Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Beach Break Anyone?

Happy Monday ya'll!!!! 

I am using ya'll in the best southern drawl I can do!!! 

I spent the weekend at an amazing Conference in Jacksonville, Florida called the Southern Women's Conference and it was AWESOME! It is the first annual Southern Women's Conference and it was phenomenal! I met a ton of great ladies that are in recovery, heard SO many awesome speakers (testimonials) and also got to escape the Pittsburgh cold for the weekend....what a win win win in my book!!

Here is the obligatory selfie at the airport as I was waiting to the shuttle for the hotel...


Speaking of the shuttle; the hotel shuttle driver told me when he picked me up at noon on Friday that it was supposed to storm and be under 60 the entire weekend. I am happy to report he was WAY wrong. It ended up being 65 - 70 and SUNNY the whole weekend in Jacksonville, FL! YAY!!!

It was a weekend packed with women speakers on recovery from alcoholism and every one of them was amazing! There was not a lot of down time at all so I figured I did not need a rental car and that is why I took the shuttle from the airport right to the hotel.  

Here is the program to show you how packed the schedule was!!


I was able to squeeze a walk in on Friday afternoon....I had to get that in because I was worried after the shuttle driver said storms all weekend...it was beautiful there!!!!


There was a cute little pond by the hotel...I was literally walking around the airport as my hotel was technically at the airport just down the road a little - HA!


Saturday afternoon I was able to find an hour to lay under this palm tree and grab a quick nap! Ahhhh...


Saturday night - this was the view from my hotel window when I went upstairs to go to sleep....so pretty!!


There were a lot of crafters there...I found this awesome mug to bring home!!! I love the thing that looks like a crack in the top...I found it very ironic...seeing how I "put myself back together" with the help of a fellowship!!! So I bought the damaged one...very representative! HA


So the event was over on Sunday morning and I decided that I could not leave Florida without seeing a beach!!! I called the airport and got a rental for five hours! HA HA! I had the hotel shuttle take me to the airport and got a rental to drive 1/2 hour to the Little Talbot Island. It is a State Park in Florida...you all know how much I love State Parks from when I was traveling!!!  This did not disappoint.  I was able to take a three hour walk down and back on the beach and it was breathtaking!
Here are a few pictures I took...


Beautiful, right?



Then I saw this little guy. I thought he was stranded on the beach and I was so excited to run and save him by tossing him back in the ocean.



Sadly, upon closer inspection, I think he was dead. He had the ends of all his arms broken off and was very still. But I threw him back in just in case there was a possibility he was just playing dead... :-(


I just love State Parks for the raw nature they show you...


It was truly beautiful there...


On my drive out of the park...there was a huge swarm of birds circling and squawking like crazy...I mean hundreds of them flying in circles. I had to stop the car and get a picture....It went on forever. I have no idea what they doing.


Jxjj


The pictures can not do not do it justice...it was so strange and I have never seen anything like it before! Weird...


Soo beautiful...





There is nothing I love more than water!! Ahhh...


I drove back to the airport and turned in my rental car. As soon as I started walking to check my luggage; I got a text from Delta that my plane was delayed for two hours due to mechanical difficulty. That is the downfall of being two hours early for your flight. So I was trapped at the airport for five hours until take off....I had a nice relaxing dinner and Candy Crushed A LOT!!! HA HA!

I am grateful that I had the opportunity to attend such a spiritual and amazing weekend with a ton of awesome and grace-filled women!!

Happy week everyone! Hugs to each and every one of you!


31 comments:

  1. I'm glad you had such a great weekend. Good for you. Florida is such a wonderful place to be. Especially this time of year.

    Have a fabulous day and week. ♥

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    1. Thank you Sandee!! I hope you have a terrific week also! HUGS

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  2. Wow, sounds like a wonderfully uplifting weekend! Thanks for the sunny pics. Glad you had a good time and made the most of it!

