Kindnessgirl

When video games are magic:

Jack: Josiah, Josiah, Josiah!!! You can do it, I believe in you…with everything I have! You can do it!

The encouragement needed to bust to the next level…

My favorite kind of kindness is the act that comes totally unexpected. These are the ones that leave you speechless and undone in the best way. Things have been really hard for my family the last year, things I really wouldn’t share because it might hurt people I dearly love. I went from having sort of a charmed life to having layers peeled back that have required me to find a new way to be on so many levels. And really through it all, love and kindness have held firm, teaching me that I have always had everything I really need, come what may…

I will admit all of this struggle has left me soul weary for too long. Just last week, I was tearfully milling around the around the house secretly (or maybe not so secretly) wishing that we could run away together for a while, just get away to a quieter place. Jorge came home the next evening and said someone we know had offered us their beach house, free of charge, during a prime rental week. I was shocked, tiny and big wishes can happen I guess. This tremendous act of generosity came at just the right moment reminding me once again that we are being held. We are not alone.

The kids and I packed up and went ahead with Jorge meeting us for the last 2 days. The cottage was so perfect, bright with touches of joy everywhere you turned. Lots of little details made the home feel very loved. Every morning I opened the windows and looked out at the ocean, allowing the breeze blow over me, working her magic.  It was tricky to have 4 kids alone on a sandy beach, I am tired but somehow my heart feels rested even though my body does not.

We dug deep holes and buried each other, jumped the waves, watched too much horrible tv, spent hours making art, stayed up way late, ate sugar cereal, watched the sunset…and were away in the quiet, as quiet as 6 can be, together.

Sometimes what feels like an ocean of hardship requires an ocean of kindness or maybe lots of small acts to right a heart, to heal. I guess you never know what small or big act can do and what it will mean, but you can be sure it can change everything…

Thank you kind friends…

more pics here.