A Mini Adventure

I haven't told you guys yet about our trip to the beach on Sunday! It was unplanned. I just got home from church and realized that I couldn't stay in our little shoebox with three bickering children. Not without losing my last shred of sanity, anyway. So I said, "Hey! Who wants to go to the beach?" Mark had been sleeping all morning, but he pulled himself awake to come with us, and we set out. I make that sound simple. It's never simple to just pick up and go with three kids, although I must say it's far easier than when they were babies! It only took us about an hour and a half to get ready, and then we were on the road.

We had a great time. I took the kids to the tide pools I discovered on my recent days off. They loved them, as I knew they would. It was far less relaxing for me, though, as I had to be always one step behind Brendan, who has far more confidence in his ability to jump and climb than is necessarily warranted! He climbed and climbed and had a blast for the longest time before turning his attention to building volcanoes in the sand, freeing me up to lay out on a blanket and read another couple of commentaries on Chekhov.

After an hour and a half or so, we headed up into town, popping into a store or two. I subsidized Kaitlyn's purchase of a necklace with a flip flop charm on it. Mark bought a couple of skull rings to add to his collection. Alex picked out a collection of miniature dinosaurs, and Brendan (after trying hard to talk me into several more expensive purchases) settled on a light up rubber blowfish. Eight dollars later, we left the store, treasures in hand.

When we started to get snappy with each other, I realized that it was time for food. DQ ice cream left Kaitlyn sick rather than better so I popped into IGA for some fried chicken from the deli. The color returned to her face as she ate. (Like mother, like daughter, eh?)

We didn't get home until bedtime, and we were all beat, but it was worth it. I guess it's characteristic of my myopic viewpoint that I cannot imagine how people live in the landlocked states. I suppose they get used to it. Maybe I would, too--but I doubt it. When we went to visit Mark's mom in Idaho, I'd drive along those long straight stretches and feel like surely some giant bird was about to come and pluck me off the face of the earth, and no one would ever be the wiser. It was unsettling, being so tiny in the middle of nowhere. The ocean, magnificent as it is, is a border to be, almost like a father defending a powerless daughter. It's awe inspiring, but soothing, a wet bear hug from God.

Okay, now I'm sure you all think I'm insane so I'd better quit before I get myself committed. Besides, Alex seems to think I need to drive him to school ...