I never expected this :)

Last week, I spent a few days in 30A on Florida's Emerald Coast, and I can't wait to tell you about it.

Jon, my sweet guy, and I stayed in Inlet Beach, right next to Rosemary Beach, and from the minute we got there, we hit the ground running.

We grabbed a bite to eat in Rosemary, did a little shopping, wandered through the streets, and even made our way to the beach... but never actually walked down to the water.

That evening we had dinner at George's in Alys Beach, and let me tell you... our palates lit up. Every bite was incredible, and we just kept looking at each other saying, "This is so good." It was one of those meals you wanted to slow down and savor.

After dinner Thursday night, Jon asked if I wanted to go walk on the beach.

I smiled and said, "I think I'm going to pass tonight."

We'd been traveling all day, walked a ton, and I was simply worn out. A cozy night at the beach house sounded pretty perfect.

The next morning started with breakfast at The Pearl. I ordered my favorite salmon breakfast, and it was every bit as good as I remembered.

The rest of the day was more shopping, walking, lunch at Gallion's (one of the cutest little restaurants that felt like Southern charm mixed with a little West Indies), and, of course, ice cream in Seaside.

We packed a whole lot of living into just a couple of days.

We had booked this trip months ago, and I had been looking forward to it the whole time.

Then, a couple of days before we left, something shifted.

I was still excited... but I also felt anxious. It was the strangest feeling because nothing was wrong. I couldn't put my finger on it.

I got a little quieter than normal, and after sitting with it for a bit, it finally hit me.

It had been five years since I'd been back to 30A.

The last time I was there, it was with my late husband, Jacques.

I think my heart remembered before my mind did.

So before we left, I prayed.

I asked God, "If there's anything I'm still carrying... anything You want to heal... would You meet me there?"

When I tell you... He showed up in a big way. 

I wasn't comparing this trip to the last one, and I wasn't replaying old memories. I also wasn't trying to erase anything to get through it. I felt complete peace and joy. 

Every now and then I'd think, "Oh, I remember this place or when we came here." And then the moment would simply pass.

It wasn't heavy, it wasn't emotional - it was just part of my story.

The rest of my attention was on the man standing beside me.

We laughed our way through little shops, enjoyed some incredible meals, took in the beauty around us, and simply enjoyed being together.

Jon embraced every bit of it without even realizing what a gift he was giving me. He wasn't trying to fix anything or protect me from my past. He didn't need to. He was fully grounded in who he is... fun, gentle, present, and enjoying every moment. Looking back, his grounded presence made it easy for me to relax, stay present, and soak in every bit of the weekend. 

And somewhere early in the trip, I realized I wasn't carrying what I thought I might still be carrying.

That's when it hit me.

The prayer I'd prayed before we ever left home, got answered.

As if that wasn't enough...

One of the sweetest surprises was learning that while 30A had once been part of my story, it had also been part of Jon's.

Jon, an Ohio boy, spent his summers there as a child and young teen, visiting his grandfather, who lived there long before 30A became what it is today. I still can't get over that.

By the end of the trip, 30A no longer felt like a place tied to my past. It had become part of our story, too. 

Then Friday night arrived... and let's just say, life had one more surprise waiting for me.

Around 9:30 pm, Jon suggested we take a beach walk. We wanted to squeeze every last minute out of the day before they locked the beach entrance.

Now, to be real... this girl was thinking, It sure would be nice to just stay here and relax. It had been a full day, and the walk to the beach wasn't exactly right outside our door.

But something in me said, "Come on... let's go."

So I slipped my shoes on... and off we went.

Now here's the funny part...

If you know me, you know I catch everything.

It is hard to surprise me.

But somehow... this man pulled it off.  :)

It was one of those dark beach nights where the moon gave us just enough light to see the waves, and Jon was using his phone as a flashlight while we walked.

Then he bent down.

I honestly thought he had spotted a seashell and was handing it to me.

Yep. I really thought that.

So I reached down to grab it and brush the sand off...

...and let's just say it definitely didn't feel like a seashell. 

I looked up...

...and there he was.

Down on one knee.

I was completely shocked. I never saw it coming.

It was one of the sweetest moments of my life.

My heart is so full...so grateful. 

God is still writing beautiful stories.

Jon and I have both been widowed. Neither of us could've imagined this chapter years ago, yet here we are.

Life has a way of surprising us.

And when we keep our hearts open, God has a way of reminding us that beautiful beginnings can come after unexpected endings.

I didn't come home with a seashell.

I came home with a fiancé, a heart full of gratitude, and so much excitement for the future we're building together.

If you're in a season where you're wondering what God has next for you, don't lose hope.

Your story isn't finished yet.

Sometimes the chapters we never would've written ourselves become the ones we're most grateful to be living.