Florida Perks

First of all, just to get it out of the way, I didn't pass my 3 hour Glucola test so I have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, now on to Florida stuff...

I've been going down to the beach in the evenings almost every weekend since the beginning of last month. I enjoy sitting quietly in the evening watching the stars pop up over the ocean with the setting sun behind me. The unceasing sound of the waves, the infinite grains of sand between your toes and fingers and then the universe unfolding before your eyes, I don't know why more people aren't out there with me just being. Last weekend I got a pretty cool surprise. As I waddled down the steps to the sand, I noticed several small sections of beach were sectioned off with wooden stakes and red caution tape. Then it hit me, BAM, sea turtle nests. Everywhere. Amazing. Now I'm walking really cautiously across the beach towards the waves hoping that all the nests have been marked and I'm not accidentally walking on little baby turtle eggs, silently cursing myself for thinking such silly thoughts yet not stopping them and I sit down. Two babies in the belly and thousands of babies under the sand, more mommy turtles full of eggs out in the waves waiting for the night, I'm totally surrounded, in, through and around me is God in the action of creation. I cried. I suddenly felt like I was on the most beautiful, most holy spot on the whole planet. I hope I never forget.

I was talking to a new friend of mine last Sunday at church. We were talking about different states in the US and some of the things that make those states unique and special. Someone walked up and heard me talking about the "Florida Mountain Range". To those who don't know, all along the Florida Turnpike every 20 miles or so is what is generally called a landfill. In Florida however, there isn't any real geographic place to "fill" so instead they end up with these 5 - 8 story high mountains of dirt covered garbage. The person who walked up told a great story about when her husband and two children drove up to Vermont when the children were young. Now, keep in mind, these are Florida children who have never left Florida. Mom and Dad had driven through the night while the children slept. When the children woke up in the morning and saw the Vermont country side for the first time the older child spoke up with his first observation, "Wow, they sure have a lot of garbage here!"

The way we see things hardly ever has anything to do with our eyes. If you don't believe me, ask any blind person.