Three years ago, we took our first ever family vacation to Panama City Beach, Florida. We had never taken a trip with just our core family, going somewhere other than to visit family. Having that time to just be on our own schedule and relax with just us was a gift! It started out very rough, but God redeemed it all and it was an incredible week. We picked PCB because January is off-season (therefore in our price range!!), but still warm enough to enjoy the beach. The water is usually around 55 degrees but the kids didn't mind!
Fast forward to 2 years ago and Aaron & I decided we would do what it took to go back in January 2025 and take my parents with us. At the beginning of 2024, we found a great condo at an amazing price and booked it. Little did we know what the last 6 months of 2024 would bring us!! Honestly, if we hadn't already paid for the condo, we probably wouldn't have gone. It seemed that a vacation was the last thing we needed to be doing. But God knew how much we would need that week away to rest and be together as a family!
It's a 16.5 hour drive. On the way down, we split it up and stopped in Mississippi. Grace made herself at home in her little corner of the van (we were able to borrow a 12 passenger van from my uncle so we could all fit!). Thankfully she didn't get car sick very often.
We stopped at a hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant for supper, somewhere in Arkansas. It was delicious and not only did Jacob eat that giant burrito, but he also polished off half a plate of nachos!!! Grace has severe Celiac disease and it is VERY tricky eating out with her. There are only a couple of restaurants at home that we know she can safely eat at without getting sick. When she gets "glutenized", it results in severe stomach pain, whole body bone pain which makes it painful to move, and a headache. So we are very careful where she eats out! Mexican is usually a safe bet, so I asked the waitress if there was any gluten in their seasonings. Her answer wasn't a confident "no" so I told Grace I would try it first (I react very quickly to gluten, but not as severely as Grace). She was so excited she got to eat out with everyone else and it was delicious!
After a restful night in the hotel, we finished our trek and made it to the beach around 4pm. It was fairly chilly, but nothing beats the beauty of the sun shining on the ocean!
Grace calls these beaches "Marshmallow Sand" because the sand is as white and soft as marshmallows!
We are SO thankful my parents were able to come with us!! Mom really loves the ocean/beach.
Even though it was very chilly, who is surprised that Isaac was the first one in the water?!
Jacob was happy to throw the football into the ocean for Isaac to catch!
"Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?" Mark 4:41
It is impossible to see the vastness of the ocean and the power of the waves and not be in awe of God's power of creation!
The girls were happy to just dip their feet in the cold water! We spent as long as we could on the beach and then settled into the condo!
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