Right now I’m sitting in the living room of a truly beautiful beach house amidst absolute chaos. It’s good chaos, though – kids laughing, dishes clanking, people trying to carry on conversations from opposite sides of the living room.
If I could only say one thing about my family it’s that these people live life with gusto. We laugh hard and loud. We are in a constant state of motion – playing and eating and talking. It is never quiet or dull or boring. We love life and we love each other. It is total chaos but it is beautiful and wonderful and truly a gift. It is impossible not to have fun with these people.
Oh, did I ever need a big dose of family right now.
I woke up this morning to this.
The view this morning from our beach house.
Rowenna was in one of her coy moods this morning. Sometimes when she lays down under a blanket and when you come in to see her she pulls the sheet up to her eyes and gives you these deliciously coy little smiles.
Rowenna Being Coy
We started the morning by all sitting down to watch a sign language video which resulted in Rowenna seeing the signs for grandma, grandpa, drink, and milk all day long. We hit the beach where sand castles were built, shells were scooped from the surf, and Rowenna took a nice long nap.
Rowenna Taking a Nap on the Beach
Back to this gusto thing. It’s 50 degrees outside. That would probably stop most people from being outside at all. Being from Wisconsin, this is practically a heat wave and cause to break out flip flops and shorts. My family frolicked up and down the beach all day with nary a care for the cold. 50 little degrees will not stop us from our fun.
I spent the day soaking it all in and taking some Kelle Hampton-inspired pictures of it all. Truly, nothing feels better than sun-warmed sand between your toes.
Ah...sun-kissed sand!
My battery’s been running on low for a while. The days have been short, dark, and cold. This translocation thing had me reeling. I haven’t had a lot of opportunities for fun lately. I really needed an opportunity to kick back in the warm and the sun and revel in the love of my family. I needed to be surrounded by people who live life fully and joyfully.
And so here we are, sitting in this living room, all 12 of us trying to play a game together and being mostly successful amongst the giggles and shouts. Rowenna is going from lap to lap and soaking up love. She’s all smiles and snuggles today and I know she can feel, even in her baby heart, that what is happening here is real and good. It’s a group of people who love each other fiercely and unconditionally.
I can already feel my battery is recharged, and I have days to go here. Life is good.
Tonight's Sunset
2 Responses to My Family