Secret Agent Josephine

It seems like I’m out of town every weekend. With family in another town and friends all over, we are usually gone on Sundays. When we are home, which is rare, we’ve started going to a local church. I think they must think I’m the flakiest member though because we are never there. This last Sunday we were home but I woke up with that cough that never goes away. You know the one. The pesky cough that doesn’t hurt or anything but just keeps on interrupting every peaceful moment ever. I hate that cough. I especially hate that cough in church.

I felt so bad for skipping church yet again. It feels like we never make time for God these days. Then it hit me. Back in the days when I didn’t know where to go on Sundays I used to go to the beach by myself and just sit on the sand and talk to God about it. I felt like He understood my confusion and He would comfort me there with his handiwork all around me. It could all be in my head but some of those quiet moments felt more spiritual and close to God than any service I’ve ever sat in inside a building listening to a preacher speak. I know it’s important to be with other Christians and have fellowship but sometimes when you can’t make it to that place, I think God understands and gives you a place to be instead.

So I packed up Bug and a neighbor girl and we headed off to God’s church at the beach.

It was such a gloomy day. We had the beach to ourselves. I love the beach this way.

We got bagels (and coffee for me) and set up camp with lots of blankets and towels.

Of course the kids had to get a little wet.

And I sat back and admired the beauty of it all.

It wasn’t the prettiest of days. In fact, everybody else would have called it a terrible beach day. But it was beautiful. The sky was amazing. The sky is always amazing. Like God’s painting.

We read some verses off my phone. Bug sung us a hymn. I prayed a wimpy little prayer. It was short and feeble but that was okay because God made up our lack with the amazing sky. Sometimes words are just not necessary. You’d expect kids to be squirrely at the beach but they were strangely peaceful and more reverent than usual. All three of us sat back and looked up at this beautiful gift from God. It’s there every day and we hardly ever take a moment to appreciate it.

Then church was over and off they ran.

Yesterday as we were putzing around getting ready for our weekly trip to Orange County so Bug could attend her ballet and gymnastics classes and I could do a photography shoot I have scheduled, we had a great idea. What if we brought Holly with us? Usually I take her to my mom’s because she is a spoiled rotten dog and she doesn’t like to be left alone in the backyard by herself over night even if the neighbors check on her. No. She likes to sleep with the humans in the nice cozy warm house. She’s not dumb.

Toby is out of town but he gave us permission to stay at his place at the beach and bring Holly with us. The adventure was on! We piled her in the car with all our overnight luggage and we were off. It’s an hour-and-a-half drive so I was a tiny bit curious how she would do.

She was such good dog. I wish she could talk so we could hear what she was thinking as she watched out the window silently. She’s never been on such a long trip I don’t think. She’s lived her whole life in my mom’s yard until she moved in with us. I imagine the freeways blew her mind but she didn’t even seem to raise an eyebrow. She’s just such a mellow dog.

She stayed in the car during ballet and gymnastics with me checking on her every few minutes. She didn’t even seem to mind the airplanes flying over. They are super loud because Bug’s gym is right next to the airport.

After gymnastics and ballet we took Holly right to the beach and caught the tail end of sunset. I didn’t get any photos though. It was too dark.

It was so fun to watch her sniff the sand and then take off down the beach chasing a bird. She’s a funny dog. She is a labrador and labs are supposed to like water but she doesn’t! She hates water! If you turn on the hose or try to get her to take a bath she’ll run the other way. So the I was quite curious to see how she’d like the ocean. And in true Holly fashion she seemed completely indifferent. Nothing seems to ruffle her. Not even a cow-sized great dane that walked by. Funny funny Holly. How we love her mellow soul so.

After walking up and down the beach in the dark we took her home to Toby’s to see how the cat’s would react to her. I didn’t get any photos again (because it was dark and you know how I feel about taking pictures with the automatic flash). We were worried that Pounce would freak out. He’s such a high strung cat. He didn’t like her but since Holly just stood there looking at him and showed no real reaction, Pounce got over it. Lily hid for a bit but now a day later they are all chilling in their respective spots and seem to be just fine.

The next morning both Bug and I were up at the crack of dawn full of excitement to take Holly to the beach. Our old beach town is such a dog town. There are water bowls and treats out at most of the stores along the highway just waiting for patrons to walk in with their dogs. So of course we had to take Holly to the nearby doughnut shop so I could get a latte and Bug could get a bagel.