Today I am grateful for the earth.

Yesterday a couple friends and I made some last minute plans to go to the beach. Beaching in the late afternoon is best for many reasons. It's not too hot, then sand is not scorching, the sun isn't blaring down on you, the lighting is amazing, and your beach experience ends up being amazing and not miserable. Basically the sun is your worst enemy. Yesterday the beach was perfect, hence the crowds that polluted the prime beach locations. We drove down the beach for quite awhile and even passed a couple of nudes fishing. Our beach is not a nude beach and it was far from empty. I wonder if they can be arrested for public indecency... Anyways, after we found a clear stretch of beach I took some photos and made a sand castle. I didn't plan on swimming but my friends coaxed me into the water. I am so glad I did. Here's one thing you should know about Texas beaches. The water is mostly really cloudy green water that is often seaweed ridden, but not last night. The water was the clearest I have ever seen. The blue water reflected purples, pinks, and oranges from the sunset. As I stood out in the ocean jumping with the waves I couldn't help but exclaim "This is so beautiful." I wished that I had my camera and could have captured that moment, but I couldn't risk water damage. Just look at the picture above and imagine the water all around you except a million times more colorful. Normally when I swim at the beach, I just stand around in the waves and worry about shark attacks, but yesterday I let me worries fade and played in the water like I did as a child. I flipped over waves, splashed around, and body surfed. It was the most fun i've had at the beach in a really long time.

Since then I have been thinking a lot about this earth that we live on and how beautiful it is. It's those little moments like that that remind me how fortunate I am to live in a place full of life, color, and beauty. There is so much in this world to see and experience. All we have to do is open our eyes and notice.

Carli

Texas Love: Bonfires

 One thing I love about Texas, or should I say Corpus Christi, is the close proximity to the beach. I love having the opportunity to drive on over to the beach after work or going early in the morning and seeing the sunrise, which I have yet to do this summer and I need to.

 My favorite beach activity has to be bonfires. I love sitting around a fire with friends under the stars. We have been having quite a few bonfires lately and I don't mind at all. I love passing around the guitar and jamming with friends. I had no idea how many talented friends I had until we all sat down and sang together. 

 I know that it is possible to do a bonfire just about anywhere, but I firmly believe that the beach is the best place. There is nothing like the sand between your toes, the salty breeze in your hair, the sound of crashing waves, along with the cackling of the fire. It's amazing. 

After this bonfire we went for a drive in the dunes. Me being the pansy I am freaked out. A lot. I was almost hyperventilating. There is just something about cars doing things they shouldn't that scares me... but it was really fun once you get passed the fact your sitting in a metal death cab that is sliding down cliffs of sand while spinning rapidly.

Carli