We recently went on vacation with some of my family in Topsail Beach, North Carolina.  The week leading up to vacation was rather stressful considering there was a hurricane headed straight for the house we were to be staying in.  The "we're going, we're not going" pendulum was swinging back and forth every time the Storm Pulse website posted a new update (which is every 3 hours, for those who are wondering).  

So when the storm passed through and caused virtually no damage to the island, off we went.  After an 8+ hour car ride with two small children (one of whom didn't sleep for more than 30 minutes on the drive down), our feelings of relief and utter joy were practically palpable as we put our bare feet into the sand.  

Joy is taking a step away from your every day routine and getting a new perspective on how beautiful life really is.

 

Joy is spending time with Oma and Opa, whose pockets are never too full to carry your endless supply of super-special-we-must-take-all-of-them-home-with-us seashells.

Joy is taking a moment to catch a snapshot of our family in its current stage of life.

Joy is watching my three favorite people in all the world relax and enjoy themselves on the beach.

Joy is relishing the simple things in life-- like your first ever powdered donut.

Joy is having somebody other than your Mommy or Daddy (like Oma!) read you a bedtime story (A joy for  the kids, AND for Mommy and Daddy, AND for Oma.  Win, win, win!).

Joy is having nothing else to do other than spending time with my two little ones.  No cooking, no cleaning, no obligations.

Joy is trying to get a stupid website to upload a picture properly twenty different times and then finally giving in and just posting it as is (insert copious amounts of sarcasm) spending every day with your best friend.

It's funny how vacation can be so refreshing.  Perhaps we need to go a little more often.  :)