August 31

I feel like it's kind of been The Brady Show around here lately; I guess that's what can happen when a kid is home sick for a few days. And even though he went back to school today, The Brady Show continues on in the form of this drawing:

He drew it yesterday, explained all of the elements, and then promptly taped it to our makeshift family room Art Wall. This evening, as I sat downstairs alone, I studied it some more: I took in the waterfall on the right, the people --one is me and one is him, though I don't remember who has the honor of being the third--, and the coffee cup in the middle. (He was very pointed when he explained that it was my coffee cup. He even drew an arrow so everyone would know that it's mine. He definitely knows me.)

I love that he knows me. I love that he likes to create scenes in his head. And I love that he shares those precious thoughts with me. I know that his days of freely sharing his thoughts with his mom are limited, so I'm thankful that they're happening now.

August 30

Brady felt much better today, but with the '24 hours without a fever' rule in mind, I kept him home. After we dropped Isaac and Abby at school, we stopped by Starbucks for coffee (me) and ice water (him).

Our coffee dates were something of a commonality for a few years there; we didn't go every day, but we found ourselves there a day or two each week. When the school year ended in June, I was keenly aware that our little 'the big kids are in school' hang-outs were essentially over, so I enjoyed today's unexpected date quite a lot. It served as a good reminder to look for and savor unanticipated moments of goodness.

August 29

Brady woke me up early this morning and tearfully told me that he couldn't find BearBear. I had him lie down in Adam's spot on the bed, and then headed off to his room, where I found the misplaced lovey tangled in a sheet on the floor. I brought him back to Brady and laid down, and then I touched my little man's arm and realized that he once again had a fever.

So that meant no school, plus cuddles, naps, and another trip to see the doctor, who confirmed yet another case of strep.

I'm not pleased that he's sick again, but he's very sweet when he's under the weather. I've said it before, but I love being able to take care of them when they're not feeling well. The ability to provide comfort is a gift.

August 28

I was surprised --really surprised-- when we drove up to Logan's grave this afternoon and found that one of the marigolds we planted last week was not only still there, but still looked healthy.

We haven't had much luck with plants at the cemetery this year. Just about every time we've planted something new, it's either been uprooted and eaten by animals, trampled by someone or something, or scorched by the sun. Given that I'd forgotten to stop by to water the poor things after we planted them last Sunday, I fully expected them to be gone. But they weren't, which in and of itself, is something of a miracle.

But it was also the answer to a prayer that I very quietly and very half-heartedly uttered during the church service. I never like admitting it when I feel distant from God, but I do. And I have for a while now. So during that service, I asked God to meet me somewhere. Anywhere. And then Logan's grave and those little flowers came to mind, and I half-heartedly --and with zero expectation-- asked Him to show up by keeping those blooms alive despite my inattention last week. (I know the timeline is kind of screwy, but that's how my mind works sometimes, and besides, God operates outside of time anyway.) So yeah, imagine my surprise when we pulled up and I saw those fresh little orange-y yellow faces looking up at me. Winking at me.

August 27

When we take our walks, it's not unusual for the kiddos to use this particular intersection as a photo stop. It's also not unusual for them to try to photobomb one another's pictures, so of course, that's what they did today.

For whatever reason, Brady was in full ninja mode, and did all he could to create the funniest photobombs he could imagine. Virtually all of them are on Adam's phone, but I snapped this one from a distance because I found the whole exchange to be both amusing and, oddly enough, meaningful. I think, when it comes down to it, that one of our biggest common challenges involves being ready for life's photobombs --for those unexpected things that invariably show up and alter our perceived pictures of perfection-- because this life we're living isn't perfect. If we can find the beauty, the humor, or the meaning in those images that differ from what we expected, they can add unexpected sweetness to life.

August 26

It occurred to me not long ago that I hadn't taken any pictures today. It's kind of disheartening when the sun disappears behind the horizon and I realize that I haven't bothered to look for tangible expressions of God's presence. I really don't like to admit it, but it's not an uncommon happening for me. Anyhow, after I had that revelation, I looked across the coffee table and saw this:

It's my Life is Good water bottle. A friend gave it to me back when I was pregnant with Brady and Logan was in treatment. I still use it; it's a good reminder of a truth that I'm definitely guilty of forgetting: despite the many challenges we all face, life is still, at it's root, a good thing and a blessing.

