Afternoon on the Beach

After attending the early Mass on Christmas morning and exchanging gifts after breakfast, the Little Nguyens were feeling the need to get out and move. So, we bundled up and headed out to Sound Beach. Despite the cold temperature and frigid winds, it seems the beach was the destination of choice for other families that needed fresh air as much as we did!

Daddy went for a run with Uncle Thien and Aunts Giang and Hoa, before joining the Little Nguyens and I as we played around in the sand and surf. The freezing cold waves were rushing in, but even those occasional splashes of frigid water couldn't stop the Little Nguyens from trudging around in the shallow water. All I have to say is, thank goodness for waterproof boots! The First Little Nguyen delighted in discovering conches, mussels (oh, I wonder if he took that one out of his coat pocket before we left -- better check the closet!!), driftwood, kelp and what he is certain was a shark's jawbone. The Second Little Nguyen was content to pile up rocks and stones for the fish to make their "winter homes" in. Perhaps the strangest thing for us, living in a state where the beach is just a mix of sand and small pebbles, were the piles of snow we saw scattered about! So much of it must have melted as the tides came in, but there were mounds remaining here and there. It was beautiful to see the sun sparkling over the waves of the sound, resplendent with warmth and so brilliantly reminding us of the reason for the day's celebration. None of us seemed to mind the cold winds whipping around us as we walked along the beach, marveling at the simple gifts the Lord has surrounded us with: warmth in the rays of the sun, joy in fresh ocean breezes, happiness in icy giggles, and love in Christmas smiles.