3 Little Gifts...

 It's cold...

not quite like the rest of the country but in south Florida,

38 degrees is cold.

(But don't get me wrong...I LOVE IT!)

So this morning, I bundled up...

put on jeans, tennis shoes (no flip flops this morning:),

my favorite fleece, gloves and scarf

 (we love scarves and gloves down here:)

and headed out for a walk on the beach.

Did I mention it was 38 degrees?

 ***Note to self...next time, don't wear jeans with holes if you want to stay warm!

Brrr...it's cold...

 but beautiful.

Up ahead, there is one lonely set of footprints when usually there are many.

 Even the water LOOKS cold...

is that possible?  

 i tell you, it isn't blue and pretty but kind of sandy gray and cold...

But life goes on at the beach.

Looks like there was a party and I wasn't invited...

 a sea urchin party.

The little birds still play around in the surf.

 Shells and sea life still roll on shore...

 but those shell seekers are inside where it is warm...

except me!

And I doubt there will be many sandcastles built today...

I wanted a long, brisk walk along the beach...

and I did start out that way...

until I looked down and saw THIS...

 a sweet little sand dollar.

Do you know how special it is to find these on shore?

Usually we find them broken in lots of little pieces,

not surviving the rough ride to shore.

But not this little guy...he made it in one piece...

even though he didn't survive the ride.

He'd been washed up just a little bit too long.

But since I like sand dollars, 

it looks like I found my first GIFT!

Couldn't be happier.

On with the walk...and a few steps later I see this...

a heart shaped stone!  

 It's a sign:)

On my return walk, that's when I feel the wind...COLD wind in my face.

But in a strange way, it feels so good.

I'm so blessed to be here...and the only thing that would make it better

would be if I found a piece of the sea glass that I LOVE but is so hard to come by down here.

No luck there...

or so I thought!  Just before leaving I look down and there,

nestled in some tiny shells and pebbles...

is my sea glass.

 GIFT NUMBER 3!

It's a good day!

For a lot of reasons, of course, but for the simple reason that I love sea glass so much that

finding a lone piece MAKES it a good day!

Time to go home...

What a beautiful morning.

When I was diagnosed with MS this summer, 

I didn't know what the future holds.

I still don't...but I can't sit and wait to find out.

I kept thinking I wanted 3 things...

to be able to walk...or RUN if needed, whenever my girls may need me,

to be able to take nice walks with my fur babies, Maui and Freddy,

and to be able to walk on the beach, collecting sea shells and searching for that lone piece of sea glass.

This morning was special!

But there was a FOURTH gift in store for me.  

Walking in the door, cheeks still red and hair windblown from the sea winds...

to find a hot bowl of oatmeal waiting for me from Taylor.

And you wonder why I dread the day my girls are gone?

I'm spoiled!!!!!!

Happy Friday...hope you find a few gifts in your day too!