August 25

After middle school back to school night (which was, for the record, fine; I left with no major reservations about Abby's schedule), I came home, grabbed a small handful of Mint Oreo Thins, and settled into a spot on the couch. It took the cat approximately 30 seconds to join me. I know some cats are people-lovers; mine, in general, is not, so the gesture was a bit abnormal.

But I appreciated that she decided to seek me out. I know kitty's little body is wearing out and that her time here is probably drawing to a close, but it's good to know that being close to me is a comfort to her. It's a blessing to be able to provide someone else --even someone who has fur and whiskers and paws-- with a measure of peace.

August 24

After I dropped off the Little Boys this morning, I headed toward Abby's school. Then a Luke Bryan song came on the radio and hilarity ensued.

I'm sure I've mentioned it before, but Abby loves Brady's Bear Bear, and she really loves bringing him to life. So Bear Bear sang Crash My Party. He sang with so much passion that I laughed until the tears stung my eyes, and as soon as I reached a red light, I whirled around to grab a quick video clip.

That girl cracks me up, and I'm so thankful for her slightly off-kilter sense of humor and creativity. She (and Bear Bear) definitely make life more interesting.

August 23

Over the years, I've enjoyed watching my kids walk with their friends. I like to fall back a little and just observe their movements as they stroll along; how their arms sway as they talk, how they smile and laugh. Even when I don't know what they're saying, I love to see their reactions to those mundane, everyday interactions. Today, I got to watch my baby have one of those exchanges as we walked back toward the car after kindergarten.

He first met A during his very first year of preschool, back when they were both just two years old. They fell out of touch for a little while, but now that they're in class together again, I can see their friendship growing.

The knowledge that my children can build and cultivate friendships is such a blessing.

August 22

After kindergarten today, Brady and I took a quick trip to Target. I did as I always do in the blue aisle: I bent down to look at the little Hot Wheels cars on the lower pegs and in the bin. (And, as an aside, I found a new Corvette, which is always a welcome occurrence!) And then I got stuck. Well, sort of. I don't have the best knees, and sometimes I have to steel myself to stand up from a crouching position because I know it's going to hurt. But then Brady did something surprising.

As I drew in a breath, that little boy came up behind me, put his arms around my waist, and said --completely seriously-- "I'll help you get up, mommy." And a moment later, I could feel him trying his hardest to tug me to my feet.

I thought my heart would explode over the sweetness of that amazing act of kindness. There's no way he could ever actually lift me right now (barring a Superhero strength burst of adrenaline), but he tried. And that is a priceless gesture driven by love.

August 21

During our evening walk, Adam and Abby took the lead for a while as I hung behind to wrangle the considerably more wander-prone Little Boys.

I watched them for a few seconds and marveled over how that tall, gangly, beautiful young lady is the same little girl who wore sprout-like pigtails and ate chocolate pudding with her hands and stopped every few feet during walks to pick "fudgers".

I blinked, and here she is, half-grown. I could be sad; I know a lot of people would. But I'm so honored to be her mom that I can't be upset. After all, that pudding-eating, flower-picking, pigtail-wearing little girl is still in there; she's just more complex and more amazing than ever before.

August 20

After a long first week of school, I was tired this morning. But we'd planned to go shopping with Abby's best friend and her mom, so we saddled up the horses and headed off to San Francisco for several hours.

I've referenced B before; she and Abby met in kindergarten. They hit a rough patch in second or third grade, but ever since then, they've been great friends. I love how B brings out Abby's silly side and I love listening to them chatter. Half the time, I have absolutely no idea what they're talking about, but their exchanges are so carefree and joyful that I don't even care.

Good friends are a blessing!

August 19

It seems that my poor littlest guy has contracted his first kindergarten illness. During dinner, he complained that his throat hurt when he swallowed, and then wanted to sit with Adam in the easy chair after he'd left the table. He asked me to take his temperature, and it came back at 102. So he's definitely not feeling well. But earlier today, he showed off his ingenuity again by creating miniature planets.

Here we have Jupiter, Pluto, Mars, and Earth. He colored tiny pieces of paper --check out that red planet and the blue/green for Earth!-- then crumpled them, and then used tape to transform them into little balls.

I have no idea where he got the idea to make planets, but I was impressed. He's learning so much so quickly that it almost feels like too much; he IS my baby, after all! But it's a huge blessing to watch his little mind work.

August 18

It was impossible to not notice the sun as I walked home from Isaac's back to school night presentation.

It's hard to tell from a cell phone pic, but it was enormous and red, and its rays bathed the sky in this completely captivating yellow-y, orange-y glow. So yeah: it was beautiful.

