Road trip...

The kids and I have just returned from a short road trip.  Preparing for the trip was pretty stress-free, despite it being right after celebrating AJ's 13th birthday.  Yes, we now have two teenagers!  Yay!!

I had a small bag for each of us to pack a few clothes in and said that it would either be enough, or if we needed any warmer clothes, we could go to the local op shop where we were staying.

The first five minutes of a road trip is where my brain is going through a mental check list to remind myself that yes, I did lock all of the doors and turn off all of the electrical appliances except the refrigerators, and that sort of thing.  As soon as I hit the highway, I detach from all of that and let the adventure take over!

This time, we got away a little later than I'd hoped, but I refused to stress about it.  We stopped off at an electrical shop to buy a portable DVD player.  It had been years since we've travelled with one of those.  Often we listen to audio books, or play games, or listen to music or just chat.  The last time I travelled with the children, Nicholas' anxiety was super high and the first half of the trip was awful for him.  I thought the DVD player might help to distract him.  Worked like a charm this time!

We were only away for 6 days, but it seems like longer.  We had such a great time with my family, it was sad to part.  We didn't do anything super fancy, just hung out, shared meals, went for walks, played games, and goofed around.  I hadn't seen my sister for two years!  Far too long.  The last time my brother, sister and I were all together was for our Dad's funeral.  So it was really good to get together for some fun times.

 ..and fly some kites...

...hunt for Geocaches with cousins...

...making sure we obey the rules!

...part of the view from my sister and brother-in-law's beach house "the sandcastle"...

magical!

Coming back to our house was kind of sad.  I already missed my family, and I felt no attachment to our house or anything in it.  I was ready for more adventures and connection.  However, Sam was looking forward to seeing her friends, AJ was looking forward to unlimited internet and Nicholas was looking forward to getting back to his home base.  I need to make sure that it's not so long in between visits with family.   Time is precious!

walking...

Walking is really my favourite form of exercise.  I love that I don't need any kind of equipment, just a little motivation.  I love that, even though I might walk fast, it's still slow enough to see so much beauty along the way, like these: 

I love trees, one of my favourites are the gum trees.  I found this one at the top of a hill, with the beach to the left, and the airport to the right.  Despite the airplanes going over my head, the air smelled pretty good there.

This just looked like a bit of Mother Nature's art..

Forgotten toys, left on the beach.  It had me thinking about my children and their childhoods being left behind...

I find trees fascinating.  I love the way that they weave together, different trees, sometimes living in harmony, sometimes slowly strangling each other, but each magnificent in their own way.

I found this gem that someone had painted on the path alongside the beach.  Great reminder of the nature of us.

So as I walk along, enjoying the scenery, my mind wanders and creates a tapestry of words and feelings that I wish I could capture more eloquently.  I wish I could sculpt them into something, but then that would just limit them into form.  

Coming down the hill to walk along the beach again, I smell fresh coffee mixed with the salt air and I feel so grateful to live here.  People of all shapes and sizes and ages walk barefoot, often with a surfboard under their arm.  No rushing, no crowds, no drama.  There is an energy here that transcends the physical.  Where I don't have to look or act any way except my own way.  Where I don't feel judged.  Where I feel...free!