Life! Passion! and Living your Purpose!

We began school this morning examining a little lizard on our wall and then watching a spider anaesthetise a huge flying ant in her web. We've been reading Charlotte's Web each evening, so this is apropos. Nothing like a hands-on education! The opportunities are everywhere and there are days when Michael and I just step back and marvel at the experiences our children are having with nature, culture, history-even sports experiences- through their eyes.

In the afternoon, we went to Punta Uva to take that hike we've been talking about. We've been waiting for the rains to stop a few days in a row, so that it's not a slippery mess. Unfortunately, Allie is suffering from a bronchial infection and with her asthma couldn't take the climb, so she stayed on the beach with our picnic.

Michael hates heights so even the plan of taking the kids up there has been causing him some discomfort...It is high, and rocky, and dangerous...it is also an incredible experience and sight to embrace! So with prayer for safety, gratitude for the opportunity to experience-and a firm hold on Gabriel for good measure- we climbed into the jungle and up to the ridge.

This is a common hike, so the path is clear and well-traveled. There is a grave in there we didn't see when last we were up here-although it is marked a few years ago. Sparked many imaginative possible scenarios in Gabriel!



As we began our ascent, a dog joined us from "out of nowhere" and did not leave our sides-stopping when we stopped and patiently waited while we started up again-like a sentinel, or protector....Littlest Hobo....wonder what encourages Gabriel's imaginative contemplations...

It is amazing to stand in the jungle and take in the vastness, the biodiversity, the incredible size of it! Tree roots higher than we are-and on close inspection, house plants, animals, and insects by the thousands-dare we guess at the number?

 Gabriel, who exhibits most often the rambunciousness of  an "extreme-sports" nature, shows caution and good sense when he is in a situation in which he's not proficient. He was happy to be held onto, and showed equal concern for his dad, who loves the majesty, but hates the altitude!

 

As we were on our way down, we spotted two little boys who we assumed were Costa Rican coming out of another path. They grinned and said "hi" and we could hear them behind us talking quietly with perfect English pronunciation.  Whenever we looked back, they were hiding and "spying" on us.  Just as we were almost down, a little hand "tagged" me on the back with a burst of giggles. Intriguing little boys who looked Latino but spoke English like North Americans...Turns out, they were adopted from Guatemala, and their parents have brought them to Costa Rica for a few years while their dad teaches at an international school.

 Michael spent some time talking with them on the beach while Gabriel and I shared our body board with their boys-Michael and Jonathan-both just turned six and both much smaller than Gabriel. I went to meet the parents, Sally and Mike, of this delightful pair. Michael and I so love meeting absolute strangers from all over the world and quickly finding commonalities...connection...


When asking what each other "did", I said I am co-founder of a life empowerment company, Sally said "I knew you did something like that...just before you said that, I knew it!" She described having worked with a life coach over ten years and it being a huge catalyst to them adopting their children and being here in Costa Rica. I had to ask...what made her attribute that to me? She said I had the same "way" about me, and she'd been encouraged in the same way just talking to me on the beach... Wow! and so I am encouraged! What a gift to be privileged to be what makes you come alive!!