Life is Beautiful...

...here in San Diego. Today I am already homesick for here--even before we have left. Will a year away be difficult after all? Will the reds and yellows and greens and purples of vineyards reflecting the magical light of Tuscany be adequate substitutes for the greens and sun and golden glow of a perfect day here in paradise?

Today has been Father's Day here in the 50 states. A day when the earth stands still for a little while as homage and tribute is paid to all men who give of themselves and love others. Maybe those we honor are our fathers and grandfathers. Perhaps the honor is given to uncles who play with and cherish a niece or nephew. And then--it may be that man who gives affection, caring and time to a lonesome child who needs an adult to say "yes, you do matter." Fathers' Day encompasses so much more than a tribute to parenting. It is a day to acknowledge that nurturing transcends gender and becomes a reflection of who a person is--man or woman, doesn't matter.

So today was one of those days for us--a memory day. It is now night--but still light out. Ken has Casey upstairs getting him ready for bed and listening to night time prayers. When they are finished, my turn will come and I will go up, sing an off-tune song that is music to Casey's ears (and only his) and we will share a "kiss, a hug and a hold." A perfect end to a perfect day.

It has been a day that has shown God's creation in its glory. We have laughed together as we splashed in the pool--Ken, Casey, Uncle Jeff and I. The birds serenaded with music far superior to the music of man; the flowers were painted in magnificent colors never found on the artist's palette, the quiet breeze kept the the sun from bringing discomfort and we had fun. Somehow pools bring out the child in all of us and so we are all one in age as we throw water balls, stand on our hands and do the ever famous canon ball jump (some of us do send more water out of the pool than others!)

A day like today reminds us that nothing surpasses family in the satisfactions of life. And so this brings me back to where I started--is leaving a mistake? Is the experience worth the loss of today? I believe it will be but it is also today that will bring us back here--to laugh again with son Jeff and watch uncle and nephew enjoy each other in the special way families do. What a richness to treasure!