Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Beach breathing.....


During vacation a couple weeks ago
I kept a journal of sorts whiling away my days on the beach.
I logged my thoughts and feelings 
on scraps of paper, backs of magazines, 
and in a small pad of paper I found tucked away in my purse.

I find myself returning to that little journal
time and time again
when I need to escape,
to regroup,
and to feel close to God.

This is an excerpt from that beloved journal.

~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~ 

I plant my feet deep in the sand and lift my face to the morning sun.
I feel God's warm embrace.




I hear him calling to me in the splashing of the waves on shore.




The wind tousles my hair around my eyes


and I


am in


His heaven.


My soul drinks up the moment and savors it ~
holding it close to my heart...
wanting never to forget.


I hear people walking by
sharing memories with each other
of happy times spent on this beach in years past,
and I open my tear-filled eyes to see
shimmering diamonds on liquid blue.



A father holds his baby daughter as he wades into the water
picking up shells to show her.
His young son yells "Look, Daddy!  Look at what I made!"
as he points to a sandcastle perched at water's edge.



Velvety gray dolphins rise out of the water around a boat
making it's way across the bay.
They jump and play tag in the frothy wake.
The boaters slow and call out to them.


As an osprey floats overhead and settles in the Australian pines that embrace the rustling palms, 
pelicans hover by just inches above the surface of the ocean.
Little sandpipers scurry along the shoreline
searching for a snack in the wet, glistening sand.



I breathe in the warm, salty air....

and sigh.




This is God's embrace.


This is where I can truly see him
feel him
hear him.

I breathe deeply and close my eyes.

I lift my face,
spread my arms...

and



begin to dance...


{ Hugs }




Thank you, sweet Kerrie, for reminding me...


{Linking with the lovely Linky Parties posted on my sidebar toward the bottom.
You can get to each one by clicking on the buttons!}

42 comments:

  1. Dear Laurie ~ Your written passages along with your photographs are so beautiful and enlightening! Thank you for sharing something so personal. xox

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  2. So pretty and beautiful in spirit. Thank you, Laurie. Have a wonderful day!
    xoxo~Tracie

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  3. This is a lovely post, Laurie. I feel many of the same things when I'm by the ocean. It feels like a step closer to heaven!

    XO,
    Jane

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  4. Laurie,

    What a beautiful post! You have such a sweet spirit! I love to go out in the wee early hours when we are at the beach and feel God's presence. It's awesome!
    Love your new profile picture! Great tan :)
    XO~
    Michelle

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  5. Great feelings darling !! god is great .....love him with whole my heart....xxx...

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  6. I too feel closest to God on the seashore. You have described it so well. The depths of the majestic sea pulls me into the depths of his love for us. It is a holy experience.

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  7. Beautiful, Laurie- I knew we were kindred spirits...that is where I feel the closest to God too! The ocean calls my name ALL the time..and the closest I can come here is the crashing waves of Lake Michigan or Lake Superior. I read your prose with a smarting in my eyes and a lump in my throat. I love you, my good friend. I am living your Florida vacation through your words and pictures until I can return to the shore myself! xxoo Diana

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  8. A lovely post. Such stunning shots.
    Best Carolyn

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  9. I'm telling you sis! you should write a book! Your pictures, and writings are so inspiring..they should be shared with many more people.
    The best post yet!!!
    Love you!
    Debbie

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  10. So beautiful Laurie! I always feel closer to God when I am enjoying the beauty he has created in this world. xx

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  11. Oh Laurie this is absolutely wonderful! Your thoughts and photos are what the sea is all about, about how He made this for us and how He reaches out to us. It is by the sea that I feel the closet as well and give thanks to Him for all that He gives and show us. It is amazing how much our eyes, ears and hearts are opened when we feel at peace. :)
    I so agree with Debbie that you should write a book of inspiration such as this.
    Hugs to you sweets!

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  12. Goodness Laurie this is absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!! I just LOVE IT!!!! What an inspiring way you have of writing and taking photos... just wonderful!! Thanks for sharing your other post at FNF! :) Love this!! Hugs, Courtney

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  13. Oh, Laurie. Was so glad to see your post. I've missed you! This post was very beautiful. I think your beach visions, with photos, would make a beautiful book! Susan

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  14. Laurie, not only are your photos gorgeous, but your words are amazing! You are a poet for sure! I, too feel closer to God while walking along the shore. I almost felt as if i were right there with you as I read your post:) Hubby and I are near Mt. Rushmore tonight, enroute to Washington State. God's creation is truly amazing!

