Walking in my Christmas flip flops...

Change always comes bearing gifts. -Price Pritchett

It was a picture perfect Sunday.  We had just finished up with church,  it was about 80 degrees, the sun was shining, our flip flops were on and here we are, buying a Christmas tree.  I must say that this was a drastic change from the many years in Minnesota where the girls and I would yell to Mike from the car, "Just pick one, we are cold!"



"Sisters, sisters, there were never such devoted sisters"

I recall when we were de-cluttering our lives last summer before the big move we looked at our tree stand and said, "Sell it, we won't be using that in Florida.  We will have to get a fake tree."  Little did we know that no matter where you go, you can always get the real deal.  We were ecstatic when we found out that people got real trees in Florida (well some, not all).  Sure, we have heard the various pooh-poohs about how dry they get down here but really, it is not any different in Minnesota.  So, with a skip in our step and the glow of the season in our hearts, we found the perfect tree.  It was so nice to not be shivering, to take the time to really look at each tree and decide on "the one." 

The traditions that we had in Minnesota have not changed that much since being down here.  The only thing that really seems different is the weather and we are not complaining at all.  We actually went down to a park the other night in St. Pete and they had real snow.  Of course it did not last very long but it was still fun see and feel.

I think the most noticeable change will be that we are not around our families this year.  I know that the girls are a bit sad about this but it makes them feel good to know that the week before Christmas they get to see their aunt and that Mike's family will be down here in January. 

We are fortunate to have a wonderful church community to celebrate with throughout this advent season.  It is fun to hear about others experiences with their first "Florida Christmas."

When I think about the holidays I think about a lot of joy but I also know that for many there is sadness.  Possibly loved ones have passed away or like us, are simply somewhere else.  I tend to think that we put too much pressure on this time of year to be "perfect."

Mike and I have put a lot of pressure on ourselves to make these days extra special for the girls as well.  It is hard not to feel some guilt at the fact that we have moved so far away from everything that the girls have ever known.  Overall they have done great but we knew that Christmas would be the biggest holiday that we might actually feel some of that shared sadness that many do at this time of year.

So we have ventured to a few local Christmas festivals but none of it has really captured the spirit for us.  Then we got to thinking, we never really went to any big festivals in Minnesota, we created our own memories.  Our new memories are ones of walking on the beach on a warm December afternoon, laughing quietly as we know folks back home are shoveling snow!

It reminds me of a hot yoga class I was in a few years back.  The experience that I had at this hot yoga class has helped me shape my own person practice and my teaching style as well as how I look at change.  I recall coming into the ungodly hot studio and seeing all these fit people, men and women, barely dressed.  One man actually had on what looked like a Speedo - JUST a Speedo.  It was hard not to feel intimidated by these buff bodies even when I knew for fact that I was quite strong and fit myself.  I felt like I was in high school and it was more about appearance than the practice.  Not only did I find the same 26 poses predictable and boring but I could not take my mind off the fact that this just did not feel like yoga to me.  It did not feel quite right.  I felt like I was forcing myself to do something I just did not like.  So, I survived the physical but more so the mental hot yoga practice and slammed the door on that one.  I myself do not care for hot yoga but for others it fulfills their practice. What this class did do for me was make me realize what type of yoga practice I do like.  Sometimes we have to experience things we do not like to realize what we really do value. 

So this experience brings to light our current experiences with trying to fulfill expectations that really are not possible.  The Christmas of Florida will of course be different from the Christmas of Minnesota.  But, we can take what we do like and make it into something new that we like even more.  We still have our real tree, the lovely smell of pine in the air.  We can still make all the lovely cookies and food fixings that warm our bellies and give us that temporary sugar euphoria.  We can still open gifts on Christmas morning and see the delight in our girl's eyes.  Instead of being inside by the fire we can put on our flip flops and head down to the beach and warm our bodies with the golden glow of the amazing sun.  We can spend time together and no matter where we are, we are one family.

As we celebrate the anticipation of the season, may we delight in the possibility of new possibilities.  May love, joy, even sadness at times, shape our hearts to being more open to the greater possibilities that are ahead.

Namaste.

