.: Many of you know Kelly from The Wellness Tree, for those of you who do not, Kelly shares her bright spirit everyday as a young mother who is battling cancer. Let us join together in sisterhood once again to hold her close in our hearts, thoughts and prayers today :.
.:The rolling waves crashing upon the shore bring a peaceful rhythm into our day:.
On this day we set out to listen to the soothing rhythm of the rolling waves and breathe the refreshing salty ocean air. "Let's go the beach!" With excitement we gather up our collecting baskets, a kite, camera, blanket, and sweaters. This visit will bring us past golden hour as the sun drifts away and melts into the sea.
.:Rich yellow shades of ocean stones matched in hue by this yellow moth:.
We leave sandals behind us--five pairs of bare feet happily sink into the soft warm sand. Two of my three children run up ahead and my third sits happily upon Daddy's shoulders. We walk along together with a kite in hand quickly soaring up towards the heavens.
With each step I linger close to the edge of the crashing waves. Playfully I tread along the advancing line of surf, stepping back just in time to keep my feet dry from the cascading waves.
My fearless children run care-free into the water, happily letting the water run across their toes. As I walk along behind them I smile, noticing their footprints left in the sand. I appreciate gathering up colorful stones and treasures left behind from the sea between each joyful footstep.
.: Small ocean stones sharing similar colors--each tumbled to a smooth polish by the waves :.
The children run ahead and find a spot in the sand. We set out a blanket and gather together for a moment before jumping up to fly kites with Daddy. As my oldest son and my husband watch their kite fly up into the heavens, my heart is warmed from listening to their conversation and seeing their silhouettes cut out from the sun.
My daughter happily gathers up materials and starts right away in building creative homes for ocean fairies and mer-families that reside in and along the sea.
.: Yellow sharing itself with me once again in the form of stones on this spring day:.
My little one and I walk back to the shoreline and sit in the dry sand collecting yellow and orange toned stones that are laid before us shimmering like jewels. Engaged in this quiet meditation, I soon forget all about my feet being submerged in the ebb and flow of the cold ocean tide.
I began this ocean journey collecting pure white stones. My youngest has held onto this tradition. He is an expert in finding the whitest stones, and enjoys announcing each one as they are dropped in our collecting basket.
.: I appreciate the warm tones that are found in the combination of gathered treasures :.
When I was a young girl I enjoyed finding shells. In this time of my life I now appreciate discovering beauty in things I may have otherwise found ordinary. Shades of yellow have found their way into my days during this new spring season. Today was no different, warm shades of yellow and peachy-orange appear from the eternal push and pull of the ocean.
.: A rainbow of color found in and along the waters edge :.
I appreciate the peace that is felt while at the ocean. The crashing of the waves soothes my spirit, the salt air fills up my lungs and the only interruptions in the peaceful play of my children is of the seagulls call overhead.My youngest stops to notice the smallest little jellyfish, their scalloped edges looking like they were formed perfectly in a jelly mould.
We take a moment to hold one up against the clear blue skies. The sun streams through, illuminating the delicate lines of their otherwise translucent selves.
.: A peachy little creature blending in with the colors of her surroundings :.
Tiny crabs scurry across the sand and water, the ocean pulls back like a blanket to reveal its inhabitants for all of us to explore. This little crab caught my eye, with her beautiful peachy-orange color reminding me of the stones we also found on this day.
.: An assortment of stones brings to mind colorful beads :.
As I gaze into my collecting basket I notice the color combinations and the warmth that is gathered up together into one place. I imagine a lovely necklace strung with these stones and shells, perhaps adorning a mermaid making her home in the deep blue waters.In appreciation of the earth we are thankful for the abundance of nature all around us. We are thankful for day-dreaming and creating, imaginative play, and peace that is brought to our spirits throughout our time spent in the sand and the sea.
.: I was not the only one inspired by the treasures found at the sea :.
.: May you find peace in nature and be gifted richly by the abundance of inspiration found outdoors :.
