The Beach

Some Facebook memories make you smile. Others bring both tears and gratitude.

Don and I reminisced about this picture last evening when we came down to the Boardwalk to watch the mummers parade. I asked him, do you remember? Do you remember that last night we were on the beach with Joy

And of course he did!

It was our last day at the beach in July 2018. We were leaving for home the next morning, but Joy didn’t want to leave. We had plans to go out to dinner with my sister and her husband, but I told them, “You go ahead. We’re going to stay here as long as Joy wants to stay.”

And that’s exactly what we did.

We sat on the beach until everyone else had gone home. The sand grew quiet, the sun slipped away, and the beach was nearly empty. But Joy…she was in her happy place. Watching her smile was worth every minute.

Looking back now, I realize this was Joy’s last trip to the beach. Just one year later, she was in Heaven.

The beach has become a place of mixed emotions for me. It still fills my heart with joy, but it also reminds me of how deeply I miss her. Even today, this picture brings tears because I know how much she loved being there.

If you knew Joy, you know just how excited she became about beach week. I actually had to hide our suitcases and beach gear until the day before we left because if she saw them too soon, she wouldn’t sleep. She’d be up all night, ready to go!

Today, I’m thankful for this memory. Thankful we didn’t rush away. Thankful we chose one more evening on the beach instead of one more dinner out. At the time, it seemed like a small decision. Looking back, it became one of the sweetest gifts God gave us.

Some moments don’t seem extraordinary while we’re living them. They become priceless only when they become memories.