Atypical & Awesome “Orange Beach and My Overactive Brain”

Vacation- a time of rest and relaxation. We returned yesterday from our week stay at Orange Beach with my husband’s family. It is always a nice time with lots of good food. We even made it to the 51st Annual National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores which was super nice. But my heart and my brain….Goodness, this week both were in overactive mode. I have been thinking so much about loss lately. So many friends and important people in my life are no longer here- in one way or another. The beach is also such an emotional place for me so it’s not surprising that those feelings surface when I’m there.

And I miss my kids. I know our job as parents is to raise independent adults. We did. They are flourishing. But, oh my heart. Seeing all the young families at the beach reminds me of those days with my “Taylor Tots”. We went through so much together. The beach trips to me really symbolize so much from that time in my life. Life moves on and somehow or another we survive.

My mind is all over the place as I return to work today. I’m glad to be home and I really missed Sapphire this trip (I’m pretty sure she missed us, too). Yet, there is a lot of uncertainty in my mind and heart as I prepare for the next phase. As Phillip says, “all will be well” and it will be. But if the beach did anything for me this year it was to stir up a lot of conflicting emotions. This is not a bad thing and please understand the trip was wonderful and I am so grateful for it. Yet, I’m thinking hard about the road ahead. I am truly at a crossroads- let the journey continue.