Saturday
Today is the day…
…we woke up to a lovely sunrise….photos don’t do it justice…
We celebrated Mike’s last day in his 60s. I’m not sure why we are so very excited about him turning 70. I certainly can’t remember being this excited when he turned 60. This is such a big milestone – three score years and ten. I think the thing that brings so much joy to my heart is how well he is. As Julian and I are more than a decade younger than him, we aspire to be in the shape Mike is in when we arrive at this massive milestone. In building this house, apart from the entire design, he did all the electrics (on all 4 floors), did the entire solar design, ordering and installation and designed and built the kitchens. The mind boggles. Was their stress? Absolutely. Now the months have passed and he is, at least, semi-retired and spending more time enjoying the fruit of his labour. Here he is enjoying the sunshine after a run on the beach and a dip in the ocean.
What the photo doesn’t show is the howling gale. While Mike was running, I was in the sea. If I needed an occasion to get used to massive waves leering at me, today was the day. The wind speed was high and the waves rolled in one after another – in sets of several, I had to keep my eye on them. Swimming out beyond the breakers was an exercise in its own league. With not many swimmers in the water, I confidently coached myself. The wave would roll in and I could see it was about to break upon me, “Okay,” I said out loud, “One, two, three, go under!” I pretended someone else was saying it! Wave after wave, down I went, diving beneath its swirling unpredictable break, amazed at how going under removed the power it had over me. By going under, I had more control over it, than its powerful force had over me.
I usually stay in the sea for 30 minutes. I reminded myself this morning, I didn’t need to stay in for a full half hour. But I couldn’t bring myself to leave the water either. It was exhilarating and challenging. I soon saw Mike jogging back to the bench and shortly after, he too was in the water being buffeted about by the relentless breakers.
The sea is unpredictable and demands respect. That is always on my mind when I’m out there.
Mike didn’t stay too long and a short while later, I also left the water and joined him on our sunny seat. On windy days, there are less beach goers…
We sauntered home, pausing on the cat walk to admire the few people in the sea…
The wind remains strong this afternoon, but tomorrow it will drop – not entirely – but by quite a bit. By Monday, it will die off completely and a few calm days are forecast.
Julian is in the air right now, coming for the next ten days or so.
We’ll have a lovely evening together.
2 Timothy 2:22
Pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace.
The best is yet to come – we are only passing through.
Keep the smile going.
God bless you.
In His Grip,
Helga xx 🙂