A best of times in the best of places . . .

I am full of emotion as I write this tonight, not always a good thing:) I just spent 3 hours watching Oprah's Australian adventure with my mom and crying every few segments. Usually my jealous self emerges when I watch one of Oprah's give away shows and I am filled with covetousness and cry out to my TV every few moments, "Why them and not me?! Oh the humanity!" and eventually run out into the night crying hysterically. Tonight was different, however, I didn't run out into the night, I walked (hehe, I kid, I kid). I was so happy for those people because they were living a moment that will be their joy and comfort for years to come. We all deserve times in which we marvel at our fortune and we marvel at the world that our Heavenly Father has created for us. I had many of those moments not 3 months ago. Come along on our first day in Barcelona and one of the best I have ever shared with my mother . . .

Bright and early we embark -

And soon we find ourselves in the white and pristine abode that is the Barcelona airport (Marcos, this shot was especially for you . . . does it look like home?)

There was nothing we wanted to do more than go to the beach. It has been over ten years for my mother and for a women that lived her childhood with the waves at her side, it had been too long.

We watched the joy of children as they ran to the water, it was a magical day for them

and for us:) For the bulk of our trip we bought food from grocery stores and made sandwiches, we only ate out once and that seems odd to most folks but it was worth it for with a spread like this, could you ask for anything more?

I did ask for one more thing and the nectar of diet coke made it perfect -

There was nothing better than listening to the water hit the rocks,

or watch the tide come in -

Mom tried to kick the waves but

had awful timing and we ended laughing more than anything. I love this picture, it shows the pure joy that we both felt.

And also the surprise that comes when water comes in faster than you thought:)

Longing for a home that has only lived in her heart -

Then we got a little silly . . . we laid and listened to music for over an hour and took crazy and random pictures:)

Finally, we knew, we couldn't stay forever -

and off to the boardwalk we go - - - a night of clubbing was definitely to come

but not for us - - -

and not for him either:)

There are no words to explain this day but I bet you can see it in her smile,

and if there are beaches in heaven, mine will be from Barcelona . . .