I didn't get a chance to write any huge posts while I was on vacay, but now that I'm back I'm gonna get all the adventures and amazing moments down so I remember them.
So I went to California last Friday with my mom and my sister to meet my dad and brother who were already out there. We were staying in Carlsbad, where honestly i have grown up. It's my second home. We have stayed at every hotel in the area, and even a condo or two. This time we were back at the Beach Terrace, which sits on the beach. 150 steps was all it took to get from the room to the beach :) Naturally, as soon as we got there me and Brenna raced down to the beach and spent the day down there with our little bro. Boogie-boarding and tanning was basically what my week consisted of, with some frisbee and poorly played sand volleyball mixed in.
We ate our lunches on the beach everyday, ranging from Cessy's a.k.a. best cheap Mexican food anywhere, to Submarina (which I will take over Subway anyday). The surf was terrible, super flat most times, and if there were waves they were like 4 feet and super choppy with a terrible undercurrent.
Saturday morning the marine layer was terrible and it was slightly chilly so we spent the morning in the hot tub overlooking the waves, alternating from running down to the beach to dive under waves, then back to the warmth of the tub. Finally the sun came out and the day progressed as Friday did, only in the afternoon the water was PERFECT. Not choppy, warm but still refreshing, and the waves were perfect for body surfing and diving under. Honestly, 5 o'clock was the best time to be out in the waves. Beautiful. That night, my Aunt, Uncle, Grandma and my cousin and his GF came down from Valley Center to chill and relax on the terrace. More Cessy's was eaten, and my Uncle pulled out his guitar and we had an awesome impromtu worship time and then he and my cousin sang and played their set that they do. It was so awesome to have that family bonding time and then to all walk down to the beach and watch the sunset. It was a rare pleasure and I enjoyed the company.
Sunday Morning/Saturday night my dad drove half the way back home to pick up my older brother who decided to come out after work. It was a major blessing that he got to come so our whole family got the be together and enjoy a well-needed break. They got back to Carlsbad around 8am and we spent the morning eating breakfast together and waiting for the marine layer to burn off. We went shopping that morning at some really nice shops about 15 minutes fromt he hotel, and then spent the rest of the day lounging on the beach again.
That night we all just hung out, so I took my iPod, my bible, and my devotional down the beach with a towel and caught up on my bible study.... Best. Decision. Ever.
I have never had a closer time with God. My devotion was all about making time for Christ no matter the circumstances or time frame and I really needed to hear it. I started laughing uncontrollably on the beach because I literally could feel His presence sitting on my towel with me, arms wrapped around me watching the sunset together and reading His Word. I had to just stop and bask inn the moment because here I was, having blocked Him out because I justified I needed a "break" from everything , and I guess that meant God too, and now I'm sitting watching the most beautiful sunset ever while waves crash and His Creation is stretched out for miles bathed in a beautiful orange hue. Why had I thought anything was more important than Christ? I spent the next half hour in prayer with Him, thanking Him for all He has blessed me with and everything that is to come. I walked back up to the hotel to where my family was waiting to go to dinner such a happier, more relaxed, more focused person than I had been all vacation. He works in funny ways, but they are beautiful.
The rest of the beach trip went the same so I'm not gonna write it all out. I just really needed the break and finding my way back into Christ's arms was exactly what I was looking for.
