When you're waiting for the break in the clouds you can forget to be grateful for the light in your life.

So I've been on the beach for the past hour or so but I've been sulking. Yup, acting like a pretty spoiled brat. My Problem: I want to bake in the sun so I can have the stamp of vacation on my skin when I return North, but the clouds are out.

I can tell I'm being visibly disappointed. I need to check myself. Here I am with the brilliantly beautiful opportunity to be close to crystal blue waters while many people are freezing and trying not to step in the murky residue from snow and freezing rains and I'm finding more reasons to be down than happy. I need to get my life.

So instead I will write a gratitude prayer:

Most perfect position eternal Master I welcome you with thanksgiving. I thank you for all of the elements of life that you have afforded us; These clouds and winds and light rains that currently dance around this soft-to-the-touch sand. I thank you for my company. Lawrence, my partner in love and happiness and great vacations and Michele, his sister, who has sacrificed a lot to show us an amazing time. I thank you for the opportunity to be here right now. For the financial and spiritual blessings that paved the way for me to be right here. I am grateful. Thank you for the ancestors whose voices sing with the ebb and flow of the ocean. Their love and sacrifices, their joys and challenges. Their endurance, that I might be here. Right now.

Thank you for your forgiveness oh God during moments like this when we sit in human emotion and easily forget the bigger picture. Yet you love us anyway. I thank you.

I am truly grateful for this life you are loaning me oh God. May I remember to always be a reflection of gratitude and to always be present to the blessing, no matter what its form.

Thank you!

Amen and Ashe!

Gone Fishin'

So just in case I haven't been clear, I'M ON VACATION!!!!! No, this isn't spring break or any official school vacation, I just decided to be out!

So Lawrence and I have been North Lauderdale, Florida since last Tuesday. We're staying with his sister and brother in law, and I must say it's been nothing short of amazing. We hit the streets every day to do something new; we are enjoying some of the best sea food we've ever tasted; and while there's snowy and cold conditions for everyone back home, we're in sandals and sunglasses everyday!!! The life!

Yesterday, I had my first experience with fishing. It was pretty cool. Made me think a lot about my dad. I caught one fish while others around me reeled in sharks and numerous other finned friends (Lawrence caught 5); I don't think the used to be vegan in me really had it to keep the poor thing (let alone eat it) so I asked to throw mine back. It was too small to keep anyway they said. otherwise, besides getting sea sick, the experience was really cool.

I've also gotten to experience Cirque du Soleil and some of the most amazingly talented people on earth. It was dope! I'm hopeful to catch the Michael Jackson version of the show soon.

Anyways, we're en route to see more of Miner's friends for BBQ, but I just wanted to keep you up to date.

Til next time...to da beach!!!!

6:51AM

This morning I watched the sunrise from a beach in Fort Lauderdale. It was the most beautiful thing I've seen in a while. I'm grateful to God for opportunities like this to take in the greatness around me. As the waters washed upon me and the sand took home in the creases of my toes, I was grounded in the beauty of God. I thought about family, I thought about the ancestors, I thought about love. I truly felt blessed. May the rays of the sun envelope my spirit and reflect out to yours.

Have a fantastic day!