We come down the hill, reach the stairs, feel the spray, hear the roar. There's almost no beach this morning. The tide is high; we walk on this narrow strip of dry rocks in the whitecaps and wind.

It's Sunday, this is church: a solitary ramble and reflection. I am conscious of this morning, this hour, this minute, this day, of gratitude, of all the gifts in my life; an unanticipated weekend of family unity, of harmony, happiness and laughter. We run as a pack, parents, grown kids, plus extras, a boyfriend, a girlfriend. Because sibling harmony is never a given, because it has been lacking, because it has been hard won, because we've had to be patient, because we had hope, because we've been lucky, because we've listened and guided and not taken sides in skirmishes. For this day, for this life, for all this love I am able to give and receive, I give thanks in the whitecaps and wind.

All texts and photos copyright Kelly DuMar 2107