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Name: a. ann w.
Birthday: 9/9/1977
Interests: I love Jesus Christ. He is my Savior. My Redeemer. My Friend. I am extremely interested in my husband (that's an understatement), my four boys, and three girls. I love Music, especially singing with my children - or just plain singing anything, I like sports- Just about all of them. I like photography, interior design, architecture, art, fashion, being creative. I love the Outdoors. I love playing with my children. The Beach is my favorite place to be. Date nights with my man are awesome - I love ballroom dancing. I like adventure - going fast, being up high, flying and stuff like that. Writing. I like reading and the sunshine and strawberries year round.
Message: message me
Website: visit my website
Member Since:
10/6/2006
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| Running Away.
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“The waves of the sea
Help me get back to me.”
There is a need sometimes to "run away" in me. Not a "I'm mad-sad-discontent" type of running away. The get up and go, adventuresome, wonder what awaits type of "away."
I get it about once a week.
I'm mostly at home. And I like that fine. But then I must get out. I don't always have a car to go in, but this week Robert said I'd have the suburban on Wednesday and knowing that would be my only day to "run away" I decided to pick the very best place to run away to.
The beach of course.
I took out early, or early as I could and we were there by 10:30am. With only AC in the front seat of the car, the back of the car is pretty much horrid to ride in after the real heat of the day sets in. By leaving out in the early morning, the car didn't get hot until we were almost there so the children were happy all the way down.
We loaded out at the grocery store and picked up food for a picnic. Mostly fresh fruit like berries because that's what I like to eat at the beach. I prefer strawberries and blue berries. And it seems all the children have taken to my liking just fine.
It was absolutely the best day I've had at "our" little beach. There was no seaweed, no trash - it was actually all cleaned up, unlike the rest of the year down there. The heat index up at home was to be 110 degrees. I thought it might be too hot even at the waters edge. But it wasn't. It was perfect weather. Just wonderful! A light continual breeze and the WATER felt awesome!
How do I know? Because I actually was able to get in the water this time~
At 2pm Brighton curled up in the wagon and I made a towel tent over it and she slept for two hours. Lakelyn did the same, at the same time - go figure, how nice...
And so I ran out, yes ran, like a child - and played in the waves with the "older" children. Laid down in the water, got all sandy and even a bit sunburned.
We made sand castles and collected itty tiny shells that when the water goes back they crawl down into the sand and bury themselves, just to reappear again when the water returns.
I pulled the middle children in the wagon back and forth in the surf. I laughed. They laughed more.
Yes, running away can be very good for the soul. Especially to find myself again out from under all the laundry and dishes and . . . well, no - I was going to write diapers next, but those came with me.
It wasn't a crowded day. The nearest people were about 300 yards or more. I set up a nice little "camp" for my crew and we stayed until 7:30pm.
Shelton was in the water for three and half hours solid when we first got there. He is the most sunburnt since I didn't venture out there to re-apply sunscreen like I was constantly doing with the ones on the shoreline. I failed to buy the water-resistance type.
Scott spent lots of time on his waterboards of different types. I still can't believe I sold my surf board when I moved from California. What in the world was I thinking. I wanted it so bad Wednesday. So bad.
Not because there were some amazing waves. nope.
There was no "check out the action of that rip!" As the rip was like, like maybe a foot or two high. Which from where I'm from would be what you'd call an ankle breaker or maybe snapper. i.e typical of east coast and gulf waves - unless there is a hurricane.
Scott and Shelton thought they were doing pretty cool out there on their boogie board taking in the ankle snappers. I didn't tell them back home they'd be what we might call "barnwalling down the line." In otherwords, didn't know what they were doing on the waves. They mostly would ride the breakers and then abandon their board at some point and roll in the surf, resurfacing totally water-logged.
And would yell from the water at me, "WHOA man! That was a huge wave, MOM!" Their smiles a mile wide. And eyes nearly swollen shut from salt-underwater eye opening.
I really couldn't show them up much different these days on the waves. As back in my early years I was more like someone who acts like they surf but really just sits on the board acting like they're waiting for a wave. I'd take one now and again. And do nothing fancy.
Yep. I was no pro. What you would call a "Bouy." If I did ride - riding a breaker. The breaker is not so much a physical thing as in a breaking wave, it's more of an existential thing, it's the last wave that you attempt before you are washed ignominiously back to shore with your dignity in tatters.
But who in the world cares. Talk about havin' some serious fun. Surf and swim, sunshine and sand -- being me just a little bit outside of all the routine and chores.
Which is what we ran away to do in the first place on Wednesday.
I read this morning something that goes along with the ocean in a spiritual sense:
"...We also swim in the boundless ocean of His love.
God wants us to relish His astounding grace, revel in His love, and cherish his compassion.
He desires that we rest in His secure embrace and delight in the wonder of His tender care. He wants us to be wholly gratified with Him and enjoy His blazing love for us. God could not think of us with a more tender love than He does every nanosecond.
As His children, we are infinitely precious in His sight. We can go to bed conscious that we sleep in His love and awake the next morning remembering His personal, compassionate affection toward us."
Psalm 48:9 in the New Living Translation reads, ‘O God, we meditate on your unfailing love as we worship in your Temple.’ The same translation says in another place, ‘For I am constantly aware of your unfailing love’ (Psalm 26:3).
When I am at the ocean that is what happens for me all over again: Constantly aware of HIS unfailing love. The depths of His love like the ocean. His boundlessness. His strength through even the smallest breakers. His beauty all over the place. He loves beauty.