A thankful heart

If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough. -Meister Eckhart

As we walked along the beach this afternoon, celebrating our first Thanksgiving Day in Florida, I decided it was the appropriate time to reflect on all the blessings in our lives.  It has been a wild year so far and yet our eyes have been completely open to all of it.  There have been many challenges for each member of this family and yet that is the one thing that keeps us going - each other.

Fiona and Chloe at the beach on Thanksgiving Day

I am amazed at how well our daughters have adjusted to their new lives in a new state. I am grateful that they are willing to try new things and trust that their parents will always do the best they can for their well-being.

Did I ever mention that I have the most brilliant husband?  Well, he truly is.  If I am worried about something, no matter what, he knows how to calm my mind.  He is my rock and I am so thankful that we both decided to work at the Edina Liquor Store about 13 years ago! 

We are lucky to be a part of two really fun families back in Minnesota.  It was hard to not be up there this Thanksgiving but we also know that memories are simply good times remembered and never forgotten. 

The technological age is a gift that allows us to stay more connected to friends and family than ever.  It is fun to think that no matter what time of day, I can see what people are doing thousand of miles away from us.  So, keep posting those fun things my dear friends on Facebook - I love it! 

As I was thinking about the idea of gratitude it brought me once again back to yoga practice.  Many times we attend a yoga class seeking to get something out of it.  What if we attended class with the intention that our practice were for someone or something else?  Taking the time during our practice to focus on someone or something else is a wonderful way to connect with what we are thankful for.  I love the idea of leaving judgment and expectation outside the door and focusing on the blessings in our lives.  Instead of making this a yearly process, possibly we can make it a daily process. 

On this Thanksgiving Day I am thankful for the gifts of health, love, family, friends, nature, and of course the fact that I got to share in another beautiful day in this life.

Words cannot express how much I am thankful for my loving husband and two beautiful and intelligent daughters. Whenever I get a bit down all I need to do is look at them, hug them and know I am not alone. As Mike and I were walking behind the girls this afternoon on the beach he said to me, "We are blessed." Yes my love, we are.

May the grateful light in my heart honor the grateful light in yours,

Namaste

Our First Florida Halloween

The bamboo that bends is stronger than the oak that resists.  - Japanese Proverb

Our witch and rock star
 

As Mike and I sat down once the girls finally went to sleep after trick or treating the other night we both looked at each other and said,  "That was a great Halloween." I think we were anxious about how this first Halloween would turn out here in Florida.  As parents we were hopeful that our kids would be happy. 

The past few years we had it made in our little Richfield neighborhood back in Minnesota.  The girls had plenty of friends and we knew many of our neighbors.  We were comfortable and had our annual plans for every holiday. 

Halloween is kind of the kick off for all the fun holidays to come over the next few weeks. Our kids had been anticipating their first Halloween in Florida.  We knew the weather was going to be top notch so we did not have to worry about a costume being "winter proof."  We knew we had a lot of parties to attend and that people DO trick or treat down here.  Even though we all knew that many things would be quite similar, it was all going to be quite different as well.

It is hard to teach kids to let go of expectations, especially when they are missing things about their "old home."  It is also very difficult to establish this idea when you have one child that is very set in her ways.  Our oldest, Fiona, is the type of personality that once she has something set in her mind it will turn into World War III if you dare stray the course.  Chloe is much more laid back and tends to go with the flow.  She does get disappointed but seems to be soothed easier than Fiona.  Teaching anyone to let go of expectations is hard.  I think that with kids you need to offer alternative ideas. 

There are things we definitely miss about Minnesota such as our annual trips to the pumpkin patch/apple orchard.  That was always an October tradition.  Obviously pumpkins and apples cannot grow in Florida - it is just too hot so they are shipped down here.  They put together make shift pumpkin patches and if I were from here I would think they were just fine but knowing what the real thing is like, it is hard not to be slightly disappointed.    But like the saying goes, when God gives you lemons, make lemonade or in this case, just do something with a twist.

So, we attended a few Fall Festivals last weekend.  The first event was a fall fund raiser for the girl's school.  It was a must go to for the girls are still in the delicate, meeting new friends stage.  Chloe is much more relaxed when it comes to friends but then again, in Kindergarten, everyone is your friend.  Fiona was very set on attending this party and having the perfect costume.  The school party was a hit.  It was so nice to watch our kids running around with their new friends, smiling, laughing, and simply enjoying the moment like kids do so well.

