Sandbox Moments...

Same title different sandbox....
 
Once again we find ourselves having a Sandbox Moment. Actually a whole weeks worth of Sandbox Moments... only this time the sandbox is much larger. I don't know what it is about the ocean and the sand but it is all so soothing.  We have finally found the perfect vacation spot...away from the stress and the busyness of our days.  The crashing of the waves on the shore block out all the chaos and all the noise and restores us. The sun warms us and melts away our stress. 

Vacations are a funny thing...they are supposed to be a time of respite from everyday life...when in fact they can be just the opposite.  They can be exhausting and stressful and you find yourself needing  a vacation from your vacation.  We have all had them and we especially have had some doozies. 

For example, in 2007 we thought it would be "fun" to take all our big kids to Disneyland. Our previous trips to this magical place had been exhausting but so much fun! Boy were we ever wrong!  

At the airport...looking promising!

First Ride...still good!

Though Scotty seemed excited ... the actuality of it turned into a nightmare.  I can't recall specific details of the awfulness. My mind will only let me remember it as one giant meltdown of catastrophic proportions. He had spun himself into such a frenzy that there was 
no chance of him regaining any small bit of self control. 

End of Day 1...He looks like he is in pain!

 Why? We have no idea what set him off but poor Steve ended up renting a car and driving him home after 2 days.  A plane ride home was out of the question...too many people...too much waiting...too confining and heaven forbid he got stopped at security. That would have been a disaster of such a magnitude it would most surely have made the national news.

So I stayed behind and tried to salvage a bit
 of fun and dim the horror for our girls and 
our friend Tyler who came along with us.

 
It has never been easy finding a spot for an actual vacation and as Scotty has gotten older it has become more and more challenging. 

Vacations for us have been anything BUT relaxing...until now. We found this little gem on Dauphin Island in Alabama.  The house sits right on the Gulf with a private beach and lots of room for Scotty to roam around.  The houses are spread apart so he can scream and stomp his foot to his hearts content and he won't disturb a soul.  


His only means of escape is a rocky, gravelly driveway... barefoot it was impossible to walk on...so barefoot he stayed.

We have finally found a place to play...a place to laugh...a place to rest.

So perfect for him and so perfect for us.
He is calm.

He is content.

Content to sit in the sand...

Content to swim in the ocean... 

Content to listen to his music... 

Content to lay on his bed and watch a movie. 

 His demands are few...His tantrums non existent.

Therefore we are calm...
We are content and our tantrums are non existent. 

 In the midst of the chaos that goes on inside of this boy...the heat of the sun, the warmth of the sand and the rhythmic pounding of the waves quieted him for just a little while. Our boy who is in constant motion and in need of constant attention is still and calm.

A Sandbox Moment...

This week in his quiet and solitude we found ours.  A moment when the world slowed down enough and the noise stopped for just a little while and allowed us all to pause and just breathe.

And we are so thankful for the peace, the calm, the quiet and the rest.  And we are left with the really good kind of memories...the vacation kind of memories.

 

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
 He leads me beside quiet waters.
 He restores my soul...

Psalm 23

The only thing missing was our daughter Stevi...

♥You were with us in these silly photos and in our hearts♥