But on the flipside, the air quality today completely sucked. It was hazy and gray and just kind of gross. But somehow, that disgusting air quality managed to produce a sight like this. And it is, of course, another instance of God using something icky for good.

August 17

Adam and I got married 14 years ago today. Things have changed a lot (LOT) since then, back when we were young and bright-eyed; like any couple, we've had our ups and downs. Unlike most couples, we've weathered a horrific loss. But we're still standing.

We went to dinner at Cheesecake Factory tonight. It wasn't a date, per se, because the kiddos came along, but it was all right with me: after all, they're here because of our marriage.

So today, I'm thankful that God ordains marriage. It's not always easy to be in relationship over time, but it's always a good thing.

August 16

Back when Adam and I first got married --14 years ago tomorrow, in fact-- my cat became his furry little friend. She spent many an evening curled up on his lap as he stroked her fur. She's not a big kid-cat, so after Abby was born, she made herself scarce more often than not, but lately, she's sought out extra attention.

So this evening, it was nice to see them sitting together like they did all those years ago.

Things change over time -- it's just what happens. But now and then, it's a blessing to get a sweet look at things as they once were.

August 15

It's been... a day. I think the first day of school went over well enough for the kiddos, for the most part.

Brady came home from Kindergarten and immediately pelted me with random questions (I still have no idea how gas makes the car run). Isaac didn't say much but seemed pleased enough with his maiden voyage to third grade. Abby wasn't in tears, and when it comes to middle school, I consider that a win (though she did lament the fact that she has VERY few friends in her classes, which honestly, makes me very sad but I won't dwell).

So yeah: another year started. Another year of watching them learn and grow even more. Since I'm keenly aware of what it's like to be denied the privilege of watching Logan grow up, I'm thankful to see his siblings change and continue to impress me over time.

August 14

It seems obscenely early, but the kiddos go back to school tomorrow: 7th grade for Abby, 3rd for Isaac, and Kindergarten for my baby. And of course, 5th grade in my heart for Logan. As I laid out the backpacks tonight, I silently grieved the absence of that fourth bag. I wondered which teacher would be welcoming him to her classroom and who would be his best friend. And I envisioned his big smile as he turned to wave good-bye for the day. And then the vision faded because it's not going to happen, and my thoughts returned to my actual reality; to this moment from this afternoon.

Brady was unusually quiet today. I think he's nervous about starting school, but he didn't want to talk about it so I didn't press. When I got home from shopping this afternoon, I took notice of his outfit: the Mater hat and the Lightning McQueen slippers. I doubt that it was his intent, but I took it as a silent salute to his biggest brother, who loved those Cars as much as he does. And though the sight could've made me sad, it didn't, because in a way, Logan --who never got the chance to go to Kindergarten-- will go to Kindergarten with him tomorrow in his smile and in his enthusiasm and in his penchant for dance. And of course, in his love for Cars, and above all, in his heart. And THAT is a thought that brings me joy.

August 13

I slept in just a wee bit (ha) this morning, but once I appeared, we headed out to lunch at our usual Saturday spot. After our food arrived, Brady decided he needed a fork, but had trouble getting it out of its neat little package.

In stepped Isaac, who patiently unwound the twisty tie for his little brother before handing it back.

I love that Isaac is willing to take care of Brady in these seemingly insignificant, everyday ways. He's a good boy, and that's a blessing.

August 12

We winged our way back home today.

I'm always sad to see vacations end. I love the family time and I love just being away together, having adventures and making memories in new places.

I took this image right after take-off; a few hours later, the sunset sky featured a thick ribbon of rainbow colors that captivated my attention until the light faded in favor of evening. Family, rainbows, beauty... signs that God is with us are everywhere.

August 11

We got up this morning and headed back up the road to Waimea Canyon. Adam found a hiking trail and thought we should give it a go on our last day here on Kaua'i. So we arrived, pulled off the road, and set off toward what was supposed to be a nice view of the NaPali coast. When we got there about two (mostly downhill) miles later, the view was much more impressive than we'd ever guessed it would be.

In short, it was spectacular. Abby was a little freaked by how high up we were, but the Little Boys were fascinated by the deep crevices that lined the red earth. We snapped a lot of photos, and then headed back toward the car; 61 floors' worth of up! We were tired and sweaty by the time we reached the car, so we stopped at JoJo's in Waimea for some shave ice.

