More than the sounds of many waters,
More than the mighty breakers of the sea,
The Lord on high is mighty. Psalm 93:4
Beach Girl
I love the beach. I graduated from Huntington Beach High School, Surf City, and languished many a summer at the state and city beaches there. The most extended period of my growing-up years was living in Huntington Beach. I’ve been to beaches in Hawaii, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Okinawa, Singapore, and many throughout the continental US, and they’re all amazing. I can’t help but worship our loving creator and stand in awe of why He blesses us this way when I hear the roaring waves, feel the rippling cold water, and collect shells and rocks along the shoreline. When my toes dig into the wet, gritty sand, I can stay there all day.
Click on the link below and enjoy the mighty ocean sounds.
The beach is such an ingrained part of who I am, and I’m fortunate that I live close enough to the ocean that my husband and I often take our evening walks along the beach. So, of course, a beach trail had to go into my book, Revived Hope.
Lots of Memories!
Melanie Thompson, the main character, loves to jog along the coast, and the inspiration for that was the San Clemente North Beach Trail. It begins at a little beach that houses a quaint snack shack ravaged every year by storms. Years and years of fond memories live there for me. I’ve arrived many an early morning to save one of the few fire pits in the sand, and our kids enjoyed the simple playground above the shore. Every summer was spent boogie boarding, jumping waves, and roasting hot dogs and marshmallows with church family. The most memorable of all was when my husband baptized our two youngest children and other new church members. See why I love North Beach? Or, as we used to call it, Pico Beach. The 7-Eleven was where I’d pick up my kids on the days I didn’t join them…all summer long!
Years ago, my sisters and I decided to go wave jumping at North Beach. All but one of us in our senior years. One of us got stuck in the sinking sand and with the rolling waves, she couldn’t gain her footing, unable to stand. It wasn’t dangerous, but comical, as we all tried to help and landed up tumbling down with her. Over and over again! It didn’t help that we were all laughing hysterically…well, one sister had the good sense to run for the lifeguard. Fun times.
Pathways, Walkways and Boardwalks
So, the trail. It’s changed over the years, as have many of the locations I’ll be sharing with you, but it’s still a lovely, eclectic walk. While I love hearing the crashing waves, they get regularly interrupted by the Amtrack and Metrolink rocking by on the tracks. It all adds to the trail’s charm. You’ll walk on crushed granite pathways, sandy walkways, and smooth sanded boardwalks. The fauna is as varied as the dogs and their owners! I love the Perez’s Sea Lavender that pops up sporadically among smooth, green, giant Foxtail Agave plants. The real treat for me is when I see those wild Black-Eyed Susans. The bright yellow pops against the rocks and makes me smile.
Relish in God’s Glory through His Creation
Whether I walk to San Clemente Pier in the distance, always an ambitious goal, or just halfway and back, I relish in the glory of God’s gift of creation. There’s just something about the ocean that never ceases to bubble praise in my heart. Standing there staring at the water makes me feel like I’ve run as far away as I can from all my problems, and He is there to meet me. Lord God almighty. Stronger than the pounding surf and more soothing than the rippling tide.
Maybe that’s why Melanie likes to run. Although I’m not a jogger, and my life is nothing like the harrowing journey she lives, a walk outdoors cleanses my lungs and soothes my soul. Where do you run or walk? Please share, I love hearing about new places!
A funny thing. I love revisiting my favorite locations that I write about in my books, but they don’t hold the anxious moments that I craft in my stories. Maybe these blog posts will lighten some of the suspense in Revived Hope! I hope you’ll like the book and enjoy taking the run with Melanie. I’ll see you tomorrow. Join me, On Location, right here.
GIVEAWAY!
I’m giving away a chance to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card and a signed copy of Revived Hope. The contest will stay open for a week. Just enter your name and email, thereby signing up for my email newsletter. If you’re already a subscriber, no worries, just enter. I promise you won’t get duplicate emails, but it’s all about fun facts and faith. I hope to encourage you each month, and you may easily unsubscribe at any time. Have a blessed week and don’t forget to click on the link below to enter the giveaway. Thanks for reading!