Today’s Writer Wednesday post is about our favorite vacation.
Since most of my vacations are either with our family or on the beach, there’s not much to talk about. We tour, eat our way through whatever city we’re visiting, and then lie around and read. There are no surprises, but I treasure those simple vacations. And by the time it’s over, we’re ready go back to school and work and start the cycle all over again.
But once, a few years ago, there was a trip that left us with more than happy memories.
For one of our major anniversaries, my husband and I spent a year planning a trip to Sandals in Jamaica. We wanted to renew our vows and invited my sister and her husband, as well as two other couples, to join us.
We’d planned a trip in paradise for an entire week. This was different than our normal family vacations, and like most things we plan for, the wait was agonizing.
But finally we all arrived! We took a sunset cruise, ate dinners under the stars, had a vow renewal ceremony on the beach, and celebrated with champagne at one of the resort’s restaurants. I even wore a white sundress and carried tropical flowers.
It was romantic and beautiful and wonderful.
But that’s not what made the trip so memorable. Or the wait so worth it.
After the trip–where all we did was lie on the beach, swim, and guzzle tropical drinks with pretty umbrellas–we came home slightly (very!) depressed. But four weeks later I got a phone call from my sister. She was four weeks pregnant with my niece. And . . . one of the other women we went with was also four weeks pregnant.
The two babies were born within days of each other, nine months after my anniversary.
Both women had brought home the best vacation memory ever!
Sometimes, when you’re waiting for a dream to come true or a promise to be fulfilled, the wait time can seem dark and endless. But when I play with my niece, and think about that wonderful week, I’m reminded that while the time between a dream’s idea and a dream’s fulfillment is often filled with self-doubt and worry, the wait is always worth it.
Now I’d love to know if you have a favorite vacation you’d love to share!
Thank your for spending the day with us. Below is a link of my Golden Heart sisters who are participating in today’s blog party.
Hope to see you next month!
Contemporary romance Tamra Baumann | Romantic suspense Carol Post | Young Adult TL Sumner | Women’s Fiction Jean Willett | Paranormal Kay Hudson
All photographs courtesy of Sharon Wray.
Copyright 2016 Sharon Wray
Lovely photos, Sharon. I love the beach. It’s my place to laze and recharge. The beautiful photo opportunities abound wherever I look. Such a lovely vacation full of memories for you!! 🙂
Thanks, Jean. The beach is my absolute favorite place to read and write and recharge. There’s nothing better than lying on the beach and listening to the waves against the shore. 🙂
I loved your post, Sharon! The pictures are absolutely beautiful. There’s nothing like the beach. And it’s so cool that your friends got babies out of the deal!
I agree, Carol! It still amazes me when I think about it. Glad you liked the photos. 🙂
Well, a beautiful vacation on the beach in Jamaica, and two babies later, had be one of the best vacations ever! That sounded amazing, Sharon. And your photos are georgeous as always!
Thanks, Tammy. I’ve been very lucky and have been able to travel a lot for pleasure and work, but that vacations that ended with two babies is my absolute favorite. 🙂
What a lovely story! And all your gorgeous beach pictures. At least two other families will always remember that vacation.
Thanks, Kay. We often joke about going away all together again, but at this point we’re all afraid of what might happen! LOL
Breathtaking, Sharon!
I know what you mean about that let-down feeling after a big vacation, I think the spirit enjoys the downtime so much it’s hard to go back to the real world. The babies are a tangible reminder of the vacation of a lifetime- a great gift of love 🙂
That’s a beautiful way to think about it, Jacquie. Thank you!
I got chills reading this, Sharon. How beautiful… And thanks for reminding me about the patience thing… boy do I need a reminder of that this week. 🙂
P.S. Love the new website!!
Thank you so much, Tosha. I really appreciate it. And I too needed a reminder about patience this week. The kids still have two weeks of school to go and we’e all ready for the summer to begin. 🙂