Comfort Make a wish seashells

“Every beautiful shell from the sea is a treasured gift” – I’ve said that countless times after admiring the amazing architecture, color and patterns of shells and bling that have washed up at my feet while taking a walk on the beach. I feel like I receive another wonderful gift when I meet folks who appreciate those same awesome gifts from the great Mother Nature.

dennis and jesse collecting seashells
Sophie's Make a Wish on Sanibel

Nicole, Dennis, Jesse and Sophie from Oregon gave me that gift last week… which was being able to hang out with this is one awesome family!

The moment 5 year old Sophie’s feet hit the sand, she barely had time to look up as she picked up one fascinating shell after another.

nicole and sophie on the beach shelling

She already knew lots of the shell names too since she and her family had been studying up on the types of shells they might find on this very special Make-A-Wish trip to Sanibel.

seashells in a pink bag

The whole family told me they loved seeing all of the live creatures on or around the island… like DOLPHINS, MANATEES, TURTLES and the BIRDS but I think Jesse especially liked the ALLIGATORS (Ack! haha) in Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge and little critters like this HAIRY CRAB on the beach (maybe its a Pilumnus sayi ?) . I’ve seen lots of these little hairy guys in the SPONGES lately.

Sanibel Florida hairy crab

Jesse pulled these shells and beach bling aside to show me that his favorite finds from the beach were the smallest of treasures. Dont you just love that his faves are the tiniest ones?

jesse's favorite shells while visiting sw florida

Nicole and Sophie picked out a few of their favorite beach treasures … trying to just pick the best of each species (from a massive pile of shells they collected- haha). It wasn’t easy for them to pick just a few!

angel wing butterfly

As I oohed and aaahed over Dennis’s SCOTCH BONNET, ALPHABET CONE and GAUDY NATICA, Nicole told me that picking out a few shells and arranging them makes each one just a special as the moment you found them. I couldn’t agree more. Together we made a masterpiece (with an ANGEL WING butterfly Nicole arranged with WORM SHELL antennas- heehee) using their favorite shells and beach bling collected on their trip.

Comfort Make a wish seashells

These are special peeps whom I will have special memories with for a very long time.

Nicole Jesse Dennis and Sophie on the beach

Last week was a little chilly but they didn’t mind a bit- They are so stinkin silly and fun!

Pam with Sophie's family

I hope they look back on their Sanibel trip as Spectacsheller!

dennis and sophie on shelling cruise

I know I will… as I feel like I’ve been touched by an ANGEL.

angel wing in the sand

A big THANK YOU to Make-A-Wish for making it possible for Sophie and her family to come to Sanibel, Florida.

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