Beach Trip

My family and I were at the beach this week down in Dauphin Island, Alabama. Several days were spent out on the beach, in the pool, and exploring the area.

It was a great trip but I am ready to be back at it!!

Here’s a few takeaways from the trip…

1. The Ultimate Workout: Beach Gear Hauling
   
   Forget your regular exercise routine—nothing can truly prepare you for the herculean task of transporting hundreds of pounds of beach chairs, toys, umbrellas, and buckets of SPF across the sand. Each trip to the beach felt like a full-body workout. A test of the will, if you will.

2. A Vacation from Both Work and Parenting
   
   Traveling with my parents was a big blessing. It allows for a true vacation from both work and, at times, parenting. Morgan and I got a couple date nights without the kids. We used to take going out to eat for granted, but going out just the two of us is so relaxing and allows us to connect.

3. The Kiddie Pool Hack
   
   One of the best beach hacks we’ve done for a few years now is setting up a kiddie pool in the sand. We fill it up with a few inches of water and our younger kids love it. We use one like this (I make no money from this link):

   Amazon.com: Jasonwell Foldable Dog Pet Bath Pool Collapsible Dog Pet Pool Bathing Tub Kiddie Pool Doggie Wading Pool for Puppy Small Medium Large Dogs Cats and Kids 32" Blue : Pet Supplies

4. Get off the Freaking Phone
   
   I was surprised but not surprised at the number of people on their phones at the beach. They were scrolling and scrolling rather than engaging with their kids or building sandcastles, or playing in the water. The kids will no doubt remember what you prioritize in those moments.
   

5. Embrace the Chaos
   
   Beach vacations with family are rarely about peace and quiet. They are filled with laughter, occasional tears, and a lot of sand in unexpected places. Embracing the chaos and letting go of the quest for perfection made our trip infinitely more enjoyable. Sometimes, the best memories come from the most unplanned, spontaneous moments.
   

6. Simple Joys
   
   My son got over his fear of the ocean and got in the water. My oldest daughter pushed herself to dive under the water. My youngest daughter was filled with smiles, silliness, and personality despite hurting herself about 13 times. These little moments are now sweet memories.
   

   It was great to get away. It was a lot of work and a long drive, but fun and rejuvenating, nonetheless.

Hopefully you will get away at some point this summer as well. I encourage you to make the most of the time by making good memories but also doing whatever you need to do to come back with more passion and purpose for your family, career, and church. This will keep you from having the “post-vacation blues.”

I hope you have a great week!! Please reply with any thoughts or feedback.

God Bless,
Matt Virgin