Courtesy GaborfromHungary@morgueFile free photos

There is a saying ..Life is a journey.

With many a detour, hold ups, unpredictableness, joys, throw your hands up in the air situations along the way. Each one is a step.

Remembering those maybe tantrum hard days with children and then at day’s end as they lie sleeping peacefully in their beds you take a deep breath of thanks again.

Briefly reinvigorated for many tomorrows
One step and again another.

I wonder how many steps on this our path
A journey, our life
Never heading in a straight line.

Look closely at the photo on the top of this post. The photographer captured a brilliant moment!

Almost a choose your own adventure. So many stories. Along the board walk at a brisk walk or over the quaint bridge at a leisurely stroll. Maybe even a pause in the cool grass on the other side. Serenely meandering in the sailing boat down the canal but only going in one direction because the bridge is in the way. Or pick a speed boat out of the various sizes and styles to zip along the canal in either direction. Yet all starting off from the same place! An analogy of Life.

So this is our life’s journey. It can be boring or we can really observe what’s happening around us, partake or participate in the good things of life. Bear gracefully when burdens overload us.

That being said it is the small happenings which if we appreciate are as a gift. A priceless gift bestowing joy or a memory to be savoured.

Then again, have you ever seen the silvery trail of a snail in the morning after rain? It goes everywhere yet there is no snail to be seen.

Morning walk on Gannet Beach , N.S.W. Australia

Or a collection of sea shells and pebbles washed from who knows where deep in the ocean. Swirled from here to there. Tumbled around and deposited with that tide, to be moved on again by the next.

Courtesy spiroll@morgueFile free photos

Tumbled through life’s happenings and dramas yet many times unknowingly picked up and helped along the way. Our support network….may we remember to pay it forward.

That is our journey.

Joining in with Essentially Jess for IBOT
Modest Mom

Fathers, Family, Friends

Father’s Day was celebrated on Sunday gone here in Australia. It always happens on the first Sunday of September, the beginning of Spring in the Southern Hemisphere.

It is a time when I truly would prefer not to visit the shops as there are such a number of people about, with car parks overflowing and spilling onto the road….people, people everywhere. This is the commercialised side that I do not enjoy.

Photo by Paula Presswell, edited by Alexa-asimplelife

Rather we delighted in a beautiful time of family catch up spread over two days. Why two? Well, because on Saturday was one little grandson’s birthday having turned “three old”. Family fun beginning with a laid back afternoon tea with nibbles of cheese platter, crackers, fruit plate, homemade dip, home made choc chip cookies looking extremely posh being displayed beautifully on glass stand with its domed glass lid, and drinks of choice. Then present time of course because that’s the exciting bit for little ones and for grandpa who is like a little boy himself again going into the Toys Are Us choosing the gift, but under instruction from the mummy of what is really required.

The afternoon was spent in chatter and playing. Older and younger cousins interacting and making up games outside and inside….little boys instructing…then the bigger ones…follow the leader…take your turn pushing the little toy lawn mower round the lawn regardless of whether you are three years old or twelve or fourteen…short or tall. Very grown up sixteen year old grandaughter running out and joining in whatever game was happening. Hand ball with numerous and ever changing rules…cricket with a Ping pong ball as all other balls had disappeared.

Later observing two little squatting figures nearly invisible in the growing dark playing with their jazzy cars which glowed red. That’s basically all you could see, the red glow. It was precious.

So the day wound down to tea and bath and story time. Delightful. Beautiful memories.

Today another round of catch up. Lunch together at the other daughter’s home for the young ones with us two joining them after our own quiet lunch out….but always having a little space for some dessert!

Nothing really grand happening, just being able to sit, chat, laugh, hold the baby, pass round the baby to various laps, snuggle and kiss that fresh baby scent, join in a game, watch and absorb all the little happenings unfolding around us, running, scooter riding, teen grandsonson whipping the cream for late dessert, kiss for that cheeky face and jump out of the way of that moving toy car.

Fathers, family, friends.

Life.

A journey following an unfinished map….

Remembering with love those far away.
Those who could not join in.
Those in pain.
May you travel well.

Joining Essentially Jess IBOT
Also joining http://amamasstory.com