Florida Trip

Our trip to Florida has long been a highlight of each year. Shaun and I have been going nearly every year since we were married and its evolved as we've added more people and circumstances have changed. Nana is a generous and delightful host and has provided us with countless fond memories over the years for which we are incredibly grateful.

This year we had the special addition of Jack, Avery's boyfriend. He's a very easy, go-with-the-flow person and I thought it was brave of him to vacation with our family for a whole week. It was great having him along!

We left around 10 PM when the kids got home from youth group. Its always fun when we see palm trees in the morning after Shaun has done the hard work of driving through the night. When we pass over from Georgia to Florida, we always crank up Cruise by Florida Georgia Line, roll down the windows and get excited about arriving in Florida.

This year our house was on a main street with restaurants and shops. We were also on a canal and in between Tampa Bay and the Atlantic. The location worked well for the teens to venture out to shop and get ice cream and the canal was fun for fishing and paddle boarding. We got to watch the sun come over the bay and set over the ocean. 

It didn't take everyone long to settle in. The pool and hot tub were popular. So was the pier on the bay. Several times a day there were walks to the beach, and always at sunset. In between there were games and books, fishing, reading, silliness.

It was a simple, quiet, easy week and we were able to exhale from the trauma of the last several months. Tax season, treatments every two weeks, a major surgery...it was a condensed, intense time and we were thankful for this getaway to reconnect and rejuvenate.

Each morning Shaun and I were up early. We watched the sunrise together, then separated to go for a walk. He chose the sidewalks around town, I chose the beach. It was so life-giving to be mobile.

One morning, he took me on a date to "our" place for breakfast on the beach. What a dream!

We were able to connect with Nana and Grandpa John and it was so good to see them! We caught up on life, Nana and Aiden got their poker game in and they treated us to an evening at The Melting Pot.

Busch Gardens! 

There was a passing lightning storm in the afternoon so we waited about 45 minutes for the all-clear to be given. It ended up working in our favor because many people just headed home in that time so for the remainder of the day, it was no lines, no waiting.

Jack and Avery made it down for one sunrise.

I was walking down the beach, nearly finished with my early morning walk, when I sensed a guy coming up behind me. I slowed down a bit so he could pass but he kept cutting a diagonal and was uncomfortably close. Then he touched me and I finally realized it was not a creepy guy, it was Shaun. CeCe Winans was singing Goodness of God in my earbuds and I was locked in, apparently. So fully dressed, I joined him for a swim in crystal clear water.

Our family counselor suggested we make a new memory while on vacation, so we went together to the souvenir shop and each bought something we can wear.

Our last sunset was on the road as we headed back home after a relaxing, satisfying week.