Our first sunrise morning at Summerwinds in Rodanthe, NC. I had been up since 5:00 a.m. drinking coffee and reading. Ah! Coffee in a great mug! Yes! I will create today!
I decided to walk to the beach to watch the sunrise. Be in the moment. God be in this day. About 15 minutes into my walk, I get a text. Once we found each other, he noted that my footprints were a give-a-way to my location.
Maybe it was the coming together and the treasures shared that turned the day around. I had walked this path about a year ago with Kim and Kris. I remember Kim sharing all the different things about the beach and the houses. I am truly grateful for the girlfriends in my life. I shared with him the starfish, the houses in the water and could you stay there, the curiosity of the other homes and the sand pushed back towards the dunes. He shares with me that he brought our bikes, and we ride to the local service station with a hometown deli and breakfast. We eat a yummy breakfast of grits, pork chop sandwich with hot sauce, and egg/sausage wrap. We chat with the locals and watch the hard working men coming in before the work day to get sustenance and caffeine. Although, I did hear a man say hello to the staff and exclaim, “I think I’ll have chocolate milk today!”
We share our morning by text with Kim, and she encourages us to picnic on the beach! Her beach house is filled with beauty, so we decide to linger and connect, enjoying the sun coming through the windows and the birds singing and visiting the deck. Parish discovers a yellow-rump warbler on the deck, better known as the butterbutt! I love the mugs here. They make for a great way to start the day or to enjoy some hot tea!
At night, you can see Orion’s Belt from the window 
Notice the yellow butt
The natural light that comes through the windows into the home brings heaven directly into your living space!
Parish works on our picnic. I ask him to surprise me! We try to find the spot she recommended but got confused and settled on beach marker 25. We figure it out the next day! What peace to sit and talk and watch the birds. We made up stories and characters. We watched them run quickly to the water in search of food and then run quickly to the shore as the water rushed in. Back and forth they would go in a community dance. They rested for awhile until one bird decided to go solo. The brave one of the group to go alone. Then a bigger bird of the same kind puffed his feathers and began to desperately court all the ladies. He was relentless. At one point, I yelled at him, “Give it up buddy! They don’t want your loving.” We laughed and made other jokes and stories.
Great books to read provided at the beach house 
You can see the birds in this video.
We came home to watch the sunset and walk the sound. Such a lovely place to discover God’s beautiful design. We decided the drift wood was too big to take home. However, we remembered 20 years ago we made a huge piece of drift wood fit in our car to take home. Memories….
We laughed at all the tries it took to do a selfie. And, yes, I am in my robe because this is my backyard!
Parish made a wonderful dinner of roast beef and potatoes. We watched a great movie, and then retired to a comfortable bed in each others arms (at least for a moment until you find comfort on your side of the bed). I love a King!
God is faithful in each new day. When we choose to be in the moment–not the past happenings or future fears we make up–we can heal, love, and laugh.
“When you’re overwhelmed by responsibilities and the way others see you,
May you know you do not need to explain yourself
You were made for deeper waters where expectations are washed away to reveal your worth within
You hold a reservoir of love
The under current of your every day.” (Morgan Nichols)
In Gentle and Lowly by Ortlund, chapter 4, He reviews Hebrews 4:15. In great detail, he reminds us that Jesus sympathizes with our suffering and the ups and downs of life. He gets it, understands it, and offers great love and compassion as one who walked the earth fully man without sin. He knows. He comforts. Suffering creates isolation. We can think that we are the only ones even though we communicate with others and listen to their stories. We may even compare suffering and feel guilty for our thoughts and actions. Brene Brown calls this “comparative suffering”. This cycle or pattern keeps us from the fullness of God. We find validation and connection to others; however, God is the perfect sympathizer. Rest in Him. I think that is why I love the poem above. The poetry book, “How Far You Have Come”, given to me by Lisa, is a book you read slowly. I read a poem or two a day or wait in between so I can soak up the meaning. I believe the deeper waters of the sea are washing away expectations and revealing my worth in Him alone. I hold this reservoir of love because of who He is, and I pray the under current of every day conveys this love.
If you know me, my life is a song. I see and hear songs in my heart and mind throughout the day, and I sing them. In fact, here is a random side story that I have to tell. I was teaching on a Saturday and could not get the breakout rooms to work so I sang a note or two. A student smiled and said, “You have a great voice! Do you sing?” A rush of knowing that God was in the moment overtook me, and I shared with him, that after 20 years of not singing, I was auditioning for an opportunity to use my voice on a more consistent basis at my place of worship the next day. I was nervous, and his single comment encouraged me. Oh how we can encourage each other in single moments. Which takes me to Sunday! Oh Sunday sweet Sunday! Sunday is a coming, and I can’t wait to write about it. Until then, I’ll close with a song that came to me as I closed out this writing. I hope you can listen to the video. I pray that today you find meaning and moments that make a difference. I pray you can be a part of the difference making in someone’s life.
What a difference a day makes
24 little hours
Brought the sun and the flowers
Where there used to be rain
My yesterday was blue, dear
Today I’m a part of you, dear
My lonely nights are through, dear
Since you said you were mine
What a difference a day makes
There’s a rainbow before me
Skies above can’t be stormy
Since that moment of bliss, that thrilling kiss
It’s heaven when you find romance on your menu
What a difference a day made
And the difference is you
ARRESTED BY GRACE 