We also decided to check out a local city Halloween party the following night.  It was a great set up and we even ran into some school friends again. It was wonderful to see a community come together and supply such a safe and fun party for so many people.

Finally, we ended the Halloween festivities with good old fashioned trick or treating.  We ventured into the neighborhood close by and were able to score the usual massive quantities of sugary treats.  The girls met up with a sweet little boy and ran from house to house with the usual bounce and excitement in their steps.

Again, the anxiety that we place upon ourselves is simply what we place on ourselves.  As much as I wanted to think the girls were really worried about Halloween, it was me that was worried about it.  Things are going to be both similar and different, no matter where we might be living.  Life is constantly changing and I need to show my daughter's that I can easily deal with this so in return they can handle it as well.  It truly is "monkey see, monkey do."

So as we move into even bigger days of anticipation, Fiona's birthday, Thanksgiving and Christmas, we hope for the best and realize that we can just take it one holiday at a time.

May the light in me honor the light in you.

Namaste.

Breathtaking moments: Let the worry wash away

Reduce the complexity of life by eliminating the needless wants of life, and the labors of life reduce themselves.  -Edwin Way Teale
 

As much as the last three and a half months have seemed like a whirlwind to us at times, it has also been a time for us to really sit back and simply enjoy time.  Our greatest joy is one you will hear over and over again, going to the beach.  We have already established a few weekly traditions.  The first is Family Fridays.  We like to finish out our week or shall we say start the weekend at the beach.  It is so nice to eat an early dinner, put on our swim suits, sandals and head out to the always amazing sunset on the beach.  

The second weekly tradition is lunch date Mondays.  Mike's day off is on Monday so we have been enjoying our time as a couple together exploring new places to eat and of course, a romantic walk on the beach.  It is a time for Mike and me to reconnect each week. 

Just the other day we were walking out to Caladesi Island for our Monday date and we saw a small school of stingrays close to the shore where we were walking.  We had never seen anything like that up so close to us.  It was a beautiful site with a hint of danger thrown into it.  Obviously they can harm one if stepped upon but we were very careful to stay a good distance away.  On that same walk we saw dolphins out playing as well.  Being surrounded by such vibrant life is truly inspiring.
  

Baby stingray - see how they blend into the sand

I do not think that life in Florida is necessarily less stressful - just different (sometimes VERY different!).  The other day, as I was enjoying a bike ride along the Pinellas trail,  I was thinking about the human process of worrying.  I think as a mom we have this built into us from the start.  I think my number one worry since moving down here has been about the girls.  I worried about how they would transition, would they make friends, would their school be a good fit, would they be healthy and happy.  The list could go on and on if I let it.  As I was on this bike ride a huge personal realization came to mind; it does not matter if they are age eight or thirty - I will always worry about them. 

For some reason this thought brought me some relief.  I think it is important that before we look at any outside factors that may be causing us stress or worry that we first look inside ourselves.  A lot of the worry that I place upon myself for my girls is just that - my own junk, my own insecurities.  I know that life is not always fair and that there are such things as growing pains.  I have to realize that my girls are going to experience amazing things in life and sometimes, not so great things as well.  I think as mothers, parents we want the best for our kids but we have to realize that the best is not always going to be as we envisioned it.

I think that outside factors overburden our thoughts and minds.  The more we seek to control things that we cannot, the more out of control we feel.  This made me think back to the girls, to simply raising children.  It is easy to get caught up in the "are we on track" game as parents.  It starts even before they are born.  I remember reading the "What to expect while expecting" book during my first pregnancy and it already started pouring on the mommy guilt in utero.  I remember feeling so bad that Fiona was such a tiny baby when she was born because everyone seemed to deem giant, plump babies as the best.  I was worried that she would never talk because she was not talking as much as the books told us she should be by age two. 

It is funny to look back on these things that at one point in life seemed so overwhelming.  I ditched the "What to" book with my second pregnancy and both Fiona and Chloe are healthy weights with no problems of verbally communicating to the world. Oh yes, there have been other issues of worry with both girls but being able to examine first why I am worried seems to guide me to some reasonable answers.  Most of the reasons fall on me and my expectations. 