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    1. Thanks Abby - it was really nice to get in a quick escape!

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  3. A change is as good as a holiday, as they say. It must be nice to be warm after being in cold weather.

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    1. It was wonderful! Even a little sun and warmth is welcome - it has been very dark and dreary in Pittsburgh.

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  4. Sounds like a wonderful weekend. That beach is awesome and it looks like you had the whole place to yourself.

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    1. The State Parks are always like that - much less crowded than public beaches - probably because they charge $5 a car to go but it is worth it for the untouched nature - I consider it a donation. Have a great day Ann! HUGS

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  5. I’m jealous of your beach time. Glad you enjoyed.

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    1. I really did - only complaint is I wish it were longer -HA! Have a great day!

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  6. What a shame that you turned in your car too early (had you only known!). Jax is a good four hours from Lakeland. I could have met you halfway if we had only known you had so much free time on Sunday. Fiddlesticks!! Next time!

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    1. Definitely next time Terri!!! I was bummed to have to sped so much time at the airport but it gave me time to chill for sure! Hope you are well! HUGS!!!!

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  7. Not sure if you got my comment. I want to pat you on the back bigtime for fighting the good fight and winning. YOu are inspiration to others. All benefit in society! I think the program could have used a little more creativity in explaining each level!! Nothing is more therauputic than beach days, though.

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    1. Aw..thank you Tabor but it was definitely God not me. I am very blessed and grateful that I actually have a life now though!!! Have a fantastic day Tabor! HUGS

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  8. Great pictures! Glad the conference was so invigorating for you, and thanks for trying to share the warmth of the sunshine with us!

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  9. Even with the delay at the end of the weekend, it sounded like an incredible weekend. Your beach photos are awesome. Glad you were able to walk the beach and that the weather was fabulous.

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    1. Yes I am definitely not complaining Robin! It was so nice to see the sunshine - it has been so long since it has shone in Pittsburgh!!!

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  10. What a beautiful weekend! And what a nice break from the winter weather for you. (I'm so jealous!) I would love that beach you went to...all those shells. I love walking the beach and seeing what is there.

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    1. It was fantastic Stacy!! I am telling you - the key is go to a State Park - there are less people there almost always!!!! I was only sad that I did not find one piece of sea glass! Hugs

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    1. It really was Kathy!!! Have a great day! HUGS

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  12. Sounds like you had a great weekend and look at that sun!!! I am so very jealous!

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    1. It was truly nice just to see sunshine Sharon!!! I had a tank top on and everyone else at the beach was wearing sweatshirts..it felt so good to have sun on my shoulders as i walked!!!! Have a great day!

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  13. I am so happy for you that our Sunshine state gave you a big beautiful welcome and stayed nice. I love Florida, and we are 4 hours south of Jax, so we were even warmer. congratulations on remaking your self. happy for you that you could attend this retreat.. I worked for several years as an assistant to the leaders of our church Overcomers Group. anyone with any addiction was welcome. I understand your struggle

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    1. Thank you for being such a welcoming state - everyone was wonderful!!! Mostly - thank you for the sunshine...it made all the difference in the world!!! HUGS Sandee!

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  14. Sounds like a marvelous trip. Great new friends, Florida hospitality and some beach time. Kind of makes me wish I had joined AA instead of doing it on my own. Hope that star fish survived. I have done that many times and hoped for the best.

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    1. Hey - it is never to late to join...even if you already did it on your own! Guaranteed there is someone that could benefit from you wisdom in the rooms! I love the program!! The woman are amazing..me included! Ha ha - Just kidding...but, really I love the program!! It is so easy when you are holding on with a bunch of others!! Have a great day Patti! HUGS

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  15. Looking and such beautiful pics. Thanks for sharing everything with us.

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    1. You are welcome Patrick! It really was a much needed dose of sunshine!! I love Florida!

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  16. Love your selfie. Nothing like getting to be on the beach and see the ocean!

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