Shia's First Beach Day

Another date I was dreading was June 21st, my wedding anniversary. For the entire day I was actively trying not to wallow in despair over my sham of a marriage and keep holding on to the promise that God not only could take care of me and my family but also give me peace and strength. It seems through this entire tragedy, everyday I am saying "Not today, Satan". But some days, I can't keep it together. I'll hear a song on the radio, or see an elderly coupe holding hands, or see a picture reminding me of the dream life I once had.. that wasn't real. It's important, I think, to let myself be sad for a few minutes and then gently pull myself out of it by keeping the focus. Although I'm not sure what my new "dream life" will be like, God does, and He is going to help me to get there. I've already won, because victory belongs to God. One day I will delete saved voicemails or videos off my phone. One day my anniversary will just be another date on the calendar, a number. One day, the stench of betrayal will be less aggressive. One day...

---

Ever since being a mom, I have done extensive research and trial and error on the best beaches to visit that meet the following criteria : not too crowded, not too far away, not too many waves, and not disgusting. There's a reason so many people just end up gong to the pool...

So we came upon Yorktown beach. I love it because it meets all of my criteria, although there was a couple run ins with jellyfish while we were there. Poor Jacob...

Shia was not a fan, and in all honesty , he was probably too young to come along. Thankfully, my mom and family were there to keep him content despite his contempt for wind and sunshine. Every time I go to the beach with my babies, I think of new and better ways to do it next time. A collapsible wagon, better canopy stakes, and a toddler leash might be the answer to all my gripes.

Like any beach day, the memories made outweigh the tiny tragedies that ensued and make for great jokes in the years to come. My family might be incredibly embarrassing, but each outing with them is truly a blessing and one can't help but laugh and smile at our humiliations.

Because Yorktown is a "quick" hour away (give or take a few minutes), we were able to get back home in time for our regular Friday night shenanigans. The first day of summer should always end with s'mores, in my opinion. So I let Ronin stay up to roast his first marshmallow before bed. Toddler+ Fire =a whole new definition of the term " Scary Fun"

From what could have been 24 hours of intense anger and darkness, we got through it with wonderful new memories to replace old broken ones. I will battle the results of sleep deprivation from no naps and staying up late; this day was well worth it.

#singlemom

#beachday

#summertime