The connection to a good yoga practice in my mind has always been being able to let go of judgment and expectations during a practice.  So many of us walk into a yoga class and expect something, maybe an awesome workout, a sense of peace or simply time to relax.  None of these are bad but if we are so set on them what happens if they are not delivered?  I see this often with those just starting a yoga practice.  They come to class with a list of expectations instead of an open mind and heart.  What most of us do not understand with yoga is that the poses are just the beginning; there is a lot of other stuff that make up a yoga practice.  The process of leaving behind expectations not only applies on one's yoga mat but in life indeed. 

I read something the other day that reminded me of our discovery of the school of stingrays. The article said that one of the best things you can do for yourself each day is to look at something that takes your breath away.  If you cannot actually be in that breathtaking  moment or place than look at a picture of it.  Well, we are lucky to be surrounded by breathtaking Gulf views and  sea creatures.  It does make us happier just to be there in the sand, feel the breeze, smell the salt air and feel the water crash against our bodies.  It seems so simple and yet it really works.  Does it make the worry go away permanently? Of course not, but it does ease the process and at the end of the day the mantra, "It is all going to work out," really does lesson the load. 

When we head to the beach we are able to let go of many of those expectations.  It might be the same but at any moment it could be very different as well.  Seasons change, life throws us curveballs, and yet nothing is permanent.   So my advice to us all - just go out and do something you love without over thinking it - enjoy whatever is to come.

May the breathtaking moments in me honor the breathtaking moments in you.

Namaste

Sunset at the beach = one happy girl

 

Florida? Ya sure, you betcha!

Embrace the unexpected.  The things we never saw coming often take us to the places we never imagined we could go. - Unknown


Last fall we had a serious discussion about the possibility of moving out of state. Again, at times I think we both thought, "Well maybe, if the right thing popped up."   So as we were discussing the possibility of moving, Mike was contacted by the leader of the United Church of Christ for the Florida conference saying she thought his profile (resume) would be a good fit for a church with an opening in Dunedin, Florida. So Mike did a little research for we both said, "Where's Dunedin AND how to you pronounce that? Well, Dunedin is located just north of Clearwater on the Gulf coast side of Florida and it is pronounced DONE-EE-DIN.  The other thing that struck us - it is a little Scottish town.  How fitting for Michael MacMillan!

The process for finding the best pastor for a church is not a simple or quick process.  I always explained to people that as much as a church is interviewing the pastor, the pastor is also interviewing the church.  This is no small commitment for both pastor and church - it all needs to work just right.  With the possibility of moving out of state it also became a very serious family decision for us as well. 

If you know anything about Minnesotans it is that they do not often leave their homeland and when they do it tends to cause quite a commotion.  Mike and I were both born and raised in the land of 10,000 lakes (and mosquitoes!).  We were a part of a generation that had lived in just one house our entire lives before going off to college.  Even throughout the "experimental years" we were never too far from our original homes or at least when we were it was very temporary.   It was a comfortable and lovely life.  There are times when I am sure myself, Mike and even others would say - why change that?  Our best answer,  because we could and wanted to. 

I think that a lot of my personal yoga practice over the years and a wealth of amazing yoga teachers that have surrounded me thus far in my life have helped me realize that nothing is permanent - that we should strive to embrace change.  I find that the most unhappy people in this world are the ones not willing to change.  I see it everyday in my career field.  People are unhappy if one class time gets changed to another day, or God forbid, just by 5 minutes.  Or how about the person that wants to loose weight but refuses to change their diet and exercise habits.  Hmm, good luck with that goal. 

So as we made our decision to embark on this gigantic life - change, we needed to start letting go of things that would hold us back.  It brought to mind the Yoga Sutra of vairagya, non- attachment. Vairagya is learning to let go of the many attachments, aversions, fears, and false identities that are clouding the true Self. I think this is one of the hardest concepts to embrace.  

I can say that moving out of state and downsizing was one of the best things for my body, mind and spirit.  We were forced to get rid of things, and oh what a relief.  I have noticed that the less I have with regards to possessions, the more time I have, which is truly precious.

