Beachin it...

The Holden's be beachin it this week.

I am missing 2 of my 3 chicks.

That makes me sadder than I can express.

But the Lord is teaching me how to let go of what used to be..

And grab hold to what He has in store for me right now.

Even if that means a new kind of normal.

Yes, I'm missing the {grandkids playing in the sand}.

Yes, I'm missing all my girls giggling and cutting up together}.

Yes, I'm missing {their men hanging out together} and the shenanigans that brings.

Yes, I'm missing the {simple things} of us all together.

But I'm loving uninterrupted time with my mom.

She's not having to share me much at all.

And we're both digging that.

I'm loving  time with Lauren.

She's missed a few beach trips in the past...

One physically where she couldn't come due to a commitment she made involving soccer

And a trip or two where she wasn't with us {emotionally}.

She is so incredibly different now due to what the Lord has done in her life,

 this trip with just her feels as if we are  taking back the time that the enemy had stolen.

I know as my two chicks left behind look at our pics without them here,

it may appear as if it's all "out of sight out of mind"...

that we are just having a ball without them.

So. Not.True.  

I can't even tell you how many times I have gone to say 

"if the girls were here..."  or

"I am soo missing the grand babies".... or

"Gosh, it sure feels different"

(and not to mention the sweet family that is next to us on the beach with 9 kids and 1 grandkid having all the quality family fun in my face everyday)

But what you see in these pics is a mom whose heart is torn but learning that she can be content in all things.. that His grace IS sufficient and  choosing to think and dwell on the many blessings she has right smack in front of her face instead of pining away whining about how much better it could have been if only....

"Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am in, to be content: I know how to be abased and I know how to abound.  Everywhere and in all things, when I have my entire family and grandkids surrounding me at the beach or when it is just a few..I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Philippians 4:11-13

(Honey's version)

So with that in mind..

Here is a glimpse of our week so far.

Lauren's toes. (mini me in the feet department)

My new sunnies.

The annual putting up of our "whirly bird" as my mom calls it.

My momma writes the year and where we stayed every year.

I love this.  And her.

Blake and Lauren enjoying the waves.

My boogie board buddy.

Which is kind of a big deal since my momma can't swim.

Fun City.

(all these pics are courtesy of Nick and his LifeProof case for his iPhone...totally waterproof.  and awesome)

Some photo fun on the beach.

Also, we love hats.

These were taken with my favorite app, Pocket Booth.

Please tell me you have it on your phone.  Fun City.

I had to make squares for instagram, but below are the pics straight from the app.

I LOVE it.

SO addicting.

Lauren in her $1.50 beach outfit.

A .50 cent hat and a bathing suit that cost a buck.

Can't beat that with a stick.

Loving this beard.

A lot.

Phase Ten games that last til 3am.

And new family phrases thanks to Blakey-Poo

"Read em and weep boyzzz and girlzzz"

If we haven't said that 20 times now, we haven't said it once.

What makes it so hysterical is the fact he had the wrong hand.  Poor guy.

Then waking up to such puffiness from lack of sleep you look abnormal.

(I spared y'all)

Funny story:

My momma sees this lifeguard coming down the beach with the wheelchair attached to the back.

She then says, "Gosh I'd hate to think he was the one rescuing me" and I was like seriously mom?

She thought the wheelchair was for the lifeguard.

You gotta love her.

More of Blake and Lauren's cuteness.

 Me tickeled over my new $3.88 hat from Target.

More new sunnies

(Oh and did I tell you both pairs cost 50 cents each?  Yeah. They're even cuter now huh!)

Here is the crew on Day 3...

minus Mr. Roy who was frolicking in the Gulf of Mexico when this was snapped.

Of course, we had to take a break to thrift.

Mind you...this was only to practice sun safety... we needed a break so of course the best alternative to the beach is thrift shopping. duh.

On Day 4 we had a little storm.

So of course we went thrifting...

Then came back and found a puzzle in the condo..

So glad it was only a little puzzle that didn't take long cuz it was MISSING pieces!!  GRR.

11 pieces to be exact!!

And we finished off the day with a trip to the show 

to see The Bourne Legacy.

It was surprisingly really good.

(for all you fellow die hard Bourne fans....this one did it justice.  It's a totally new story line.)

Can't wait to see what the rest of the week brings

We got two full days left of  beachin it. 

I'm missing my crew bad but I'm choosing to make this week #funcity!!!

Hope y'all are having a great week too.

Stephanie :)