She walked on the beach – with NO braces!

Yesterday, our family enjoyed our first day of swimming at the beach this summer season. After living in the Midwest the last three summers, the Delaware beaches are a welcome part of returning to the area close to our families.
My husband's sister Leona and her family just got a beach tag for surf fishing, so we joined them and threw our beach supplies in the back of their truck and hopped on the tailgate to ride across the sand down to the water at Cape Henlopen State Park. Hurray for the easiest way to get to the beach with two little ones, a cooler, and bags of towels, snacks and beach toys!
This was a fun day of firsts for us. At 19 months old, it was Johanna's first time standing on the shore and feeling the water of crashing wave run over her toes. She giggled as the water receded and her feet sunk deeper in the sand. What a joy to watch such a young one run around with delight along the water's edge. Thankfully, she wasn't too adventurous and trying to go in deeper on her own.

Johanna enjoys the feel of the sand in her toes for the first time. What a cutie!


The other great first was that Adria actually walked through the sand without her leg braces (a.k.a. DAFOs)! This is really quite a miraculous activity for her. For her to demonstrate the leg strength and balance necessary to take steps on uneven sand is impressive. And to be honest, when I learned of her spina bifida diagnosis years ago, I did not think this would even be possible. Praise God for His touch on her young life and answered prayers!
She held my hand as she took her first steps wearing just her swim shoes. But, soon she let go and was ready to walk toward the water on her own. Though she was unstable and fell a few times, it didn't upset her and she managed to get up and walk to where she wanted to go.
That said, Adria did not appreciate the Atlantic Ocean like her little sister and screamed when I tried to put her in. Playing in the sand is more her thing for now.

Everyday miracles! Adria taking her first steps on sand without any assistance.

It was last autumn when Adria first started taking a step or two around our home without her braces. We loved it, but because her ankles are so weak, we feared encouraging it and possibly causing damage or too many falls. However, after we met with the orthopedic doctor, he assured us that it was good for her to walk around the home barefoot. Amazing!
What's really interesting is that Adria and Johanna started walking unassisted around the same time. Adria started taking steps with no braces soon after her 4^th birthday in September and Johanna took her first steps about a month before her first birthday in December.
How exciting to experience these major milestones for our two daughters around the same time! And here they are again sharing a similar first. Walking barefoot on the sand for the first time together. It's a beautiful thing to see.

Daddy and Johanna loving the ocean.