Salt Water

The Cure for anything is SALT WATER: sweat, tears, or the sea.

I recently read this quote by Isak Dinesen from one of the mommies I follow on Instagram. I had “a moment” when I read it. It was like one of those moments when you’re listening to a song and you realize this song is telling YOUR story, it’s like a page taken from YOUR book, and it speaks to your soul so much that you are sure to play it over and over again-all the while, belting out the lyrics and singing along, knowing that singing it out loud is somehow helping you speak your truth. Music can do that. It has even moved me to tears at some points in my life. This little ditty…this quote was just like that, and it caused me to pause. And it was a good time to hit the pause button.

The quote reminded me that the pain or challenges in my life can always be overcome. Problems can always be dealt with, prayed upon, and with some help from “The Big Guy up Above,” somehow turned around. Actually, sometimes, all it really takes is a little perspective and a little time. That, a good cry, a good work out or a great visit to the beach can change your out look on whatever situation you seem to be dealing with at the moment.

So, it was a wonderful treat when our friends invited us for a weekend at the beach.  I’m not hurting. I’m not going thru any particular challenges right now. In fact, LIFE IS PRETTY GOOD.  My kids are healthy. My husband is happy, and my parents are still here visiting with us from the U.S. All is right in my world. I just haven’t been to the beach in a while and any opportunity to go is a good one.

Our friends asked us to join them in a weekend visit to Canyon Cove. For those of you not familiar with the resort, it’s in Nasugbu. Nasugbu is about a two hour drive from Manila. It’s easy to get to, and is a casual, family friendly resort that has many facilities and activities for you to take advantage of. You can visit their website here.

Of course this was what I wanted to take advantage of…

And the little waves that would kiss the beach while I was walking alone, taking in the smell of the ocean and the warmth of the sun. I was so thankful that our friends had asked us to join them. It was a weekend that helped me kick off my week of Thanksgiving properly.

I was thankful for the sunset.

I was thankful for belly laughs from a baby who was enjoying the beach and the salt water for the first time.

I was thankful for the kids who brought two sets of parents together.

But most of all, I realized on that Saturday morning just how lucky I was. Just how special I was because Gelli chose our family. You see, when Gelli was first born, I thought I might have done something wrong to deserve the fate of raising a child with special needs. In my heart of hearts BEFORE she was born I always believed that our God was a loving God and that He didn’t punish people. But after she was born I questioned that belief. I questioned quite a lot more than just that, to be honest.  I thought back to the moments after she was born while I was there at the beach. I remembered how I felt when the doctor delivered the news of Trisomy 21 and how I was devastated and depressed. When I was reflecting on that time that feels like it was so long ago, I heard Gelli’s belly laughs  and I thought to myself that I had it all wrong in those first few moments after her birth. People say hindsight is 20/20. Fifteen months later, I realize that I must have done something pretty “right” to have been gifted with such a wonderful little girl. I have come full circle. Maybe Gelli was laughing so hard because she already knows the healing properties of salt water?