May 26th we had the good fortune to board a plane
headed for St. Petersburg, Florida.
What lay ahead of us was a week of simply being together, at
a beach condo. An entire week, with nowhere
to go, other than where we are.
It sounded too good to be true, and indeed it was.
We arrived and within a short period of time we were on the
beach, free to roam, free to play, free – together. Living present to the wonder that is life.
We played in the sand, sea, pool, and anywhere else we
could. We did this at each available
moment. Quite frankly it was better than
I could have ever imagined.
63 steps from the door to the sand. 63 steps.
That is from threshold to breathless.
Breathless views, breath taking beauty, breath giving peace.
Being able to watch our children play unrestricted in nature
was a sight to behold. And maybe more
importantly an experience to experience.
Giving the gift of unrestricted time to each other, is truly
the greatest gift we can give.
Nothing else compares.
The trip also provided an opportunity to spend time with our
children and really experience the transformation they are each undergoing. Sometimes the only way to see everything is
to step back, loosen your grip, and see how everything unfolds. For me this time provided just such an
opportunity.
Oscar – with as much energy as a body can hold continues to
attack life. Passionately seeking,
barely resting. I am not sure how he
does it. His focus is intense. I often joke that he has the same intensity
that I have, the kind that got Dallas to marry me. Relentlessly pursuing. One of the things that I marvel at is just
how naturally Oscar has taken to speaking Spanish. He is willing to bust it out anytime. As we got into our rental car the station was
tuned to a station playing Bachata and nobody in the car missed a beat. In fact when I changed the channel later in
our journey Oscar asked why we were listening to English…. Amazing.
Vivian – our passionate feeler. She continues to experience life in her
feelings and emotions. Marveling at the
beauty that often goes unnoticed. Willing
to spend hours at the beach feeling the waves or searching for shells. She is the perfect companion on any journey. She is nurturing and caring in a way that
teaches me how to be more attentive.
Simple pleasures like swimming in the pool or enjoying a popsicle take
on a whole new meaning with her. Quite
simply she is so naturally beautiful that it is just a marvel.
Abram – words don’t really due justice to Abram. He is just a beast. Always willing, he squeezes the most from
every experience. He can be the sweetest
boy, he can be the toughest fighter. I
really can’t believe that he is only 2.
It just doesn’t seem right. He
has his own rhythm and can’t be deterred.
Whether it is 3 hour naps or walking off in his own solitude. He has a big laugh, a big smile, a big bite,
and a big right hook. It is great seeing
him really come into his own. One part
best friend, one part mommy’s little man.
All parts beautiful.
Cleo – our little mover and shaker when she isn’t in
arms. Cleo enjoys a special closeness
with Dallas that is both beautiful and a lot of work. She is beautifully quiet, graceful in her
smile, with an ease that flows from her.
Cleo is beginning to explore the world around her, discovering for
herself. She is 8 months old, it seems
as though our little baby is becoming a little girl. Something I’m not sure we’re ready for.
In her becoming it is clear that for now she may prefer to be in arms,
but soon she will be chasing the feet of her older brothers and sister.
As for Dallas. It is
always an amazing experience for me to be able to see Dallas in her
element. Capturing new horizons,
exploring, discovering, opening her heart to all that is around her. She is a marvel, and her light guides
me. She is most at home in tropical climates
and this time was no different. Hers is
an easy grace and poise that causes me to laugh and ask how in the hell I got
so lucky. Sunrise beach exploring with
me was replaced with sunrise beach exploring with our children and I tell you,
it stirs my heart, the gifts she gives to all of us. From learning how to prepare and cook fresh
seafood to wondering why we thought Disney World was a good idea, Dallas my
love you are the greatest companion and the greatest life partner I could have
ever dreamed of.
For me – I think the only thing I can say is that I am
learning that the present moment, that is the meaning of everything. The rest, well I think this song captures it:
Or, maybe this:
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