We headed North this weekend to San Clemente for a weekend of beach camping.  My cousin and her husband invited us to go with some of their friends and it was just the thing we didn’t know we needed until we left.  It is just the right time of year for this.  The clouds covered the sun for a lovely few hours in the morning so our skin could be sure to stay away from any impending aloe vera treatments.  It was warm in enough for the kiddos to play in the sun and not be shivering in the water. 

Besides the beach, the camp food and the fireside laughs were wonderful.  I talked with people I had never met, but it didn’t take long to throw our heads back like we’d known each other forever.  My kind of people.  There is no area of conversation that can’t be broken into.  My kind of talks.  People putting their hands together to make dinner for everyone.  My kind of meal. 

I regret that I only have iphone pictures (gasp) but my camera decided to go for a swim itself.  Well, not quite.  The ocean decided.  I had just been able to miraculously get my little guy to give in to the sweet lullabies of the ocean (another gasp for all who know my kids don’t nap…like ever).  It was a sweet sight…

Sweet, right?  He was just laying there and I was standing in front of him looking on in peace when a giant wave decided to break up the party.  It came WAY higher than where the other waves had been breaking and even looking afterward, where we were was where it went highest.  The wave carried all of our stuff and some of my cousins on top of my little bean and when it came back down, carried him with it.  Thankfully I was in front of him and dropped to my news and caught him, but most of our stuff was carried into the ocean.  My cousin, who also loves to take pictures, ran after my camera, but there was no saving it from its demise by salt water.  Dean seemed shocked and eventually said, “I’n ok”.  The other kids were a little angry at that ocean for the remainder of the day and Faith’s prayers even included a prayer that a wave like that would never happen again.

Little snuggles.

The perpetual filling of the water hole.  Kids this age don’t understand permeable surfaces which is nice for a long, long game and a few moments of peace for the parents.

A boy and his Mama.

What boys do best.

My husbands recessed chair setup.

Sunday devotions with the group.

Anxious to answer questions about Jesus.

Little Bean getting advice from his friend.

Makin’ firewood.

Happy Camper (literally).

What’s summer at the beach without watermelon?

Gotta love those camping fingers.

This person obviously doesn’t get the point of  putting your phone on airplane mode while you get away from it all.  Clever use of the bathroom though.  I love that our phones are off and we can enjoy each other.  I love that my iphone takes pictures while in this mode…perfect!

So long my dear sweet D90.  You were a good camera and have been with us through many glorious adventures.  I’m thanking the Lord that my cell phone, which i had thought would not be useable, has allowed me to save just a few pictures from our weekend.   It might die tomorrow, but at least I have these and insurance on my cell plan.

Some of my reflections after this…

Then Job answered and said:

“Truly I know that it is so:
But how can a man be in the right before God?
  If one wished to contend with him,
one could not answer him once in a thousand times.
  He is wise in heart and mighty in strength
—who has hardened himself against him, and succeeded?—
  he who removes mountains, and they know it not,
when he overturns them in his anger,
  who shakes the earth out of its place,
and its pillars tremble;
  who commands the sun, and it does not rise;
who seals up the stars;
  who alone stretched out the heavens
and trampled the waves of the sea;
  who made the Bear and Orion,
the Pleiades and the chambers of the south;
  who does great things beyond searching out,
and marvelous things beyond number.
  Behold, he passes by me, and I see him not;
he moves on, but I do not perceive him.
  Behold, he snatches away; who can turn him back?
Who will say to him, ‘What are you doing?’

Job 9:1-12