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.