Beach Vacation!!!

Oh my!!!!

I have been waiting for this post!  I could hardly wait to share all of our fun vacation pictures with my friends!!  We went to Gulf Shores/Morgantown this past week & had the times of our lives.  So relaxing, blissful, refreshing... We went with Chad's family- his parents, sister & our niece as well as his cousin, wife & their kids & rented the most beautiful place by the beach!

It was also a year that my Dad had his heart attack... keep reading, such a special moment for me!

So here we go- come on our fun journey- Avery's first trip to the beach!

We made silly faces through the trip & ate lots of candy & of course colored!

Car ride pictures to keep her occupied!

We will get there I promise!

And some nail prep before the trip!

We stayed the night in Jackson, MS... Avery loved the hotel she thought we were on an adventure!

We stopped in for fresh veggies & fruit on our way to the house!  After a long drive the girls were just tickled and cheesing it up!

13 hours later and staying the night and then traveling, we made it!  Avery's first view at the beach!

Daddy told her everything she needed to know. . . 

{Yes, I teared up}. . . 

We are here!

The first morning that we woke up was so special to me. It was the year anniversary that my Daddy had his heart attack.  I woke up at 6:30 & took my Bible to the beach & took a long walk on the beach and spent some quiet time with God.  Everyone was still in bed.  It was so peaceful.  So meaningful.  I opened my Bible to read in Ecclesiastes; a time for everything.  It is something that my Dad shared to me after his open heart surgery in September this past year.  After he came home and was healing he shared this chapter with me about life and how there is "a time for everything in life"  He opened my heart to new meaning & reading this changed my life; my thoughts to who I am, to why we go through pain, why we have hurt.  I cried on the beach in this picture I poured my heart to Christ- thanking Him for this day a year ago- that my Daddy was still alive. I praised Him for life, grace, His love- his hand on our lives!  Something so simple to others but something so huge to me change my life forever.  It brought me a new joy, a new faith, a new meaning.  I never will take life for granted.  Ever again.  God gave me Dad all over again.  I cherish every second with him, every day! I text him on the beach to share this special moment with him & praise God he is alive to share this yearly moment with him.  I celebrate it because it gave new chapters to me personally in my life and gave me my Daddy with a new refreshed healed heart.  This moment truly brought new meaning to life and what he went through forever changed me.  I am forever grateful & forever blessed by him, my family.. really- my life!

I love you Dad, God's love shines bright on you & your healed heart!  

One morning I walked through the sand & took this picture... and was remembered of footprints in the sand and how God carries us through hard times in life.. how we all go through hardships but God is always carrying us through them!

So everyday became a blur because everyday was PERFECT ! Literally! From the moment I woke up I had coffee with my in-laws every morning.. and the rest of the day was pool, beach,  fun, dinner & excitement... so see below!  I literally lost track of time!

An everyday walk to the beach...

First day on the sand...

And here we go! Cousins!

Follow me on Instagram! You can find me at Ashley0513!  I love sharing my instant snapshops in life!