Looking Up, Looking Down, Looking Forward

I love these three photos, taken the day of our departure from Kauai.

Dana and I returned to the beach location (Keoneloa) where 3 days prior we were hosted in wedding ceremony by our friends Roq and Erica. One last glimpse. One last breath. One last squeeze of the hand to take home with us.

It was the location where 3 days prior we were drummed into circle of stones, where we were invited to take our shoes off to stand on a quilt in marriage ceremony (made by Dana’s mother).

Where we paused to bring deliberate breath to the moment and to our lives together.

Where we named and acknowledged a few closer-ins that journey with us in our lives — parents, grandparents, children, siblings, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, some dear friends.

Where we participated in simple rituals of sand, water, fire.

Where we stood appreciating our conviction and joy together, with vows that repeated the line, “I choose you, I choose us.”

And, and, and.

Ceremonies matter in our lives. This kind, so personal. But also the many day to day moments in which we ceremonialize our convictions, our loves, our joys, our appreciations, our lookings up, our lookings down, our looking forward.

I love these photos, that returned Dana and me to our physical location for our ceremony and vows. I loved the looking up, down, and forward together. And I loved the way that all of that helps us see broader, to what is behind us, and now all around us, with new and shared eyes.