Lighthouses

I just love lighthouses, don't you? When I was in college I spent one summer working at a camp on Oak Island. I spent every night of that summer in a room in an old building that served as the barracks for Ft. Caswell, a fort dating back to the Civil War. The warm ocean breeze lulled me to sleep every night, as did the constant flashing of the Oak Island Lighthouse. With four flashes followed by six seconds of darkness, its consistency became a rather soothing presence in an otherwise dark room.

Since 1958 this lighthouse has been guiding ships safely through the night off the shores of North Carolina.

Even though I have been vacationing on Oak Island for over 20 years, I had never climbed to the top of the lighthouse until this summer. My lovely daughter, Catie, volunteered as a tour guide while working a summer job as a waitress on the island. This gave me the perfect excuse to visit. (Isn't she one of the prettiest guides you have ever seen?)

The climb to the top was not an easy one. The lighthouse has 131 ship's ladder steps making the trip to the top quite laborious. However, the view at the end of the journey is well worth the labor.

It was a little overcast on the day that I visited, however, Catie said that on a clear day one could see all the way to Myrtle Beach in South Carolina.

Although the view of the vast ocean is amazing; I love the view of the intercoastal waterway and the marsh surrounding it.

After my visit to the lighthouse I was thinking about why I am so drawn to this structure. It finally dawned on me that, in a world where nothing ever stays the same, this lighthouse continues to give the same guidance that it has for many years. The same consistent four flashes and six second darkness that eased me to sleep every night over twenty years ago still continues today. Thankfully, I serve a God who is consistent in a world that is continuously changing.


Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8

Hurricane Irene

One of my favorite places is starting to feel the effects of Hurricane Irene. Although these pictures of Oak Island were taken on a beautiful summer day, our good friends are now experiencing rain bands from the storm.



Please join me in praying for all of those on the east coast in the path of this large storm.



If any of you are in the path of Irene, please stay safe and know that I am praying for you and your families.

Oak Island, North Carolina

Do you have a favorite place to vacation? I sure do. Fortunately, one of my favorite places is only about three hours from home making it easy to visit often. Oak Island is a wonderful North Carolina island where summer days are spent on the beach enjoying the salty breeze.



Beach days for our family consist of bike riding, beach sitting, game playing, picnicking, and dolphin watching. We don't spend a lot of time watching television or shopping. My girls have never experienced the beach any other way. What about you? How do you enjoy spending your vacation?



This week my girls are at Camp Caswell, a Christian camp on the island. John and I are going to have a little beach time to ourselves. I think I'll plan a couple yummy meals to enjoy on the beach...any ideas??

Sunrises and New Beginnings

Over Labor Day weekend our family decided to bid farewell to summer by taking a trip to Oak Island, NC. Those of you that are familiar with my blog know that this is one of my favorite places in the world. I can't think of any better way to spend one of the last weekends of summer.



On our last morning there, my mom and I decided to take an early morning walk on the beach to watch the sun rise over the ocean.



There is only one problem with that... the sun on Oak Island does not come up over the water.



That may be hard to believe since the island is located on the east coast.



Due to the curve of the land on Oak Island, the beach faces south. That explains why the sun appears to rise over the land and set over the ocean. Isn't that neat?



I just love the early morning hours when everything is quietly coming alive. The sky appears to be an ever changing canvas as the sun begins to peek through the morning clouds.



Watching the sunrise, I can't help but think about new beginnings. You see, in order for a new day to begin, the sun must set on an old one. There has to be a period of darkness while we wait for the sun to reappear.



As I write this post I think about my youngest daughter's first heartbreak. Unfortunately, it happened on Monday while I was traveling out of state on a business trip with my husband. I was not there with her. However, her older sister was right there helping her through the night.



I know that there are worse things than a breakup; however, when it is your first broken heart, it seems like the end of the world. I remember my first one, don't you? Whenever someone is experiencing an ending of any sort there is a period of darkness that follows... a time when the world as you know it seems to stand still.



Her world, for a little while, may seem to be a little dark, but the sun will come up on another day... another beginning... another opportunity... and yes, another love. (If her dad has his way, it will be a long time coming!)



I think that when we are experiencing darkness of any kind in our lives, it is important to remember that we are not alone. It is also comforting to know that with each ending comes a new beginning. After the darkness, praise God, the sun does come up again. And oh what beautiful sight that is!

A Week With My Man!

Tomorrow both of my girls are leaving for a week of camp with their youth group. It is the first time that Carson has been old enough to go, so that means that John and I will be without both girls for the week. The camp is only ten minutes away from my parents' beach house and we have decided to spend the week together there.



This means that while our girls are having tons of fun with their friends, John and I will be having tons of fun with each other. This will be the first time that we have ever been to the beach house alone. I think we will try out some new restaurants, shop for antiques in beautiful Southport, and enjoy some quiet time on the beach. The best part of the whole trip is knowing that if our girls need us for anything, we will only be ten minutes away. I'm a little attached to them. Can you tell?

Oh well, I'll catch up with you all when I get back. I hope everyone has a blessed week! Try to stay cool!

Happy 4th of July!

I've got my bags packed. I've watered the garden. I've straightened the house. I'm ready to go. Finally, our family is getting some much needed vacation time.



We are heading out for one of my favorite places in the world, Oak Island, NC.



I can't wait to spend a little time on the beach with my favorite people.



I'll be back next week! I hope everyone has a happy and safe Fourth of July! Enjoy your family and remember our wonderful military troops that are spending their holiday away from their families. God Bless!

Oak Island, NC

All of you know how much I love my home and where I live, but there is another place in North Carolina that comes in at a close second- Oak Island. Growing up, I always went to the South Carolina beaches for vacations with my family. I didn't think I would ever love any other beaches until I worked at a camp on Oak Island when I was in college. I fell in love with the natural beauty of this place. After visiting me at camp, my parents felt the same way. They eventually bought a home there and the love affair continued. All of my children's beach vacation memories center around this wonderful place.

We were able to go this weekend to have our yard sale which turned out very successful despite the threat of early morning rain.



After getting rid of some of the clutter in my house at the yard sale, I felt free! Everyone should declutter once in a while. It's a good feeling.



But an even better feeling comes from standing on the dock overlooking the beautiful Inter coastal waterway that separates our little island from the main land.



Some of my girl's earliest vacation memories are of bike rides to the crab dock to watch the sun shimmer on the water.



When the tide is high, the view is magnificent. When the tide is low, the birds and crabs steal the show.



The other side of the island overlooks the beautiful Atlantic Ocean. In the fall we enjoy some of the most beautiful sunsets over the water. Most people that I share that fact with don't believe me since the sun sets in the west. However, because of the curve of the beach it is possible.



When my girls were little we would spend weeks at the time at the coast. Most of that time was spent on the beach or riding bikes. They didn't need to shop or go to arcades to have fun. They were pretty content to just be.



Occasionally, we might go antique shopping in Southport or throw in a game of Jungle Golf, but who needs that when you have an entire ocean for a playground?



When my kids hear friends talk about going to the beach to do things like shop, go to amusement parks, or go to water parks, they don't understand. I am thankful that they have always been content just wasting the day away under an umbrella, reading a good book, while listening to the tide roll in and spending the evenings under the stars waiting for a turtle nest to hatch. I can't imagine a day at the beach spent any other way.