The past couple years have been different for me since I had a hard time finding much time to get ready to pack for spring break since I’m teaching and coaching and BUSY ALL day long! After having my radiation and chemo, my memory you know has been struggling a bit, so I try not to spend too much time looking too far a head, because I’ll forget ANYWAY! When we were a couple days away from leaving I started to panic a bit. Trying to make sure we had all we needed for our trip and getting everything finished at school, and taking a look at what to expect when I get back. UGH! But, I was so thankful. The Lord gave me all the energy I needed and direction that I only had to really buy one thing I forgot when we got there – not bad!
We had most all of our stuff packed up and ready to go on Saturday morning driving all the way to Tallahassee. I had my Chemo pills with us so I could take them at night on the way and the first few days we were there. I thank the Lord as I take the pills and I am thankful that He has sustained and enabled me in so many ways even when I’m taking those 5 days a month. The Lord has been so faithful and good to me. I am blessed.
Once we got to Marco Island, we got out of the car and excited that it felt pretty good outside. Have to laugh because, it got cooler and was definitely too cool for me to be swimming. The clouds were busy covering up the sun a bunch while we were there and so it make it very cold by the ocean. Those of us who don’t live close to this water beauty the Lord made, we are amazed to just sit and look at it. I have to admit, with everything the Lord has done for me, I get tears in my eyes all the time. “Lord who am I that I get to see this? Who am I that you have called me to be your child? Who am I that I am able to be with you? Who am I that you desire to use my life to bring others to you? Lord, humbled. Lord you are big, great and for people to miss you…. they are missing out on so much…. no they are missing EVERYTHING!”
One of the highlights for me while there, was getting to see my Aunt Helene and Uncle Dick. They came down to see us and eat lunch with us one day. They are such giving people and are so good to encourage us and make us laugh. Dick is a great fisherman but, we weren’t able to fish with him this time. But, being able to see family we don’t get to see much, is such a gift. (Again – tears). We were able to see them again when we drove closer to where they are for a few months in the winter. So glad!
When we first walked down to the beach…I saw something. First thing I saw. Yes this pink shell. I had a lady ask me if I have breast cancer and I explained to her what I had been diagnosed with. Course I give her the quick version and what I understand! I don’t know every thing! Why pink? Well a long time ago when I started coaching, I wanted to show my girl players that we could go out on the field and play hard and aggressive, but then we could come off the field and be ladies. That was ok and I chose to demonstrate that starting with my pink color. So now you know why I do pink everywhere and why my pink shell was so awesome!
We spent time at the ocean walking and enjoying the sand. It’s amazing how the wind can affect the temperature and how much colder it gets when there aren’t any trees or buildings around to cut the wind down. Scott enjoyed running by the water, Nathan enjoyed building in the sand with everyone and the girls enjoyed taking pics! Garrett just walked around and explored a bit. It’s fun to see the kids hanging out and conversing with one another. Nathan’s biggest negative – his sunburn! You would think I would know better – I do, yet because it was cloudy the first couple of days, I didn’t think too much about sunblock. Nathan didn’t care about the coolness, and he was burned for a few days 🙁
While we were there I was able to celebrate my 28th bday! I’m feeling a bit older and I am blaming the chemo….ha! But, Scott and the kids blessed me with great meals and a sweet Key Lime Pie cupcake thing. I have to admit, I ate key lime pie 3 times this week!!!!! Geez.
I also loved seeing all the dolphins there. The first team Abbey and Ashton were on were called the dolphins. I ended up doing a bunch of research on their personalities and characteristics and I loved the idea of what a dolphin is and what a great mascot for a team. So everywhere we went I was reminded and thankful for all the girls I have been blessed to coach and how much that has meant to me in my life. Love you girls!
One of the fun things we were able to do was to see the dolphin Winter from Dolphin Tale. Really neat to just be reminded that so many people and animals undergo difficulties, taken down in the waves….and how we deal with them has such impact – good or bad. Looking at Winter without her tail and knowing that her people friends provided what she needed, here she is now living her life and impacting others. A dolphin is doing this… so what are we doing to effect the lives of others and to build them up? The new dolphin there is named Hope….and her signs were in pink…..so I had to take pics!
When I think back to memories of my childhood, getting away and experiencing something, is one of the easiest and most cherished memories I have. I love seeing the kids interact, I love watching Scott enjoy time away and seeing us laugh while we do things we don’t normally get to do. Vacations away are a gift full of memories.
Where we stayed we were able to watch the sunrise from our room and set outside our front door. I’ve never had the opportunity to see both so well. I admit I was in awe of the Lord as both pieces of art were seen everyday. To think the Lord gives us a daily wake-up to see Him and know Him… and yet so many of us miss Him in it. I know in my own life there have been plenty of times where I have not been focused on Him and been “too busy” doing things. Sometimes it’s not being too busy, it’s being to comfortable and relaxed that I allow the devil to speak lies into my life and I miss what the Lord desires for me to hear and do.
As I said, I have been reading through the lives of Saul and David in the Old Testament. I am reminded so much of what living for yourself looks like and where it gets you or what humbling yourself before God looks like and desiring Him for each and every step you take – amazing difference. King David didn’t live a perfect life, but he desired to follow the Lord in everything he did – the Lord called him His own and blessed him, and us with Jesus who came from David’s line.
I have not been a crier like I am now. But, one of the greatest gifts the Lord has given me through this battle is a warrior’s heart, dependent on the Lord and filled with His Hope each and everyday. I get emotional just thinking about what He has done for me and through me. He reminds me so often to believe what He has said and live this Truth steady in the wind as I hold on and believe in Him! As I read my Facebook history for today from 9 years ago…. the Lord reminded me that He has been walking with me and preparing me for years…. for the battle I am in. He has been SO good to me.
