And just like that...

 I would say that we said this phrase before the phrase was actually a phrase but, either way ...

And just like that our whirlwind trip to the beach was planned atop a rooftop with champagne and OJ from the duty store in the hotel lobby downstairs. It was Sunday and we were on the beach by Wednesday! 

We are a fun loving, truth telling, beautiful group of ladies that ebb and flow together as life throws it's rapids, waterfalls and the moments of tranquil waters our way. 

As we land on Wednesday so excited to be taking one last hurrah before we settle down for the end of year chaos and reign, we cheers to us and all that we hold dear.

This trip just happen to fall in October and that's my birthday month so I was super excited to be stealing away. My husband was on a trip to Green Bay so it was an easy sell.

It was a wonderfully relaxing trip full of mimosas, belly laughs and just plain fun.

On Friday we got up and decided to head down to the beach early as to soak up every ray and every bit of the beach we possibly could. We set up our place next to the two families from Nashville that we had met. They were vacationing together and had an adorable middle school girl each that were stuck together like glue. Some intermingling chatting and some drop castles later. My good friend and I...let me pause here for just a minute.

When I say good friend, what I mean is THE friend. The friend that God actually knit me together with at a time when he knew I needed a friend. He knew and He provided the absolute most amazing sister that satisfied that need for a fellow woman to share life with.

Now, my good friend and I ventured out to cool off in the ocean. The ocean was loud and churning but, for the most part we did not notice. We were finding it hard to hear each other and I moved to where I thought she motioned would be better to stand and chat. 

At that moment we looked in each other's eyes and we knew it was possible that this was it. We had stepped into a riptide, we had what seemed like a whole conversation in the milliseconds before the waves began to overtake us. We had said good bye...just in case but, nonetheless we had said it all somehow without saying a word.

She screamed fight! We did, she began to break loose and fight her way towards the sand and I began to converse with God. I tried to swim sideways, float, swim harder but, I was being pummeled wave by wave with no sign of me finding a way out so I prayed. I am actually not sure if it qualifies as prayer but, God and I...we had a chat. As I was tossed beneath the ocean like a piece of seaweed I realized that the power in these waves was but a drop of His power. That I have an amazing life. My husband is an amazing man that is strong, a man of God and loves me unconditionally. My kids are all awe-inspiring wonderful adults and I was not worried about them...I had peace. That peace, it covered my fear, my pain, my everything to sheer nothing. In that nothing (which is a horrible way to describe it) I thought to my self, "wow, so this is how I go out...hmmmm never saw that coming" but, I was ok.

My conversation was interrupted with a quick opportunity for air. As I stood up, gasped for air and I made eye contact with him. I knew he saw me and I knew that IF I could hold on long enough...there was a chance. I was exhausted, disoriented and not ready when the waves took me again.

As all of this took place, my friend thought I was dying as she was fighting to break free for her life. She screamed with everything she had. She screamed every time she could catch a breath. As she made her way to the sand she hysterically screamed, begged for help and wept all simultaneously.

Underneath the water was oddly peaceful amid the churning, thrashing and crashing of the waves. Wait! My big toe hit sand! As I searched for footing and a hand grabbed my arm! A 17 year old man asked me if I needed help...(uhmmm. yes please) YES. he helped me make it to sand but, I was too weak to fight anymore. He drug me half way where another man (from Ohio) helped drag me out of the water onto the beach.

The 17 year old man (because boys don't save lives, only men do that) began to scold me for ignoring the double red flags. I nodded that I now understand and I would never enter the water without checking the flag status again.

As I found my way to a chair, expelling what my lungs took in...one of my tribe lovingly buried all evidence and assured me I was OK. My friend (THE friend), she was face down in the sand weeping from complete and utter physical and emotional exhaustion. She was met with another amazing friend that just wept with her...as they began to regain composure we all hear another one of us say...well, this calls for celebration! pizza for the beach! We are all just reeling from shock and we hear her ordering TWO LARGE CHEESE PIZZAS! Good golly! Everyone lifted their heads in disbelief...Wait, wait, wait we are going to need more pizzas than that! Boy oh boy, do we know how to answer the question of life and death with some humor!

There was a lot of humor because that is how I/we handle uncomfortable situations but, make no mistake; we are here by divine appointment. This experience was traumatic for those on the beach and in the water but, somehow for me, it was assuring as well. I had the opportunity of a rare glimpsofat just how blessed I am and how absolutely, without doubt my destiny lies in the hands of my creator. Do not think for a minute that HE will not take time to reminds us of JUST WHO HE is. Life is a gift so LIVE IT!