We did a lot of talking about the Lord’s amazing creation (but we do that at home, too! His “footprints are everywhere.”) We did a lot of catching (and then returning) creatures in the big pond. There were bi-daily trips to the dollar store, and, altogether, I’d estimate we had 40 showers, collectively, in three days. Glenn shelled and cooked shrimp, fresh from the gulf, for us one day, but, besides that shrimp dinner, I was the cook. That was a task, let me tell you! 
On the last night, there were leftover hamburgers, hotdogs, and shrimp. There was steak and taco salad and lots of little bits of sides left over. But there was not enough of any one thing to feed the group. So everyone had to answer a Bible question, in turn, about the sea or fish. (There are lots of those in there). If successful on your turn, you’d get to pick a food for your plate. Shrimp went fast. Kids did not like to miss questions (Grown-ups weren’t crazy about it either!) Eliza Jane told us about Peter walking on “de sea and den he falled in, but Jesus dus pulled him wight back up.”
Last Thursday was Eliza’s birthday. I, personally, thought all decor was superfluous, since we were right there in the beach-themed party decorated by God, himself. But she was insistent that her cake be identical to the unicorn cake that her sister had, so we crammed all the unicorn things into 
the SUV and went with that. Kids are funny. All that sand, the crashing waves, the gorgeous sunset, a small angler in a pail, that her brother had caught in his net, a crab in a bowl that her sister had caught and brought home in a washed-up shoe, a tiny silverfish that her brother grabbed before it slipped through the holes in his net…All that, right there in the beach themed house, and she wanted to decorate with the mythical rather than the real! 
Eliza buried her toys in the sand and promptly forgot where. (Maybe some other child will dig them up and be delighted at the buried treasure.) Colleyanna left a floating note for someone to find, with her contact info included. (I know, probably not a good idea for a variety of reasons; but the quest and the dream was so vivid in the eight-year-old’s little heart.) Ezra was all about rubbing seaweed on my leg under the water and making me think I was being fish-rubbed (or worse…jelly fish attacked!).
The best thing is always God’s people wherever we go. We walked into a tiny church on Wednesday night and there were the diggers! “Aren’t you Cindy?” they said when we sat down in the back? And they had worn their “tears-in-a bottle” earrings (Month 8-Practically Speaking!) ! I had to get a 
picture of these diggers! I love the sisterhood!
Then on Sunday, both morning and night, we were inland as we traveled home. Walking in on Sunday morning, where we thought we knew no one, we hugged old friends, some of whom are going to be with the grandkids at AP camp in a couple of weeks. We shared prayer requests and I gave away all of the frozen food that was left from our trip. Sunday night, we even went to Zaxby’s to eat with folks with whom we worshipped. 
God’s people are everywhere and they are amazing. I hope you are not passing up the wonderful fellowship opportunities that can come your way when you worship wherever you are! Most of all, I hope you are not passing up the blessing of worshipping the Father as you travel. It’s not hard to plan and find a group that’s faithfully assembling and giving him praise in song and sermon, observing the strengthening communion with Him, and bowing in prayer. I never know how much I need to worship until I have been with His people. I praise Him for the obvious beauty that emanates from that first creation week. But I praise Him, even more, for the eternal beauty that was at the ready when the garden was marred by sin, a short time later. Being in the family of the redeemed on earth is a taste of the heavenly glory to come!
He IS everywhere and we obviously praise Him in all places, every day. But there is nothing like gathering with His people and lifting our voices to Him as a family! I love the church!