Later, we went to dinner with Adam's parents at the club, where I had an incredibly delicious piece of beef tenderloin and watched yet another lovely sunset by the ocean.

I may have big scratches on my legs from the hike, but it was a wonderful day, and I'm thankful.

August 10

Today was... well, it was. I'll focus on the good parts. This afternoon, Adam's parents asked if we wanted to show the kiddos the golf course and let them try their hands at putting and driving, so we did. I think they had fun with it. We had fun teasing Abby --who was surprisingly good at driving the ball-- about joining the golf team at school. (She said no.) Then we took a drive around all 18 holes, with Adam's dad, Isaac, and Brady leading the way, followed by Adam's mom and Abby in the second cart, and Adam and I bringing up the rear. The course really offers up some beautiful, sweeping ocean views (which I would share, had Adam realized that I was having a wardrobe malfunction as he was snapping pics. (D'oh!) And of course it's always fun to drive a gold cart!

Then this evening, Adam and I went out to dinner at the Beach House in Poipu. We had a great view of the sunset sky and some nice time to just sit and be together. After dinner, we took a walk by the beach.

Time together --both with the whole family and with just my Adam-- is so important, and such a blessing.

August 9

Today was a slow one. We didn't do much other than grocery shop for a few small items, and then after Adam's parents arrived, I sat around the house while everyone else paid a visit to the clubhouse pools (since as I've mentioned, I am not a water person). I got bored (and tired of listening to the incessant growl of the gardener's weedwhacker and leafblower outside), so I went down to check on them, and wound up taking the very short walk down to the ocean.

I started off by looking for shells, but found only rocks and obliterated bits and pieces of what were once probably quite fine shells. I put a few of the prettiest pieces in my pocket, took off my flip flops, put them on a big rock, and stood at the edge of where the ocean waves lapped at the sand. I stood there for quite some time, alternately looking out at the glistening water and down at the sand. I prayed that God would show me something; I was really open to whatever He might have to say, but I quietly wanted to see a cool shell. So I waited, but nothing happened. I sighed, and went to retrieve my shoes. And when I did, I looked down at saw a tiny, perfect black shell; no cracks, no imperfections. And I smiled at the sweetness of that tiny gift and was a little ashamed over how I'd almost missed it.

But it's not all about amassing perfect shells; it's about seeing the beauty in the broken pieces we encounter, too.

August 8

It actually didn't rain much today, so Adam and the kiddos took the opportunity to enjoy some time at the club pools after we had lunch at Keoki's Paradise in Poipu Beach.

As we waited for our food at lunch, Adam flipped through images on his phone. He uses a program that shows him photos that were taken x-number of years ago today, and today, it displayed a series of pictures from this date in 2009. When he showed me a few of me with Logan, I decided that I wanted to take a family photo (upper left).

Then this evening, we drove out to Polihale State Park to see the sun set over the ocean. Polihale is a gorgeous, lightly-used stretch of super soft sand located on the western shore of Kaua'i (right near the Pacific Missile Range Facility -- Isaac was very concerned that they'd shoot a missile at us). The beach ends as the majestic mountains of the NaPali coast rise up from the Pacific.

The only issue with Polihale is that getting to it requires a bumpy ride down a five-mile stretch of pothole-pocked dirt road. But we made it, and the kids had fun digging in the sand as the light faded. Unfortunately, the skies were largely overcast, but it was still a beautiful scene, and I'm thankful that we got the chance to see it.

August 7

It rained today (again), so we opted to head to the beach.

Adam picked out a destination, and the journey to Gillin's Beach and Kauailoa Bay took us down a pothole-ridden dirt road that left four out of five of us kind of freaked out. But we arrived, and had a good time being splashed by waves as the rains came and left every few minutes.

On the way back to the house, we stopped for shave ice (I'm sure you're seeing a trend here). As Abby ate hers, she started laughing maniacally and explained that she'd gotten me an extra spoon, since when we were at JoJo's last week, I dropped not one but two spoons while eating my treat. I love seeing that girl laugh, so that moment ranks pretty well on today's list of blessings.

August 6

It was a wee bit rainy today. But it wasn't a consistent rain; it was more of the "pour down rain for five minutes, then the sun comes out for five minutes, then it mists for five minutes, and then it pours down rain for five minutes." Rinse and repeat. And also prime rainbow conditions.

