The 5-point (meaning I pivoted 5 times to get the whole thing), 240 degree view from our back terrace this week. Sigh.
The rain last night was lovely, clearing the air, greening the hillside,
encouraging a warming fire in the fireplace.
This morning, all the clouds are piled up to the south,
slowly making their way to our real home,
and the homes of our children.
These shots taken on my afternoon circular walks around the driveway. Once, this was a grand central CA home. Now it is an amazing view with a very run-down house. It makes me sad to see homes neglected, but we are grateful for what there is in this spectacular vacation space, hanging over the bluffs with the hills just behind. And there's lots of room to spread out, which is a good thing with so.many.of.us.
We've been together since last Friday,
spread out in a large, hacienda-style rented home.
A place in need of some major TLC -
but with a killer view of the Pacific coast.
Birds flourish here.
And so do children.
The 2-year-old runs headlong down the hill toward the bluff, causing gasps on all sides.
But someone bigger is always nearby
to step between her and the abyss.
May it always be so!
Eastertide is a season for celebration and for gratitude,
for remembering who we are as the people of God.
And here, on this rugged shore,
with a 17-year-old asking good, hard questions,
two 13-year-0lds sharing a kayak adventure,
a 10-year-old giggling his way through a great game of ping-pong and two 6-year-olds alternately
adoring and infuriating one another,
we are celebrating.
And we are grateful.
Even the 21-year-old was here for the weekend,
before heading back to school and responsibilities,
four hours south of this gathering place.
Our adult children are good and interesting people.
Their spouses are kind and good-natured.
All of them are attentive parents and generous housemates.
We observed Easter at a church unknown to any of us and followed with a feast, just as the Christian church has done for centuries. We are also celebrating the 70th birthday of Poppy,
our loved and lovable patriarch, the acceptance into his 1st choice college for the 17-year-old and a good private high school scholarship for one of the 13-year-olds.
After so many years of struggle and loss,
it is good to gather in gratitude.
We even took a family photo ... the first ever ...
to round out the weekend just past.
The photographer is working on the touch-ups
and we will soon have a lasting memento of this time spent together,
possibly by week's end.
The hunters and the hiders - not sure who enjoys the Easter Egg Hunt the most.
Though she loves the idea of hunting and hiding, Lilly does not quite fully grasp the concept. Generally, if she hides, she guides the hunter until she's found. :>)
In the meantime,
we soak in the beauty around us,
explore the small towns that circle round the sea,
while some play tennis,
and others a little b-ball.
One daughter and her husband paid for two days of heating the pool on the property and about half the crowd
jumped in and enjoyed getting wet and tired.
We've had an egg hunt or two,
enjoyed delicious home-cooked meals,
even traveled to a local ice-cream maker's
"All You Can Eat" Tuesday celebration.
In a beat-up side room, there is a pool table and ping-pong,
and someone contributed a 2000 piece puzzle to pour over.
Settlers of Catan has made an appearance and Bananagrams, too,
so no one seems bored.
Many naps are taken in this house,
signaling the welcome arrival of true relaxation
and energizing Sabbath rest.
We all point and shout,
thanking God for sightings of otters,
sea lions, an occasional dolphin -
even a whale, far out in the bay.
Avila Beach, just north of where we are.
A creekside restaurant for lunch in San Luis Obispo
Through it all, we thank God for the richness of family life,
the push and pull of living in the same space,
sharing the work and the fun,
watching the children grow in wisdom and in stature.
Friday, we return to reality.
Or at least to our usual list of responsibilities and commitments.
Sometimes, though, I do believe that experiences like this week are the true reality,
life as it was originally designed to be lived.
Maybe everything else is mere illusion,
the structure that has been overlaid on human life
in the wake of Eden.
So, we'll take these windows of grace.
And we'll savor them, thank God for them,
take lots of pictures
and build reservoirs of stories to share
as the years progress.
And once in a while,
I'll write about it here.
Because I really do believe that
this is the truest part of me.
At least, until Friday.
I'll sign this one on with Michelle at "Graceful," Jen at "Finding Heaven," Ann at "A Holy Experience," Em at "Canvas Child," Laura at "The Wellspring," Laura at "Seedlings in Stone," and Jennifer at "Getting Down with Jesus." I encourage you all to check out these fine blogs - but I am having increasing difficulty getting buttons to show up in the new blogger format. If anyone has any shortcuts for this tedious job, I'd love to hear them.
I'll sign this one on with Michelle at "Graceful," Jen at "Finding Heaven," Ann at "A Holy Experience," Em at "Canvas Child," Laura at "The Wellspring," Laura at "Seedlings in Stone," and Jennifer at "Getting Down with Jesus." I encourage you all to check out these fine blogs - but I am having increasing difficulty getting buttons to show up in the new blogger format. If anyone has any shortcuts for this tedious job, I'd love to hear them.
