mama's day

I just had a wonderful lunch with my Grandma, and my cousins, Heather and Hillary and newest wee one, Asher. It was just lovely and reminded me how much my family means to me and how desperately I need to spend more time with them. My Grandma, bless her heart, has been the one person in my life that has consistently never given up on me, never stopped calling, always has an open ear, and is can cheer me up no matter what. I am sure that my brother and cousins can agree, she has done so much to make sure that we all keep in touch. She has done great things to keep us all close as we can be. For years she took care of us, summers would go by and we would spend days with her and our cousins. Heather and I can't help but giggle at the stories of our childhood and they are usually all set at Grandma's. We are so fortunate to have been raised by family and not in a random day care. No that Heather has a new one, I am sure that she the same strong influence of family around. Now I get to be a part of raising her little one, and we get to now be the ones to take care of Grandma (****A huge amount of love goes to Hillary for stepping up and showing so much compassion****)

For Mother's Day last weekend I went to my parent's new house and spent the night. What a treat! I could imagine that there is something restorative about waking up on the ocean everyday.

Walking on the beach every morning.....

I think that they are fairing just fine....

What we work for

Everyone has a reason why they get up and go to work almost everyday. What is it that has most of us on such a ball and chain that we spend a considerable amount of our life with people often other than our close loved ones and twiddle away the hours working. It is what it is. Most of us are in a situation that we must work full time jobs. What is the pay off? Will there ever be a light at the end of the tunnel? These are serious questions that we must ask ourselves before giving up all of our precious time in a job.

I think that my parents have found the light at the end of their tunnel. All their penny pinching has paid off. The years of hard work, my mom's endless scheming has came to fruition (well, technically in a matter of days, once all the paperwork is free and clear). I can see the happiness in her eyes, in her step and the way in which she carries herself. She did it, she found something that meant enough to her that she was willing to work to have this house on the beach. It brings me some ease to hear this come from her or anyone for that matter. To find something that you love enough to go ahead and sacrifice in order to obtain it.

It goes through my mind constantly, what are we doing this for? Why aren't we out there climbing, eating pb&j, living the life. Right now, we have a fleet of bikes, eat out, have a house and life is comfortable. This is working for.