prayer – Sew Beach Life

Going Forth

I have felt my eyes tear up at Mass on more than one occasion, and generally it is due to the moving words and music of a beloved hymn. Sometimes it is a remark or observation during a homily that hits particularly close to home. Obviously I have cried at funeral Masses, but I don’t recall tears dripping down my face and quickly ripping off my mask while hurrying to the car so that I can cry in private. Until today.

Today was Fr. Jonathan’s last Sunday Mass at our parish. I love Fr. Jonathan, and will really miss having him here. The end of June is when Bishops transfer priests within their diocese to fill the needs in other parishes. Perhaps a priest is retiring, or the needs of a parish are greater than one priest can handle. Perhaps the gifts a priest possesses are greatly needed at another parish. This is the time of year that the transfers happen.

When we first moved to Florida, and temporarily lived in the middle of the state, we attended the local Catholic church that my parents had attended when they lived there. There wasn’t a big sense of belonging, because we knew that we were only living in that city for a short time. When we bought our home, but hadn’t closed on it yet, we began our search for a Catholic church in the area.

It may seem funny that we didn’t bother looking for a new doctor or dentist, hairstylist or barber, restaurants or stores, but rather began researching our new town by looking for a church. I guess it kind of shows how important a church family is to a Catholic. We looked up the Catholic churches in the area, and I chose our church as the first to visit because it also had a school. To me, this was a sign that the church was invested in nurturing families. So we got up early on Sunday and made the long drive over to our soon-to-be new county, and went to Mass.

Fr. Jonathan presided over that Mass, and that was it. There was no need to visit the other Catholic churches in the area, this was the one, this was home. His passion and sincerity, his homilies that make you think, that speak to your heart, that inflame you with the Holy Spirit. His reverence for the Body of Christ, all of it, and in a young man not much older than our children. His preaching is truly inspired, and even guests who have gone to Mass with us have commented on the power in his words.

This, this is why I cried after saying a quick goodbye after Mass. Because of CoVid 19 social distancing, we couldn’t hug Father, or even shake his hand.

After a particularly inspiring homily last year, I recall asking him after Mass if he had ever considered videotaping Mass, or at least his homilies. He quizzically asked me, “Why?” When I perhaps awkwardly explained that I would like to be able to share it with people on social media, he commented that there are others so much more qualified than he, who already had such things available. And that the church didn’t really have the equipment to do such a thing. Little did anyone know that just a year later everyone would have to adapt to livestreaming Mass!

Fortunately, we’ve been able to attend Mass in person this past month. It seemed so disorienting at first. As per the CDC guidelines, every other pew is blocked off. We have to wear masks, and aren’t allowed to sing, so there’s no music. We can wave or bow to others, but not shake hands for the sign of peace. There are tape marks and arrows on the floor to follow when going to Communion, and sections are color coded to guide people to separate exit doors after Mass.

It’s quite different than normal, but it is SO GOOD to be able to receive the Body of Christ again! It’s funny how something that we probably took for granted for years became so missed during the months we had to stay at home. You certainly realize how going to Mass on Sunday really sets you up for the week.

During his homily, Fr. Jonathan reflected on the apostles being sent forth on their mission. Bishops send their priests forth on new missions when they relocate them to a new parish. We have to have faith and follow God’s will to go where we are needed. Even when it feels challenging to leave self behind, we have to trust and look forward to what God has planned for us. Easier said than done, huh?

So it’s sad to have said goodbye, but I am excited for the people who will now benefit from Father Jonathan’s encouraging words. And I know that God will certainly bless him for sharing his faith. Life can feel scary with all the changes and disruptions in our lives lately. But God loves us, He has a plan, and no matter how crazy the outside world may seem, we need to focus on the big picture, share our faith, and stay on the path that leads us to our final goal- eternal life in Heaven with Jesus.

Note: this photo was taken on Easter a couple years ago, before the church was repainted, and before social distancing was a thing. Sadly, I don’t have any recent photos of our church to share.

