I live for family vacations.  Time with my family is life-giving and I love getting to know my kids 24/7.  This time I watched as my son flourished in the pool and kicked his swimming skills up another notch.  My daughter continually warms us with her love of nature and animals, she explores both thoroughly.

I love Costa Rica too.  It is a magical place.  It slows me down to the rhythm of my heartbeat and I settle into the slow pulse of the blood in my veins.  A wonderful slow dance.

It was hot in Playa Potrero but we had a pool, great whole food, awesome tropical fruit, met some wonderful people and enjoyed some beautiful beaches nearby.  We didn’t move fast on this vacation, some mini-golf and horseback riding for the kids and pure relaxation for everyone.

I’ve been back since last Monday.  The journey home was tough: delayed departures, delayed arrivals, missed connections, lost baggage, taxi drivers that wouldn’t take our fare at 2 am and a 3 hour drive home from Portland in a rental car for lack of better alternatives.

And now…

Seattle has a different speed that I find difficult to adjust to.  I’ve felt a little down and lack energy from plane rides, a stressful return and change in weather and food.

But also…

Here, I’m being pushed forward at life speed.  Things move differently here.

But I’m grateful.  Seattle has given me much to report and prepare for! Aside from having a commission already lined up upon my return the following happened:

News #1.  I’ve been accepted into a juried art fair Art in the Park at South Lake Union on May 7th from 11-6.  I’ll be posting more  about this shortly.

This was awesome news already but this weekend, this happened:

News #2. The Northwest Arts Alliance has picked me as their featured artist for May!    Yes, I’ll be featured in their May newsletter and in marketing for the South Lake Union Art Walk coming up on May 7th.  Already, this site is getting a lot more hits on my gallery and shop, thanks to a preliminary post on their site.  What will this bring?   The news was entirely unexpected.

It is bittersweet, but for now I bid Costa Rica goodbye to don my many work hats.  I’ve got a lot to accomplish in a week and a half.

Farewell Costa Rica, until we meet again…