A beautiful mother  stood off in the distance, I saw her as I sat near the kids while they built sand castles. she was watching her daughter who was learning to surf and her dad was todays teacher .It was  tender and sweet to see a stranger yet fellow sister who was in that moment and always will be her child’s biggest fan. When her daughter caught a wave I could see her smile and clap her hands up high for her little girl to see. My mind drifted back to  when I was a little girl in Huntington beach and dad sat out in the cold water teaching me. He taught me to wait for the right time to take off  and how to position myself in the right way in order to catch the wave. A wave of emotion rushed over me in an instant, I was a little girl once who lived a wonderful childhood full of cherished memories. How grateful I am for parents who sacrificed their time and talents to teach me, to support me to love me. After some amazing rides the little girl and her dad came toward the shore and when they reached the waters edge she turned  and threw her arms around him.  They hugged and I could hear her say “thank you daddy!” I smiled and complimented them as they walked away, and yet those feelings of my own happy childhood days on the beach lingered throughout the day. I watched my children making wonderful memories and it brought me such great joy to give to them what was selflessly given to me. I saw the boys help Kate when she hurt her toe, and let her play with them and be a unicorn. I saw them invite a stranger into their soccer game, and laugh while exploring the oceans treasures. These moments, these days, amid the struggles and mundane are the  glimpses into eternity  where you can sense the joy of a forever family.