How Are You Starting This Lenten Season?

During Bible study this week, we got off on a bit of a tangent. This is not an unusual thing, 😉 as we almost always run a bit long due to one discussion or another! When our study first started, I used to feel a little impatient when we would get off subject, because I wanted to focus on what we were studying that week, what we were “supposed to” learn. As the weeks went by, I realized that these off topic conversations were also helping us grow. Sometimes it was a question about our faith, sometimes it was a personal story, sometimes it was noting how God touched our lives, or the lives of someone we know. The discussions gave everyone the opportunity to learn more about others in our group, have questions answered, and the impact that we, as Catholics, can have upon our world.

This week, our study started off with a conversation about Lent. Which is quite fitting, since today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. We all know that Lent is a time of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. A penitential season to prepare for the joyful Easter season. Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are ways to help us grow in self-control.

When you think about it, a lack of self-control is what can lead us into sin and unhappiness. Sometimes we let anger dictate our actions, then end up saying or doing things that we regret. Learning to bite your tongue, and not lash out in anger is a valuable skill set! Taking a moment to collect your thoughts so that you can have a conversation and calmly discuss what is on your mind generally leads to a much better outcome. Whether we struggle with food, alcohol or drugs, casual sex and the “hook up” culture, gossiping or lying, or any of the other vices, we can work to increase our self-control, and overcome the addictive behavior.

We may enjoy snacks or sweets, or just plain struggle with the desire to eat more than what our body needs. I tried a toffee recipe a couple of weeks ago, and it turned out so perfectly delicious! Dan is not really a fan of toffee, so of course that left me to eat all of it. As I finished up the little container last night, I knew that I had consumed far too much sugar. My body didn’t feel great, and it was a great reminder that I need to have more self-control. Despite how great it tasted, I definitely shouldn’t have eaten all that sugary, buttery, chocolate deliciousness.

It’s a wonderful example of the struggles we all face with over-consumption. Whether we love shopping for shoes, or playing violent video games, or listening to music with demeaning lyrics, or watching movies that are truly a waste of our time and brainpower. Whenever we use “any means necessary” to win a game or a promotion, no matter who gets hurt in the process, we are really hurting ourselves, and our relationship with God the most.

That is why we have a conscience, to remind us when we’re straying down a path we shouldn’t be on. We don’t have to be like everybody else, to not speak up about something we know is wrong, out of fear of “offending” someone. That is not to say to be mean or judgemental. But we can be a reminder of goodness. We can let Christ’s light shine through us. We can pray for, and exhibit, and encourage others to use self-control.

Lent is a wonderful opportunity to pray, reflect on our faith life, to really focus on self-control and grow in prayer, and in our relationship with God. How are you starting this Lenten season? Would you like to join me in working on self-control? I encourage you to go to Mass, to seek out the sacraments, to fast and abstain, to read The Bible and join a Bible study, to take advantage of this opportunity to increase your faith.

Merry Beachy Christmas!

One of my friends in Michigan commented on Facebook yesterday that it didn’t “feel like Christmas” because it was 50*F, rather than snowy and cold. Others quickly chimed in, and were either happy that it was (comparatively speaking) so warm, or disappointed that it wasn’t expected to be a snowy white Christmas.

For those of us who live where the weather is warm this time of year, we are enjoying the beautiful sunshine and appreciating the unique ways people decorate for the season. I am frequently astounded at the fun, beautiful, and creative sand sculptures I see when walking the beach.

The nativity scene above not only includes Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus, but animals, shepherds, an angel, and the neighboring inn. I love the way that the sculptor made use of debris on the beach to create the beautiful Christmas scene. They took what was around them, what some might have ignored, or considered trash, and turned it into something beautiful, sharing their faith with others.