This is not to say that I have not struggled with some of this over the past few months.  I think the biggest obstacle was how this was going to affect my children.  I think the "mommy guilt" was the hardest thing for me to let go of.  Even though our girls are 5 and 7, I still see them as little babies, my little babies.  At this point in my kid's lives, Minnesota, their house in Richfield, their little friends down the street, their aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents were all that they knew and it was safe.  Was I willing to take them away from that safety net?  Heck, this was really all I had ever known, was I willing to do the same for myself?

So as we got closer to the idea of actually packing up and moving out of state the process of letting go was staring us right in the face.  Were we really going to do this?  Could we, but more importantly I think I kept saying, should we?  I had lived my entire first 34 years of my life in Minnesota.  I had seen my neighborhood change over the years - I was a part of that and now I was just going to pack up and leave it?  Well, the obvious answer is yes but it did take some time.

I can say with all honesty that my husband was the best choice for this congregation that we are now a part of in Dunedin.  I have always thought that he is one of the most intelligent and brilliant men I have ever and will ever know but I think this congregation sees it as well.  Mike came down here last winter to interview and I had no doubt he would impress.  The biggest factor for us was would it be something we wanted as well? 

So in early May we packed up the whole family and flew down to Florida.  It had so many elements of excitement for us.  The girls got to experience their first plane ride, seeing Florida and of course the possibility was there for us all that this just might become our new home.  What made the trip so awesome were not just the fantastic sunny days, powder white beaches but the welcoming embrace from our possible new church.

We spent many days engulfed in Mike's career opportunity but we also had to decide if it would all really work for us.  So we visited a school for the girls, found a place where we could live and even a job for me.  It meant so much that I could move from one YMCA to another - still having that community outlet that I knew we would all need. 

As I think back to the process of letting go, the getting rid of clutter and material things was not really that big of deal to me, it was letting go of the people around me.  Over time we do not realize how much a person means to us until they are not quite as accessible as they used to be.  I knew it was going to be hard to not have my parents close by, not have my kids see their family members in person as often, this was the hardest part of leaving.  I knew we were not saying goodbye forever but more so saying "see you soon."

There are days that are harder than others.  Days when I really miss my mom and dad, my sisters and brothers, friends and old co-workers.  The practice of non-attachment helps me through all those sad feelings for I know that even if I cannot physically embrace these people, I can pick up the phone, Skype, text, email or even meditate. Nothing is permanent and every day is moving forward to the next one.  I also know that if I really need to see any one of these people, there is nothing stopping me from getting on a plane and heading back to good old MPLS - well, maybe below zero temps and blizzards!

So as we head into this fall season where in Minnesota we really do see the physical changes of Mother Nature, we will embrace our new autumn season in Florida.  We will enjoy our local farmers markets that thrive all year round.  We get to wear shorts and flip flops all year - maybe the occasional sweatshirt for those chilly days of 60 degrees.  Sunshine calls our name everyday (361 days to be exact) and it is so pleasant.  We have so many beaches to try out, amusement parks to have fun at and time to simply enjoy this new journey.

We will always be rooted in Minnesota but our branches are sure soaking up the salt water and sun!

May the sun that shines on my face shine on yours as well.

Namaste.

 

 

 

The year of "firsts"

Moving into the next phase of your life is a lot like crossing monkey bars.  You have to let go at some point in order to move forward.  - Unknown


I have been grappling with a few different blog posts over the past few weeks and just could not come to terms with what to post next.  The process of change has been ever-present in my life for the last few months and what better way to incorporate this process than to discuss yet another year gone by or as today would entail - one year older. 


If you look close in the sky, the Coast Guard came out special for my birthday!

So today I turn 35 years old.
35.
Yawn.

I have been feeling a bit down these past few days and I know it has nothing to do with the number 35. I always joke that I am like the clothing store, "Forever 21." I do not think about age in terms of a number but more an experience - the way one really feels. I like to think that I feel healthy and alive.

So what is making me a little blue this birthday season? Well, this is the first birthday ever in my life where I am not in Minnesota. Can you imagine?  My first 34 birthdays were all celebrated in Minnesota? 

