I’ve always wanted to go there. Asilomar. After reading about it from the Shutter Sisters who gathered there a year before. So when we were in the area last week, celebrating my birthday, I suggested we stop in, walk along the path where I had seen beautiful photos posted from the various bloggers and photographers I follow. It was dreamy, my daughter and me, skipping, running, hopping down the path. Thank you to my wonderful husband for capturing this moment. (Behind the scenes, I ended up with a splinter, we thought our car had gotten towed- it didn’t, my daughter initially wasn’t so thrilled with the plan. But thankfully, it all turned out okay in the end.)

At the end of a busy day, I often reflect back on the kind of day it was. Did it turn out as I had hoped or did things go along on a bumpy course, different than I had imagined? Did I follow my heart, help support my family, and reach out within my community?

Last night, at the end of what seemed like the busiest and craziest of days, I looked up at the night sky as we were gathered with friends and family.  It was the perfect time to breathe out a big heavy sigh, grateful for that very moment, even with all the twists along the way.