Vacation is a state of mind.

Come listen to the morning song of the island. Where the blue and green water is like an emerald of the sea. The sand is soft and light, welcoming all to walk its shore. The sound of the waves comes crashing on one’s ears. Seagulls with their playful laugh, dance and call to each other in search of an easy meal. The sun, in its purposeful journey from the east to the west, highlights and beckons not too distant islands. Majestic ships quietly rest in the protection of the bay, content as they face into the winds of a new day. Wanderers, explorers, walkers, and lovers, ponder their thoughts in the serenity of the dawning day. All listen and then become part of the morning song of the island.

Our campsite was next to the beach and we spent splendid time on the beach, in hammocks, snorkeling, kayaking, and even a bit of hiking. We saw glow bugs in the water, an iguana, mongoose, deer, wild donkeys, geckos, and a vast assortment of fish in their habitat along the coral reef.

We met some wonderful people: other couples who shared their experiences, young wanderers, and even a teacher that teaches on the island and sidelines as a cook in a Bed and Breakfast.

Appropriate for a 10-year anniversary, there were times of wonder and times of challenges. In addition to the awe of the islands, our adventure consisted of many of the unexpected: an airplane delay due to a ground crew drama; lugging too much stuff between airport, taxi, & ferry; one night of sickness, likely due to the food of the prior evening; unexpectedly long trails; rain showers; and the worst, clouds of mosquitoes. All this actually added to the adventure, gave us great stories to tell, and could not come close to spoiling the time of relaxation and sheer beauty of God’s creation.

Kirk

For photos or a higher res movie:

http://picasaweb.google.com/Bleavins/CampingInTheIslands#

Let's Ride!

Few things are as wonderful as seeing the world through the eyes of a child. (Not literally of course, that sounds difficult and painful. Modern medicine is great but....) OK , back on track here.
Alyssa and I have been out every day this week on our "new" bike. We go out first thing in the morning, and she talks the entire time. (Two guesses where that comes from, and it's not me.)
Whether we are saying hello to our neighbors or she is remembering which way mommy went in her car, the smell of the humid air on the Green-Way, the bumps in the road, whether or not we are peddling, where are we going?, Daddy, remember where we went yesterday?, can we stop at the park?, look at that cat, I like going fast, do you?, what are we doing when we get home?, my new bike has only 1 wheel, Hey look at that car it looks like Sarah's, when can I peddle backwards?.... (to be continued..)
You get the idea, it is awesome, and real. Not pretending to be something, no trying to impress, not worried about anything, just experiencing the world and interested in it all.
Compare that to a "mature " father who has the following going on in his head. At least he is smart enough to keep it in, or is he?
Are these cars going to hit us? am I gong too fast?, how slow should I go when turning on this gravel?, my body is not used to this bike, there are parts that are going numb, I hope Alyssa pedals going up this next hill, Isn't that a lovely sound my knee makes as I peddle around and around, what time do I need to get home? where should we go now, do I have time?...
So is that really "maturity or have I let "life" take away my ability to enjoy, really enjoy what is going on around me, to have an expectation of the life that is around. Perhaps it is too much focus on self and not an the wonders of the world around, perhaps it is that part of me that was numb that gets in the way....
Well as she is learing to ride a bike I pray i will re-learn how to enjoy and have an attitide of adventure in my life.
Let's Ride!