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  15. It must be looking at the sea and realizing He created this vastness, and yet His eye is on little old me, and His great heart is overcome with love for me, that makes being at the shore one of the easiest places to feel Him and talk to Him!

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  16. Laurie, your pictures of the island are breathtaking and I love the thoughts you put out for us to enjoy. thank you for sharing your journal. Very inspiring.

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  17. Really beautiful post and photographs! Happy Good Life Wednesday :O)

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  18. i love your beach photos!!
    cheryl : )

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  19. Beautifully written! Thanks for sharing your journal and shots.It too feel more at peace and closer to Him when I am near the sea. He has given us such beauty to enjoy.

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  20. When I am awed, I sigh and then say "thank you."
    Joyce M

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  21. Absolutely Beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

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  22. Laurie, my eyes actually teared up reading your beautiful, touching words and looking at your amazing photographs. Truly heaven on earth. Thank you for sharing...

    So glad you were able to get to some projects that were held hostage by the winter months! Enjoy!

    Donna

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  23. What a lovely heart-touching post! Glad you added your link to the party, thanks for joining in at Beach Cottage Good Life Wednesdays.

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  24. What a wonderful post! I enjoyed looking at your photos. I always feel a calm come over me when I am at the beach. It has healing powers that's for sure. Thanks for sharing.

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  25. This is lovely! Hope to see u at My Dream Canvas.

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  26. Beautiful post Laurie!
    I love visiting you...I always leave smiling!

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  27. What a beautiful post Laurie. I love all of your pictures and the poetic way your words captured the way you were feeling. I think being close to the ocean and enjoying all of it's sights and sounds is almost heavenly ♥

    ~Tricia

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  28. Hi Laurie, Love the Beautiful photos from your trip, I'm sure You & Debbie have Memories to Last Forever.....
    Cheryl

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  29. Hi Laurie ~

    Hope you had a wonderful escape. Those photos of the shore are so serene. Reminds me of Seaside, FL. I wonder if you stopped in my town for a yummy dinner on your way south. Let me know when you have time.

    Ciao bella,
    Suzanne

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  30. Hi,
    Just popping over from Sarah's Good Life Wednesday. It is lovely to meet you.

    Fondly,
    Glenda

    Gg - Notes on the Journey
    Good Life Wednesday #46

    ps. beautiful photos and equally beautiful words.

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  31. Calling by as an Outdoor Wednesday Participant to share a piece of your world, what a beautiful post this was to enjoy.

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  32. What a lovely post. The pictures are an amazing display of God's splendor. Sanibel is one of my favorite places.

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  33. Hi Laurie, welcome back!!! You have been missed! This post is just beautiful! So glad you had such a wonderful time with your hubs. Kevin and I are off to Hawaii next week; hope it's as wonderful as your vacation.
    ~ Julie

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  34. Fabulous post and pictures. Thanks for sharing it!!!
    xo
    lynn

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  35. Hey Sweetie! You write so beautifully, my friend... I felt like I was right there with you on the beach, taking in all that you took in. Thank you for this breath of fresh air! :)
    Happy weekend!
    xoxo,
    Jo

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  36. You have touched my heart with your beautiful words and pictures of Sanibel Island. . .a most special place. Hope you will be able to go back again soon. Thank you for sharing.
    ~ Vickie

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  37. Hi there Laurie~ Love this all over again... Such a beautiful post! Thanks for sharing it at my party! :) Hugs, Courtney

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  38. beautifully written...and I would love to jump into those photographs.....

    xo+blessings,
    Anne Marie

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  39. Amen Laurie,

    Such words of beauty, I teared up reading your soft spoken words! Words The Lord heard clearly, written in that sweet journal, a passage perhaps, a strong women of faith you are, may the tears of God Praise You!!!

    Thank you for your visit to my place, without God I could not create! and with his word it is beauty! That being said my friend I thank you for your visit, it brought me to you this Sunday morning where I have read sweet words over here that will carry me through the day :)
    xoxo
    Dore
    PS. I will share this with my aunt as soon as I make a call to her!

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Bless you and thank you for visiting! I read each of your comments and treasure them all. So, please make sure your settings will accept emails, or leave your email address so that I can reply! ♥ Laurie