Not a typo in the title! My treatments didn't stop while we were gone. Thankfully I was still able to continue the IVC. I can tell when it's about time for the next round...my body starts to feel really worn down. Aside from the time it takes for them and being a bit tired, I was able to fully enjoy our time away.
Double Red flag day! We didn't spend much time on the beach this day, but the pool was perfectly protected from the wind and actually quite warm in the sunshine!
Of course Isaac still wanted to go to the beach to play catch, so Papa went with him!
Our balcony had such a stunning view!
It looks like a fake background! I honestly don't know how I would have survived anything we've been through without these 7 precious humans!!!
We got in one (short!) game of beach volleyball. The sand was COLD!!
Grace, Isaac and I were on a team.
Anna, Jacob, and Papa were on the other team. Don't ask me who won...nobody kept track! We just played until we couldn't feel our toes anymore!!
An absolute favorite is Gulf World. It's like a mini Sea World. The dolphins are always the favorite!
Even on vacation, this kid kept up with his workout challenge he's doing with a group of football buddies (and maybe he was just trying to stay warm!!!)
Because mercy, it was cold on this day!! A storm was rolling in. We barely made it to the van before the rain started pouring!
Another highlight was finding Parlor Doughnuts!!! They had gluten/egg/dairy free donuts!!! Their GF breakfast sandwich was delicious, too. And no one complained about their regular donuts either! Plus their coffee was legit!
What's a vacation to the beach without a selfie on the beach?!
After a busy day, we had family movie night while I did my IV treatment. Great way to end the day!
The boys were in swim trunks and tshirts...Binga was happy to "hold" their sweatshirts and towels!!
Great White Pizza...another miracle find!! They had gluten/egg/dairy free pizza crust AND a non-dairy "cheese" Grace & Isaac could have. AND Grace didn't get sick at all!!! (She can't even touch gluten without getting sick, so being able to eat IN a pizza restaurant without a reaction was a huge deal!)
Another favorite place is the WonderWorks Science Museum, or the Upside Down House as Grace calls it! We had a blast last time we went, and this time was no different!
Papa and Grace had fun in the black light room "cleaning the ocean"!
This crew did the ropes course. Yes, even Binga!!!
I don't think I've ever seen Dad as nervous as he was watching Mom up there!!
Papa and Binga treated the kids to the bumper cars...I'm so glad I didn't go!!! Upside down AND spinning?! Nope!
Goodness, what a blessing these four are to me!! They are each so unique, so gifted, so fun & interesting. I'm so glad God called us to homeschooling all those years ago because without it, we wouldn't have the relationships in our family that we do...between me and them, them with each other...life is so much sweeter together like this! Certainly not without a lot of challenges, but I'm so proud of each of these kids and how they have handled all the adversity that has come their way in the last year. I can see how the Lord is using life to refine their character and draw each of them closer to Him in special and unique ways. I cannot WAIT to see where He takes each one of them!!
Anna found a great napping spot! She had a rough few days, with pretty significant regression in cognitive symptoms. In a lot of ways, it was a blessing for the weather to be colder than normal with rough waters. It allowed plenty of room for resting, which we all needed-especially Anna.
"I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!" Psalm 27:13
The last 6 months feels a lot like barely surviving, and we're not at the end of the road yet. But there is always hope because we have Jesus. Sickness, disaster, loss, hardships...we still have hope because Jesus never changes. We will look upon the goodness of the Lord. We have seen His goodness over and over again. We will continue to see His goodness, no mater what the next 6 months bring! Because His goodness is not reliant on my health, our home, or anything else in this world. His goodness is who He is. He IS good. Praise God!
Grace is a willing helper (as long as it doesn't involve blood!).
How could I do anything but praise my Savior as I sat and watched the ocean?!
Our traditional seafood night! Jacob polished off nearly 30 shrimp! I wish I had a picture of Dad trying crab legs!!! HA!! Now he can say he's eaten crab leg (but never again!)!
Our last afternoon/evening was a stormy one!
There were several ships anchored just off the coast. Much too stormy to be out at sea!
We took an alternate route home to avoid bad roads...one bathroom break was SKETCHY!!! We all survived, but we won't be stopping there again!! It was brutally long driving back in one day...probably ended up being 19 hours?! We also won't be doing that again, either!
Back to reality of unpacking all the things! The girls both needed extra rest Sunday morning (Grace had a bad cough and Anna's brain needed rest), so I stayed home with them. I watched church online and honestly just savored the memories of the week. Laughing with each other, playing LOTS of Hearts, walking on the beach, quiet times together, and just being reminded of God's blessings. I struggled all week with feeling like taking a vacation was the last thing we should have done. So many expenses we have coming up with our house, plenty of expense with my treatments still, Anna's recovery, Aaron's recovery....and on and on my mental list went. But then I looked at the ocean and was reminded of God's power and sovereignty. I watched my kids just have fun together and recalled the goodness of God & His love for us, which has been so evident in the last 6 months. And I knew, that was right where we were supposed to be that week.
.HEIC)
