OBX 2012

We are back from vacation. ALREADY.

One week down, several sunburns, and two immensely tired parents later we are unpacked and back at home chasing Levi as usual.

This year's beach trip was a bit different as you can imagine. Toting an 11 month old around is high maintenance. But our family is amazing as they helped us feed, change, and put him to sleep every day. It was really nice to have their help, and even though I know they would say "that's dumb" and that they weren't actually helping, they were and it was a very nice break to say the least.


It is truly a shame that such vacations must go by so quickly. I have a new theory in life lately and that is the more vacations taken the better. I'm not quite sure why we, as a society, don't take more, but I think I would like to start living that theory out.

Tomorrow, Carrie, Anna and I face a somber moment as we will be visiting our grandmother who is in the hospital recovering from unexpected cancer surgery.

There is something about this type of setting: a return from a long beach trip -- exhausted, mellowed,  unpacking my things underneath rain clouds, and learning my grandmother is in a lot of pain. It's a strange dynamic. Eerie, and sad.

I have no doubt she will be ok. She's in good spirits, and the doctors are saying they're pretty sure they got it all. Test results to follow soon.

......


We actually only went to the beach twice. Actually, that's not true. Carrie (and sometimes Anna) and I went several times as we ran on the beach a few of the days we were there. I consider that beach time. Though it was not very sunny.

Beach BEACH time was limited - like actually laying out and getting sun (or getting scorched, whatever you want to call it) -- it completely rained for most of the days we were there. Not all day every day, but most days.


So, we did other things too: like bowling, shopping, put put, and lighthouse sightseeing. I didn't do the put put and lighthouse on the last day. Instead, I went shopping and bought some souvenirs. You can not go on vacation and not get a t-shirt or three.

Plus, I've always wanted OBX paraphenalia.

In fact, every year, Isaac lets me go to the Tommy Hilfiger store at Tanger Outlets. It's an outdoor shopping mall with stores like Eddie Bauer, Polo Ralph Lauren, Bass, Izod, Gap, Nine West and others. Not your typical Marshall's-like stuff.

I don't normally shop at Tommy Hilfiger. I mean, on normal shopping days that's not a place I'd just say "I need some clothes - I'm going to go there."

But when I'm at the Outer Banks, I love it. It makes me feel....oh, I dunno, special. So perhaps I will start.

He lets me pick out a few things I want. You know, he's pretty good about that...letting me buy things when I want or need them.

Needless to say, I bought a pair of flip flops, a fall sweater, and a new purse. All on sale of course.

PS - I say "every year" like we have been to the OBX multiple times. This is only our second offiicial year for actual vacation. But I think we'll be making it a regular thing in the future. The six of us (sisters and husbands and their kids) usually go away together once a year somewhere usually, unless like last year, one of us is pregnant.

Trust me, I was not about to drive in a car five hours in my last trimester. Isaac would have shot me with his rifle for having to stop to pee every five minutes.

This makes me feel like a cheerleader again...

I feel so preppy buying Tommy stuff, which is so not me usually. But preppy cool, or preppy hip. And also, empowered. I will be 30 early next year, and I can buy Tommy clothes if I want to dangit!!

Isaac also bought me this cute and comfy GAP sweatshirt zipup hoodie. I LOVE IT!

 We bought Levi his first pair of shoes and "real" socks at the Gap. He was loving it and I think he felt like a big shot. Which is funny, because when we put them on him and he started walking around the mall sidewalk, the song that goes, "Who do you think you are, Mr. Big Stuff?" came on the loud overhead speakers. Such irony! Unfortunately, I did not get a picture. :( But I snapped one at home of him in the shoes.

.....

There is something about waking up in a big house with all the people you love, and seeing them in the hallway as you pass through to get your morning coffee. Or spending late nights in their bedroom talking.

Our room was right below the main living area and kitchen. We could hear everything -- primarily young ones running back and forth and jumping up and down. But it was the best room in the house.

It was so beachy. Many times walking into it I said in my head, "Now this is a beach room ."

The crescent alcove at our headboard was quaint and the lamp at my bedside was touch sensitive. I kept it lit on the lowest setting each night to dim the room, especially for when I put Levi to bed. And it sat upon the cutest lighthouse nightstand made of wood.

