Mother Nature, Gratitude & Enjoying Life

This is a picture of us at the beautiful Waimea Canyon in Hawaii. I'm the one in shorts, bundled up in my husbands' overcoat. We have several pictures of us at different tourist spots, but they all look pretty much like this one.

Actually it has been a great trip. We spent one beautiful day, in pouring rain, zip lining through the rain forest. Another day was spent at Hanalei Beach watching the muddy rivers pour into the ocean creating brown waves and dirty water. And finally one day was spent in thick fog.

I can't complain - much. It was our choice to come in November and Mother Nature has her own schedule to keep. But in spite of the interesting weather Kauai is still one of the most pleasant places on Earth.

I have repeatedly reminded myself that it is a wonderful blessing just to be here again - this time with my husband & our oldest son. At home my husband has to be at work much of the time, but here I have his undivided attention and that alone is something to be grateful for. My son lives in a different part of the state than we do so spending this time with him is priceless. In fact, when I think about it, there is really nothing to complain about.

Of course Hawaii is expensive. We went to a health food store to buy local beef and it was $9.09 per half pound; so we went elsewhere to buy meat and dinner was a raving success.

Some fellow tourists in a nearby condo have been yelling at each other, and at the child traveling with them, for much of the week. I feel sad for them. In spite of all the wonderful things we have to be grateful for it just seems pointless to allow discontent to block our ability to enjoy life - just the way it comes.