fam

This is from a year ago. I love these monkeys so much. Sky is now off to college and we miss her.

a little trip

We took the kids away for a few days over their spring break.  It was really relaxing.  We stayed in a B&B in a small town outside of a big city.  We made the venture to the big city for dinner and to visit a college.  Other than that we were happy to explore the town with its beaches, shops and hikes.

This year since school started I have taken four trips.  This was the last one.  It really made a difference to leave home that many times.  It feels like the year flew by and we are already gearing up for our summer travels.  

it's unbelievable to me

How blessed I am to have the friends I have.  It was wonderful to have two of them visit recently from the east coast.  To share meals, relax on the beach, play music together.  There is a magic that happens when good friends stay with us. We tap into a different rhythm.  We do and see things that we don't normally do, in showing people the magical place that we live.

With these guys, we slowed down.

And it was great.      

for da boys

Yes, those are seven photos of me.  Can we say narcissistic??

But wait -- my good friends came to visit from the east coast.  They are athletes -- they love bicycling, yoga, running, and surfing.  They are always getting me out of the house to do something physical!  

And so, with some encouragement, I took my first surf lesson.

It was so much fun, and I caught some decent waves!

The surf company charged me the discounted local price, which I wasn't expecting, so I splurged on the photos and supported a local photographer.  I picked my favorites.  It always make me feel good to support local business and artists.

And it is great to try new things.

wake

Best. song. ever.  Makes me cry every time I hear it.  Click here.
Free downloads here or here.

Wake

We walked to the top of the wave                            
Touched the peak of the sunrise all ablaze
Crazy blue floating down as we feel                     
The time like a pulse til we know it’s real
               
Our colors shine
Good morning stranger                                         
Time to wake 

We walk through the streets of our town
Lights blurred and frozen from drops of rain
Somehow the moon still appears  
Through the clouds and the wind and the winter years

Time falls like snow
Good morning coldness
Time to wake 
  
We sit at the top of the stairs
Looking out to the life that we tried to share
And your eyes seem to swirl like the day
That we met and you walked me into the waves

Good morning night
World starts to fade now
Time to wake 

written by Gary Marks © 2012 Marksland Entertainment

the bostick boys visit

Some old friends visited for a few days.  Although they stayed in a nearby hotel we fit in many hours of fun together including lots of beach time and boogie boarding, hanging in the pool and hot tub, meals in, meals out, storytelling, music played (by all five kids - it was very cool to see other kids who write songs!) and lots of laughter.

hello new year!

I think it's going to be a good one.

corner view~energy

Where do you get your energy from? 

most days

After I rush around in the morning and get the kids off to school, I drive a few minutes to our local beach for my morning walk.  I usually bring my cell phone to make calls or listen to music, or inspirational talks.  Sometimes I just walk in silence and listen to the waves as they crash against my feet.  Some days the ocean is loud, and the wind is strong and the person on the other end of the phone call can't hear me well.

Sometimes my husband joins me, or one of the girls if they have a day off.

I walk and walk and walk until it's too hot to walk anymore.

Then I jump into the cool, crisp sea.  I tread water and stretch my back, and do a few back floats and a handstand or two, happy to have a healthy body that can do these things.  I don't swim too far out.  I think a little bit about sharks and stay close to shore.  I stay in the water longer when I am with Skylar.  She never wants to get out.  But eventually either way, I get out of the water.

Then I gather my belongings and walk a short path to a public shower.  I rinse the sand from my feet, keeping my sandals on.

And then I drive home, and begin my work day.