Exhale

I am taking in the beauty here at Atlantic Beach this week with my family. Capturing those that I love in the midst of that beauty is one of my favorite things in the world. The light within that had dulled to a tiny flicker is beginning to warm and glow again. I love photographing the glory that God breathes into the earth and people. As I am shooting I realize the laughter that is spilling out like music is my own. I am happiest finding and capturing joy with my camera.

I am finally exhaling that breath I have been holding for some time now.

I am my father’s daughter. I feel it most when I am at the beach. It was his favorite place to be. He was happy to collect seashells and sea glass, build sandcastles and fish the day away. He always wanted a place by the ocean. I remember the wind gently moving and rearranging his graying hair as he stood looking out over the water. The blue in his eyes matched the deep hues of the ocean. I could see the boy in him by the sea.

I too find my little girl self by the sea. When I was little my parents would sing to me “All day all night Mary Anne, down by the seashore sifting sand…”. I could walk the beach for hours studying the gifts that God lays out on the shore. Every morning there are new treasures to find. I believe it is his joy to hide gifts for us to discover. I imagine him smiling when we find and delight in them.

I have had a wonderful time photographing my kids and their cousins on the shore this week.

Here are a few from our time so far.

Psalm 42:6-8 ~”When my soul is in the dumps, I rehearse
    everything I know of you,
From Jordan depths to Hermon heights,
    including Mount Mizar.
Chaos calls to chaos,
    to the tune of whitewater rapids.
Your breaking surf, your thundering breakers
    crash and crush me.
Then God promises to love me all day,
    sing songs all through the night!
    My life is God’s prayer.”