Holidays in general, and Christmas in particular, can sometimes feel challenging. It is a time when families and loved ones gather together to celebrate Christ’s birth. But if you’re mourning a loved one, or separated from family, or struggling financially, dealing with health issues, or feeling a little lost or overwhelmed, it might not feel like a happy time of celebration. We might think that we’re the only ones that feel this way. But I think we all have at least a few of these concerns on our minds.

I certainly miss my Dad, and his funny, sort of Bah Humbug! sense of humor (and matching Christmas hat). 🙂 I miss my grandparents, and their sweetness, and sense of fun and excitement to see and spend time with everyone.

I wish my daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter didn’t live so far away. And I wish that they could be here for Christmas. Who wouldn’t want to see the excitement on their grandchild’s face at Christmas? But we’ll have to make do with Facetime and photos. (Including slightly fuzzy Facetime photos!)

I think most of us have a financial or health concern of some kind. Whether it is our own finances or health, or concern for the struggles, and mental or physical health of people we care about.

I encourage you to look beyond, and let go of your struggles and concerns. Spend some quiet time in prayer. Remember why we celebrate Christmas. Because Jesus was born into this world to save us from our sins. We do not have to struggle through life alone. In fact, life is so much easier and better when we don’t!

When we reach out in love, with kindness for others, when we look for things to be grateful for, when we open our hearts and turn to God, relying on Him for hope and help, peace and joy start trickling into our life and heart. I encourage you to go to Mass, to let the beautiful Christmas hymns wash over you, and open your heart and ears to listening for God. He is always there, waiting to welcome you into His love. Give yourself the Christmas gift of the time and opportunity to feel that love.

Whether you are knee deep in snow, or strolling the sandy shores, I wish you a Merry Christmas wherever you are!

Ice And Sunlight

When you live in the midwestern United States, you get used to snow. Generally speaking, it snows all winter long. It starts with an occasional flurry in October. A Midwesterner knows that in all probability, your children are quite likely to need to wear a coat to go trick-or-treating on Halloween. This year there was a snowstorm across much of Michigan, so family and friends there stuck to indoor Trunk-or-Treating parties and events. The snow keeps coming all through the winter, well into April. And there’s no guarantee that there won’t be a freak snowstorm in May.

Ice storms are less frequent, but often produce spectacular results. When temperatures are on the edge of freezing and a storm blows through, it’s somewhere between rain and snow, and the ice coats everything. It makes for super dangerous driving, since the roads are literally covered with a sheet of ice. If you’re trapped at home and can’t drive anywhere until road crews can salt, and the sun warms everything enough to start melting, you might as well take a walk.

My daughter Jennifer, (who happened to be up visiting us in Michigan during an ice storm) and I went for a walk in the neighborhood. It was strangely quiet, since there were very few cars on the roads, and few people out in general. But every once in a while, we would hear a strange creaking noise, followed by a loud crack, and then a loud boom as a branch, heavily laden with ice broke off a tree and crashed to the ground.

As we walked along, we admired the strange, stark beauty of the thick coating of ice on the trees, shrubs, and plants in the neighborhood.

It was interesting to see how the thick layer of ice weighed the branches, leaves and berries down. Even thick branches arced down toward the ground. Once tall bushes looked much shorter, and any dead brown leaves still clinging, became frozen in place.

Do we become like that in our lives? Especially in our faith life? Somewhat frozen in place, sort of isolated?

Near others, but kind of stuck in our own little cluster?

If we look around, we can see the sun at work. Glistening and shining, melting the layers of ice, with light shining through the layer of ice that may be upon us. Maybe the path we’ve taken seems to be the end of a forking branch.

But you’re always connected to God’s family, and there is always another direction to go. God’s love is never-ending. The sun comes to melt away the ice, and His Son, Jesus, came to take away the sins of the world. No sin is too great, no sorrow too heavy if we hand it over to Jesus.

Even when we’re bent low with the weight of our troubles upon us, we can ask God for forgiveness, and look for a new path in life. We can pray and be strengthened. We can pray for others, whose burdens look heavy. We can lighten their load with every act of kindness we share. We can let God’s light shine through us, as we share the love of the Lord.

