Summer has arrived! Are you excited? I am. I love summer! The weather’s warmer, days are longer, schedules more relaxed and flexible. The farmers markets are bursting with fresh fruits and vegetables and vibrant flowers. I love how each season offers us so many unique things to enjoy.
Eva Marie Workshops kicked off summer with our second annual beach outing this past Monday, and it was an outstanding day. Eight women attended the event, three of them new to the group. We took walks, read books, ate our picnic lunches, and wet our toes as we strolled the shoreline, which was dotted with colorful umbrellas, beach towels and chairs. The sky was blue with wispy clouds and sunshine. We were surrounded by families having fun–kids running through the sand, laughing and playing in tide pools, and building sandcastles. We saw seagulls and other birds, small fish and three dolphins, and a frog. The water was a chilly 63 degrees, but a few of us braved it and went swimming. Once we were in the water, it was so refreshing and we giggled with excitement. We felt like kids again.
The beach is a calming, restful place to come together, open up and share. A lot of us are looking for a place to do that, and Eva Marie Workshops gives women the opportunity to do so in a fun, safe environment. We talked about how the lapping waves, bright sun and warm sand provide the perfect environment to relax our bodies and gather our thoughts.
The beach holds a special place in my heart. It’s my happy place. I grew up on Carolina Beach in North Carolina where the ocean was within walking distance from home. Every day I would go to the beach by myself and play all day. When the sun was directly overhead, I knew it was time to go home for lunch then after eating, I’d go back to the water and play for the afternoon. It was a safe place: free of the drinking, fighting, and yelling that marked my home life. I could just be a kid; I’d play and pretend I was like the other kids and everything was good. I’m thankful that I had a safe haven to run to each day. God was taking care of and protecting me then, but I didn’t realize it until I got older.
This week’s outing, I spent time with old friends and relished my childhood memories of the beach while making new friends and memories. We ended our perfect day perfectly with ice cream!
Where’s your happy place?
It was definitely a top 10 day for sure. Absolutely perfect. The beach is my happy place as well. Thank you for the day and I am so happy for the opportunity to dare stepping out of my comfort and rediscovering my joy and excitement of floating on the waves. Wonderful day with wonderful ladies. Thank you 😊 💓
It was so much fun. Love riding the waves with you.
Beautiful!
Thank you. It was a beautiful day.
So happy you had such a beautiful day for your beach outing. The beach is my happy place… so relaxing & brings me peace. 🌊🏖
Thank you, it was a fun day. I agree with you the beach is relaxing.
It was absolutely a beautiful day with beautiful women! I was able to relax and enjoy the company of women I knew and women I just met. God is good! Breath taking beach, sky, surroundings really showed the beauty of His creation. Thank you ladies for being part of my day and part of my story ❤️ Hugs to you all.
So happy you could come.
Yes, we were blessed with a beautiful relaxing day. Looking forward to doing it again.