To think that His thoughts of me are more than the sand of the sea. That He even cares more.
(Shelton loves to write and create pretty words.)
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Run away.
. . . and run away to a place that brings your heart and mind back to the living and loving and mighty God that we are here to live for. Sometimes that might mean just taking a walk and sitting by a tree in the evening breeze. Whatever, it's a place that brings you into fellowship with your Creator.
This morning it wasn't taking off for the beach. It was lying in my bed and watching the sunrise through my window and almost being able to feel the light dancing on the bedspread, and enjoying the quiet that comes with waking before the children.
Those quiet moments of thanking Him for another day of life. Those moments of casting my cares on Him, crying out for the children and their souls. Asking God for strength.
Sometimes these moments only last - a few moments. Then a cry, or a bunch of pounding feet against the staircase as I hear cries for breakfast breaking out all over the house. Other times, God allows a good 15 or more minutes. And I run away with Him right then and there. And He reveals to me His goodness.
"If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me." - Psalm 139: 9-10
"There's a wideness in God's mercy like the wideness of the sea..." - Frederick William Faber
And here are some of my favorite pictures of our beach day:
My boys may not know what real surf is but you could hardly call them a "cavefish." (pale surfer.)
There are no clean waves at our beach, but at least they roll over - a little.
A gnarly girl surfer.
A real Crusher - Someone who surfs hard. At least on his skimboard.
Such a Dally. (i.e cool girl.)
Two beach bunnies.
Kissin' on the beach.
Finding ourselves in the sunsetting.
Chillin' waiting for the "water to get me!"
Tea parties in the sand and water.
Eyelashes! to keep sand out of the eyes.
Running away from seagulls.
Should I not eat sand?
My beach ballerina.
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Summer isn't gone yet. It's one season I wouldn't mind hanging out in for awhile.
a. ann~ | | |
| Holiday Snapshots.Yes, we had great fun last weekend for the celebration of the 4th!
(quite the "CHARGE!" photo from my two in front!)
My BEST older sister in the whole wide world had a birthday on the 3rd. We kind of like to get together for birthdays on my side of the family and just casually hang out and eat food, play, talk and sing. It was another great time! Her birthday is always a little surrounded by red, white and blue. And this year was no exception...
 
Unlike other times, we actually stayed late that evening and sat around and talked (adults that is) because the kids were somehow that entertained playing together. We even played a few games of ping-pong, something we played a lot of growing up in my home.
Micah still beats me. I think he's pretty much beat me though since he was like a toddler. 
Of course I set these marching parade pictures up - but you can't "set up" expressions and actions as they march... and I just happen to love Itty Bitty's face and marching in this one:
I love seeing how everything seems to be a new experience for Brighton. Such fun in the simple things.
The Fourth, and the Lake. Robert and I like to take off and do our own thing with the children and so we did. . .
Brighton was not thrilled that she had to keep on one of these:
I didn't actually get to swim - as my duty was babysitter for the two smallest ones and shore lifeguard for the rest of them as well - making sure all were accounted for. I was feeling a bit sorry for myself in the heat, but then I remembered all the times in my life when I was the one swimming and others having to watch me. . . life has seasons - all which pass. And there is nothing at all boring about watching these pretty faces have a blast!
Robert and I like the small town feel and we found a small town feel parade to watch in the evening. I love how everyone comes out and rides their tractor, drives their old car all decorated, or even better, walks their horse all dressed up in red, white and blue...
At the end of the long day we went to a little fair - face painting included. Though I am not sure Brighton even knew what happened to her~
And then 9pm there was a thirty minute firework show that was really great.  We put a quilt out on the ground and the children all got on their backs and looked up at the night sky - and were enthralled. Lakelyn slept through them! We got home exhausted and happy.
I love being with just Robert and the kids for the day. Seriously my favorite way to celebrate any holiday.
A few days ago I ran away to the beach with the children. It was marvelous. So much so, the girls decided it was a perfect place for a tea party...
More later.
a. ann~ | | |
| In The Craft Room...
A few weekends ago we were down town with Robert and he and the boys were working so the girls and I went "exploring" a little, checking out all the little shops. Nothing is in English down there, but things are priced right.
I had seen these beautiful little head pieces online a while back - clips and headbands with pretty flowers, feathers, and beads - some calling them "bella donnas" - though I'm really not sure the correct "name" for them. I just love them though - but didn't love the prices I was seeing for one! ($20 PLUS dollars.) Etsy shops seem to have made these more popular - or maybe it was Anthropology, since I've seen them there too - whomever, or whatever has brought these back into vogue, I think they are delightful.
In a little shop down town we found some very simple headbands with fabric flowers attached to them for $1. and $2. We bought two of them and brought them home to give them a little more character and detail like the ones we saw online.
We just used scrap pieces of things we had here already - broken jewelry, beads, things around the house. They turned out so very fun and feminine. Morgan and I had so much fun creating our own "bella donnas." We are going to wear them soon. Brighton too.
We also found a new little thrift store in the southside that had .50 cent childrens' clothing. I found a few little items and we are working on creating our own little outfits from them...
At this same shop we also found three hats from maybe the 40's (?) They were just under a $1. a piece and I happen to love such items for pictures, and to hang in the girls' room... I hope to create some fun photo shoots and outfits around these hats. Morgan loved them as much as I did. Grandmother, do you have any info you could give me on these hats as far as dating them?
"Creativity is the defeat of habit by originality."
a. ann~ | | |
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