May you open your heart this advent season, and look with joy to the coming of the Lord, and sharing that joy with others.

All The Walls

We started stripping the wallpaper in our master bedroom yesterday. We’ve never cared for the grass-cloth wallpaper, it was on the walls when we moved in. Like most people, every house we’ve ever lived in has been a “fixer upper”. As time and budget allowed, we gradually improved each place, turning them into nicer homes.

Our old home of 20 years had wallpaper in nearly every room when we bought it. From a foil print velvet floral flocked wallpaper in the bathroom, to a brown vinyl textured in the living room and kitchen (which coordinated so nicely 😉 with the brown tile countertop with an impressed grassy plant design) to the burgundy vinyl “accent wall” and plush gray, carpet-like wallpaper in the master bedroom. It took me months to strip all the old wallpaper off, scrub down the walls to remove the glue residue, and prime and paint all the walls. But gradually, working on it on nights and weekends, I got it done, and really improved the look of our home.

When we first moved to Florida and stayed at my Mom’s old house for three months while we house-hunted, we started fixing it up for her. We replaced hardware and faucets, and installed a storm door on the back door. The rotten, shredding curtains were replaced with mini-blinds. And I stripped wallpaper. The ditsy patterned wallpaper in the kitchen was the first to go.

Then I moved on to the dining room and family room. The textured wallpaper was very thoroughly stuck, and bits of drywall came off when I peeled it off bit by bit. Which meant I had to do a lot of patching after spending days scrubbing all of the glue residue off.

Eventually I was able to prime and paint, and ended up with a cute dining area in which to eat and sew. Don’t judge- I’m sure I’m not the only one who works at their dining table! Speaking of sewing, my Grandmother made the seaside picture on the right of the photo using trapunto, a form of quilting popular back in the ’90s. It’s currently hung in our guestroom, and reminds me of the long line of sewists in our family.

When we moved to our new home, as soon as I finished cleaning, I started painting. I covered up the school bus yellow kitchen walls, and painted the sunroom, living room and office poo brown ceilings white. I scraped and scrubbed the elephant wallpaper border off the walls of Dan’s office, and painted over the deep red walls. Eventually I moved on to the main bathroom. The metallic copper colored walls and gold ceiling had to go. Along with the horrible wallpaper, which, one of my friends commented, looked like mold. 🙂

They must have used super strength glue, and obviously did not properly prep the walls before installing the wallpaper, because it came off in tiny little bits. Hundreds if not thousands, of tiny little bits.

Needless to say, after that time-consuming process, I didn’t even feel like tackling the grass-cloth in the master bedroom. So here we are, a year and a half later, finally ready to face the task of removing wallpaper once again. But this time I had help! Dan helped me peel and scrape off the grass-cloth. I started scrubbing off the residue, but it was getting late and I was tired. So I’m maybe a quarter of the way through scrubbing, and then I can move on to priming and painting. Yay! And phew!

All of this talk about working on the walls got me thinking about the walls in our lives. What kind of walls do we put up to hide, to avoid, to protect? Protective walls can be good. We all need shelter from the storms. But are we putting up walls to avoid people because we’re scared? Scared to talk to them? Scared to reach out in friendship, or deal with a relationship? Do we put up a wall to “block out” God? Are we scared to have faith? To consider depending upon someone other than ourselves? Are we afraid of what that faith, and relationship with God, with Jesus, might require of us?

Are you thinking of knocking down some of those walls? Of opening your heart and your mind to new relationships and possibilities? It’s easier than you think. Take one small step forward, crack open the door, throw open the window, and invite life in. Pray. It can be nothing more than a simple conversation, talking to God. But it can mean so much more. It can be the start, or the continuation, of an everlasting relationship. Are you ready to knock down some walls?

