Sunrise, Sunset, Swiftly Flow the Years

The sun is sinking lower on the horizon, streaming through the trees. Another day come and gone in Costa Rica.

I lie on my back on our bed, next to my little baby. Our room is spacious and light, with dozens of windows that let in the evening sunlight.

Greg climbs onto the bed and lies on the other side of Saige. We both stare at her, delighting in the pure pleasure of observance.

As it often happens while 'baby-gazing', we enter a meditative state. [message type="custom" width="100%" start_color="#FFFFFF" end_color="#FBF8FF" border ="non" color=""]Raise your family. Live your dream. Change the world. Check out the Fantastic Family Friday webinar series here.[/message]

“The years are flying by,” Greg comments, a common topic of his lately, especially since he’s been reading the Little House series to the kids. They’ve just reached the point where Laura has married Almanzo and moved out of the house. It’s been a poignant subject for him as he contemplates our own children leaving the nest. “It almost brought me to tears while I was reading it the other night,” he told me.

“We’re getting closer to forty,” I respond. I just celebrated my 35th birthday last week. “My mother is going to have a 40 year old daughter! That’s the age I imagine her to be.”

“And her mother is approaching death,” (my grandmother is ninety now,) “and your mom will be the grandmother.” (My mom already has 17 grandchildren, and she’s in her fifties.)

[pullquote style="right" quote="dark"]Life is about being with those you love and existing fully in that moment." (Click to tweet)[/pullquote]“Sunrise, sunset, quickly flow the years,” I start to sing. We just watched Fiddler on the Roof with the kids a couple of weeks ago. “My dad loved that movie, and he used to get emotional over that song, and talk about his children growing up and getting married. Now I can understand why. The years are passing quickly. He’ll be gone 11 years this September. How sad that we’ve missed having his interactions with our kids.”

Conversation ceases and we continue staring in silence at our precious baby. Everything grows completely still and noiseless, a rare occurrence with our family of eight. A conduit to another world is opened in that silence, and a moment in eternity as captured, life is suddenly lucid.

This is what it’s about, being with those you love, and existing, fully living in that moment. No other distractions, not other worries or concerns. Just this moment of life, real and rich. Everything is just so right.

Then the moment passes, and our children are calling and ready for dinner. We gather around the kitchen counter where we eat our meals (tonight it’s by candlelight), and offer thanks for our meal, for each other, for a wonderful life.

Talking about Kimball’s upcoming birthday I tell them, “I don’t want you to grow up.”

“I just want to stay eight forever,” he says.

“I guess we better cancel your birthday then,” I joke.

“No! I want to stay eight, but we can’t stop it. I just keep getting bigger.”

You’re right. We can’t stop it...

By the light of the candle Parker starts singing, “Sunrise, sunset, swiftly flow the years...”

All I can do is make the most of them.

2024 UPDATE!

We’re excited to share that we’ve made a big move! We are now living in beautiful Portugal and have taken ownership of the Worldschool Family Beach Resort. We are now known as the Extraordinary Family Life, where we focus on coaching and mentoring moms, dads, and teens to create fulfilling, joyful, extraordinary family lives. With over 20 years of experience traveling the world with our seven children, we’re passionate about sharing the lessons we’ve learned along the way.

Check out the links below to learn more about what we do!

ABOUT GREG DENNING

Greg left home at the age of 16 and difficult circumstances forced him to find a way to find happiness and build his own happy family life.

Discovering the answers to some of life's biggest questions has continued in a lifelong pursuit of learning and personal growth.

He's married to his best friend and they have seven incredible kids. He's traveled, adventured, and taught in 60+ countries on five continents.

ABOUT RACHEL DENNING

Rachel is an ambitious mother of seven children. She homeschools, manages a multiple six-figure business, and organizes trips for her family and friends.

She loves to read, learn, travel, and create resources for her children to get the 'best education possible' which often includes incredible experiences around the globe.

Rachel provides the 'logistics' behind the program -- from tracking to curriculum to trip planning.

Learn to save money on travel  here!

Visit us at the Worldschool Family Beach Resort in Portugal!

Looking for a place to stay in Guatemala? Check this out!

Check out these Trips and Adventures!

Listen to our podcast.

Check out Rachel's YouTube Channel, Raising Well-Adjusted Kids.

Take Rachel's 28-Day Challenge for moms.

Join Greg's Formidable Familye Man Tribe.

Tune into Greg's Formidable FAmily Man podcast.

Visit Greg's Formidable Family Men YouTube Channel.

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