A moment

Tonight I laced up my running shoes and pounded my worries into the pavement for the first time in more months than I'd like to admit. It was one of those runs where the stars aligned just right. The air was the perfect temperature, not too hot, not too cold and my body did just what I wanted it to. It was the kind of run I hope for every time I head out but seldom achieve.

As I was running up the steep hill before our road, and admittedly feeling pretty impressed with myself, it suddenly hit me. This time last year I was just being transferred from the ICU down to the maternity ward. The ward where the mat. nurses watched me with nervous eyes, begging me to take it easy, just stay in bed for God's sake we'll bring you whatever you want. They were so unsettled by my experience that they refused to remove my last IV line until moments before I boarded the elevator to leave, unwilling to trust that the miracle would take, worried that I would suddenly collapse in front of them, that death would claim me after all. One year ago....

In the last year I have experienced joy and heartache. I have laughed and loved my family and I have visited the depths of grief. Some days I feel as though I am lost in the monotony of the daily existence. The endless demands of the kids, the same chores over and over. In that moment, while running I no longer felt lost, I felt alive! Like I was really living.

Exhilaration flooded as I pushed myself faster and then faster until I couldn't speed up any more. I felt my muscles burn, mylungs heave, and my heart soar.

I am alive. I just need to remember it more often.

and experience it he did

Spring weather on the west (wet) coast is really hit or miss. One moment it will be a beautiful sunny day and then before you know it, the wind picks up, dark clouds move in, and it rains torrentially for 3 days. So you've just got to make hay while the sun shines, or head to the beach when the sun shines in our case, which is just what we did.


It was warm and sunny and we had the whole expanse of sandy shore to ourselves. This is probably the first beach trip that Matthew has been old enough to really experience

We ran down the beach....

found beautiful shells.....

got our hands sandy...which is happiness in my book.

When Matthew started making his way to the surf I wasn't too worried about it. After all it may have been a warm spring day, but the ocean is April is frigid anyway you look at it. I thought he would just feel the water and head for a better, warmer playing ground.

Or not!

He crawled right into the water with a huge smile on his face. He splashed around, ate seaweed and sticks and generally enjoyed the large, albeit cool, bathtub until the rapidly incoming tide forced us to make a quick retreat up the beach.

I guess he just decided that he was ready for his salt water baptism.

Let it soak into your veins little guy, let it soak in. Once it does a part of your heart will be tied to it forever, wherever you go, you'll always be a coastal child.

Do you?

Do Lord, Oh, do Lord, do remember me.
Do Lord, Oh, do Lord, do remember me.
Do Lord, Oh, do Lord, do remember me,
Way beyond the Blue.

I've got a home in Glory Land that outshines the sun,
I've got a home in Glory Land that outshines the sun,
I've got a home in Glory Land that outshines the sun,
Way beyond the Blue.

Do Lord, Oh, do Lord, do remember me.
Do Lord, Oh, do Lord, do remember me.
Do Lord, Oh, do Lord, do remember me,
Way beyond the Blue.

I took Jesus as My Savior, you take Him too,
I took Jesus as My Savior, you take Him too,
I took Jesus as My Savior, you take Him too,
While He's still calling you.

Do Lord, Oh, do Lord, do remember me.
Do Lord, Oh, do Lord, do remember me.
Do Lord, Oh, do Lord, do remember me,
Way beyond the Blue.

Do Lord, Oh, do Lord, do remember me.
Do Lord, Oh, do Lord, do remember me.
Do Lord, Oh, do Lord, do remember me,
Way beyond the Blue.



Sometimes I wonder if he does....