Getting into my car I looked around to see if I had everything, but smiled as I realized that it did not really matter for this was my day to just have fun!

I started the car and off I went, with breezes blowing through my hair and a cooling gentleness on my skin.

Winding around the bend, there she was - a beautiful site that always put a smile on my face - she possessed an endless mass of appealing beauty that left me spellbound.

I stopped the car, jumped out while grabbing my bag and off  I went.  The sand was beautiful as I walked ever faster to feel the gentleness of her waves bidding me hello, once again, on this fine day.

Pulling out my little folding chair, I sat and watched as the sailboats were guided by their captains.  How fun, I though. What a feeling it must be to dance across the ocean's surface with only the sounds of nature calling to you.

The sound of seagulls nearby startled me a little but made me smile, at the same time.  It is like they knew I had morsels of bread for them whenever I visited and they did not want me forgetting about it.  Laughing, I pulled out a bag of cubed bread.  I threw some cubes far away, yet closer each time and a gull whisked a cube from my hand only to fly away lest I decide to change my mind and keep the morsel for myself.  What fun they were.   

Taking off my sandals, I pushed my toes deep into the warm sand - how soothing that felt.  I reached down and lifted up a handful of sand, watching it gently fall to the ground in a long stream of golden grains.  Creation amazed me.  And some people don't believe in miracles - everything before me was a perfectly beautiful miracle.  What a blessing!

The sound of the waves beckoned me to the waters edge. As they slapped against my legs I descended deeper into the warm waters.  I imagined myself to be like a little marshmallow in a nice warm cup of chocolate.  But as I lightly floated about, this liquid was as clear as the sky above.  Tiny ocean life that could easily fit inside a thimble fluttered about in their massively-spacious home.  In the distance I could make out a coral reef that was stunningly beautiful.  Ah, more miracles to behold. 

As I looked up I could see the little sailboats making way for a giant of the ocean, a huge ship.  Even though the sailboats were small, distance has a way of making everything conform to just the right size.  It was like a beautiful painting alive with motion.

Suddenly a beach ball landed near my chair. A little boy and girl hurried to retrieve it and ran to the waters edge only to toss it back and forth gently, at first, but more daringly with each toss.  The parents looked on with smiles and called out to the children that it was time to leave.  I could tell that the children did not want to leave but the father promised them an outing again the following weekend and that seemed to appease them.

I noticed that the sand seemed to record the day's activities.  There were little hills and valleys where people had scooped up handfuls of sand.  Shoe or foot imprints ran in all directions and the beautiful sand castles created an artistic side that I often admired but had never tried. Maybe next time.  But like an eraser to chalk on a blackboard, I knew these markings in the sand would all be swept clean by the waves and readied for yet another day's mapping of joyful activity.

Looking at my watch, I realized that it was time for me to leave and, like the children earlier that day, I did not really want to go.  But there would always be next time and so that made leaving bearable.  I gathered everything together and walked toward my car.  Placing my bag inside, I looked back to view the beauty of the sun starting to set.  It caressed the water with it's brilliance as it had done all day, but the colors were spectacular at setting sun.

Heading back to the busy pace of daily life, I can smile with joy because, just like my adventure today, I know that my next adventure with God's miracles is just down the road...waiting for me to notice. 

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Music by Margi Harrell    Photo © Karen Sarnecki