{ajm}

Mallory loves the sand. She loves picking it up and moving it around. Loves "building" sand structures.

She did not, however, love the waves. Even when I showed her the bubbles in the foamy surf she wanted nothing to do with it. Walking along near the water was ok. Especially when holding our hands. She didn’t like the unexpected rouge wave getting her at all. When any of us ventured into the water, she got very concerned. When I went into the water she followed as far as her fear would let her (about knee deep) and asked me to come back quickly. Her cries, waving her arms to be picked up, and repeated signing "please" was more than this mommy needed to stay on dry land.

Fun times
retrieving diving sticks in 12 inches of water
pouring water from watering can to bucket
watching other children play and swim
commanding the attention of 5 adoring adults

Thank you Lord for sweet little girls who laugh and giggle and learn. Help me to teach her the things of you and what being filled with Your love looks like.

It’s all Nonnie’s fault. She taught Mallory how to push "the button." And all week she wanted to help take pictures. They’re cute, but totally not the pictures I would take. It’s fun how her learning the camera makes me see things differently. The camera held steady & pointed randomly in whatever direction she stood then she pushed the button.  Oh the delight.

I love how you can see her in my glasses.

We got to spend this past week with my family in South Carolina. A first for all of us, we explored Hilton Head Island. A "doable" drive from Nashville (about 9 hours). A DELIGHTFUL week. We serendipitously booked the trip between the spring break and summer vacation seasons so we practically had the whole place to ourselves.

I’d forgotten how much fun it is to ride bikes.

more to come….