Florida Summer Vacation

It felt a little bit like coming home.  The palm trees welcomed us and waved to us from

 the hot Florida sky. We were familiar with the landscape and temperature.  The humid air didn't take us by surprise this time.  We knew our way around and in no time at all, we bound ourselves to the reason
for our travels - VACATION!! 

Unhurried, unplanned, numerous hours with no agenda.  Our plans were simply to relax and make memories.  This was our fifth visit to this vacation spot.  With no hesitation, we proclaim it as one of our family favorites. Braided in with our very familiar spots were a few new places. 

Anna Maria Island was a new, wondrous location to bask in the warm gulf water, play volleyball on the soft sand, and be awed by the beauty of the setting sun over the ocean. 

We plaited our old favorites with new favorites, resulting in a perfect combination.  We fished, we ate good food, we drank yummy tropical drinks, we searched the shore for perfect shells. 

Each of us tried to capture as much as we could from every

sun-soaked hour. We woke up expectant and went to bed happy and tired out.

 Six days didn't feel like enough, but we enjoyed

every moment of sandy feet under tables, wet towels littering the floors,  sweaty sunscreened faces,

dripping bathing suits exchanged for sundresses and tank tops, empty tummies topped off with

delicious Gumbo Limbo fare.  

After a day of smooth travel back home (and one lost camera), we have all declared

that we cannot wait until we get to go back...

once again.  

We love you Florida!  

 
 



One of my favorite little books is

"Miss Rumphius"

It is a tale of a sweet lady named Alice, who spreads

beauty around her 

and makes

the world a more beautiful place.

The kids and I read it all the time.

Largely because of this story, the lupine has become one of my favorite flowers.

It borrows a tropical vibe from flowers grown in a much wetter

climate than ours, yet still offers vibrantly colored blossoms spurred on by our

hot

Colorado sun.

When we were in Aspen last weekend, I was delighted to see

fields of lupines all around the town. 

Every corner we turned brought another variety and color

of the flower.

As we walked around I was reminded of

Alice Rumphius

and one of her purposes in life...

to make the world a more beautiful place.

She spread seeds of lupines so that

they grew all over the hillsides that surrounded the places

that she lived.

She shared this beuaty with others as they got to

enjoy the flowers that she planted.

What if she had sown weeds?  Or nothing at all?

What if she had not had a purpose that involved anyone but herself?

She wanted to bless others

 and make their world a more beautiful place.

I want nothing less for my own life.

Galatians 5:22-23



commercial break

We interrupt this summer

with a

broken arm.