...In The Midst of Chaos

Being new to the area, we were warned...many, many times by the locals....heard rumors that sent chills up our spines...could it be true?  "Just wait" they said, "hoards of them everywhere." "Don't even think about going to the beach...just forget it even exists...better yet, stay safe inside until after Easter."  The phenomenom decends on the community the 1st week of March and stays around til after Easter...or so we're told.  Listening to the dread in the locals voices made us wonder "Could it really be true?" 

Well, I'm here to tell you...yes, it is true.  The dreaded Spring Break! LOL  Hoards of college students everywhere!  Traffic backed up for miles at the lights, cash registers backed up to the clothes departments with carts full of beer, chips & overly, shall I say, enthusiastic young people at the local grocery store (don't even think of making a quick trip or finding a parking space for that matter).  And that's not even along the beach road...there you'll have to be careful to not run over all the hoards that were formerly in the long grocery lines with their beer carts but are now walking (or stumbling) along (and in the middle of) the road shouting, hooting, hollering and not watching where they are going, totally oblivious to the fact that they just may not make it back to college if they don't watch where they're going (or sober up). 

Then you get the ones behind the wheel...oh joy. Thankfully, we live a few streets removed from the main beach road so we just have to deal with long lines of cars backed up at the lights & someone gunning his motor and racing down the road at all hours of the night...so when is Easter this year?


Oh did I mention the balcony jumpers (fallers)?  Sadly, the locals say that has become one of the first signs of spring around here...when the first balcony fall/jump happens (thanks to the previously mentioned beer/liquor cart)...thankfully, the first one only resulted in non-life threatening injuries...but sadly I do have to add, we had a second incident recently that was fatal.

In all fairness, I have heard reports that not all spring breakers behave this way...a few have actually been observed behaving themselves in public, picking up trash left behind on the beaches from partiers the night before (those, I'm told, came from a Christian college up north) and even paying for the lunch of an elderly man at a fast food place.  Whoever you are...Thank You Very Much!!
 
So that brings us to our quest this last weekend to find a quiet beach to visit.  "Is it even possible?" I pondered.  We were determined to find out, so we packed up our stuff early Saturday morning and headed south where we were pleasantly surprised to find Mexico Beach (south of Panama City & Tyndall AFB).  It's a beautiful, small, peaceful beach community of about 1,000 people...and it was practically deserted!  How wonderful!  There were no skyscraper condos, nighclubs or even a Walmart but it does have quaint cottage homes, small beach condos, a park, a small grocery store, quirky little gift shops and several restaurants along with miles of the some of the most beautiful, white sandy beaches along the Emerald Coast.  But don't tell anyone...let's keep it our little secret...
 

Mexico Beach, Florida

Cool & unique beach chairs at a local shop.

Sweet, peaceful solitude!

What a view!

Finding this place of peace and solitude amongst the chaos of spring break reminded me of the peace that is offered to us in the midst of the storms & chaos of life.  We have to do our part and look for it...but there is such a great reward in doing so.

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him (Jesus), and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Colossians 1:19-20

Jesus said, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

We have had some very tough storms to weather these last 6yrs...at first I thought I would drown and never be able to come up for air...never experience peace or joy again.  But thankfully, my Savior reached down and pulled me back up into His arms and restored my joy and peace.  It's been a learning process...He's been teaching me how to make sure I don't wonder off again...and grow weak...how staying at His feet, in His presence daily (like Mary did when Martha was staying busy) is the only way in which He can fill me with His peace and joy...and thankfully, with joy comes strength...even in the midst of chaos.

The joy of the Lord is my strength. Nehemiah 8:10

May He be your's also.

Fancy Feathers

This guy was showing off for visitors and a few girlie peacocks at the local zoo...

"He has made everything beautiful in its time." Ecc 3:11

Lord God Almighty...Master Creator....Master Artist!

The Dog Ate My Homework

Wow, I can't believe I'd ever be saying that but sure enough, that's what happened....really.  I was working on my watercolor class homework the other day (a color chart) when I had to take a break to run an errand.  Since it was still wet, I left it on the coffee table in the livingroom to dry, never imagining in a million years that my very obedient, never-gets-into-anything, perfect pooch would think it smelled tasty enough to eat.  Apparently he did, because we came home to find this on the bedroom floor...

Yup, the dog really did eat my homework...or more accurately, chewed it up and spit it out...guess it didn't taste as good as it smelled, lol. 

Kayaking St. Andrew Sound

My hubby and I first discovered kayaking on a trip to Siesta Key, Florida last year and fell in love with it.  It's a very serene, relaxing way to spend a beautiful, sunny day on the water...or so I thought.  Now that we live so close to the water, we were itching to start exploring the various waterways in the area so the first somewhat warm day (about 60 degrees) we headed straight for the naval base in town (Naval Support Activity) to rent some kayaks.  Being retired military has some great benefits, one is having access to very affordable outdoor rec rentals ($10-$15/day) and the other is having access to the amazing and very secluded beaches of Tyndall AFB.  Hubby loaded up the kayaks from the navy base and we headed to Tyndall to explore St. Andrew sound. 

We were hoping to make it across to the narrowest stretch of the barrier island and walk across to the gulf (I so love the ocean and couldn't wait to have it all to ourselves).  This being the first time I had my own kayak, I had underestimated the strength of the currents I'd have to fight...much easier being a passenger!  (I wonder if the wind had anything to do with it?)  We started from the northwest end and planned to paddle around the 2 big bends to make it to the skinny stretch of sand that separates the sound from the gulf.

View Larger Map

Well, we also totally underestimated how far it really it is, so after making it around one big bend and coming ashore on the fatter part of the barrier island, we explored a bit but couldn't find a path to walk through the scrub bushes (we were in flip flops) and it was getting late so we decided to head back and try again another day.

On the way back I did the dumbest thing.  The current was so strong that it seemed no matter how hard I paddled with my skinny little arms, I was either staying in one spot or moving backwards.  Now my hubby, being Mr Fitness, was having no problem making his way across and had pity on my plight so he paddled up to me and told me to grab onto his kayak and he'd paddle us both to shore. 

Here is where I made two fatal errors in judgement...one was to listen to him,lol... and the second came when the kayak, instead of moving forward with his, immediately flipped over into the water...taking me and my camera (thankfully being in a ziplock bag it survived unscathed) into the 54 degree water...brrrr!  Second mistake...not letting go immediately,lol. Yeah, apparently I do not have cat like reflexes...or even dog like reflexes for that matter...more like turtle.  By the time my brain understood what was happening I was under water.  Once I came up for air, for some reason I found it incredibly hilarious & couldn't stop laughing...which is good because after having to paddle all the way back to the truck soaking wet and cold against the current...the good news is hubby is still alive.  I knew it had to happen sometime...just wish it had been in the summer when the water is a nice 80 degrees.  Even after that though, I can still say I still love kayaking...although lesson learned...don't hang onto another kayak unless you want to swim with the fishies.