Daytona Beach 2010

Before I tell you what an amazing time we had at the beach last week, I am going to confess that I am feeling very blessed. I am well aware that many of you who read my blog and/or chat with me may see the struggles that I have going on. And there are a few of them. But I am very settled into this Land of Denial and see no point in mentally going anywhere else. I am content with how my days are and I am hopeful that the covering of protection that God has placed on my little family will continue.
Back to the vacation. It was wonderful. It was relaxing. It was exactly what we needed. A HUGE thank-you to my Mother in Law for arranging all those tedious details and welcoming us along. I cannot tell you how much this meant to us.

Both girls were wonderful. Just plain wonderful. The drive was close to 8 hours and I am not lying when I say the girls laughed, played and slept for 7 and a half of those hours...both ways. And when they became fussy I brought out the secret weapon that Chad cringed at. A harmonica. Seriously, I grabbed it at the Cracker Barrel and tossed it to Linley when Piper began to make her presence known and both girls LOVED it. It was definitely worth the $4. Even Chad agrees. At least he does now.

Linley was awesome in the water. I have been telling her that the "armies" (arm floats) were not available for her when she turned 5 and she has been quietly but constantly arguing with me about that injustice. And yet, once Chad and I got her in the water, she took off. Seriously, just began swimming, eyes opened and underwater. I was so very impressed but not surprised. She is a very impressive kid after all. By the end of our 5 day stay she was going the pool length and jumping off the sides. Piper on the other hand was not quite the fish her sister was. She liked being in her float for oh, 62 seconds. And then she wanted to be walking around which she is just not that good at so it was wet and she was loud but she definitely did like the splashing about and all those people who chatted with her.

My mother in law was an angel and kept the girls each afternoon during Pipers nap. She and Linley would curl up with a movie and Chad and I and sometimes Laura (my sister in law) would head down to the pool or the lazy river and may or may not have sipped on some very lovely "grown-up" drinks. All in all it was a great trip and I am so blessed to have been able to go. What with Pipers fever, Linley needing to miss school, Chad and his hectic schedule, it was touch and go for a minute but we did it. Thank you God!