Sand Dollar

We've been doing beach walks each day, and just look at that plane of sand behind us, the one covered by a thin layer of ocean water.  It reflects the blue sky with pastel colors of sunset, giving the impression that you're walking on a large mirror.  The temperature is perfect as the sun is setting.  It's been beautiful to walk along the shoreline each night while we've been here, except for the Disney day, of course.

But tonight we had a noteworthy event happen.  Last time we were here at the beach, we spoke with this woman at length about various things here, and it was clear that she was just a bit zany in some beliefs and political statements, at least to us.  So we pass by her from time to time this week, and make comments along the lines of "don't make eye contact" and so forth, trying to avoid a conversation for fear that we'll hear some political lecture and so forth.  We've seen her each time we walk along the beach.

Anyway, all this week, Madison was looking for a piece of a sand dollar.  Just a fragment, really - anything.  We've seen some of those a few times along our walk, and of course many other small shells as well.  But we've never seen an entire sand dollar before, once completely intact.  I was planning on going to a tourist souvenir store to buy a sand dollar for Madison, and perhaps even place it there on the beach for her to find as a little joke.

Anyway, as we're returning to the condo, getting back there after another nice walk, of course we see that lady again.  And that's when she reaches down to pick something up from the sand there on the shoreline, and can you believe it?  It's an entire sand dollar, completely intact.  The very thing Madison was hoping to get.  The woman picks it up, studies it, sees Madison there, and hands it to her as a gift with a smile.  It's something Madison was hoping all week to find, and it was a nice little lesson for Mommy and Daddy too.

Mommy put in bleach when we got home, and by the next morning, the sand dollar was perfect, a wonderful total specimen, and a great souvenir of our trip.

Today was a slower day, certainly compared to yesterday.  We ate at the condo, and for the first time, didn't get in the car to go anywhere today.  We were planning on playing dominoes, but the Braves game was going on, the first of a five game series.  They didn't win today, but we can get 'em tomorrow.

It was a lazier day today, but hey, we're on vacation, right?  Daddy was writing for the skit that will take place eight or nine hours away in Georgia, but didn't quite finish yet.  I'll probably get that done tomorrow.  Madison has been working on artwork, doing various drawings in her drawing notebook.  She's been playing some online games too, but it hasn't been a terribly focused sort of day for any of us.  It was pleasant, and nice to be together with family.  And along the way, we picked up a nice little souvenir of the beach, and yet another reminder of how God loves us all.