Offer It Up

Do you ever feel like you’re walking along, flowing through life, then someone says something rather profound, and you really feel it hit you? I don’t think that this is uncommon. For instance, as we are working through grief after the death of a loved one, a song, a smell, or a comment can easily transport us back to thoughts of that person. We think that we’ve bundled up that grief, packaged it tightly, and stuffed it into the back of our mind. Then that comment or thought floats across the surface, and it’s all brought back full force. Maybe slightly dulled, but definitely still there.

A few weeks ago I heard some very disturbing news from a family member. They were physically hurt, their immediate family is really struggling, and they do not see a clear path out of their problems. First of all, this breaks my heart because I love them. Secondly, I live 1,300 miles away, and can’t be there to give them a hug or try to help in some way. Other family lives nearby, so they aren’t alone or uncared for. But all I could do was call, listen, and pray for them. And of course, worry.

That worry must have been weighing on me more heavily than I realized. Sitting in Mass two weeks ago, Fr. Charles did something unusual. He paused before the consecration and asked everyone to “Place all your worries and troubles on the altar, and offer them as a sacrifice to the Lord.” Whoa! That hit me like a ton of bricks! And it was obviously the reminder I needed to quit my needless worrying. The tension in my shoulders eased and my heart felt instantly lighter. Tears sprang to my eyes and I tried desperately to blink them away.

How often does God put someone in your path to help you see things in a different way? How many reminders does it take for you to remember to pray and put your troubles in God’s hands? I can’t magically make everything better for everyone I love, no matter what I do. I can certainly do whatever I can to help, and I can definitely pray. But I need to remember that what I really need to do is to put it in God’s hands. To offer it up as a sacrifice to Him.

Yoga Class Fun

If you follow my blog for sewing, you’ve likely seen that I sew a lot of workout wear. It isn’t that I run, or spend hours at the gym because obviously, I don’t! But I do love going to yoga class. I’ve been practicing yoga for 16 years and besides walking the beach, it’s my favorite form of exercise. Like anything else that you practice regularly, the more you do it, the better you get. I’m certainly not perfect, but it’s fun when I feel like I’m able to get deeper into a pose than I used to. I’ve had some excellent yoga instructors over the years, and am happy that I’ve found a yoga studio with classes I enjoy, along with instructors and regular attendees who make me feel like I am part of a happy little tribe.

I’ve never been able to get photos while practicing, but all of the other “regulars” at Friday morning Ashtanga were on vacation, traveling, had work commitments, etc., so I was the only student. Ashley, my favorite Ashtanga instructor 🙂 asked if she could take some photos as we did class. I had to laugh when she said after class that she “felt like the paparazzi, trying to get all up in there, taking photos.” Hahahahaha! Since I am not some Hollywood movie star or otherwise famous, the paparazzi will never be taking photos of me, so I found this hilarious!

Ashley was discreet while photographing, so you’re not subjected to photos of my sweaty face, just my sweaty back! Just for fun, here are my yoga photos:

It was super exciting to me when I was first able to get my head down on the floor during wide legged forward folds.

My elbows feel like they’re pretty centered and vertical when I’m in twisted side angle, I’m almost to the center of my chest.

There are so many variations of forward folds.

I really like this photo, the lighting was pretty. Can you see the sweat dripping up my spine? And can you tell that I never take off my cross necklace? 🙂 I need to work on getting my palms together though.

My Grandpa taught me to stand on my head when I was a little girl, so this isn’t a big deal, since I’ve always been able to do it.

It’s fun to be able to pike out of a headstand too.

If you’ve thought about trying a yoga class, I hope you’ll give it a try. It isn’t all about being able to stand on your head. It’s more about breathing, and learning to control your breath and your responses to the stressors in life. It helps you build focus, along with strengthening and stretching your muscles. As I’ve heard more than once, it’s a yoga “practice”, not a yoga “perfect”. It is also a perfect time to pray. I manage a couple of Hail Mary’s during the opening mantra, and an Our Father during the closing mantra. Faith is an important part of life, and there’s never a bad time to pray. I enjoy adding prayer to my yoga practice as much as I enjoy a quiet prayer while walking the beach.