Since it wasn't exactly a great day to be outside doing "stuff," so after breakfast --which featured Brady noting that a strip of bacon looked like the letter "L" for Logan-- we hung out at the house watching the Olympics (Adam and I) and playing in the pool (the kids. They were bored and we figured they may as well put their suits on and have some splashy fun in the intermittent rain). When the mid-afternoon skies seemed marginally clearer, we hopped in the car to check out some waterfalls on the East side of the island: Wailua Falls (lower right corner) and Opaeka'a Falls (upper right). After shave ice (yeah, more of it), we had dinner at the house and played several rounds of cards. Oddly enough, Brady proved himself quite the little card shark.

Now the young people are in bed and I'm sitting here alone, listening to the hum of the ceiling fan and reflecting on the day. It's good to rest and take time to recharge, and we're blessed to be getting the chance to do just that in a lovely place.

August 5

After a few days of adventuring around the island, we spent most of today close to home.

In the late-morning hours, we took the short walk to Spouting Horn, and wandered through the little open air market while we were there. At one point, Adam got my attention and pointed to a sign next to some toys that read "zoom car," which was like a big hug from Logan, since that's the very term he used for fast, noisy cars with "cool wheels."

We stopped very briefly at the harbor on the way back to the house, and while Adam and Brady rested in the grass, Abby, Isaac, and I looked for shells in the clear ocean water. From there we ventured out for some shave ice. Later, Adam and the kiddos went to the clubhouse pools while I hung out solo, and then we played a few hands of cards before I made dinner, which consisted of one staple (homemade mac and cheese) and one completely new food (papaya. Seriously, we picked it at the farm the other day and I had no idea what it was, so I had to Google to both identify it and figure out how to cut it up. Abby and Brady were not fans, but Isaac dug it).

It was a nice, relaxed day, and after being so busy, it was a blessing to just sit and listen to the ocean for a while.

August 4

Today, we got up, had breakfast, watched as several impressive rainbows formed and faded over the ocean (see image one for one of the double variety), and then hit the road. Destination: the North shore of the island.

Stop number one was, of course, the Kilauea Lighthouse (see image two). The stop was notable for two different reasons: One, the kids earned cute little patches for answering a bunch of questions about native Hawaiian wildlife. And two, it poured down rain on and off, so I have a nice collection of "look, it's cloudy at Hawaii's most northern point" and "look, it's sunny at Hawaii's most northern point" photos.

We continued moving westward and stopped at the Hanalei Lookout point (photo three), which gives a lovely view of some taro fields in the distance. It's such a lush, green, lovely spot. (And a little harrowing, given that the cars speed by right next to the vista point.) By then it was already 1:30, so we drove to Hanalei and had lunch at Bubba's (photo four), where they like to cheat tourists (the sign says so). It rained on and off. Again. But we found a nice covered spot and there were chickens to watch so we didn't care much. After polishing off our burgers, hot dogs, fries, chili fries, and onion rings (man, that sounds like too much food), we drove all the way out to Ke'e beach, which is where the road runs out at the NaPali coast. We found parking easily and headed over to the beach for some ocean fun (well, four of us did. I'm not so big on the ocean). And it rained again, which wasn't a big deal for people who were already in the water. It was more of a big deal for those of us who were not in the water and who hadn't brought a change of clothes along. Oops. Anyway, the kids had fun splashing and digging in the sand (pics 6 and 7) and I was once again struck by the majestic beauty of the coast line.

On the way back to the house, we stopped at two beaches --Kalihiwai (photo 5) and Donkey (photo 8)-- to poke around for seashells. At home, finally, we closed out the day with s'mores over the fire pit (pic 9). I may have inadvertently set my marshmallows on fire, but hey, at least they were gooey underneath the blackened part.

It was a good day, and in my mind, good days are blessings, so that's why you're getting the details!

August 3

When we were here in April, the day that we chose to visit the Waimea Canyon, the Kalalau Lookout and the points in between wasn't a great one, weather wise. Although I'll always smile when I remember Brady collecting clouds in a water bottle to find out if he could grow more of them at home, I was disappointed to find the gorgeous view of the Napali Coast completely socked in. But there was no repeat disappointment today; today, it was absolutely majestic. Beautiful. A stunning example of God's incredible handiwork.

We hit the road shortly after breakfast. As we wound up the mountain, Adam and I both marveled over the near-perfect blue of the sky. I didn't say so because I was afraid to jinx it (which I realize is totally silly), but I kept detailed mental notes on how the clouds moved and thought to myself that it didn't look too overcast ahead. And it wasn't. I've already said it once, but the view from the Kalalau Lookout is incredible. Though I'm not a huge fan of heights --my body actually stops and won't let me move when I get within 10 feet of an edge-- the beauty of the scene makes it one of my favorite places in the world.

