Menay O; mom to 4, Christian and thrift shopper on the side…

It’s that time again, summer beach house time!  For the third year in a row we’ve rented a beach house in North Carolina with 2 other families and it’s been wonderful. This year and last year have been with the same families. It’s really cool as we all get along and even if we all do separate things no one gets offended or pressured into doing something they don’t want to do.

My husband still doesn’t understand my need to shop wherever I am. If there’s a shopping center I’m there! Yesterday we spent most of the day at the beach. It was fabulous. The sand was so soft and clean, the water was crystal clear and so refreshing. I brought a book to read but spent most of my time just staring out at the ocean watching the waves come in and go out. It was mesmerizing and calming. At one point Alyssa, Sam, Lelly and Thomas (the son of one of the families) joined us at the beach. It was nice hanging with the “teen” division. Lelly is always fun and says the funniest things.

While scrolling on Facebook yesterday I noticed my church was doing a life feed of Pastor John preaching. I couldn’t find my headphones so I missed it. Hopefully I’ll have time to catch up before next week. I’m really enjoying his series on “The minor prophets”. Last week was Jonah and I left church with such a great understanding of Jonah as a prophet and why he was so hesitant to go and preach to the people of Nineveh. It’s more than a story about a guy being swallowed by a whale…I highly recommend the book of Jonah, it’s a great read.

So today is Monday. I still don’t know what we’re doing for the day. Some of the kids are baking a birthday cake for Bill, one of the husbands.

Alyssa and Lelly want to visit this quaint outdoor shopping village in town. I’m all for it of course. It’s cool to walk around there and the shops are quaint and charming. There’s a shop run by local artists. One year Tommy and I purchased a stunning painting of the sun rising above the ocean. It hangs in our dining room. Last year it was handmade wind chimes.  We’re trying to figure out what will be this year’s purchase?

I’m so glad to be here with all these people. It’s quite relaxing, I keep falling asleep early in the evening and sleeping way past the time I usually do at home. It much be the beach. I’m sure if it.