About once a year Steve and I get to travel back to California to visit family and friends. Our trips are far too infrequent and short, but special nonetheless. This past weekend wasn’t any different than any of our other trips except; instead of flying with a ten month old baby who was just starting to scoot around – as was the case the last time we were in Cali – we had a dancing monkey disguised as our twenty month old daughter, Addisyn. Lucky for us, she has a knack for making friends with strangers and bringing smiles to unassuming airplane passengers.
Of all our trips to California, this one was especially too short. Circumstances in Steve’s professional life wouldn’t let us get away for more than a long weekend. But, as short as it was, this mini vacay filled with priceless memories and endless laughter was exactly what I needed.
This past week had been a rough one for me. Aside from dealing with two natural disasters, I had also received news that my grandpa had a severely damaging stroke and was in intensive care. When I heard this news, family both near and far came to the forefront of my thoughts and prayers. The hurricane winds and battering rains were outward reflections of how my heart was twisting and turning with the pain of potentially losing my grandpa this week. Then, last Wednesday I got my hair colored before leaving on our trip to California. When I arrived home from my appointment, I picked up Addisyn and saw her smiling from ear to ear. She softly brushed my new hair style with her tiny hands eventually resting both hands on my cheeks showing me that she recognized me and loved me. I smiled the biggest smile and as quickly as the smile appeared on my face, the tears began to roll down my cheeks. This is what it’s all about: holding family close to my heart both physically and in memories. This California trip was much more than going out to see Kami and Sam’s wedding; it was bringing Addisyn to her California family so she could physically feel their comfort and love.
So here I am, on my way back home to Delaware flying the friendly sky’s somewhere I’m guessing above Nevada or Utah while watching Addisyn sleep peacefully in my arms. My guess… my hope, is that she’s California dreamin’…
Dreamin’ of the new friends she met in Kami and Sam’s family as we all gathered to celebrate their beautiful marriage. Or maybe she’s dreamin’ of the laughter and smiles that surrounded her when she greeted Kami and Sam’s guests with her cute, “Hewooah!“. I bet she might even be dreamin’ of dancing in her Nana’s arms. And, if I was her dream catcher, I would make sure she held on tight to the memory of this entire weekend so, as she grows older, she may go back some nights and remember the love and comfort that surrounds her when she is around her California family and friends.
Kami, the ever so cool bride
Airport photo op
The groom and his best man
Addisyn’s Babe Ruth point
Addisyn lovin on her Nana
Congrats Sam & Kami!
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