The S-word and Warm Water

First, I’d like to thank you all for your concerned comments and prayers.  Shortly after I posted the last post, Mary Aplin took an astonishing turn FOR THE BETTER!  I know it was prayer…I just know it, and I THANK YOU!  We recently got the cultures back and found that she had Salmonella.  I haven’t the faintest clue where she got it.  Since we’ve still been living with our parents, I haven’t done a whole lot of cooking with raw chicken (we usually just mooch :))…and I can’t think of anything she would have eaten that the rest of us wouldn’t have eaten as well.  I don’t know, but after eight days of (bloody, yup, I know it’s gross) diarrhea, all I care about is that it’s over and my little chicken wing is better.  Thank you Lord!

Now those happier topics that I promised….

I’ve decided that one of the best things about living in the South is the warm water.  In Seattle, the rivers and oceans may be beautiful to look at, but you have to be a tougher woman than me to submerge yourself beyond your ankles.  After a lifetime spent playing in the ocean, skiing on the lake, and floating in swimming pools, it was quite an adjustment.  Since we’ve been back, we’ve been in or by the water every chance we could get.  Oh, how we love it!

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Can you believe I can walk directly into this water in 1 and a half hours from my doorstep?

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And that my girls can play in this sugar white sand? Is it heaven? Is it too good to be true?

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I'm always so thankful to have Daddy there to bring some activity to the scene. Big Momma would much rather sit with her book 🙂

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Mary Aplin riding the waves on Daddy's back.

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And Pace taking her turn.

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When they were tired of that, Daddy spurred on some friendly racing competition.

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But when little sister never could get ahead of big sister...

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...Look who came to the rescue 🙂

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After a while, they wanted Mommy to try her pregnant hand at body surfing. I graciously answered this summons. Be thankful there was no camera.

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On this particular week, Daddy left us a few days early to go camping with some of his guy friends, and Mommy had had all she could take of body surfing. So, after some serious deliberation...

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They worked up the courage to do it all by themselves! (And Pace did eventually come up from the surf :))

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Lest I lead you to believe we're all activity...I had a girls' weekend at the beach where I did little besides plant myself in a chair

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And eat! At a restaurant that could give any Seattle establishment a run for its money.

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Caliza at Alys Beach.

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This lump crab meat with cream and sweet corn...Lordey mercy!

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I'm so thankful for my sweet Dad, who lets us stay at his place as much as we want, and for free. Thanks Dad!!!

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We've also been to the lake (Lake Martin if you're curious which one).

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This time, Konie was our gracious hostess!

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I think he was threatening to throw Pace off.

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So we told him that maybe he should have a few turns by himself, instead of trying to scare US to death. Why does he throw his arm up like that??

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And how does one regain balance after this?

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Dad, our fearless captain who tirelessly pulled grandchildren and son-in-law all. day. long.

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Konie and I stayed on the boat, except for an occasional swim in the lake.

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Late that afternoon, we broke up some watermelon with the neighbors. Does this look like a picture of Americana or what?

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Around sunset, Konie's son Jarod and his wife Elena arrived, and we went out for one last ride on the water.

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Jarod on the water.

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And Jarod in the air...Apparently he feels the same need to throw one of those arms in the air??

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My hearts on the water at the end of a wonderfully long day.

16 Responses to “The S-word and Warm Water”

  1. Mitzi says:

    Glad you are happy to be back. We certainly are!

  2. Brittny says:

    Oh how I miss the beach! We just moved away from there for a year, to be near family, while my husband is gone. Thankfully we are only a short 40 minute drive to Lake Martin! We are there as much as we can be and headed there again this weekend. I have only visited the west coast a couple of times and never tested the waters, but have heard how cold they are. There is nothing like Southern coasts and lakes! So glad you all are back!

  3. kristen says:

    I meant to ask you if she was feeling better. So glad to hear that she is! And so glad I finally got to meet you. We are headed to the beach today and I am so excited! Love the pictures:)

  4. Nancy says:

    What a precious post. So glad your beauty is better! (one of your beautiful girls!!!)

  5. Molly says:

    I’m so glad Mary Aplin is better! What welcomed news.

    I can’t believe you are close to that sugar white beach again. It really is beautiful.

    Thank you for sharing your sweet family memories.

  6. Megan says:

    Welcome home! Isn’t it fun when members of your family have such fun houses to share? I know we enjoy ours as much as we can. FYI – you can also get salmonella from reptiles (lizards, turtles etc.). Maybe she has founds some animal friends on the farm you don’t know about? So glad she is better – how scary!

  7. Brittaney says:

    Hello! I’ve been reading your blog (which I love by the way) for a while now, but I am just now leaving my first comment. Looks like you guys are happy to be back in Alabama. We spend a lot of time on Lake Martin as well and I have to admit- there is nothing better!

  8. Heidi says:

    So glad Mary Aplin is feeling better. I so mis our days spent on the lakes of Texas wakeboarding. The hand throwing is for balance 🙂 I am with you on the water temps here in WA so I doubt I will be getting back into the water scene anytime soon sadly 🙁
    When you get a chance sent me your address please. Miss you guys and hope you are doing well.

  9. Gail says:

    Honey, WELCOME back to….GODS COUNTRY!!! YOU have it all!!!! LOVE seeing this post!!! We are heading, too, to live for 2 months P C. Beach, Florida…OCEAN FRONT!!! YEAHHHHHHH!!! Glad your LIL’ Chick is great, too! I was concern and glad to see your post today!!! Have fun…Give thanks for it all!!! MANY blessings!

  10. Caroline Blair says:

    Abby! Oh how I miss those warm waters as well and those breath taking views. They take my breath away every time (at dads beach place). What an AMAZING picture of Jeremiah and the girls at the end 🙂 I want to see more of YOU though!! Love yall.

  11. That last photo…. preciousness!

  12. Lindsey says:

    next time, maybe we’ll have some waves so we can all body surf! i’m still thinking about that food at caliza?! so delicious. and i am so thankful to be back so close to the gulf too!

  13. christen says:

    So fun! Is your dad’s place in Carillon? Raleigh’s granddad’s place is right up the road…when I was looking at your pictures I thought it was the same side of the beach! Glad y’all are enjoying being so close to the water 🙂

    Blessings,

    Christen

  14. jenica says:

    abby! what beautiful pictures — thanks so much for sharing!! miss you all so much! sending you my love and hugs from across the world!

  15. Heather says:

    What beautiful pictures. That white sand beach is stunning. I love your pictures, as always. 🙂

  16. Kay says:

    I heard on the news that there was a salmonella outbreak in dog food. (I’m in GA; it was on the local news a few weeks ago). Dogs weren’t getting sick, but the humans in contact w/ their bowls, etc., were . . . You have likely heard of this, but thought I’d pass it along anyhow. So glad that she is better! Your new blog is just gorgeous.

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