The location has changed a few times, until we finally found the perfect house for us on Topsail Island, a house we will now visit every June for the foreseeable future.
What hasn't changed? My love for these people. Actually, that's a lie. That HAS changed, because over the years - especially over the past three years - I have fallen more in love with what we have, realizing more and more that family is what life is all about. These people are my people. My tribe. My village. The people who love me well, push me, are honest with me, patient with me, accept me, forgive me, and support me unconditionally.
And this week with these people at the beach did something to my heart that will sustain me for the 365 days until I get to do it all over again. This week with these people is something my kids and I look forward to and talk about all.year.long -- Basically from the time we pull out of the beach house driveway, until the time we're pulling back in a year later. And here are just a few (ha!) pictures of some moments and memories that I am so thankful to have forever, in my BLOMPS-loving heart...
Since I'm the lone BLOMPS member in GA, it makes for a loooong car ride. But these kids were troopers, and....
We finally made it and hit the beach! One of my favorite traditions is that when we get there, we all hit the beach in our clothes and get wet and salty and sandy and just smile and laugh and feel the most joyful anticipation of what lies ahead of us.
The week included lots of aunt-time, uncle-time, Bammy-and-Digby time, snuggling, tooth-pulling, cousins-playing, dance parties, soccer matches, hot tub soaks, puzzles, etc.
A stormy day made for souvenir-buying and ice-cream-eating...
The hit of the week? The tons and tons and tons of shark teeth we found!
I will always be in awe of the beautiful views where the earth meets the ocean, where the waves know just where to stop, turn around, and go back home...
I will always remember the long run I took on the anniversary of my Dad's death, and how I sat down and gave myself permission to feel all the feelings, to reflect on how He wants me to Wait and Be Still and Trust, all while feeling the promise of His hope in the beauty right in front of my eyes...
Another big hit of the week? FISHING! There were the tiniest fish caught in dollar store nets, and big fish (and a shark! and a stingray!) caught courtesy of Uncle Ron and his rod-n-reel skills...
There were sand holes and sand castles and moats and sandy shenanigans all week long...
A special highlight of my trip?! Getting to see my NC BFF!!! We just so happened to both be vacationing on Topsail all week, so my Yinds, her hubby, and their two sweet girls joined the BLOMPS tribe for a day. I've realized more and more just how rare friends like her are - and though it made my heart sad that we only had a few hours together, those few hours together did my heart good.
One of the best parts of BLOMPS? These humans below. I'm so lucky to be their daughter, sister, and sister-in-law. Thankful for Busta Rhymes, olives in the pool, melatonin gummies, dryer sheets, bocce balls, fold vs. scrunch, Peking duck, shingles, a broken toe, a deck of cards, two mini dice, palmetto cheese, a fire pit, and 9 extra large pizzas.
If my kiddos weren't in the sand, they were in the water. Can't-stop-won't-stop...
Being their mama makes my heart so happy.... and being their mama at the beach makes my heart even more exhausted happier...
I tried really hard this year to sneak in as many big and little moments with each one of them individually, soaking in my last beach trip with an 8-, 5-, and 3-year-old...
We also spent many many afternoons at our pool, fitting in as much fun and as many people as we could...
This was my most favorite BLOMPS beach trip yet... so may moments I wanted to freeze in time, so many memories we will all keep with us for all of our years...
For now, we will tuck the smiles, the chaos, the memories, the laughing so hard we couldn't breathe, the inside jokes, the relationships, the friendships, and the BLOMPS love deep into our hearts to keep us going until the next time our feet are all on the sand again, together...
