected ways…
… like a beach trip that could only be ordained by Him and could only happen because of the generosity of several people who allowed Him to flow through them. You know who you are. Thank you.
Eleventh Heaven is the cottage style beach house we stayed in. If you know me at all you know that there’s no other place I’d rather be, no other house I’d rather have. God’s grace. Thank you, Lord.
A friendship was cemented and two new bonds made. Only God. He alone could ordain such friendships. I’m forever blessed by these precious women and forever grateful. Amazing grace.
It’s not often that the opportunity arises to leave your cares behind and bask in the beauty of the ocean. It’s rare that a woman could join a trip with three other women—two of which she’d never met—and form a bond right away as if they’d been friends for life. Only He could do this.
There’s just something about the ocean that calms my soul. Life’s circumstances can be crushing at times, threaten to suck the very life out of us. This is where I was before this trip. But a loving God sent three beautiful women and the beauty of the ocean to remind me of His unfailing love and His great grace was inserted *here*…
The current was strong and the waves amazing. Right there in the ocean, braving the waves with these women I heard the words of Need to Breathe in Something Beautiful…
And the water is rising quick
And for years I was scared of it
We can’t be sure when it will subside
So I won’t leave your side, no I can’t leave your side.
I watched these women as they walked ahead of me through the sand. And I thought about all of the details that went into this trip. He chose each of us specifically to laugh together, cry together {well some of us} and just about laugh until we cried. If He would take such detail to arrange this, all of this, surely He cares about those things we left behind, the people we left behind. We can trust Him. Circumstances don’t change who He is.
We soaked up the sun and I learned a valuable lesson: always, always read prescription warning labels thoroughly. Because the words ”AVOID PROLONGED OR EXCESSIVE EXPOSURE TO DIRECT AND/OR ARTIFICIAL SUNLIGHT WHILE TAKING THIS MEDICATION’ can really come in handy on a beach trip. On the bright side I now know what my thin lips would look like plumped up with collagen. Aside from the swelling I was left with bright red sunburned lips that are still red and sore and will likely peel and, in addition, the threat of a fever blister. Good times. Although I am the oldest of these women and am, in fact, a grandmother, I hadn’t prepared to be the “Maw Maw” of the group. Maw Maw had to pack it in early on day two of sun because her hands and feet were having a reaction. Those prescription labels, they don’t lie.
In just a few short days I learned much about and from these women. Candy kept us laughing over life’s stories that aren’t quite as funny when you’re walking them out. I’d say that about sums her up. She has an amazing ability to rise above life’s circumstances and keep on smiling and laughing. Terri listened patiently, really listened, to each of us women. It’s a difficult task for women to be good listeners in the midst of their own struggles. I saw the love of Daddy God through Terri. No matter what the topic she listened, really listened. I left her presence feeling that she genuinely cared. Amanda’s heart of worship is infectious and her voice is amazing. I felt like a little kid at times wanting to follow her around and listen to her sing praises to the Most High. There’s nothing like singing songs of praise in the middle of the ocean’s insane waves with a Sister in Christ. Her smile could light up a room. “A ray of sunshine,” Candy calls her. And it’s so true.
Developing relationships with these women reminds me of the importance of community and relationships. And these women—they are all pretty amazing. Even if they did send me out as a lamb among wolves, or a Tiger among Gators…
So naive, I happily volunteered to march right into that store on Florida Gator territory donning my LSU jersey on LSU vs Florida game day. AFTER the game. Yea. No wonder they didn’t want to volunteer for that job. All eyes were on me when I walked in that convenience store. A lady grabbed her little girl close and I could almost hear her thoughts, ‘look away!’ Good times.
It’s easy to lay your cares down while staring into the vast expanse of the ocean and digging your toes into smooth white sand. If you’re not careful you’ll return to reality feeling almost guilty because, well, those cares you left behind are still waiting and you’re just not sure you’re ready. But I’ve learned these past few days back to reality that I have a choice. If He was in the very details of this amazing trip is He not in the details of my daily life? I have a choice to make.
Above the noise of life’s struggles and the loud cry of the aches in my heart, if I will listen, be still and listen… I can hear Him still singing over me…
[youtube xjt3Yd-CxFg]
Hi i am kavin, its my first occasion to commenting anywhere,
when i read this article i thought i could also create
comment due to this brilliant post.
For hottest information you have to pay a quick visit
web and on the web I found this site as a most excellent web page for latest updates.
Hello Dear, are you truly visiting this website on a regular basis,
if so then you will absolutely obtain pleasant knowledge.
Hey there! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be
okay. I’m undoubtedly enjoying your blog and look forward to
new updates.
Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it.
Look advanced to more added agreeable from you! By the way, how could we communicate?
No matter if some one searches for his essential thing, thus he/she wants to be
available that in detail, thus that thing is maintained over here.
Why users still use to read news papers when in this technological world all is accessible on net?
I am really grateful to the holder of this web site who has shared this
impressive post at here.
constantly i used to read smaller posts that also clear their motive, and that is also happening with this post which
I am reading now.
I think the admin of this web site is really working hard in favor of his site, as here every stuff is quality based data.
Wow! In the end I got a website from where I know how to truly take useful facts
concerning my study and knowledge.
What’s up, I log on to your new stuff like every week. Your humoristic style is awesome,
keep up the good work!
This web site definitely has all of the info I needed about this
subject and didn’t know who to ask.
