amelia island

A few weeks ago, Landon took me to the beach...just the two of us.  This was the first time we have ever been anywhere away from our kids for more than just one night.  We went to Amelia Island in Florida it was just beautiful.  We have been there before, but it was when Logan was a baby.  It is a quaint little town that was a perfect place for a getaway.

This was really a sight to see!  There was a water spout way out in the water.

See it...way out there.

This is the place that we stayed.  It was perfect and right on the beach.

Here was the view from our balcony.

I loved these trees!

I love this street.  There are some great stores and it is just charming.  There was a restaurant that we went to when we came almost ten years ago.  Landon got flounder that he has talked about nearly every time we go the beach.  Nothing can quite compare to that crispy flounder.  We were looking forward to going to the restaurant again when we were here.  This is what we found....

....CLOSED FOR PLUMBING RENOVATIONS!!!!   Can you believe that????  We did have some great meals at some other restaurants though. 

Landon wanted to find some shark teeth for the boys.  He looked up on the best way to find them one night and the next day he was on a mission.  When we were on the beach there was another couple doing the same thing.  The lady had found several and she started telling Landon some tricks of the trade.  He searched and searched and couldn't find any.  She was very generous and gave Landon these to give to the boys. 

I LOVE this man!!!!!!  I am so lucky!!

This was a great time to go.  There were not very many people there.

We got a random guy to take our picture.

Landon riding waves...

This was nice!

It was nice to be able to focus on each other and have a conversation without an interruption.  Not that we don't adore our kids, but sometimes it's easy to focus on them and not on each other.  On this trip, I was reminded of a difference between us.  Landon has an affect on people that I do not have.  It's no joke. There have been many times that people in businesses have been rude, short, or annoyed at me, but when I go with Landon they are laughing and smiling.  There was one place in particular that I do business regularly with a very sour person.  I have tried several times to make her smile and make conversation with her to no avail. One time Landon was with me and she smiled and laughed.  I looked at him in amazement and in absolute shock.  I almost had to pick my chin off the floor. I really try to be nice and friendly, but I don't have the same affect on people that Landon does.  It's actually comical.  This is exactly how I feel in this scene in one of my favorite movies ever...You've Got Mail.

We left for our trip on a Tuesday night after I finished teaching bible study.  We got a hotel about halfway there and drove the rest of the way the next morning.  The second night we were away, we were at dinner and we got a phone call that Lucas was having difficulty breathing.  He has had breathing issues before and we have had to give him breathing treatments on multiple occasions.  They told us they were taking him to the hospital.   Of course we were concerned, but I didn't know at the time how serious it was.  A little while later I got a call that they were having difficulty getting him stabilized, and it literally sent me to my knees.  We were eight hours away and I felt utterly helpless.  I have been doing a study on the names of God and the only thing I could cry out was the name Jehovah Sabaoth which means Lord of hosts.  It is the name that is used in desperate situations.  I cried out to Him to breathe life into my child that I love so dearly, but He loves him more than I do.  I couldn't stop trembling and crying.

Meanwhile, Landon was calling Dr. Griffin our family doctor.  He went to the hospital to check on him.  I am so grateful to have a doctor like him.  He was absolutely wonderful and helped me to maintain some sort of sanity during the evening.  Dr. Griffin called us once he got to the hospital and once he told us Lucas was fine and assured us not to come home.  I was ready to pack my bags and head home.  I wanted to the next morning too, but we were told repeatedly that he was fine and to stay. Needless to say, I was an emotional wreck.  I couldn't stop crying.  The Lord showed me during this situation that I am not in control, He is.  My children are on loan to me and I need not take them for granted.

We don't know what exactly caused his reaction.  He is allergic to peanuts, but of course they weren't fed to him.  I had made an appointment before I left with the allergist again.  I felt that it was time to start allergy shots that I have tried desperately to avoid.  After listening to everything that happened with Lucas she said we may never know what caused his reaction.  We now have an epi-pen in case we experience a similar emergency.  We are starting allergy shots on Monday.  I know everyone has their own opinions about allergies, shots, food.....etc.  It's a very scary place to be.  This has made me much more aware of the seriousness of allergies.  I am so thankful for my sister-in-law, Rebecca, and Suzanne, my mother-in-law, my mom, and for all our family for being there and taking care of Lucas when we were not.  Also for everyone who prayed, visited, called, texted, I appreciate it more than you know.  It has taken me weeks to even talk about this without crying.  I am very thankful.  The Lord was gracious to us.