I've talked a lot about how my childhood vacations at the beach have formed my connection to the sand and the sea, even now. I've been amazingly lucky, in a way that I never dreamed, to live near the ocean (on both coasts!) for the bulk of my adult life. The sea is always good to me.

I've had in my mind that I'd like to get my camera out to the ocean and the bay more than I do, and really, it's silly that I don't. It's a simple matter of taking the time. Last weekend, I got up early, grabbed my sweatshirt (and a surprisingly willing Neel), and we just went.

What a gift to see the sky turn from silver to pink to peach to bright golden light. What a gift to be there to witness the blooming coral orb slide above the horizon, its beams touching the waves for the first time.

Granted, it was early. But this was the weekend right after Neel's dad fell ill, and we had the weight of worry and decisions heavy upon us. With the beach to ourselves and the glory of the sunrise before us, this moment to take a breath was just what we needed. The air was crisp and the sand was cool and the sky magnificent. When faced with all that, your worries can feel small. The way they should.

On Fridays I'll be featuring the daily photos I take throughout the week. To see the photos I've taken throughout the year, you can check out my Flickr feed. I've also added camera and lens info below each photo.

If you're interested in even more eye candy, I (mostly regularly) take part in a blog with other phenomenal photographers, far more talented than I, who are shooting with the Fuji X system. We call ourselves the Fuji X Crew. Those posts are published on Fridays and can be found here.

My father in law is feeling better. He's out of ICU, and we have hopes that he'll head home soon. But you know how these things are. It's a long slog. Neel's been there since Tuesday, and yesterday Cal made his first solo flight to go and spend some time with his granddad. As hard as it is to be here and so far away, it felt so good and right to send them down there. Absolutely the right and best thing to do. I look forward to the week after Christmas when we'll all be together again.

I can't thank you all enough for the texts and calls and emails of support you've sent our way. I could feel your kind and hopeful thoughts lifting us up. The world really is a small place after all, isn't it?

new day {life}

{still + life} 365 :: sept. 26 - oct. 2