Mom's Day May 2018

 I awoke one morning, very early before the sun came up, and the clearest thought came to mind "embrace where you live." It was the first part of May, we'd been in the routine of school, end of year testing, and all kinds of projects. We'd been strengthening friendships in our community, and the kiddos were enjoying their activities. I was about to start up on the bedroom reorganization/painting projects. In many ways, we were embracing where we lived, but I knew what that thought meant - it meant get out and embrace the nature of where we live.

My first thought went to the beach! But a combination of commitments and people needing to be different places, I realized fulfilling that trip to the beach wasn't going to be as easy as I'd initially hoped.

So I created a solution.

We had our first (of what I hope will become an annual tradition) of "Mom's Day." The kiddos woke up one Friday morning, ready to get going with the routine of the day only to discover that they were all going to spend the day with me...at the beach! It was so fun to surprise them in a small way! Mike was traveling at the time, but as he'd helped me plan the day, made sure to leave them a sweet Marco Polo that they'd hear from him telling them to have an awesome time and enjoy their day. I'm so grateful for his support and true partnership in ALL things - even if he's not physically there for it!

The weather, sand, sun, water was AUH-mazing. A little dreamy and completely magical. I truly believe moments in nature - are gifts that breath peace into our hearts, light into our minds and connects to the very fiber of our souls.

The recharge was spontaneous. Fun. Simple. The only money we spent was on parking, and as we drove home, it aligned with Mike coming back into town so we all met up together for an ice cream cone.

It was a beautiful day.

A few takeaways from this experience I want to remember:

1. Sometimes it is so much easier to sit in a problem. Or think there isn't a way to make things work. But that noise in our minds is full of distraction. Pulling us away from what matters most. I believe these moments of clarity come as a way to empower us to create something beautiful, no matter the chapter of life we are in.

2. Use the time we have deliberately. Peak family moments don't just "happen."

3. Flow. All adventures have highs and lows. Someone couldn't find their swimsuit. Everyone ate way more than I expected at the beach and were all hungry. And someone didn't want to share her sand toys. But I truly believe that is the magic in the adventure. Problem solving (wearing a different swimsuit), being flexible (hungry tummies and stopping on the way home for ice cream), and letting people have their space and time (and looking for seashells until she was ready to share), are essential parts of what made the adventure so magical. And then riding those waves of joyful giggles, smiles and moments of peace together. FLOW with it! We could look back on it knowing we'd weathered the whole road together and came out of it a little more connected, happy, tired, and well, sandy. Lots of sand.