A Tree: The Journey Begins

I’m welcoming Fi back to the blog today to tell us where she is at in planning a 6 month family getaway to Bali.  If you missed the first post, you can read it here: A Walk — 6 Months on a Tropical Island. You can my interview with Fi : Family Tropical Adventure in Bali. And check out her blog here: Destination Bali.

Guest post by Fiona from Destination Bali

Beauty in the found, moments and having time to enjoy it. This I what I imagine our trip to be. Just thinking about it makes me more observant about our day to day moments at home. The journey is starting now…

Organising time in the future away helps you plan. Right now, it’s unseasonably warm, and the magnolia tree in our garden looks amazing. I am proud to be able to see such a beautiful thing each day. The tree reminds me of our neighbour who taught me how to care for the tree; she’s 90 years young and still busy!  I have always loved magnolias, and finally bought one a few days after we moved into our home, 6 years ago. For a long time, people kept asking what the sticks were…and then by the end of the first year, the tree produced one flower. Then the following year, we had flowers in abundant.  This year there are plenty of blooms to bring inside the house.

I’m preparing the garden now so it will flourish for the people who will live and enjoy our house while we are away.  Zucchini, carrots and coriander have been added to the menu along with strawberries for the upcoming months.

The top of my list righ now, is to find someone to live in our family home while we are away.   I know that leaving it up to the universe is not reasonable but I’m hoping if I tell friends and family of our trip, someone will be found who will want to live here in our little blue house.  It’s a very happy home, and I think people who live here will add to that. 

Have you noticed our packing list is beginning to grow?

Maybe keeping it simple will prove to be the hardest part?

A note from Kelly

Thanks for sharing your thoughts Fi. When I read this, I see the magnolia tree as a representation of something that grows steadfast and sure. So many things in our modern world are about instant gratification. We have credit cards so we don’t have to wait. We have fast food so we don’t have to wait. We have facebook notifications so we don’t have to wait.  And I have to admit to being caught up with the “I want it now” mentality.

You’ve reminded me that there’s a lot of joy to be found in the process, not just the end product. I read your journal entry and I remember to celebrate the moments, and to find joy in the journey. Whether that be planting a garden, caring for a magnolia tree or nurturing a child.  All of these things don’t happen instantly, do they?  They take patience, care, thought, toil and love.  I miss the joy sometimes when I look for the end product too quickly. Thanks for reminding me to celebrate life in its process.