I have always loved my birthday - I will admit it. I like to celebrate me. I tend to blame my narcissism on the fact that I am the youngest of seven children and still to this day thrive off of attention. It makes sense. I loved being on stage as a kid and young adult.  Then, I ended up making a career out of getting up in front of people and instructing them on how to exercise. Many would think that this is crazy but to me it is just pure awesome. 
 
Now, I am very aware that my birthday celebrations have evolved over the years.  I left the bar scene right around the time I had my first baby (or maybe I just limited my bar time once I had a baby).  Other things became more important - it was more about getting together with family and close friends. Recently birthdays have even simply been about taking time for me.

So after talking with my sister a few nights ago it got me thinking about what is really going on here.  No, I am not worried that I am growing old, I actually take aging as a challenge (that is a whole other post) but I realized that this is going to be a year of "firsts" for me and my whole family.

Changes have been happening left and right; they have not stopped or even slowed down since we arrived on the Suncoast.  I am still amazed at how calm we have been for the most part with everything that we have gone through over the past few months.  Some of these changes have been challenging but for the most part they have been exciting.  I think that there will be many more exciting "firsts" but the ones like birthdays and holidays will be bittersweet. 

So as I embark on this here birthday, I started to think about how some of the Ten Living Principles of Yoga could guide me through this first "firsts."  The Ten Living Principles are broken up into Yamas (Don'ts) and Niyamas (Do's).  There are two that seem to guide me through my thoughts and emotions at this present time.

First, would be the Yama of Aparigraha.  Aparigraha is defined as not grasping.  We get attached or comfortable to a way of life, the way it should be and basically live our lives around that idea or process.  This would be fine if life were indeed a standard event in which nothing ever changed; but life does change, and it demands that we adapt and change with it.  Many of the teachings in yoga philosophy tell us that nothing in life is permanent. Life would be much easier and substantially less painful if we lived with the knowledge of impermanence as the only constant. Many of us have learned the hard way that if we hold onto anything too tightly we almost always loose it (this applies to objects, ideas and people). Our best option then lies in breaking down the barriers, letting go of what we think we need to hold onto and allowing ourselves to grow. It is through that letting go that we become more resilient.

The second principle would be the Niyama of Santosha.  Santosha means contentment or the practice of contentment.  I thought this fit perfectly with where I am at this given time for the practice of contentment is about having the ability to feel satisfied within one's own immediate experience.  Now, this does not necessarily mean happiness for there are going to be times in life where we are not fully happy but we can be content.  I like to think that it means we are at peace with where we are at any given stage in our lives. 

So, I guess that means I need to let go of the way it has been for the last 34 years and go out and celebrate my birthday Florida style.  No expectations, just to live in this current moment at this current time.  I need to be satisfied with where I am at this given time and realize that life is ever changing.  So, I decided to make this day a little about me with a lot about our new surroundings and our family that is also experiencing these "firsts" as well.

I spent time on Skype this morning with my niece who is about to move from Sweden to Korea - wow!  Talk about a huge change and she is just going for it.  Way to go April!

I had the honor to spend a good chunk of the day frolicking on Clearwater Beach with my amazing husband.  It was like the G rated version of  the beach scene from the movie "From Here to Eternity."

I finished my day watching my kids swim at sunset in the ocean (yes, I was at the beach twice in one day - priceless) and then ate a Dairy Queen ice cream cone on the ride home.  It was everything and nothing like how I thought my birthday should be like and it was great.  I think I could get used to this beach birthday celebrating but I will strive to remember that life is always shifting.

I once heard this spoken in a yoga class, "Always let go, never give up."  This shall be my mantra for this coming year of "firsts." 

May the light in me honor the light in you,

Namaste


P.S. If you like music to groove you, these two songs really seem to "sing" to me at this given time. Plus, they are just plain catchy. Enjoy!

"Knee Deep" by The Zac Brown Band: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gbxf0WWSROk

"My next thirty years" by Tim McGraw: http://youtu.be/NoR78-PomKc

And so the journey begins...or should it be titled "In the Beginning?"

“Your present circumstances don’t determine where you go; they merely determine where you start.”

