We’ve Only Just Begun

It was just a few days ago that we were sitting on the Alps near the Austrian border sipping hot cappuccinos and talking about our return home. How, we wondered, does one assimilate into the fast pace life we could now just barely remember? Would there be a way to retain the valuable life lessons we had learned? It is hard to put into words the realizations of self we learned while we were away.

First and foremost, the gift of time. Making and taking the time to  fully live life and finding delight in the treasures along the way. Knowing there is a difference between just existing through life and living it fully and then deciding to put all we are in to the latter. Believing that each day brings a new adventure and it is our job to find and revel in it and remember that they truly are gifts from God and to be treasured.

There is beauty around us even in the everyday world. The a multitude of colors in the ocean, myriads of stars on a dark clear night, the sun setting, blustery winds, and thunder storms that rock your whole world. The kindness of strangers and the relationships that change strangers to friends. Being purposeful in our observations somehow makes the ordinary extraordinary. Taking the time to treasure these things is our gift and the delight it brings is beyond words.

Finding us again. It is easy in the busyness of life to get confused and think that what we do is who we are. We will always be some body’s parent, grandparent, sibling, child, health care provider but finding us was so very vital.

We realized we really don’t need much ‘stuff’. Everything we needed each day was at our fingertips. Each other, a few change of clothes, a good attitude, a sense of adventure and the appreciation of each and every moment. So the simpler the better. We traveled very light and found we wanted for nothing.

And, that we are so very blessed each and every day and it is irrelevant to where we are. We pray never to take that realization for granted.

So, as we were sipping away on our warm drinks in the Alps, Karen Carpenters song “You’ve Only Just Begun” began to play. We knew it was no accident. This was meant for us and so we have taken this to heart. The great adventures continue and we’ve only just begun; just closer to home for now. We eagerly look forward to this chapter and being with those we love so very much.

So, until we are on the road again this is it for now. Tibet is just around the corner so we will let you know…