La Playa Hermosa

En la playa con mis abuelos y mi familia! Era muy hermosa...

When we first got to the beach parking lot we couldn't see the beach and it was rather stifling and hot...but as we walked we entered into a tropical paradise-a canopy of palm trees swaying in the breeze, and flowers bobbing and greeting us. Then we got to the bridge-and oh the sight we beheld! For there before our ocular devices crashed some of the most blue waves I have ever seen, just beyond blinding white sand and an array of sun tanners' umbrellas. To say we all gasped is an understatement.

The beach is beautiful, that's for certain. With sugar there is always spice, however, and often the wind blew sand into my eyes or salt water decided to find its home in my mouth. In heaven I believe we will be able to enjoy the shores without sunscreen and the water without goggles...I can't wait :)

Today we went to a city with the same name as an Italian city, and it's buildings and attractions certainly made us feel as though we were in Europe! The best pizza and shops, beachfronts and condo's...one customer who went to the same retaurant as we did pulled up in his boat and docked just in front of the outdoor tables! Such a life is unfathomable to me...though I can pretend I belong in it, wearing the right clothes and eating the expensive foods, my home is in the mountains. Moreover, my home is in a humble house with humble foods and a minivan! I'm not sure what it would be like to live the highlife, but I have a feeling that most who do are not as happy as those who get by with the basics of life and make the rest up as they go along :) Henna kits and parking garage roofs are enough for me.

I must say though, that I have not been myself as of late. I hope this feeling ends soon. It's been a year, and I am still getting over my first and hopefully last heartbreak. You all can certainly pray that Jesus would "restore unto me the joy of my salvation, and renew a right spirit within me."

I also saw Avatar for the first time this week! All I can say is WOW!!!! Who imagines such worlds!? Who, moreover, can portray them with such lifelike-ness? I guess the director of Avatar, for he certainly nailed it on the head!

The New Age and "mother earth" themes were a bit disconcerting, but I spit out the bones and ate the rest of the fish. I viewed parts of the movie in this way: The main character (his name escapes me,) was looking for legs. That was his main goal in life that would enable him to be the man he wanted to be. But through the Avatar program and his relationships with the Navi, he gained something better, that he never even dreamed of; a whole new body. That's what Jesus does for us. Not only does He forgive our sins and take our punishment of all hell's thunder, (all God's wrath!) but He gives us Himself, and that is better than anything we ever could have dreamed of.

Also, as a side note, as I watched Pandora unfold before me and saw the beautiful creation, I kept thinking, who could have ever thought of this!? I have never even dreamed such beautiful things! And I believe heaven will be just like that. Constantly amazing us, beyond the best and most beautiful images and colors and feelings and sights and sounds and tastes we could ever imagine! Jesus will be even better than that! And yet when I speak of heaven, I do indeed mean Jesus as well, for without Jesus there is no heaven. In that sense, one may say that heaven is Jesus. (esp. since eternal life begins the day one meets Jesus and makes the "bond" with Him similar to the avatar and their horses [new connection! ha!] )

Here's to another great day! May we all rest in Christ's merit freely given to those who believe!

♥ to all,

Jenna