Favorite Memory Near The Water
I love the water. If I cannot see land on the other side of the body of water, it’s even better. Near the water is my happy place, my peaceful place, the place where I can disconnect from the real world and be present. It is also a place where some of my happiest moments have taken place.
Recently, I had an opportunity to travel to Florida to stay with a dear friend. My daughter was down there with the high school band so we would be meeting up later in the week. Even when I was at my friend’s home, there was a body of water right our her back door that I could sit on the dock and enjoy the scenery.
While I impatiently waited for the day I could pick up my daughter, I tried to do a little work on bookish things, but it just wouldn’t happen. It was almost like God was saying, “You need to rest. Recharge. You can’t give away what you don’t have.”
See, after months of one difficult life moment after another while trying to produce books, my emotions were raw, my mind was numb, and my heart need repair. So, I spent my mornings in this spot with the Lord–reading the word, listening to worship, and writing everything I was gleaning from those moments. It was just what I needed.
When I, at last, had my girl, we enjoyed our time together on the dock and at Cocoa Beach. We talked about anything and everything. This was our second mother/daughter trip and because we are both “Big water girls” we enjoyed much of it. Of course, dipping our toes in the ocean (she used a boogie board and got right in) and spending time together on the beach was the best part. When we arrived home, I think I can say we both felt refreshed and ready to face the busy end of the school year schedule that was coming.
It is such a privilege to get to know my daughter on these trips. To see a side of her that might be a little less anxious, to witness her experience new things or maybe we get to enjoy firsts together, to get a glimpse of the amazing and strong young lady she is becoming was thrilling. And I think she got to see who her mama really is as well.
I recommend to every mother with a teenage daughter to take trips with her. Get to know each other on a different level before she flies from the nest and you are out of time.
About From Shore to Shore by Tabitha Bouldin
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Can one captain show her the deep love of the ultimate Captain without falling in love himself?
Bree Jamison comes to Sparrow Island for one reason: to study coral reefs. She’s not interested in happily-ever-after and certainly won’t allow her handsome boat captain to sway her into believing these islands are different from any others. But when she finds an old shipwreck and learns the history of pirates and treasure, Bree finds herself searching for something that always feels just out of reach.
Cooper Carmichael takes the job as boat captain for the enigmatic Bree to further his career. He never expected her to be so driven—or so painfully opposed to God.
All Cooper wants is his happy island life. He wants for nothing. In fact, he’s made it his mission to be content. In every aspect of his life. Bree throws a wrench in his plan as her presence pushes Cooper to want for things he deems unnecessary.
A man striving for contentment. A woman who believes God is picking on her.
It takes one to show the other that no matter which shore you find yourself on, God got there first.
Read the next Sparrow Island novel in the Independence Islands Series featuring five islands, six authors, and a boatload of happily-ever-afters.
The Independence Islands Series: beach reads aren’t just for summer anymore.
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