West Coast Again!

Well, my East Coast /West Coast life continues!

             
Thinking I was going to spend the winter months in North Carolina, I had already      accepted that I would not get to see the Pacific Ocean for a while.
                     But here I am. Wading in the surf wearing a sundress in December.

On the way, we stopped at Lake Havasu City, AZ in the desert to see the reconstructed bridge that used to be in London, relocated piece by piece and now standing in the middle of a desert.

I was thinking about the history of that bridge, the song I used to sing as a child while jumping rope, ("London bridge is falling down, my fair lady.."), and how strange that an American oil tycoon would buy a bridge that once spanned the  River Thames in England. So he could put it in a desert!

       Moonlight Beach
-sunshine, warm, salty air, gull and pelican sounds breaking silence, children squealing when feet touch the chilly water, food cooking scenting the air, waves crashing
-sleep on a sandy blanket.

Sadness on sadness

This is a very sad weekend for many families in Connecticut.
And for anyone who works with, loves, and has children.
How do you even begin the fathoming required to imagine such a tragic loss of life?
As a teacher of young children, I have been overwhelmed all weekend.
An ordinary day begun like so many others.
And then in an instant, everything changed.
Forever.
Caretakers and teachers are responsible for children.
Irreplaceable. Innocent. Children.
I have no answers for why this happened.
I have a greater understanding only that every moment
I have working, teaching, playing, and learning from children
is priceless.

December

“How did it get so late so soon? Its night before its afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?”
-Dr. Seuss

December is here and some days have a certain shade of blue to them. In the sky as well as within me. Time is a gazelle, swift and graceful. I reflect and wait. I will be heading back to the west coast for a few months, and the California sky will have its own shade of blue, not so wintry and friendlier.

This trip back will be different than years past. I am answering a call for help, so I will do my best to not to be easily distracted from the task at hand. It is an honor to be in a position of giving comfort-and humbles me.

Feeling a bit ill-equipped, but determined to give the best possible help, I know that I can't try to go in my own strength.  Psalm 18:32- "It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect." This, I can depend on as I head west. And so, in spite of my best efforts to settle down and find a more permanent home, I once again set out on my west coast-east coast journey.