– Nido Qubein

I remember the moment quite well.  Mike and I were sitting on our balcony overlooking the Atlantic Ocean on the North Carolina coast, enjoying our second annual vacation with the girls to the shore. We were relaxing, reading, the girls were inside unwinding from the day and then as if we sensed each other, we both said, "Someday I want to live by the ocean." 

I know, we all say outlandish things from time to time, lofty visions of a dream life but this was very intentional.  I think at the back of our minds we both thought, "Yeah, we will live by the ocean when we are older and retired." 

I have always enjoyed the ocean.  My best memories of childhood all revolve around our family vacations to different beaches.  My mom was good at making sure we saw as much of the country as we could each August.  I am lucky to say that I have probably been to almost every states shoreline at some time in my life (well not Alaska but yes to Maine!). Sure, Minnesota is the land of 10,000 lakes but a lake does not compare to the mother ship of all bodies of water like the ocean. 

Mike and I both agreed there was something that inspired us, fed a part of us that seemed malnourished when we made it to the shore.  The ocean, to me is such a symbol of life. When I am there, all my five senses are heightened and I feel this internal peace that I just have not found anywhere else. 

So like most folks, we put those thoughts of moving to the ocean in the back of our minds, loaded up the car and drove back to reality.  I mean really, we were not in any position to just drop everything and move to some random place with a nice beach.  We were also raised in families that just did not do those types of things.  We had responsibilities to think of; a life to go back to and from all prospects - a wonderful life.

The year prior, we took the girls to the ocean for their first time.  Mike and I were determined to make our kids travelers from a young age.  We had really created the anticipation for both of them when talking about the ocean.  We were constantly showing them pictures and talking about the vastness of the ocean.  Fiona was 5 and Chloe was 3 at that time.  Fiona was very curious and Chloe, our little lover, did not care as long as we were all together.

I remember the first night we arrived at the ocean, after two long days of driving, and how we all embraced it with such joy.  It was so fun to see our kid's faces as we walked down to the beach.  They were both amazed and a bit uncertain.  The tide was high so the waves were what we now call "perfect." We spent each day at the beach, in and out of the water, playing in the sand and simply watching time go by, it was absolutely enchanting.

At the end of the vacation we packed up and left the coast and I remember Fiona saying, "Will we ever come back to the ocean?"  We assured her of it for we all loved it.  So, the next summer we basically went right back to the same spot and parked it for an entire week.  It was pure bliss and after that second trip with the girls a fire was lit underneath both Mike and I.  The salt air was calling us.

But as the days, weeks, months rolled on and we started to examine our current lives, we realized that waiting was just not an option.  Going to the ocean each year was not cutting it, it was not filling us up enough so we could survive until the next time. 

It also worked out that Mike was at a crossroads in his career.  It was becoming apparent that we just might need to look out of state for his next opportunity.  Many of his colleagues advised him to look outside of Minnesota for there would allow for more options. We needed to make a decision, stay in Minnesota and hope that something opened up soon or look out of state? 

Last year I had the challenge and opportunity for a career leap and I took it. It ended up being one of the best decisions I had ever made. It also made me realize that taking risks, going outside ones comfort zone was possible and in the end, rewarding.  I am fortunate that my career offers many options so I was willing to take a chance and see what living "somewhere else" was like.  So as Mike was given the opportunity to lead his own church and that it was within minutes of the ocean, we decided to take this leap of "faith."

So here we are, on the Suncoast of Florida.  Many of you who know me already know a good chunk of this story but as I continue with my writings I will probably reveal more of how it all really happened.  This has no doubt been a huge change for us.  Four unique individuals in our little family all on this journey together.  There have been ups and downs, with few sun salutations thrown in there as well.

What is life like down here?  There are so many words and feelings that I know I will not run short of material to discuss.  I hope you will come along with me on this adventure.  It is a beautiful place to be, the Suncoast, but like any place in the world, it has a story of its own to be revealed.  I will admit that it is not always a "day at the beach" but I will try not to get too heavy (let's leave that for Mike's sermons!).

Where will we go from here?  Well, the title of this first entry and the quote sum it all up. 
It is a new beginning but really, the journey is ever present and ongoing.

As we say at the end of a yoga practice "May the light in me honor the light in you."

Until next time,

Namaste