We went to the beach on Monday in search of fireworks. I was hoping to see some stars to recreate a fond memory from one of our previous beach excursions. The beach this evening did not disappoint. As the sun finished setting, fireworks to the left and right of us were already sparkling the sky.

A younger version of our family just up the beach from us brought their own mini-fireworks and were attempting to light them as the wind fought the sparks. My eldest remembered to bring his camera this time and was taking photos of the sky, the beach stairs, the sand and other seemingly random items that caught his lens.

B eventually brought out our own sparklers and youngest immediately went to work experimenting ways to dance with, extinguish, and extend the lives of the sparklers. I watched this all happening as I patiently waited for the sky to get darker and hoped the clouds would part just enough to give me a peak into the star-filled night sky.

And then it happened. This first star showed itself. Then the second. Distracted by the increasing amount of fireworks I stopped looking up at the sky and instead looked up and down the beach for the light shows. Once the fireworks shows slowed down, even while my boys lit up every single stick of sparklers we had, I had a chance to move my gaze upwards again.

I didn’t bother trying to capture the night sky with my phone and instead tried to memorize my sight in my mind. It looked like just above us, the sky was clear and full of stars and jets criss-crossing through. If you looked up to right or left of us, the clouds covered the stars and crescent moon. It looked as if the clouds parted to give us this beautiful star show and I couldn’t help but think, thanks Dad.