The Beauty and Sting of Summer

I finally got the opportunity to go back to the beach this past weekend. My soul has been longing to commune with the ocean and all of its mystery and awe. The ocean certainly worked its healing powers on me but Nature proved her destructive powers simultaneously.

Saturday at the beach, we got sandblasted! The beach was so windy that we were miserably covered in sand by the time we got the sunscreen rubbed in. Ashley and I opted to walk along the shoreline instead of lay out. We only stayed on the beach for about thirty minutes before we rode back home and jumped in the pool.

Sunday was a better day at the beach. I was able to lay out and read a couple of chapters of my book and Ashley and I took a couple of walks down the beach. It was a perfect afternoon--sunny and breezy enough not to be too hot. The down side is that we all got a sunburn! We were only out there for a couple of hours and we applied sunscreen but we all still got red! I haven't been sunburned in a long time because once you get it good a time or two, you learn your lesson. I have been kicking myself ever since I got out of the shower because it burns so bad and the aloe hasn't been much help to ease it. I'm mad at myself for letting this happen but I don't understand how it happened. I was safe by using sunscreen and not staying out too long but I guess because we went at noon, the sun unleashed its greatest fury on us. Luckily, my skin will absorb the sunshine rather than peel so in another day or two, I should have a nice tan (at least on front.....I should have turned more).

In other news, I am happy to report that my Papa's health has finally made a turn-around! Turns out that his heart was actually in pretty bad condition which stemmed most of his recent problems. It was tough to hear how bad things were but it was good to have some explanation of his declining health and it was wonderful that they were able to fix it! He immediately started feeling better after the doctors put in two stints to absolve the blockages to his heart. He also got a defibrillator/pacemaker while he was at Wake last week. He came home Saturday and has shown greatly improved health, stamina, and emotional well-being since then! He looks forward to walking his survivor lap this Friday night at the Relay for Life (something he was unsure that he would be able to do until now)! Another trial of sting and beauty. :) To God be the glory! It has been a long trial but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!