Going Home

Last day in South Florida. It has been another KalenaDia adventure, but I am really looking forward to being back at home. I have found a magnitude of photo ops down here, but will have to return on another day when stop, focus, shoot is more tolerated. Ft Lauderdale is definitely not what I had always imagined. The days of "Spring Break" in Lauderdale obviously reached there apex many years ago. Hollywood is not "all the scene" I heard about growing up either. Down here, these places are cities that happen to be on the beach, as opposed to the peaceful slow paced beach city atmosphere. Miami Beach is nice, but South Beach is by far the most happening place I found. Awesome photography can come out of that little strip as long as you don't mind the occasional fashion faux pas - apparently swim tops are optional and thong bottoms are ALL THE RAGE!! Lots of neon on Ocean Drive and night time is the time to shoot down there. Of course, I was there midday. UGH!

I made it successfully the two hour trip through the Everglades yesterday to find the allusive Sanibel Island the Travel Channel spoke so highly of, just south of Fort Myers. Seashells are in abundance like I have never seen, but, at the end of the day, my sugar white sands on Pensacola make these beaches look like swamp land! However, it still makes my list of things to do with my husband and kids. I mean - the beach is the beach! :)

Although I can say, just like I always do in Pensacola, I walked hand in hand with the Lord yesterday at Sanibel. And, like always happens, He showed up right when I needed Him to. I have had a great time this week, venturing to see things I have never seen, going places I've never been; but it's ok for it to come to an end. When I was in Pensacola with Mark and the boys in June, I prayed for time to stand still and for us to be able to stay there forever. My heart is so alive on that beach, and I smile alot more easily and frequently than I do other times. When the opportunity came to make this trip, I felt very fortunate and extremely excited. Two beach trips in the same summer! Woo! Woo! Yet, I find myself looking forward to the plane ride home tomorrow, more than I than I did the trip itself. Today I find myself even more fortunate that I have my little Mountain Oasis to return to.

So .... the journey continues ......


Kalena The Traveler

And, uh, oh yeah - yesterday on Sanibel, the Lord assured me that He is very fond of Pensacola, also! :)