I slip my toes into water and sand along the shoreline. Above me a moon spreads light like frosting on the water. Behind me the chatter of late night conversation spills out.

I’m in Hilton Head, South Carolina with many of the (in)courage writers.

It’s our last night here and we’re already feeling the tug toward home. But for now we’re having a dessert picnic on the beach, passing around plates of brownies, chocolate cake, slivers of pie.

We’ve stayed in two beautiful houses, the kind where you can put your sandy, dirty feet on the coffee table anyway. We’ve dreamed and planned for this next year with our (in)courage community. We’ve ridden bikes down the beach, carrying sea shells home in our baskets. We’ve eaten wonderful meals that made us lean back in our chairs with happy sighs. And we’ve launched long-anticipated surprises.

Through it all, we felt you with us.

Last year and this one too, I had a moment when I walked across the little pathway to our beach, over a sand dune, and happy tears slipped out of my eyes as a I caught a glimpse of these women because it felt so much like a glimpse of heaven. And so much like what happens here on these pages.

It’s been two years since we flung open the doors of this online beach house, handed you a key, and welcomed you inside. Two years of sharing our lives, laughter, even tears. Two years of God’s goodness and faithfulness. Two years of dreaming together.

And the best is yet to be.

As I stare out over the ocean with my (in)courage sisters around me, I know with all my heart this is true.

I turn and begin to reach down to gather plates from upheld hands.

I smile at bits of frosting, crumbs of chocolate, the last traces of whipped cream.

I think of the supper the disciples shared with Jesus and I smile.

Because this is what I pray every day–that there will be words that feed all of the hungry hearts who come. And when I pray, it’s not just for bread. Not just for manna. Oh, no, my friends. I ask for words that are like cupcakes, like the most delicious piece of chocolate cake you’ve ever eaten, like the most wonderful thing you can imagine.

Abundant life.

That’s what we’re promised.

And that’s so much of the reason we’re here in this place together.

Because all of life, every last bite, is so much sweeter when savored together.

Thank you for being here. Thank you for the comments you leave. Thank you for the joy of sharing this journey with you.

I walk into the beach house with a smile on my face, empty plates in my hands and a heart that’s full…so very full.

–Holley Gerth

{with thanks to Dawn Camp and Emily Freeman for the amazing photos}

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* Would you like to plan a trip to Hilton Head? Connect with our sponsors and friends below!

Hilton Head Island Visitor & Convention Bureau

Sponsor Host

http://www.hiltonheadisland.org/

FB: Visit Hilton Head

Twitter: @hiltonheadsc

Beach house provided complimentary by:

Resort Rentals Hilton Head Island

http://www.hhivacations.com/

FB: Resort Rentals of Hilton Head Island

Twitter: @RRofHiltonHead

Bike rentals provided complimentary by:

Low Sea Bike, Beach and baby Rental, Inc.

http://hiltonheadbikerental.com/

FB: LowSea Rentals

Wednesday Evening Catering Reception, sponsored by HHI VCB:

One Hot Mama’s with Food Network Finalist, Orchid Paulmeier

http://onehotmamas.com/

FB: one hot mama’s

Dinner at Food Network, Robert Irvine’s, eat!

http://www.eathhi.com/

FB: /Robert Irvine’s Eat

Twitter: @RobertIrvineEat

Breakfast on Thursday Morning:

Signe’s Heaven Bound Bakery & Café

http://www.signesbakery.com/

Twitter: @SignesBakery

FB: Signe’s Bakery and Cafe

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