One thing I learned from my parent’s visit in December is that I need to spend more time on my back porch enjoying the warm breezes, gradual rising of the sun, and cheery chirping of the island birds. Watching both my mom and dad spend every morning and every other opportunity they had to get away from the cold winter weather in Alabama to sit outside on my porch made me realize how much I’ve taken that space of my home for granted. The last house I lived in was on the ocean, and I used to spend plenty of time watching the waves and listening to the water, but my home now looks out at my neighbors’ yards filled with coconut palms and green yards, and I hadn’t taken the time yet to appreciate what my new porch has to offer. In many ways, my porch now provides more of a sense of calm than my porch on the ocean did. My life at the ocean house has its good memories, but my association with it also carries a lot of pain, unfortunately, more pain than peace. My current home holds nothing but peace and blessings, and I love to sit on my porch in the morning, reading my devotionals, drinking coffee, and listening to my back door neighbor’s wind chimes, the rustlings of the palms in the wind, and the singing of the birds flying overhead. I am ashamed to say that it took my parents (in their semi-retirement) coming over 3, 000 miles for a visit to help me see what I was missing out on. It’s especially important for me to have this kind of time in the mornings now because once I get to work, my days turn crazy and chaotic, not crazy and chaotic in a bad way, but certainly too busy and non-stop to have a quiet moment to muse over life, love, and God’s blessings. My quiet morning musings on the porch along with my morning yoga practice is what helps me through the crazy, chaotic days, and what keeps me enjoying those days instead of allowing them to frustrate me and stress me out. Living on an island where the weather is a balmy 82-88 degrees every day doesn’t hurt either. J
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