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Saturday, January 31, 2009

The Beach Is Our Playground

The weather in San Diego has been gorgeous.

The other day my mom took Gabi down to the beach and I met them there after a lunch meeting. A January day of sunscreen, bathing suits and sun umbrellas. We let Gabi bury our toes in the sand, then reciprocated by burying her up to her arms. We dug holes and talked and let the sun warm our sandy skin.

We drove home with all the windows down, our hair being whipped by sea tinged wind as we blared the local hip hop station and did silly head dances. After a moment of quiet from the backseat, I turned to look at Gabi.

She was staring out of her window, her ponytail flapping against her cheek, with a look of pure happiness on her face.

Seeing that look on your child has to be one of life's most joyous joys.

And for the first time in a long time I felt content. It feels strange to say that with all that's looming in front of us. But the blessings that God has poured down on us since I got laid off have blown me away.

I knew in that instant with absolute certainty that I'm just where I need to be. That I'm on the right path.

Which is a bit ironic, considering the talks that Gilberto and I have been having over the last few weeks about moving. A little piece of me has always ached to move back to where I was raised. For Gabi to go to the same schools, live in the same neighborhood, swim at the same Tarzan hole as I did. But I didn't want to leave my great, secure job.

Well, now I don't have that job, and Gilberto is willing to go wherever I'd be happy. So we've been talking. Leave it to God to take my getting laid off and removing that obstacle to help me realize I'm already home. Happily home.

It's such a relief to know that!

My house filled with sand when we got home, and for the first time ever I didn't complain.

16 comments:

  1. That's awesome, Mama. Where's home?

    And yeah, I'm just a little jealous of your sun. It's 25 degrees outside!!!

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  2. I've been out of the loop for a couple weeks so I just got caught up on your blog.

    Sorry to hear about your job, but I'm happy to hear that you are feeling better about things. San Diego sounds absolutely wonderful to me!!! (Especially since it's been FREEZING cold around here. I am so not a winter person.)Best of luck with everything. :)

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  3. Laural,
    What a beautiful post. I am so happy for you. Isn't it weird to be congratulated after just having lost your job? It's not the job loss I'm happy for you about obviously...but truly, I am happy for the contentment you are feeling...and super jealous of the sand and weather you are experiencing. ;)
    hugs & smiles,
    j

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  4. I think:
    1. you should write a book, I would buy it.
    2. I will pray for you to get what is best for you and your family.
    lots of love and hugs from here.

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  5. Sometimes are jobs limit us more than we realize, don't they? I'm in a similar situation, I guess -- not in terms of location, but I feel like I should be doing something more exciting with my life, but my job is the steady paycheque and the benefits for this family. My hubby is the one doing all the cool and crazy stuff with his consulting. Thing is, I don't know what I want to be when I grow up! So glad to hear that everything is going just the way it should. :)

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  6. Great post... I am jealous too... I want to go to the beach!

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  7. What a blessing :)
    I'm so happy for you.

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  8. What a lovely post. Please move. After reading that with it snowing outside my window I feel compelled to come visit you in San Diego. Sounds divine.

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  9. Just wanted to say how much I loved this post.

    Simply perfect.

    So happy for you, friend!

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  10. Glad you are getting out. Miss ya

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  11. That moment of clarity is so great, isn't it?

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  12. Beautiful. It's funny how sometimes we find joy in the most trying times, isn't it? Glad you found your path!

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  13. A beautiful post, Laural. God, I wish it were warm here. It was 1 degree here this morning. 1.

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  14. Awww... I know what you mean. I hope you stay there in S.D. If I could have stayed there, I would have.

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  15. And we have so much snow! I can hardly remember when the last time was.. when I was a child?
    The girls enjoy it of course. I´ll send some pics soon.
    I can also announce that it was -28C this morning...
    /Camilla

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