The beach gives us a different perspective about life, doesn’t it? The calming sounds of the waves lapping up on the shore and the smell of the salty sea seem to give us powers of healing. We start getting a little rejuvenated by the aqua colors of the water, blue skies, splashes of orange and pink shells on the bed of tan sand to bury our toes in.
It brings us back to the basic beauty of life.
A simple bucket filled with sand, water and a few shells can be the perfect ingredients for a marvelous morning.
This simple little bucket can turn into a fascinating world of wonder after adding a tiny baby fish.
This is better than finding a JUNONIA.
The whole family can share in the joy of the “wonder bucket”.
Cody, Sarah, Tim and Angie were my best “finds of the day”…. It’s always nice to find a great shell but sometimes it’s even better to find a great family enjoying the uncomplicated pleasures of the beach.
Besides finding the fish for her little brother’s bucket, Sarah found a large heart shaped rock. Perfect for a girl with a big heart.
Soaking up every single second of this beautiful life at the beach. This is what I call an awesome happy day!
I wish every family could have this experience.
So I’d like to dedicate this post to
If you would like to know more about Make-A-Wish, make a donation or spread the word about how to grant a child’s wish, please click on….
A special thanks to Royal Shell for their generosity to grant wishes for Make-A-Wish Foundation.
I think this is one of the most beautiful posts you’ve ever done. The words, the photos, the “cause” behind them. I love “make-a-wish” as much as I love Sanibel and shelling.
Thank you.
Beautiful. The ocean definately has healing powers for us. We feed the entire year of it inbetween visits to the beach. Cheers
Nicely Done !
Pam … what a beautiful and touching post … thank you for all you did to help this family’s shelling vacation be the most amazing ever!!!!!
About a month ago I stumbled on to your web site. I have to say it is now the 1st thing I check when I turn my computer on. Had a rough day today and when I read your post it put things back in perspective. Thank you for sharing your thoughts (and your beach! ) with us!
Pam~ you know you stole my heart with this one!
I love it!
And the concept…..(go figure!)
I can’t wait to finally get down to Fl. for good!
Then I am going to FIND YOU! hehehehe..
I just want the shells ok?
LOL!
Have a great weekend!
I am tweeting and all your post..it totally rocks!
That made me cry. What a beautiful family. God is good, life is good when take care of each other.
xoxo to cody, sarah, tim, angie and Make a Wish.
This is so beautiful! You amaze me.
Wonderful post. I hope that they enjoyed their vacation, it looks like the weather cooperated as well as the aqua sea.
What a beautiful family. I hope Sanibel was even better than you dreamed.
As always Pam, you do beautiful things here.
I just found your website a few days ago and I could spend all day and night reading and looking!
I have been vacationing on Sanibel since 1977 but we haven’t gotten to come down since Sept 2009 (due to the economy/lack of work) and I feel some days like I’ll never be there again. Sanibel has become such a part of me that I am feeling now that something is missing and I know its Sanibel.
I just want to say I love your site here and its just amazing!! Thanks for giving me my “Sanibel Fix” until I get to come back down there!
Janice/GA
Make A Wish granted my nephew’s daughter Maren with her wish to go to Disney.
They sent the whole family – Mom, Dad, Maren (5), Ian (10), Sam (8), Vivi (2) and the new baby Finn. She had a wonderful time with her family. She is now at
U of M Hospital receiving MIBG therapy.
Make A Wish does wonderful things for children and their families when they are in crisis.
What a wonderful thing they did for this family and what you are doing to spread the word.
Thanks Pam.
Lee
Just precious. Thank you Pam for sharing that blessing with us.
Pam, what an awesome story even though I was there :) You left me speechless and choked up! I know Cody really enjoyed his time on the beach and I can’t express how much we appreciate your help with the shells and The Mucky Duck-it was delish, by the way! Tim and I are already trying to figure out when we can come back. The Island was a great relaxing time for our entire family. And a great big Thank you to Make A Wish!
What a beautiful family you have!! May God continue to bless all of you!
Oh Pam, this is the best post ever!!! I loved it and what a wonderful way to end it with the MAKE A WISH FOUNDATION. I met a young lady that’s wish was to meet Dolly Parton and she did. She is still battling her physical problems but oh, how she loves to share her experience meeting Dolly!!
Thanks you guys for all of your lovely comments- it really was a special day. I can’t tell you what it means to me to be able to share it with yall. xoxo
I whole heartedly agree with everyone’s comments. Angie, I’m so happy your family had such a wonderful experience – one to treasure forever. Pam, you documented it so beautifully for them and all of us! Thank you and God Bless!
What a beautiful day for a beautiful family!
My family is planning a return trip to Sanibel this July (for two amazing weeks!!!!). Our last visit was in 2008 when my youngest child, Grayson, was granted a Make-A-Wish Foundation wish. He had wished to “fly on an airplane, see the BIG water, and to see sea turtles and seashells”. We realized he was describing pictures he had seen of my previous visits, and Make-A-Wish made it happen!!!
It was a true gift to share the island with my husband and five children. Everyone on Sanibel make the visit so special….a private tour at the Shell Museum and a guided shelling walk on a beach pre-stocked with exciting finds for Gray :). He walked up and down the beach asking every person he met, “What’s your wish?”
We have all been pouring over you beautiful website in anticipation of our return. Thank you for sharing the joy of Sanibel even when we can’t be there!!!!