A Week of Blessings

I love when God's blessings come in ways you just don't expect. A few months ago my daughter's boyfriend had invited us to come on vacation with his family. Each year they rent a house on a beach and the entire extended family goes. Apparently, one set of grandparents wouldn't be able to be there so they had an extra room.

I have to be honest and say relaxation is very difficult for me. I always have a hundred things that I can be doing and even when I do get a few days away, part of each day is spent in doing some sort of work. So having an entire 5 days away was going to seem a bit lazy to me.

Also, I truly was feeling a bit overwhelmed and awkward crashing another family's vacation. I'm fairly outgoing but when I'm in social situations where I'm the only outsider I feel extremely uncomfortable. But I also knew they were graciously accepting us and my daughter really wanted us to come. 

So we went ahead with the plans to go and I am so thankful I did. First of all, they are such a wonderful family and were so welcoming, kind and and generous. I was put at ease right from the beginning. I feel like I gained new friends and Ryan's mom and I connected well.

We were able to enjoy a vacation we never would have been able to afford on our own. The house was on a semi-private beach and it was the first time I had ever been to an empty beach without crowds. In fact, most days I was the only one in the water.

There were gorgeous views in the morning and at night. Before we left yesterday morning I was able to capture the sunrise as well as a pod of dolphins feeding and that was amazing!

I was very thankful they didn't show up while I was in the water!

But the highlight of the entire week was this moment!

We are gaining a new member of the family and couldn't be happier!

Dan and I realized that this was the first "real" vacation we had been on since the boys were little. It was also a wonderful time for he and I to connect both as we traveled there and back and had time in the water and on the beach together. 

God is good and I am thankful.