So this is one day where I was absolutely a slacker on picture-taking, so this will probably be a short update... but Saturday was a day of changes!
I started out the morning with a session on creating culturally responsive Spanish programs, which I really enjoyed and absolutely can't wait to share with our Safe Kids coalition. Then A and I booked it back to the room to pack up - we were just too busy on Friday with Disney to get much done. Somehow, everything that fit into a few bags on the way there (with careful planning) seemed to require superhuman effort to get OUT of the hotel. And all we added was some conference papers, a few souvenirs and conference freebies, some food, and a booster seat. And we ate a bunch of what we came with!
We were a little late for checkout, but the hotel was gracious about it. Then we made a mad dash (weighed down significantly by luggage) for the shuttle lane. Packed ourselves into the shuttle. Rode to the airport. Headed to where we caught the next shuttle. Waited. Packed ourselves into that one. The two moody-looking people sitting behind us (leaving only the front seat for us, or I'd have taken the back) were not wearing their seat belts and didn't even pretend to hear or care when I commented loudly on how A and I were both safe in our booster and belts. I wish I had the guts to speak up to people like that. I sat directly in front of them and put A next to me, hoping if we crashed I'd at least take the brunt of the impact. Thank God, we didn't crash.
My wonderful cousin Alex picked us up at the shuttle station and ferried us back to my uncle's condo right on the beach. We did some catching up in the car - it was good to chat, it's been so long since we've seen each other! And then the condo... WOW, is all I can say. This place is awesome! Clean, beautifully decorated, four bedrooms, four bathrooms, laundry, full kitchen, SO spacious... and porches on every side, including one that looks right out to the beach below! Truly the lap of luxury... I can't even say how blessed we have been by this vacation... it may seem shallow in light of all we do to raise awareness and bring orphans home, but this week, dreams came true. The dreams of a little girl who was once a thin, scared wisp of a child, who some of the children we advocate for remind me so much of, came true. An opportunity she never would have had if not for some truly wonderful people making this possible for us. And I love her... so this is my dream coming true too. Seeing her experience what she otherwise would not have.
*Removes sentimental cap*
After a bit of chatting at the condo and a 'grand tour', we all went down to the beach. It was A's first time at the beach and I'm sorry I didn't take any pictures, I didn't want to bring a camera or a phone down with us! We sat on our towels and played in the sand a while. Then I took A to show her the sand crabs, with which she was absolutely enamored. She kept picking them up, finding 'baby' ones, and then putting them back in the surf 'so they could live'. Have I mentioned that I love that little girl?
She was afraid of the waves - they were bigger than normal. They knocked her over a couple times, even though we didn't go in far. I made a mental note to show her how to take the hits from the waves without falling over. But as it was, we mostly just played in the shallow surf. Then after a bit, A was begging to try out the pool (private, condo residents only, no one else was there). We showered the sand off ourselves, headed over to the pool, which was pleasantly warm but in the shade, and swam for just a bit before deciding to go inside. We learned our lesson about laying towels in the sand.
After changing, we headed over to my cousin's house where we met her dog and cat (with whom A was instantly enamored... are you sensing a pattern yet? Yes, my little veterinarian) and played with my cousin's old Barbies. Then we headed over to cook out with some friends of hers. It was a good time, until we started getting eaten alive by mosquitos! Seems like these Florida ones don't bite as hard or something though... even the bites I've scratched are small, whereas they usually swell up to about the size of a house!
Getting back to the condo, we didn't go to bed until close to midnight. Just relaxed, played, looked out at the dark beach, dotted with the lights of distant boats, listened to the waves crashing in, planning the next day, talking to family... enjoying ourselves. For Sunday, I planned something to keep our minds off anything upsetting... which resulted in tons and tons of pictures... and will appear in my next post!
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