This year marked the first year in my 49 years of visiting Atlantic Beach, NC in which we were there on the Fourth of July.  Since mom died only six months ago this was an especially important trip for our family.  My brother and his family were able to come for the first time in eight years.  It was wonderful to have everyone together again.  Mom would have liked that.  We watched beautiful fireworks from the deck of the house.  I honestly don't know who those people are on the beach.  Nope, never seen them before!!

Our family takes a sunset cruise each year and this year was no different.  We got a nice night's sail in before Hurricane Arthur came barreling down on us.  (photo credit - some nice lady on the cruise)  "Thank you!"

Chloe, the dog, always comes with the captain.  If you ever get a chance to travel to Beaufort, NC Lookout Cruises does life on a sailboat right!

The Worthy Boys!

As we shrugged off what we thought was going to be a blow by from a Category One hurricane we watched as the ocean grew angrier each hour of the day.  Here's a couple shots during the day of the night it made landfall...

Sand at 40mph...

The hurricane slowly turned into a Category One hurricane as night approached.  We soaked up water coming in from all sides of the house and wondered if we would lose power (most importantly air conditioning) during the night.  The windows shook.  The glass doors waved as if saying hello.  Things were a little hairy!  

The eye finally made landfall around 3am.  Of course my husband and boys were there to watch it happen.  

We survived an exciting night and the next day dawned a beautiful sunny day with waves built for boys!

As always, I did not want to leave.  Dot's Spot (as the family calls the beach house) is a place filled with many, many memories.  God was so gracious this year to give us a vacation we would never forget!  Did I mention the broken toe?  That happened day one!  Be blessed......

Julie