Throughout this year, here at the port or elsewhere when we’ve cruised, we have seen countless sunrises and sunsets that simply make us pause and capture our attention.   As I behold these moments, I ponder a few things.

First being, how fast the sun rises or sets.  How quickly the majestic deep array of color appears, then disappears, and the moment is gone.

Second, I ponder a quote from G.K. Chesterton.

“Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged.  They always say, “Do it again”; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead.  For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony.  But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony.  It is possible that God says every morning, “Do it again” to the sun; and every evening, “Do it again” to the moon.  It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them.  It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.”

~G.K. Chesterton

Living on the water, we have delighted in surveying the wildlife all around us.  Harbor seals curiously came close as the children and I enjoyed our many afternoon and evening dingy rides throughout the marina this past spring and summer.  Camouflaged to their surroundings, a mama seal gave birth to her pup at the end of our dock.  Watching them was so captivating for all of us.

I was completely captivated with this live aboard life when, being docked at Langley early this past spring, I watched whales swim past and spout as I washed our dinner dishes.  There is just something so amazing to know, cruising from one place to another in our home vessel, these giants of the sea swim beneath and around us.

Watching whales spout

Watching whales spout from Langley

Watching whales spout from Langley

This past spring at our home dock, we enjoyed watching all the mother ducks take care of their babies.  The kids enjoyed watching the ducks so much, that two boat neighbors blessed our kids with two decoy ducks, affectionately named “Lucky Ducky” and “Plucky Duck”.  They tirelessly follow behind our children in the dinghy. 🙂 Another bird we enjoyed watching was the stealthy Great Blue Herron who struts our dock day or night.    It looks so prehistoric and dinosaur like.

Breathtaking sunrises, captivating abundant marine life, and glorious sunsets which tuck us in each night are tireless gifts we enjoy and treasure each day.  And this is just the Pacific Northwest!  There are still whole oceans to explore!!