Serene

This was the view of our hotel, just part of it.  The graves go on and on to the left and to the right, so that this cemetery is literally the only thing you can see when you open up the curtains.  It's this vast panorama of gravestones, something quite appropriate for this time of year, according to Madison.  We had our three mascots for the trip pose for a picture in front of the window.

Deek, Jeremiah, and Sheldon have been along for the ride, and we were up early to see what kind of ride it would be.  As advertised last night, Tropical Storm Nestor was scheduled to pass right over this area here, right over Tifton.  So we knew we probably wanted to not be in Tifton as soon as possible.  That being said, we got up earlier, and the two of us went down to enjoy a free continental breakfast.

It's impossible to not think of this video above when eating a continental breakfast.  In fact, we watched it again this morning, Madison and Daddy.  It's also "appropriate for this time of year," with a hilarious little twist at the end.

Anyway, Madison and Daddy had a little breakfast, and soon enough we were on our way, racing the storm.  The clouds were swirling above, the rotation clear and obvious as we were riding right through the midst of Tropical Storm Nestor.  We had rain, but mostly fairly strong wind gusts that made the drive a bit more challenging than usual.  We watched above as the rotation changed to the other direction, and we knew we were moving through the other side of the storm.  It was an interesting drive.  Somewhere around I-95, we left the storm, and were heading south along the coast. We arrived in Daytona Shores fairly early, as was our plan, and had some time to spend with the family there.  Uncle George was one of those waiting for us when we arrived.

Here he is with his sister, Mommy, as the two were walking along the beach.  We had a pleasant afternoon and evening with the family.  Ba-Ba is clearly fighting it, dealing with the effects of chemotherapy and radiation, but dressed up and wanting to be with the family.  He takes naps when he needs too, and that's part of it - you have to have time to rest and heal.  He's a fighter though, and won't let this overcome his spirit.  Having family here is hopefully helping him with that battle.

We put in a few movies that Mommy was wanting to watch, and one that Ba-Ba would watch with his kids each Halloween, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow."  It was nice watching him smile and nod his head in time to the music from this Disney classic.  We were all watching "Hocus Pocus" tonight as well, and it was just great to have the whole family together like that.

Our walk along the beach was nice too - it was sunset, and in fact fairly close to dusk.  The colors of the clouds were beautiful, and the beach quiet peaceful.

Daddy took his camera along, and of course we snapped a picture of Madison as she walked along the shoreline too.  She wrote several people's names in the sand, and we took a picture just to prove that she was here.  Imagine telling your friends at school that you left Friday to go to the beach, and came back in time for school on Monday?

It was a nice walk, the temperature just right and the level areas with a small layer of water on them creating a mirror effect, reflecting the colors of the evening sky.  It was like walking on a mirror in places, a quiet walk with only a few other people out, passing by.

It's difficult to describe the sensation of this dusk walk along this part of the shoreline.  You can see below another area, this shot taken with very little light, and yet the clouds catching the dwindling sunlight are reflected in that smooth area of beach in such a pleasant way.

Madison wrote several names in the sand, but this one she wrote on her own, the artist behind all this wonder.  Daddy didn't ask her to write it, which makes it even more special that she understands and knows the master artist himself.

Most people picture a gateway to heaven, this golden fence of sorts with a podium there at the entrance and a guy who is supposed to be St. Peter, sitting there with a list like he is a head waiter, allowing people in for their reserved seats.  But Daddy pictures this below often times.

The temperature so perfect, you don't know it is there.  And the sounds around you are so relaxing, the waves hitting the shoreline, sending the occasional surge of warm water across the glassy beach surface beneath your feat.  The horizon line almost difficult to see, the colors of the sky reflected below.  Here and there, you see people along the shore and passing by, not crowded at all, but walking at relaxed paces and each filled with the same sense of wonder at the scenery around them.  They pass by with pleasant looks upon their faces, nodding silently to you as they move on.  I can't say this is what our walk into heaven is like, but there's a feeling about it, a serene sense of peace and love, one I wish the whole world could have even now.

We read tonight, and we prayed together.  Mommy has been here for three weeks now, and will be returning with us tomorrow.  We're grateful for that, but we're also concerned for the future down here.  We're taking things one day at a time though, and grateful for the memories we've been given.