I hope you had a great first week of summer! I certainly did. I started the week hosting the first-ever Eva Marie Workshops at the beach—my favorite place in the world!
Our group of ten arrived early while the lifeguards were still prepping for the day. The sun was glistening off the water, and we found the perfect spot to set up our chairs and umbrellas. We applied our suntan lotion and got ready for a day of fun in the sand and surf—sharing, laughing and relaxing. We unplugged from technology, and for that day, life was simple. The beach was calling us to come and play, and we did!
The weather changed so much during our day at the beach. We had fog, wind, overcast skies, blue skies, clouds and sunshine, but no rain. The ocean was calm and cold. It was low tide when we arrived, and high tide as we left. We weren’t brave enough to go all the way in, but some of us dipped our toes.
When we stand at the edge of the ocean, we can feel so small because it’s so vast. But it can teach us to be strong and calm, to be at peace with ourselves and our surroundings. The waves wash in and can take all our cares as they roll out. The ocean is inviting, and yet we must respect its power. We must know when to swim, when to float and when to stay at its edge.
Our workshop was specifically about seashells. I took a bag of shells and had each woman choose one. Like each woman, all the shells were different. Some of the shells were soft and broken, some were thick or thin, while some were rough on one side and smooth on the other.
Each woman shared why she chose her shell and how it spoke to her. Each one of us shared something different: we’re all at different places emerging out of our year in quarantine; we’ve all had different life struggles or are at different stages in life. We learned so much from one another. Do you have a favorite seashell that reminds you of where you are in life?
The beach has always been my sanctuary. Time seems to stand still, all my concerns drift away, and I move at a different pace. I can truly relax and do nothing but enjoy my surroundings. It restores my soul.
Our day came to an end and we headed home refreshed, our faces kissed by the sun. We’d reconnected with old friends and made new ones. It was the perfect beach day.
Wish I could of made it. Next time. Sounds like a beautiful day.
Yes, it was a nice day. You were missed. We will do it again.
Thank you for coming. Change of scenery is good for all of us.
Lovely day! It was so relaxing… I’m not a good sleeper but that night I slept really well.
Thank you Marie.
So happy you came. Yes, you always sleep better after a day at the beach.
What a great day! The workshop; the best way to do one and the first week of summer. The weather was perfect, the water was cold, the sun was hot, and the beach was filled with people.
The workshop was interesting and quite fitting – seashells! From different places, different shapes and sizes. As humans we can relate. God’s creation how different and yet not so different.
Thanks, Marie, for such a wonderful day full of memories I’ll cherish forever.
Thank you for coming. We will do it again.
It sounds like I missed a lovely day with the girls at the beach. At least I got to go this week with my husband as well. It was a day of restoring and refreshing to the soul. I feel like the shells you find on the beach are all just half the story just like me. Waiting for Christ to finish my story. What will others tell of your story? I hope my story will be a good one. Like you Marie my sanctuary is also the beach and I can’t seem to get there enough. Hope to be with you girls again soon.
You were missed. We will do it again. Yes, the beach is a place to be refreshed, so good for the soul.
A wonderful day! Thank you for expanding our “tent posts” in the way of beach umbrellas!
Love the analogy of the beach and shells to share a powerful message🏖
Thank you. I think we can learn so much about ourselves through nature.