sweet sanibel memories...

blissful perfection...

utter paradise...

complete peace...

i want to go back.....

theses are the phrases that still float lazily through my mind as i close my eyes
and think back to our two-week vacation that we returned from a week ago...

it could not have been better
 and it could not have meant more to us

it was complete perfection all wrapped up in a coconut scented beach towel
still warm from the hot sun

but re-entry into reality once we arrived home was brutal

really brutal

we dragged our tanned toes
and dug in our sand-softened heels
reluctant to let the world back in to the beach life we had
so grown accustomed to and fell in love with

so i cling daily to the sweet memories of our perfect little island getaway...

~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~ ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~ 

as always ~ it was emotional for me to return to our beloved little island

we always tell each other how it feels like we're going home again

once that ocean breeze washes over our faces through the open windows of the car

as we cross over the causeway

once on the island

we hear 

the rustling of the palm leaves

the waves washing up on shore 

the tinkling of shells as the waves tug them back across the wet sand

the hum of air conditioners

the crunch of flip flops on crushed shell beach paths

we smell 

the saltiness of the ocean

the sweetness of the beach

coconut suntan lotion

and

flowering jasmine bushes

we feel

free

lazy

irresponsible

close to God

grateful

and

peaceful

we were blessed to spend 14 days in glorious sunshine

beaming from cloudless azure skies

the temps ranged from the 70s during the evening to 86 during the day
with the famous florida humidity level as low as we've ever experienced it at 30%

talk about heavenly weather....

(sigh..!)

we shared cups of sweetened java in the morning while reading the local paper
with the ever present ocean calling to us through the porch screens

 our vitamin d therapy sessions lasted from 10 am to 4pm  ~

reading,
taking long walks on the beach,
capturing 300+ photos,

meeting new friends from all over the world,
sharing glasses of fatcat♥happydog wine,
happy to kick back with debbie and jim who met us down there mid-vacation ~

we felt truly blessed to just "be" together ~

my sweet hubby and me
with two of our best friends

rog and me

debbie and jim awaiting their first sunset on sanibel

my spot in the sun

what we read:  "sailing faith; the long way home" by our friend, gregg granger - a definite summertime must-read that you can pick up at faithofholland.com. 

rog catching dinner

jim snoozing in the shade

debbie sharing a moment with God

we spoke of goals,

prayed for our future,

shared invigorating and insightful discussions with deb and jim

about our faith, the rapture, and our relationship with God,
and spent endless hours just sitting and listening to the ocean waves
trying to soak up that beautiful sound into our being
and carry it home in our heart

i was so glad to be able to share it all with debbie ♥
knowing everything that she's been through in the past few months

 we grilled in many evenings instead of spending the big bucks on dinner out -
and with a "chef" for a husband
i certainly wasn't going to complain!

the view couldn't have been any better in a restaurant...

 we did eat out at our favorite restaurant one evening
to celebrate hubby and my birthdays

we all gorged ourselves on
fresh spinach salads, hot wings, bungalow bread, grouper, and crab cakes
and washed it down with margaritas ~
(and jim and debbie surprised us with a birthday key lime pie complete with a candle)

jimmy decided to get a little frisky during dessert.....hmmmm....must have been something in that pie...

the old birthday couple

 evenings were always spent taking the beach path to hang out on the shore,
share a glass of wine,
and wait for the spectacular sunset
that God sent to us each night
filling the sky with his love

our hearts may belong on this old farm ~
but the ocean has stolen our souls...

...and we can hardly wait to return to sanibel's warm embrace next year...

 to share more beach memories with debbie and jim

{ hugs }

♥

p.s.  be sure to check back soon!

heaven's walk first giveaway is on the horizon

and i know you'll love it!

xo