New Chapters
Once upon a time there were two single mama’s living on a small island. They met close to the time after their divorce. One from the Pacific North West. One from the Central Coast of California. They each had 2 daughters and were newly finding their way in life on this small island away form any family in how to do this thing as a single mom.
Soon after they met, they realized they were both moving to the same neighborhood, at the same time, just a half a block away from one another. Each had found ohana unit’s in a rather upscale hood and they both giggled how they didn’t fit in, but had snuck in there… and most of all, would be there together.
Countless times the kids would run back and forth between homes. Countless times the mama’s would go to surf together. Countless times I felt not so alone in the beautiful yet brutal years of co parenting 2 young girls as a single income home.
One afternoon we walked half a sectional couch down the road. From her home to mine. I was trying to do some kinda boho pillows on the floor with a giant rug, in our : one room - kitchen/living/dining area as the living space- play zone for my girls. But we soon realized it just wasn’t comfortable. Bria had got a couch but it was too big for her : one room-kitchen/living/dining area. “Want half”? She offered. “Sure”! I said. So we walked half that couch down the road to my home.
Not too much time passed after we had moved in, when a beautiful family would move into the home above Bria’s Ohana unit. They had 3 teen girls, one young girl and 2 dogs. They would become our Kauai family often, joyously opening their door, and opening their arms as a consistent offering.
Tamao, the mama, had also been through a divorce with 3 daughters before she had met Matt. She had found a new chapter, a new beginging, a new road.
They would invite us in. Feed us often. Make sure we had a place to be for the holidays. They would encourage us both that life was not over, that love was possible again, though mostly we gave up looking. They would would feed us, cry with us, and laugh with us. Their daughters would baby sit ours. Our littles would play.
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Years later, last night. Bria and Ryan invited us all over for dinner. In her new home, in her new chapter. I would go with Blake, my new husband, from my new home in our new chapter. Both Bria and I got married this year. I still can’t believe that. I kept saying - I am still processing all of this! This morning I thought, no…. you’re not processing this- you’re simply in awe of it. We reminisced , the men all met, some of the kids were there - now so much older, and started to catch up to our nows and how we got here today.
I am IN AWE of life again. I am in AWE of the way God works. My mama would say - you just can’t make this shit up! True. And that is my most favorite way it unfolds - in the most unpredictable ways you would never ever imagine or plan. God truly is a show off.
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To new beginnings, well along your journeys. To healing hearts. To community and friends that always get you through - especially when you all don’t have any family around. To finding your people in the same valleys, so you don’t feel so alone, or so scared or worried. To continuing to have meals with and walking this life together, better for it no matter the chapter.
To rejoicing and sharing the new and all it now brings in these new seasons. And to keeping our ties and relationships nourished and alive by coming together no matter how long it’s been to connect and love each other through.
To believing in new chapters again and again, no matter where the last one ended.