'our' nights in rodanthe {celebrating 14 for our Darcy Q}

We had a full day of celebrating Darcy Q, starting at sunrise.

She was well rewarded for her sacrifice of sleep, the sky put on a dazzling display of color and we saw so many dolphins surfacing, jumping and even body surfing (yes, one caught a wave and rode it nearly to shore just like we do) that we stopped counting after 20.

our budding photographer could hardly be peeled away from my phone she was so busy snapping shots of the ever changing light and trying to catch a dolphin in the sun's reflection on the water

Satisfied that we had caught the full splendor of the morning, there were gifts to shake examine back inside.

A 'school-cation' birthday oceanfront means ample time for photo taking between live class meetings.  I kept catching her out on the deck with one of the phones, snapping pictures of the water.  One thing she had been looking forward to on our trip was the turquoisy, clear water we had enjoyed during our trip to Kill Devil Hills back in October.  When we got here Saturday we admired the view from our deck, but noticed the water was more the familiar greenish-brown we're used to on the Brunswick County Coast.  DQ looked at me and disappointedly said, "the water is like we're used to at Sunset and Holden."  While breathtaking to be right on the water, I had to admit I was bummed about it too.  

And then today, her birthday, seemingly magically, the water was exactly that beautiful hue we remembered from October.  Her middle name in Mandarin roughly translates to "clear, still waters."  The ocean of course couldn't be tamed to be still, but today it has been clear!  What a sweet "God kiss" for my beautiful birthday girl!

It also mans that once live classes are done for the day, (our middle school schedule is the most flexible, live meets until noon and then the rest of the day free to complete assignments) there's plenty of time to search the sand for your heart's desire...a shark's tooth.  

She was out several times,

using several techniques,

sometimes by herself and sometimes with a partner.

I'm pretty sure she put a total of about two hours into the search, but eventually persistence paid off.  Another example of God filling in the details and desires of her heart that were out of my control!

even the tiny ones count!

Her birthday also marks a unique day for our family...'Triplet Day!'  We had to give name to the one day a year that our oldest two sets of "Irish twins" merge into triplets.  2021 marked the year I had three fourteen year olds for one day.  Since 2011, when they were four, tradition has been to a photo shoot of the three of them together on March 9.  

dq has a great relationship with all her siblings, but there's something especially fun about these three together!

As our beachy afternoon came to a close, it was time to get down to the business of the birthday.  

Her requested menu (instead of going out to eat ~ thankfully because not much is open on Hatteras Island in the off season) was garlic cilantro shrimp with roasted potatoes and a triple layer vanilla cake with buttercream frosting and macaroons.  

And while I was meticulous in prepping birthday cake ingredients from home (who wants to bring an entire bag of sugar or flour?) and even brought cake pans and my hand mixer to be sure I could pull off the cakes, it's possible that the cilantro for the shrimp *may* have gotten left at home causing a 36 mile round trip for a 99 cent package of cilantro.  What we do for our kids...

Four pounds of shrimp, three pounds of roasted potatoes and a quart of green beans later, it was long awaited presents time.  

Our little bookworm had requested several books and book sets for this year...some of which were given by extended family.  So it was time to get creative in addition to her Caravel book set.  Staying with a reading/book theme seemed to be a safe route.

She may be reading other fantasy series these days, but the Wizarding World of Harry Potter was her first fantasy love and Hermione Granger will always have a special place in her heart.  And if you have a Hermione quote about the library on a t-shirt...well that seems to be perfect in the mind of a teenage girl who loves books.

And for a girl who would often rather read than anything...and I do mean anything...else, a new chair  seemed like a good idea.  Judging by her reaction it was a good gamble.  I'm sure we'll find her positioned all through the house with a book in hand.

Dinner and gifts finished, it was time to sing to our girl and enjoy that cake.  

Another forgotten item was discovered at this time...a lighter.  We searched every cabinet and drawer in the house and ended up touching a paper napkin to the oven heating element to light the first candle...

Darcy, at 14 you are a ray of light.  I admire your strong sense of gratitude and your ability to keep your cool in all situations (even if I occasionally catch an eye roll that would have rivaled mine at 14).  While hugs aren't exactly your preferred love language, I deeply appreciate that you recognize they are mine and you'll tolerate hugs each morning and night...and sometimes in between.  Your quiet sense of kindness and compassion speaks so much louder than any words could.  It's so fun to watch you explore your creative interests including photography and design.  I pray you realize just how much you are loved!

[Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves]  ~ James Matthew Barrie