Hmm is anyone else experiencing problems with the pictures on this blog
loading? I’m trying to determine if its a problem on my end or if it’s the blog.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
I’ve read several excellent stuff here. Definitely worth bookmarking for revisiting.
I wonder how much attempt you put to create such a fantastic informative site.
I’m truly enjoying the design and layout of your website. It’s a very easy
on the eyes which makes it much more enjoyable for me to come here
and visit more often. Did you hire out a developer to create
your theme? Great work!
Sweet blog! I found it while surfing around on Yahoo News.
Do you have any suggestions on how to get listed in Yahoo News?
I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get
there! Many thanks
Hi there to all, how is all, I think every one is getting more from this web page,
and your views are pleasant for new visitors.
We stumbled over here different website and thought
I should check things out. I like what I see so
i am just following you. Look forward to going over your web page
yet again.
Howdy! Do you know if they make any plugins to
protect against hackers? I’m kinda paranoid about losing everything I’ve
worked hard on. Any tips?
Hurrah, that’s what I was looking for, what a information! present here at this blog,
thanks admin of this web page.
Hey there! I know this is kinda off topic but I’d figured I’d ask.
Would you be interested in trading links or maybe guest authoring a
blog post or vice-versa? My blog goes over a lot of the same subjects as yours and I think we could greatly benefit
from each other. If you happen to be interested feel free to
shoot me an e-mail. I look forward to hearing from you! Wonderful blog by the way!
I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you
create this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you?
Plz reply as I’m looking to create my own blog and
would like to know where u got this from. thanks
If you are going for finest contents like myself, just pay a quick
visit this web site all the time for the reason that it offers feature contents,
thanks
Link exchange is nothing else but it is only placing the other person’s blog link on your page at proper place
and other person will also do same in support of you.
Just wish to say your article is as amazing. The clarity in your
post is simply nice and i can assume you’re an expert on this
subject. Fine with your permission allow me
to grab your RSS feed to keep updated with forthcoming post.
Thanks a million and please keep up the rewarding work.
I am regular visitor, how are you everybody? This article posted at this web site is genuinely fastidious.
Fine way of telling, and good post to obtain information about
my presentation focus, which i am going to present in university.
My brother suggested I may like this website.
He used to be totally right. This put up truly made my day.
You can not imagine simply how much time I had spent for this information! Thank you!
Hello my loved one! I wish to say that this post is amazing, nice written and come with approximately all significant infos.
I would like to peer extra posts like this .
I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own blog and
was curious what all is needed to get setup? I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a pretty
penny? I’m not very internet savvy so I’m not 100% positive.
Any recommendations or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks
Good blog post. I definitely appreciate this website. Stick
with it!
I believe what you published was actually very reasonable.
However, think about this, suppose you were to write a awesome post title?
I ain’t saying your information isn’t good., however what if you added a title that grabbed folk’s attention? I mean Eleventh Heaven–
Girls’ Beach Trip 2011 | Lines In The Sand |
Insert Grace Here is a little boring. You could glance at Yahoo’s front page and note how they create article headlines to get viewers to open the links.
You might add a video or a picture or two to get readers
interested about everything’ve written. Just my opinion, it would make your blog a little bit more interesting.
Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you
relied on the video to make your point. You definitely know
what youre talking about, why throw away your intelligence on just posting videos
to your site when you could be giving us something enlightening to read?
I’ll right away clutch your rss as I can’t in finding
your e-mail subscription hyperlink or newsletter service.
Do you have any? Kindly allow me recognize in order that I may just subscribe.
Thanks.
Fantastic goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous
to and you are just too wonderful. I really like what you’ve acquired here, certainly like what you’re saying and the way in which you say
it. You make it enjoyable and you still care for to keep it smart.
I can’t wait to read far more from you. This is really a great web site.
Somebody necessarily assist to make significantly articles I would state.
That is the very first time I frequented your web page and so
far? I amazed with the research you made to make this actual
publish amazing. Great job!
Hi there! Would you mind if I share your blog with my twitter group?
There’s a lot of people that I think would really
appreciate your content. Please let me know. Many thanks
Great article.
Thank you for every other informative blog. The place else may just I am getting that
kind of info written in such an ideal way?
I’ve a venture that I am just now running on, and I’ve
been on the look out for such information.
Hey there, I think your site might be having browser compatibility issues.
When I look at your website in Chrome, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping.
I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other
then that, great blog!
Normally I don’t read post on blogs, but I wish to say that
this write-up very compelled me to check out and do so! Your writing style has been amazed me.
Thank you, very great post.
Your style is so unique in comparison to other folks I’ve read stuff from.
Thank you for posting when you’ve got the opportunity, Guess
I will just bookmark this page.
I all the time used to read article in news papers but now
as I am a user of net thus from now I am using net for articles or reviews, thanks to web.
I for all time emailed this web site post page to all my friends, since if like to read it then my friends will
too.
Ridiculous story there. What occurred after? Good luck!
Fine way of telling, and good article to get facts concerning my presentation subject,
which i am going to present in institution of higher education.
I was very happy to uncover this page. I wanted to thank you for your time just for this wonderful read!!
I definitely enjoyed every bit of it and I have you book-marked to look at new information in your website.
It’s difficult to find educated people about this
subject, but you sound like you know what you’re talking about!
Thanks
It’s really a cool and useful piece of information. I’m glad that you
simply shared this helpful info with us. Please keep us up
to date like this. Thanks for sharing.