Exercise, eat healthy foods, and take care of your body and soul.

If you’re curious about my workout outfit, the tights are the GreenStyle Super G’s, although I did hack the side pocket panels in this pair a little bit. My workout top is the hack I did on the Stitch Upon A Time Titania Top, blogged here. The Supplex, Powernet, and plush bra strap elastic were all purchased from Phee Fabrics.

This post may contain affiliate links. This means that at no extra cost to you, I may receive a small commission/credit if you purchase through my links. As always, I only give my honest opinion, because after all, it is my blog, which represents me! 🙂

What Are You Thankful For?

We all have troubles, and things that worry us: physical limitations and health scares; jobs (or lack thereof) and money issues; and any number of situations and problems among our families and friends. But don’t let that become the focus of your life.

Focus instead on the wonderful things in life, the things that you are grateful for, the things that make you happy. I am thankful for my faith. Unbelievably thankful! Even when there are struggles, and bad situations, it calms me to know that in the end it will all be ok. I don’t have to worry, it is in God’s hands. And I am constantly reminded of the goodness in life.

I can see my neighbors flag flapping in the breeze, amidst the palm trees as the sun rises this morning. And I know that despite any political or partisan bickering and nonsense, that I am blessed to live in the greatest country in the world.

As I reminisce about my nephew David’s wedding a couple of weeks ago, I am grateful for my family. We all flew in from Florida, Colorado, and Tennessee, or drove across the state of Michigan to meet up and celebrate the marriage, and to welcome Caitlin into our family. It was so much fun to spend time with people I love, to laugh and be silly! Photo booths are designed to bring out the silliness, so you should just embrace it and have fun (which we obviously did!)

I am grateful for my sweet husband, and our unconditional love. For his good heart, his strength, and all his “handyman” skills. For his willingness to dive in, work hard, and get things done. Even after years of working together to turn our old “fixer upper” into a beautiful home, he wasn’t phased by the idea of tearing down a non-load bearing wall in our new “fixer upper” home to open up the kitchen. Of course this means we’re living in a bit of a construction zone. And since we don’t have the money to replace the flooring throughout our house, we’ll be living with a holey floor for the foreseeable future. But that’s ok. We have a roof over our heads, and each other!

I am thankful for my parents instilling me with a strong work ethic. I am grateful for the blessings of intelligence, for the creativity and sewing talents God chose to give me.

I am so grateful for my beautiful, wonderful children, and their spouse and fiancée. I love seeing my children happy and blessed with people that they love. And I’m so, so happy that my daughter and son-in-law brought the blessing of Lila into our lives. This sweet granddaughter of ours is such a joy! When we FaceTime, it’s so cute to hear her ask “Where’s Grandpa?” if he’s not nearby when I answer my phone. She loves to have you sing nursery rhymes over, and over, and over again. It’s so fun to hear her giggle and belly laugh uproariously when we do “This little piggy” for the twentieth time. And to hear her sweet little voice ask for “A, B, C!” so that she can (try to) sing the alphabet with me. I love her quick hugs, and slobbery “smooches”, and to hear her say “I love you” back to me. She fills our hearts with joy, and I am so grateful for every moment that we get to spend with her, whether it’s running in circles around the hotel, or last minute snuggles before we checked out.

Do you let the wonder and curiosity and joy of playing and running in circles into your life? Do you appreciate the awesome beauty of the world around you? Do you pray and place your troubles in God’s hands? Do you feed your faith by attending Mass, reading The Bible, and living a prayer-filled and grateful life? God, gratitude, and happiness go hand-in-hand. Open your heart, cast your troubles upon Him, and live!

The Positive Side

Sometimes when Dan and I go for a sunset walk, we know that we’re unlikely to see a pretty sunset. It may be an overcast cloudy day, or the skies are just gray and misty looking. Sometimes there is a large bank of clouds blanketing the horizon, so you know that the sun is unlikely to make an appearance.

