a coffee ramble... and remembering

The day comes to a close, and I remember that I forgot to write. I also forgot to clean up dinner. And check in with the Hello Morning Girls (again.) And lying in bed, I realize that I never said goodnight to my used-to-be-early-bird-daughter, who now is staying up quite late. Lately, life seems to be a bunch of not-enough-time-or-energy... but when I do remember, I realize that getting back into the swing of school is hard for me (which is kind of lame, because I am not the one with the homework!)  And so I forgive myself, and go on... and try to do better. 

Yesterday, along with the world, I did some remembering. I did not watch a single documentary, or even watch those towers crumble over and over again.  I feel no need, as it is etched on my heart.  I did ask Camden if he remembered it happening. Yes, but not where I was and I kind of giggled... because he was so small, just in preschool. But even so, he was not spared he trauma... because September 12th brought the 11th to reality for our family as my two sweeties watched their Daddy pack up his Coast Guard gear and head off into the unknown. It was the beginning of a different life. One where our roof only covered three, and we had to count on our prayers to cover Eric. It was a life of doing something instead of wishing we could help.  All of our wishing was saved for a speedy homecoming. And when it was all done and four years of deployments were behind us, it became a life of deeper thankfulness. Not a week goes by that we don't recall what it was to be apart. Still.

Today the sky is blue, the sun shines golden through the trees, and the day is new. A fresh start. A chance to tackle the to-do list with energy.  A day to give thanks.

if we were in the olympics...

For the past few years, Fridays have been all about sandwiches. Almost one hundred of them. I had a good system though, and in a hour, I'd have them wrapped and ready to serve. To the band, before the game. The last two years I had help... and who knows how many minutes we cut off, because we were too busy laughing to figure it out. It was good... and it hardly felt like "work" when I was racing against time with a friend.

This year... we were still willing, but another plan was put into play and now, our Fridays are free. Free! until game time when we cheer on our kids, and 250+ others. Last Friday, we played...

It is so still out there and quiet...unless we were laughing. Which was... almost always. We tossed her waterproof camera back & forth, we admired tiny jelly fish, and we raced as if we were in the Olympics. Well... only for a quick bursts of seconds at a time. And {ahem!} only if she was ahead.  The truth is, we'd probably only medal if laughing was an Olympic sport.

I hope, beyond hope, that you have at least one friend who can make you laugh {and laugh, and laugh, and laugh.}

in the details

I open my computer, and this image greets me. I can't quite get enough of it.

It makes me remember... sandy feet and sunrises, the rolling ocean and still tide pools, an overwhelming gift and the way He can break us and somehow leave us more beautiful in the process.

Beyond the memories though, I marvel at the detailed pattern He crafted on this gift from the sea.  I am sure I always pictured sand dollars a smooth white circle with a flower and those deep oval piercings... but now I see.

I see... and know... another facet of how He loves me.  I see the care He takes in putting us together, bit by beautiful bit. All shapes and sizes...

then sings my soul

We headed to the beach Sunday night. An end of the work-weekend celebration, a time to chance to visit with friends, and a chance to seek beauty and refresh my soul.  For a reason unclear, I feel like this soul needs more than its share of refreshing. We packed the cooler, threw in the chairs, and off we went... deciding on a different beach instead of my beloved lot #3.  But with the promise of a sweet treat afterwards, no one minded.

With the sun already on its descent, the golden light played across our faces... and the desire to soak it all up is almost overwhelming. I know that I come for that as much as I do for sunset color. The boys hit the water for frisbee while the girls looked on, sat and read, snapped photos, and breathed in the salty air. Before I could even snap all the playing silhouettes, they were ending the game and coming towards me. Slapping their legs, screeching just a little... and miserable. A man walked by nodding I guess the baby jellyfish got them. We looked around and saw that no one else was in the water. No. One.

Once dinner was out of the coolers, the ice packs took on a second shift in first aid while me munched, passed the chips and visited. The sun was sinking, still... calling me to the edge. And I couldn't even convince Eric to walk down the shoreline... the mysterious stings adding another reason why the beach is not his favorite place. But me... I can never resist.

Gold light lays across the ocean. A path right to the sun. It teases just a little when the pink gold reaches to the sand, a stepping stone on solid ground. Oh please, come just a little closer?  But my feet sink into the sand, anchoring me, keeping me in the real. 

And once again, His beautiful evening art sings to my soul.