The Hoovers invited us to join them at the beach again, and it couldn't have been better timed. After our busiest semester since coming to Kennesaw, we were more than ready to escape the mundane rhythm of work and life at the new homestead, and embrace an extended Sabbath rest. There was very little checking of e-mail and using of technology (aside from looking up good books and posting some Instagram photos), and a lot of reading, writing, painting, fishing, and beaching, and visiting. It was lovely.
One of the beautiful things about coming back to the same house on the same beach year after year (a blessing I never experienced growing up), is watching the cousins grow in maturity and friendship. Every morning, by 6:30, the boys were awake and down by the lake fishing. This time they could independently carry on in their adventures without the help of the adults, and they could pretty much stay down at the lake fishing all day (with only a few interruptions for eating and beaching). It was remarkable.
The girls had their own sweet thing going on - rotating between listening to the Wingfeather Saga, building forts, fishing, and general imagining together. Saturday night I had the privelege of walking to the pizza shop with the two older girls, and it was such a delight to hear their chatter - planning birthday parties, talking about their friendship, dreaming about a 10 year-old canoeing adventure with their Mamas. I am overwhelmed with God's faithfulness to us, and with the beauty He is weaving together within our children.
Miles and Raindrop definitely march to the same creative drummer - listening to stories together and rolling around in silliness. They have their own unique thing going on, and I hope it can continue as they grow older. It's fun to see a shift taking place - where Raindrop can flow in and out of the big girls' play, and Miles in and out of the big boys' play. I am convinced there is something special that happens when brothers and sisters grow up in close friendship with their cousins.
Baby is Owen is not so much of a baby anymore, and it was delightful to see the older children taking turns pulling him on the boogie board and making him laugh. He is growing into his own fun, playful, adventurous, opinionated self, and it made us all look forward to meeting baby brother in just 3.5 months!
so lovely! I'm so glad you still make time to write and reflect, even in the midst of a really busy season. I really think it was the best beach trip yet.
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