We woke up to a change of plans. Originally we were going to go to a waterfall here on Ometepe Island, but that didn’t happen. I was disappointed at first but now I am just smiling because today has been such a joyful day.

I started the day off having quiet time at my favorite spot here at the orphanage…reclining in the hammocks overlooking Lake Nicaragua. Why every American does not have a hammock bewilders me. The sounds of my old friends singing me delightful, twangy melodies were my morning comfort. I did not realize how much I had missed country music. I have to visit the sounds of home more often.

Now the sound of home I hear are the waves rolling in and out again. If I close my eyes, I am at the boardwalk at home in Florida. But I am not. I am in Nicaragua. I am on an island with two volcanoes. My toes are digging into black sand instead of white sand. It is a different beautiful. How is this my life??

The other day we were talking about how far we’ve come in our lives. I remember when the purpose of my life was to drink as much as I could hold down and to meet as many random men as possible in one night. I remember last year sitting in my office on the computer longing for more in life. I was not made to live an empty life. I was not made to live everyday wishing for more in life. Now I want to live intentionally everyday of my life.

It is easy here at the orphanage to think I am not doing enough. I am not serving enough. I am not loving enough. But life here is different. It is simple. Is it simple everywhere in the world except America? I have no idea, but I will have more insight next year.