My children are a feeling bunch. Tender, expressive hearts beat in each of their chests. Putting them to bed tonight, I listened as each expressed that sweet sadness that comes the night before you have to go home. I told them I felt it too. 

Tomorrow we head back to Raleigh, leaving behind Ocean Isle Beach, but carrying with us sweet memories of our time here. There was hardcore playing with cousins, and pier fishing, and pool games, and boogie boarding, and wave jumping, and hide and seek with the Pearson boys, and chasing our puppy in the sand, and trips to Sunset Slush. It was glorious. 

So those tears I saw streaming down Jack’s face tonight? They were a gift to me. 

They were good tears.

 Those wet eyes told me that despite our vacation having a very different feel this summer – Mommy wasn’t here half the time, nor had the ability to play on the beach when she was – my children had a great time. 

Boy. I’m getting choked up as I write this. 

He tried, but the thief didn’t rob us this go around. 

Take that, cancer.