≡ Menu

NEW OCEANS

Doesn’t this just take your breath away?

We spent last week in Puerto Vallarta -were missing being next to the ocean.  On our last evening I was alone with this sublime spectacle.

There was an odd lump in my throat watching this sunset.  It was a perfect moment and all was silent except for the sound of the waves coming to shore.  A sound that soothes me when I am discouraged and a puts peace in my heart when trouble looms on the horizon.  And I was just hoping this sunset would freeze the moment.

But it didn’t.

Do you have moments like that?  Ones that are permanently etched into your memory, never to fade.

Mikee and I measure time by those moments.  And we have enjoyed many.  In fact, we sometimes feel like two little old people reminiscing.  Looking back on those they seem to put life in perspective… some were not as terrible as we thought and others changed our lives in ways we could never have imagined.

YOU ARE ALWAYS ONLY ONE CHOICE AWAY FROM CHANGING YOUR LIFE

-Marcy Blochowiak

Last week marked the 20th anniversary of our packing our car and moving to Wallkill, New York.  It was our first big “stepping out of our comfort zone” venture together.  We were just newlyweds.  But we said “YES” to a special opportunity that was offered us.  There was no way we could have known how life changing that was.  It altered how we view opportunity, people, challenges, blessings, work, …life.

Honestly, I can’t believe that we are old enough to have parts of our adult life go back that far.  Ack!  Not sure how I feel about that. 😉

Much of the motivation to be able to move to a brand new country (with 3 kiddos, by the way) came from our learning the value of reaching out all those years ago.  Is it easy? No way, Jose!  But is it worth it?  Yes, indeed!

What motivates people?  Some are driven to reach out for new experiences while others are determined to stay put in their safe place.  That has always been fascinating to me.  And then watching (and trying to learn) from the outcome of those choices.

I had grandparents that loved to travel.  But when you look at their photos you see very different stories.  One set of grandparents pictures were of fabulous places, things, scenery.  The other set of grandparents saw many of the same incredible sights but many of their pictures have people in them.  People that are still friends after many many years.  It shows that even similar actions can have different results.

And then on my in-laws side were grandparents that lived just about all their life within a couple mile radius of their home with a routine that lasted all the way through 90 years of life.  And they were happy.

Is there one right way to live?  There are as many different ways as there are different people.  We are all individuals and that is cool.  Just as long as we can honestly say we are happy with the choices we made and have done the best we can with this imperfect world we live in.

YOU CANNOT DISCOVER NEW OCEANS UNLESS YOU HAVE THE COURAGE TO LOSE SIGHT OF THE SHORE

-Unknown

Twenty years ago we did not think or dream or even consider that there were “new oceans.”  But somehow we did it and it changed our life -for the better.

What other oceans lie ahead of our little family in the next 20 years?

How about you?  What will you discover?

 

 

{ 8 comments… add one }
  • Lori Borys October 30, 2011, 9:27 pm

    beautiful just like you.

  • DebbieMueller October 31, 2011, 7:50 am

    This is wonderful. I love the comparison of the pictures… So true. I absolutely love reading your blog!!! Thanks!

  • DAD October 31, 2011, 9:57 am

    GOOD THOUGHTS.

  • Frannie Turrell October 31, 2011, 2:22 pm

    That was incredible-both pictures and sentiments expressed in words. We were raised with many, many visits to WTF and other Bethel homes. Dad had a lawn maintenance business, and all six of us worked for him. If we woke up to rain . . .and at the table during text and breakfast we discussed alternative plans, invariably someone would suggest making a “quick” trip to Bethel or WTF. We lived 5-6 hours away. Generally, that idea met with cheers and we would be on our way as quick as we could get the table cleared, the dishes washed and the car gassed up. We were privileged to work at WTF and Bethel as a family on several occasions, and I can truly say that those experiences also shaped our lives in many ways.

  • Barbra October 31, 2011, 8:12 pm

    Simply amazing and breathtaking pictures and information. You are a beautiful writer and every time I start reading, I end up reading on and on! You and your husband and darling family are inspiring on many levels! Thank you for being so kind as to share all these beautiful moments and experiences with us!

    Barbra Luster
    Denver, Colorado – Washington Park

  • Dustin Fox November 1, 2011, 9:32 pm

    I love the post! I’d forgotten that we had arrived only a month apart, but TOTALLY forgot it’s the 20th anniversary! (Happy Anniversary!) It’s always amazing, in retrospect, to consider how various decisions (both good AND bad) can completely change the course of one’s life. Even the big changes I anticipated (like Bethel) ended up being completely unpredictable! The potential unpredictability contained within a lifetime of FOREVER forces me to smile (especially when we all have our Bethel figures and energy level back!).

  • Linda Struble November 7, 2011, 8:18 pm

    I’ve enjoyed reading your blog so much; love the fotos and the narrative. I wonder if you would be comfortable sending me your email address. I am coming to Ajijic in March & want to go to the meetings & in service while I’m there. I have a phone number for the KH but would like to ask you a few questions..
    I’ll be coming from Cancun where I’ll be working with an English congregation for 3 months. I live in New Hampshire and have been to Mexico but never the Lake Chapala area. Keep up the great posts; very inspiring.
    Linda

  • DAD November 12, 2011, 10:34 am

    GOOD JOB BOTH AUSTIN & CAMILE.

Cancel reply

Leave a Comment