Once again I had the joy of hopping on a ferry with friends to get away to an island in Puget Sound. Don't you just love that in less than an hour you can be out on the water, smelling the sea air, with the wind whipping through your hair? All your troubles seem to float away, at least for the time being, and you are in awe of the beauty surrounding you.

Last weekend a little tribe of friends headed to an vacation rental home near Coupeville, WA on Whidbey Island. This tribe meets once a month at 6:30 am for a time to share a spiritual reflection and pray together around a cup of coffee. Designed originally for women who worked in various fields of business, the group has morphed and changed as women dropped in and then out due to time constraints and job changes. Several of us are self employed now and others still leave the meeting to go off to jobs. A bond has grown as we've shared life together over the past 7 years or so.

One of our group found a darling beach rental house for us and we all chipped in on the cost and shared meal planning and preparation. The house was just what a beach house should be...with a predominantly blue and white color scheme and natural wood accents. I loved it! Though the weather on Friday was cloudy and cool, we awoke to sunshine on the deck on Saturday...so perfect!

Want to see the house? We will start in the living room...

And look at the view just outside the living room windows!

The charming kitchen...

The first bedroom...where I got to sleep!

Another bedroom down the hall...love that seafoam color!

One of two lovely bathrooms...very spacious!

And bedroom number 3...so darling! There was also a ladder to a loft that contained two more twin size beds.

Our view from the deck on Saturday morning...

A driftwood fort...reminds me of things my sons used to do at the beach!

After a quick stop in Coupeville for coffee, we chose to take the Keystone ferry and journey over to Port Townsend.

Port Townsend is known for it's picturesque buildings and lovely Victorian and Craftsman homes. Fort Worden, where An Officer and a Gentlemen was filmed, is just around the corner. My mother's family had a family reunion there many years ago and had a fabulous time!

Just had to share my favorite shop of the day...the Conservatory, filled with home interior decor with nautical and camp things...love! If you click on the link, you can shop online...just sayin'!

We wandered about town, ate lunch al fresco watching the ferries come and go, and then returned to our lovely beach place by mid afternoon.

One of our gals shared a reflection on looking for and seeing the fingerprints of God in our lives. Reminded me of one of my favorite passages of scripture:

Isaiah 40:28-31New King James Version (NKJV)

28 Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
31 But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.

Isn't it so true that we can see His fingerprints in our lives, especially when we look back on hard times of pain and struggle. So often He is working behind the scenes. He gives us strength to keep moving...keep walking. He is faithful!

Just a few more photos of our view from the deck on Sunday morning and the rocky beach...no sand, but still lovely.

Returning home, the sailboats were out in full force as it was opening weekend of boating. Though we had hoped to see whales, the sailboats had to do...:).

Though I'm sure living on an island would have its' challenges, there is something almost magical about being there. Retirement maybe?!! Years ago a friend of mine from Anchorage shared this poem with me, after staying at her aunt and uncle's home on Vashon Island. I always think of it when journeying to one of the islands in the Pacific Northwest or the Caribbean.

If you've ever lived on an island
If ever you've lived by the sea,
You'll never return to the mainland
once your spirit has been set free.

If ever you've smelled the ocean
or tasted the salt in the air;
You'll know you've discovered a haven
that is uncommon, precious and rare.

If ever you've seen the whales play
or watched the eagles in flight
You'll remember, again, why you live here,
and why it feels so right.

If ever you've seen the sunset
as the ferry passes the shore;
You've seen the beauty of the island
that will be with you forever more.

If ever you've heard the seagulls
the waves, a foghorn, the winds;
Then you've heard the song of the island
and the peaceful message it sends.

Indeed, if you live on an island
if you're lucky to live by the sea
You'll never return to the mainland,
as your spirit has been set free.

Hope you all get a chance to get away to an island soon...or at least spend some time near the sea. There's nothing like it if you are a drawn to water...the place to refresh your soul. Until next time...

Warmly, Gracia