Isaac brought the rocking chair up from the basement for bedtime routine and we kept the fans blowing all day. I didn't want to leave.

Levi adjusted fairly in his pack n' play, waking up only on the first night.

Rather messy, I know! This is when we were packing to go home.

The strangest thing happened on our first night there when we were in Food Lion getting groceries. We saw our neighbors.

Our actual next door neighbors that live to the right of us.

It wouldn't have been weird if it was a local grocery store we saw them in, obviously. But it wasn't. We were in Corolla, five hours away from our homes, in the same Food Lion at the exact same time. Since we recently moved into this house, it's just even weirder.

God is funny.

.....

I don't have much left to say except that we had a great week. Here are the pictures to prove it...

Even though Isaac's head is cut off, this is one of my favorites.

Does anybody know why the stores use paper bags down there? I like it.

Musings After a Wednesday Company Meeting

I let my co-workers down. I fell. I didn't live up to standards:

I lost at limbo.

I fell flat on my back in front of the entire company. To boot, the president of our company was standing at the foot of the pole.

"But you did it with grace," a girl from Accounting said.

Yes, with grace.

70 people watching. My reputation on the line. Thinking I was one one hot mama for being picked to represent. And then the whole thing becomes a bust and my pride goes down the tubes.

Me, on my back, looking up at the ceiling, while they roar in laughter and I embarassingly walk to the sidelines where the other "losers" are.

Grace.

"You can promptly remove that part from the video you are taping," I said to the organizer of the meeting.

"What video?" she joked.

Let's just hope no one rewatches it, and that she didn't tape me flying backwards with my feet up in the air on the moon bounce, either. It was fun, though, I will admit.

The point of a company meeting: what is it?

I'm pretty sure most people moan and complain, and furthermore cringe, at the thought of a company meeting. I know I did at every single one at my last job. While I did get excited about seeing people from other offices and free food, I hated speaking, team building, and group activities. I'm actually terrible at mingling and, at the end of the day, does anybody really get anything out of it?

Company meetings are where it's not at.

Ours are bit different though because they involve beer kegs, mixed drinks, and eclectic sports and activities like the limbo, for example, and moon bounce bungee races.

If that isn't enough, we had a scavenger hunt, skits, and blindfolded booth building.

Let me just paint you a picture...

At 3 o' clock, Famous Dave's BBQ is catered in. Upon re-entry to the post-meeting party area we are adorned with leis and encouraged to go to the tiki bar. We mingle, we eat at our Hawaiin-themed tables, and afterward, we partake in the planned activities if we wish.

At 6:00 p.m. as the food and indoor games part of the party winds down, someone brings the kegs down the stairs and outside to our volleyball net so people can drink and play.

To a new girl who started on Monday, the owner says "This is what we do on Wednesdays."

He was joking of course, but that wasn't far from the truth.

"We" do like to party.

Of course I always get chided by the sales team and others that I never "do anything," like go out for drinks at Bob O's, for which they promptly went afterwards.

What can I say? I like to keep my distance for various reasons.

Although too often...I wonder how far I really am keeping it. Do people know who I am and what I stand for, as a believer?

I don't know if they do. 

I sat there with a Red Solo cup in my hand filled with Blue Moon, talking to a co-worker who has six kids, is younger than me, and is moving his family to Brazil to do missions work his church is funding. He knew I was a Christian, but I wondered what he thought of me.

Does he know this is beer in my hand? If he does, what does he think about me talking about the Lord at the same time?

I felt strange.

He didn't say anything, or even look, but I wondered if he thought I was a hypocrite.

I'm sure he has imperfections too. I try to remember that when I'm talking to people. Not that I use it to justify my actions, but just remembering that we are all human and have different walks with our Father. We know in our own hearts what is right and wrong. Nobody needs to tell us.

How are we representing our inheritance?

He was on fire, telling me about a mission outreach he's embarking upon with his wife and six kids...moving them to a new country to start something great, and I thought "What am I doing? I'm sitting here with this beer in my hand, telling him about my church. Does he think I am a terrible person? Maybe I AM a terrible person." The thoughts went on...

Having a beer isn't wrong, but that moment kept me mindful and alert to remember where I am, who I am with, why I am having one, and who might come across my path.