Australia - Sunday May 8 - Mother's Day

Once again the kids woke up at 4:30 am. At 9 am, we went to church at the Townsville branch, which is small and not very strong. David talked to the elders who were assigned to the branch, but he didn't remember very many of the members. It was Mother's Day, so Gordon made me a card in his class, and he and Laura each gave me a paper carnation.

We had Mother's Day brunch at the Reef restaurant, and then walked along the beach, trying to keep the kids awake past their usual US bedtime. It seemed to help. And so the day ends.

Am I boring you to death? Stay tuned; Monday we actually DO something. But also recognize: this is not a normal vacation. This is traveling with small children. Downside: life in the slow lane. No roller coasters or in-depth intellectual pursuits. When they're tired, you rest. If they're not ready to sleep, you will not sleep. And a high-energy dawn-til-dusk vacation? Not happening. Upside: life in the slow lane. Those little drives and walks on the beach are punctuated with a small child's wonder at the world unfolding around them. Strange trees, houses on stilts, posties in their funny hats, a golden bite of melting papaya--all these things light up their eyes and engage their imaginations. You see the freshness of life around you through them.

So this exotic destination vacation is frequently marked by meals, naps, quiet times after lunch, and trips to the grocery store, the laundromat, and the park. It doesn't read exciting, but try to see little Gordon analyzing every detail, small soft Laura quietly glowing with wonder, and toddler Karren's zest for fun. The joy is in the details.