November 29th, 2011 
Calle Mami 
Fellow mom blogger Stacy with Kids Stuff World has a great, timely blog series called Life In An Instant – a snapshot of the things that make you grateful. One photo immediately came to mind. Taking pictures has been a hobby for as long as I can remember. I’m not a pro or anything, but it’s something I truly enjoy.
I remember the smile on my face when I took this picture (below) on a small beach in Loiza, Puerto Rico. We literally stumbled upon it during one of our “let’s get lost” excursions. It was so beautiful, we had to get out of the car. A handful of jet skiers and boarders also lined the beach. Not one had an official bathing suit, so we fit right it. The water was clear and warm. Little did we know, it was just minutes before a fabulous downpour. The kids, lollipops in hand, enjoyed the fresh air, wet feet and beauty of their surroundings. I snapped this shot, as I soaked it in along with them. I remember feeling very at peace and full of nostalgia. It was the kids’ first trip to Puerto Rico all together – my parents homeland. They were loving their trip and so was I.
Shortly after, we etched our name into the sand and took a sweet picture of our bare feet. We then booked it to our rental car when the rain decided to make its violent entrance. The raindrops were surprisingly cold and we couldn’t stop laughing as we hobbled over the sand to the car. Down the road from the beach, we actually jumped out the car and splashed in some puddles to clean the rest of the sand off our feet. Nuts I know, but I couldn’t stand the muddy feet – and it turned into a real giggle fest!
Once inside the car and on our way back home, I remembered feeling so grateful for such a simple, yet magical day. Grateful for the weather (rain included), grateful for the smiles on our faces and grateful for the ability to capture those wonderful memories. Just us, our grimy feet, lollipops and my camera. I’m always thankful to God for his many gifts, and the precious pictures to keep them frozen in time.