That doesn’t stop us from walking, feeling the breeze on our skin, enjoying the sound of the waves, and breathing in the fresh salt air. It is therapeutic to walk out in nature, to absorb the beauty of God’s creation. Occasionally we’ll feel the need to quicken our pace, to hurry and try to “beat” an approaching rain shower.

We usually make it home long before the rain hits. Once in a while we are treated to a little shower when we have gotten too far from the park entrance and can’t make it back in time. Sometimes we’re pleasantly surprised when the sun peeks out or drops below a bank of clouds and we actually get to see the sun set.

When the world seems to be swirling around you, and you feel a bit overwhelmed, where do you turn? Are you grounded in your faith? Do you know, honestly know and trust that it will all be ok because God really is in control? It can be hard to do, because we like being in control, feeling like we have power over our world. And we do, because of free will. We choose the paths we take and are responsible for the consequences of our actions. That doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t have faith, and trust and lean on God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, to help and guide us. It’s more that when we feel overwhelmed that we do turn to God as our first line of help and support.

It can seem easier to turn toward the world, to hear that it’s not our fault, to “drown our sorrows” in unhealthy ways, be they alcohol, drugs, bad and dependent relationships, or whatever other source of fleeting pleasure, yet long-term sorrow or pain that we burden ourselves with. Know that you can always change. You can always open your heart, and let God in. There is always room for healing, for forgiveness, for moving forward into the light. You can let go of the burdens that you’ve been trying to carry on your own. They really do become lighter when they are shared.

Open your heart, listen, and pray. Look for the light and the beautiful sunsets. God is always there, always waiting and calling out for you.

A Little Help

My daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter flew down for a visit this week, so we took advantage of the beautiful weather and spent the day at the beach. We walked the beach, built sand castles, played in the ocean, and were enjoying the wonderful day.

A couple in their young thirties were walking past, and I complimented the gentleman on his cool track chair. I like seeing people who are differently abled have the tools and technology to be able to enjoy something we take for granted, like enjoying a day at the beach. He asked my husband and son if one of them would be willing to carry him into the water. He explained that he would drive his chair closer to the water so it wouldn’t be so far, and his wife demonstrated the proper lifting technique. Our son quickly stepped forward and helped his wife carry him into the ocean.

Everyone enjoyed playing in the water, and the gentleman tried to give me tips on mastering the boogie board. “Start swimming before the wave gets to you so that you’re going the same speed as the wave.” I did more bobbing like a cork than truly riding the waves, but it sure was fun! I was truly impressed by his swimming skills because the waves were quite strong and breaking pretty hard. Even when they washed over his head, he continued to swim with just the use of his arms. His wife frequently walked up to shore to check on his sweet service dog.

When we took a little break, our son let the dog sniff his hand, gave him some pets and back scratches, and the dog backed into his legs for more pets and attention. He obviously sensed that our son loves his own dogs and knows just how to give a proper back scratch and rub! 🙂 The couple spent an hour or two playing in the surf before our son helped carry him back to the track chair.

As a rather shy person, I was thinking about how hard it has to be to ask someone, a complete stranger, for help. Especially asking them to do a more physically demanding and personal task like carrying you into the water. How hard is it for you to ask for help? Is it easier for you to help others than to ask for help yourself? We all need a little help sometimes.

Life can feel challenging at times, and that is the perfect time to pray and ask God for help. If you’re not used to prayer and talking to God, it can be awkward because you may feel like you don’t know what to say. I think just having a conversation like you would with a friend is a great way to start. Say what’s on your mind (it doesn’t have to be out loud, it can be a conversation in your heart). God listens.

I am loving being able to spend time with my family, and build precious memories with my granddaughter. I hope that you are enjoying some conversation with God and Jesus, are willing to ask for help, as well as to step forward and help. We had a wonderful Palm Sunday, and look forward to Easter. Enjoy this Holy Week in anticipation of the glory to come!