On the way back down, we stopped for a picnic lunch at Koke'e State Park and Adam thoroughly amused the kiddos by challenging the many (many, many, many... seriously, they're everywhere on Kaua'i) chickens who wanted a share of our food to races around the meadow. Fortunately, he wasn't attacked by any angry roosters, and the kids laughed themselves beyond silliness. After a visit to the Koke'e museum, we stopped by the Wailea Canyon lookout to get a closer look; when I took the photo of the canyon in the collage, I didn't notice the tiny blue heart in the clouds.

We, of course, stopped for more shave ice, this time at Jo Jo's, and headed home. After some pool time for everyone but me --I checked out the fitness center-- we had dinner at Pizzetta in Koloa. Our tired kiddos were very good; Abby and Brady colored while Isaac watched part of the A's game that happened to be playing on a TV over the bar. When the food arrived, Brady blew on his little cheese pizza to cool it down, but I love how it looks like he's reacting to the grown-ups' food!

All in all, another good day for us; another day filled to brimming with more blessings than I can count and more anecdotes than I can hope to recount here.

August 2

The timezone switch demanded that we all get up earlier than usual this morning, which meant that I heard giggling and stuffed animal voices (oh yes, they're real things at our house) from the Little Boys' room at 4-something AM. A little later on, we were treated to several rainbows as the weather sorted itself out by morphing from pouring-down-rainy to sunny every few minutes. The craziness left us feeling unsure about a big outing, so we hung around the house for the most of the day, though we did go to the store, to the farm to check out the available produce, to get some shave ice, and to the pool.

These are all nice images from the day and they all hold meaning for me; the kids under the rainbow, the sweeping view of the ocean from the farm, our afternoon game of Clue, the shave ice eaters, and that majestic orange-y yellow sunset. But the largest pic is the one I most want to write about.

As we perused the available produce at the farm (and there wasn't much there; it seems like visitors must pick fruit and veggies before they're ripe), Abby came across a tree that boasted a huge, very ripe mango, and she wanted it. She stood at the base of the tree looking up at that mango for a minute before finally deciding that she'd try shaking it down. So she did just that: she literally shook the tree. Unfortunately for her (and likely the other visitors who no doubt wanted it but couldn't get it down from its sky-high perch), it refused to budge. Worried that she might hurt the tree, I told her to stop and she complied, but she continued her quest for a nice, ripe mango. It took a while, but after checking every tree, she finally found one, and Adam hoisted her onto his shoulders so she could pluck it for herself.

The lesson? Just because we don't get what we want doesn't mean that we won't get something that's just as good --or even better-- down the line. We need a good mix of patience, determination, and faith in order to wait in good cheer.

August 1

We got up early today, drove to the airport, and flew to Kaua'i. We've waited all summer for this trip, so it was exciting to finally take to the skies. With the exception of a few little boy-on-boy squabbles shortly after take-off, the flight was a smooth one, and our check-in time at the house was late enough in the day that we had time to do some grocery shopping --and have our first shave ice of the trip in Koloa-- after we picked up the car in Lihue.

I keep trying to come up with a good aha moment for the day, but I think the reality is that the entire day was a big aha moment. We --including Lambie, of course-- spent time together at the airport; the kiddos even played nicely with their Webkinz. (I had no idea they still even made those things until Abby and I saw them a few days ago and she begged to pick out one for each of them.) Then we enjoyed a peaceful flight, together. Then we got the rental car, together. (Well, kind of together on that one. Isaac accidentally left his lion Webkinz at the gate so he and I retraced our steps and were relieved to find that someone had already turned said animal friend in at the security desk. So, crisis averted, together.) Then we shopped at Costco and Safeway, together, and checked into the house together before eating our pizza dinner... together. And watched the sun sink below the horizon (you guessed it) together. Then we sat around the (unlit) fire pit, together, watching the stars and planets as their pinpricks of light punctuated the dimming sky one by one.

We had moments together. Lots of them. And we made lots of new, funny memories, too. Good stuff, I'd say.

(And as an aside, I included the post-sunset photo for a specific reason. I stared at it for a long while before I realized why it captivated my attention, and then I saw it: an angel with wide-open arms. Kind of beautiful, I think.)