Searching for Starfish

Last weekend we took the boys to the beach and spent the afternoon searching for starfish. We found hundreds as the tide was going out, big ones, small ones, all shades of browns, except a few that were a rare purple. Cameron delighted in picking up the ones that had been out of the water for a while and were shriveled up, and dropping them back in the tide pools. They would instantly blossom like flowers the moment they were back in the water. At one point I looked over to see Ryan perched on a rock with a his cheeks puffed out by a mouth full of snails. Gross, yes, but so typical of Ry that we had to laugh. I wish I could have frozen time for just a little while so we could keep that afternoon longer. The boys were so happy. We hadn't set out to do anything special, yet I hope that is one of the moments I will remember forever. So unplanned and simple and yet so special. I've come to realize it isn't the big life events that define us so much as the simple, everyday moments that make us who we are.

I really enjoy reading the blogs of our friends and family, especially those far away, as it helps us feel a part of their daily lives. I hope you'll join us in rembering more of our "starfish" moments.