Carpe Diem!

Being back home in Georgia for our brief sojourn, we visited Greg's parents' graves today. As we placed new flowers for the winter season in the urns and on the headstone, we felt reminded and reassured that we are doing the right thing by taking a year to travel with our children. What once seemed so crazy, now seems to make perfect sense.

Greg's mom and dad, Emily and Charles, worked hard all their lives.  They worked diligently for others in various fields and then, diligently for themselves when they started Charles's construction company and later, their concrete business.  They had one child whom they loved very much, but they didn't always get to spend a lot of time with him when he was a kid because they were always working.  Emily died at the age of 45 from breast cancer and Charles died at the age of 62 from melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer.  Neither one lived to enjoy one day of retirement.

So, today, we celebrated their lives and achievements.  We told the kids stories of their grandparents who love them dearly from above.  We prayed they watch over us during this year and keep us safe on our travels.  And I prayed that I can learn to slow down, be content, and appreciate the gift of our year off with our children.  I know this is a once in a lifetime experience.

Why wait for retirement to experience it?  Who knows what tomorrow may bring?  "For tomorrow may rain, so I'll follow the sun..."

Carpe Diem, Folks!