Before Ashton came home for the weekend she had asked me if she and I could spend some time on Friday together. Just "our" time. She wanted to take a walk with me. I was more than happy to spend some "mommy and me" time with her. Friday was a beautiful fall day, a little chill in the air but the sun more than made up for it. We walked at one of "our places", along the shoreline road around Ocean Point. 
There were still beach roses in bloom along the shore. There were several gardens in bloom as well.
We found "our spot"! Here is where Ashton and her brother Benjamin and I would come onceor twice a week long ago. We would bring a big blanket to spread on the rocks, a lunch of Italian sandwiches (this was a major treat!) and a book for me to read. Ashton and Ben would spend hours scouring the rocks and shoreline for a treasure. They would run back and forth to show me a pretty shell or seaglass or a heart-shaped rock. I would sit and with much delight watch my two youngest having a wonderful day. This simple time together meant so much to them then and even now. I just let them go, letting them simply be kids. This was during a hard time in our lives. They never needed fancy toys or big ticket items to make them feel good, they just wanted to be with each other, no schedule, no cares at all. It was a very healing place for the three of us. When Ashton sat down in this spot I couldn't help but remember the little girl who scampered over those same rocks many times! We had fun reminiscing about those days.
When we first got to the Point Ashton jumped out with Buddy and ran down to the shoreline. Again, all I could "see" was my little girl with her shovel and pail, digging in the sand at low tide. I chaperoned both Ben's and Ashton's class trips to Ocean Point and now wished I could do it all over again. Sometimes when I signed up to chaperone their class trips I wondered why I did when I got on the bus full of young children talking and hollering back and forth! I would do it again in a heartbeat though.
I love this stone chapel. It looks out towards the ocean and is simply beautiful. I have attended several weddings here over the years, including Mark's sister's and it is a perfect spot for a wedding.
Just a note to say I highly recommend the book "Traveling with Pomegranates". I am not done with it just yet but what I have read is wonderful. I also recommend "The Saving Graces" which I couldn't put down! It is a heart-warming story of women and their friendship(s).
6 comments:
What a totally special and wonderful day you had together. I loved the photo of the beach roses. They're called hamanasu in Japan and they make jams, soft serve and even scents out of the fruit. It was our favorite flavor.
Your day at the ocean with Ashton must have been wonderful for both of you...I mean all three of you (including Buddy), Cheryl. What great memories it brought back for you. The two novels sound great, too. I enjoyed your copies of The Summer Kitchen and The White Water Walking Club, by the way
OP is my favorite place in the world...so beautiful. I loved watching my girls play on the rocks and hunt for crabs this summer, just the way I did when I was their age! I can tell it'll always hold a special place in your heart too. :)
sounds perfect until its time for your daughter to return to school but maybe one day it will be you and her and a little one-a grand child. Good things continue in families.
Oh, this is just so special and amazing that Ashton at still such a young age realizes it. Thanks for sharing this. You two have a wonderful relationship that you both obviously cherish. The stone chapel is so pretty as well as the pics of Ashton and Buddy at the shoreline.
It's wonderful that you were able to have some special time with Ashton. The chapel you showed is beautiful.
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