Thursday, July 14, 2011

Water water everywhere

I love water.
Pools, rivers, oceans...doesn't matter, I love it all.

Being near the water, in the water, on the water, or even at the edge looking out, there is something about water that makes me feel like anything is possible.

From the time my girls were itty bitty we spent summers at the pool, the beach, and later on our boat on the river.

Both my girls have always loved the water.

We are the people at the beach who are still in the water at 7 PM.
In fact our favorite time of day on the water anywhere is the 4-7 time slot.

Hubs grew up swimming on a swim team.
He earned the nickname Aqua Lung while on a work trip a while back because he was down deep in the ocean with the scuba divers wearing only a snorkel (and a swimsuit of course).
Obviously he loves the water too.

Essentially, we're a family of fish.

We've had a most crazy summer schedule leaping from one weekend's events to another weekend's events with the in between days spent in regroup mode.

I'm not complaining because it is lots of fun stuff with lots of our most favorite fun people but still, it doesn't quite feel like summer.

Maybe that's because deep down inside I believe summer is spelled

And ours this year is missing that.

In fact, we haven't had any water at all in our summer so far unless you count rain.
No, we're not counting rain.

We have a couple of weekends planned late in the summer where there will most definitely be water.
I look forward to those weekends.
Summers need water.

There needs to be swimming...

and dancing.


and tubing~

you need to feel the sun on your face,
while the wind whips your hair and the sea gently sprays.

There has to be some sand between your toes

skim boards

and diving boards too.

There needs to be a walk along the shore

and a secret shared while sitting next to the sea.

When I stand in front of the ocean I always wonder how anyone can think this world just 'happened'.

A summer spent by the water is where memories are made-

And where the future is imagined.

It's always our self we find in the sea."
~e.e. cummings


  1. I hope you get your fill of water fun and then some!

  2. Well, this is the one thing we do NOT have in common. :)
    I'm not a fan of water. However I can do a whole day on the chaise NEXT TO bodies of water.

  3. I'm with you - love the water! However, I'm married to a man who has a very healthy fear of it so we don't do many water related activities. Once in awhile he will tolerate going out on a friends boat so I take advantage of every opportunity that comes up like that. Enjoy yourself when you actually get to take that water break! :)

  4. I couldn't have said it better myself. I love water, all kinds of it, and you're right, a summer without water is no summer at all. I love it so much, I go in our ocean even if it's freakishly cold still, the Pacific doesn't get any Gulf stream current unfortunately. Love the pics too, especially the sunset one.

  5. I love this post. You are so right. When I am standing looking at the ocean all I can see is the majesty and awesomeness of God. The ocean and a starry night sky do that to me. Awwww now I need to go see the ocean. Maybe when we take the oldest back to college next month.

  6. Well, I guess someone has to like the beach and all that sand and water. ;) Give me the mountains any day! (Fun post, by the way and wonderful pictures! Isn't scanning fun?)(Oh and did you read my blog two years ago where I wrote about my niece being bit by a shark???)

  7. I love the water too. We like to go to the beach at dinner time when the sun isn't as strong and it is less crowded.
    Really staring out at the ocean is there anything else to think but what an awesome creation of our God. Love looking at His handiwork :)

  8. I totally agree! We haven't been in the water yet...yes to my friends lake house but not on a boat or in the water. In Utah we had a pool and lived in it. So this week being at the shore will finally feel like summer! Have a wonderful weekend!

  9. well, now I wish I was heading to marco island.... this made me very nostalgic. still I can't wait to spend this weekend with you even though it wont be by the water. xo

  10. Really, really good post Joyce. The writing, the pictures, the sentiment . . .

    We were at the lake last weekend (it's not the ocean, but it does have a sand beach) and I smiled all weekend and kept repeating, "water with sun is my my favorite combination."

  11. what is it about your pictures that makes me tear up when i see pictures of your girls so little? such cutie-patooties! i think i like to think of them as always being grown, so that i can live in denial of my own growing up. that's deep, huh?

    i loved the water growing up... still do. but i find myself avoiding the pool scene as much as possible, due to the oppressive heat.

  12. You guys are very blessed to have so much and many places with water to go to. This country we live in, has very few great "water places" and the ones they do have are always overfilled. I hope you have a great time spending the weekends you do have at the water.

  13. A post filled with beautiful memories and awesome pictures. You make me want to go swimming. We had a pool for 17 years and I miss it so much. We also spent many years at my dads cottage on a lake. I haven't given water much thought in the last five years. I will have to look for some of those pictures from the cottage. Enjoy your company this weekend.

  14. Love that 'walk along the shore' photo. What a beautiful place to walk and think. Did you say 'boat on the river'? That sounds delightful.

  15. Ah yes, summers have to be filled with water adventures. I agree. I'll soon write about our Lake Michigan excursions. I love going there and relaxing as my children take it all in in every way possible. We have a swimming pool and a hot tub which are new things for us since we moved back and we love it all!

    We have been way too busy as well, but are trying to enjoy it along the way. So happy to be here again. :-)

  16. Great post! :) I hope you get in some water soon. :)

  17. we are fish over here as well, and there really is a lot of joy to be found in that amazing miraculous blue stuff. Your post made me appreciate it afresh!

  18. I agree, it's just not summer without water! I'm feeling the need for some water myself :)

  19. Finally catching up with blog reading. Love this, Joyce!