The fiery ball over the horizon sent sprinkles of white and orange dancing through our hatch. I rolled over and squinted as Norm stirred beside me. Not quite ready to give up my pleasant dreams and having baby Zak snuggled into me I simply smiled and closed my eyes as I  let him climb down from our high berth. Just as I was drifting back into a tropical dreamscape I heard the Captain call softly to Jaeden to help raise the anchor. Before long the engine was fired up and I felt the vibrations of the heavy chain being hauled by the electric windlass. By now Zak was awake and perched right on my tummy grinning and patting my face babbling away trying to tell me about his nights adventures. His irresistible energy convinced me to say morning prayers with him and join the early crew updecks. After we said ‘thankyou for his ball-ball for his ma-ma for daddeeee, boat, dingy and for his cup, his num-nums and every other baby word he knows he was ready to plunge down off the high bed. The problem is he has no idea of fear and tries jumping before I am ready to catch or help him. This has resulted in a few bumps and bruises but he still tries it over and over.

This morning I had this happy sort of feeling inside of my stomach I could not quite put my finger on. Then as I stumbled through the companionway I looked around to see where this feeling might be coming from. Gliding and swishing gently through the Fijian waters has been such a relief after all rough seas we have faced and although we were underway it felt so still. Because these green jewelled islands are nestled in amongst many reefs the waters remain perfectly flat even when the winds are pushing us swiftly to our destination. The boat was a bit messy  from last nights family home evening games but there was fresh banana bread waiting for us. I kissed the captain and then realized the source of my happiness. Although it was Tuesday here in Fiji it was Monday morning in the mainland and  I quickly booted up the computer.  It aways takes a while to find a good connection and tune the HAM radio to receive our family emails but before long the familiar beeps and dots let me know I had found a clear station.

The first thing that popped up in the inbox was a letter from our missionary in Florida and then a beautiful long letter from my mom. Heather wrote about her family and life in Arizona, Tracy had a reply for one of the kids and each of the kids had an email from someone. I knew before long there would be messages from Elder kaopua and maybe if we were lucky the Leavitts might forward one from Aaron. It made me smile to realize how much these weekly updates have come to mean to us. Later as we eat our breakfasts I knew many blond heads would be crowding in together to read all these messages and I knew we would all laugh and I might cry to imagine the adventures of loved ones back home. during the day bits and pieces of personal mail that is deemed ‘sharable’ would be read and new letters would be composed to reply to these happy communications.

I have come to appreciate modern communication so much more than ever and I wonder if I will be better at staying in contact when i do not have worry about the sun or the generator charging the computer batteries or when I do not have to compete with seven others for the use of the ‘main’ computer or when I do not have to worry about HAM frequency or Sailmail signals. Or when I do not have to hike two miles to an internet cafe or try to anchor our boat in a better location just so we can pick up one more bar to improve our Vodophone WIFI signal. At the beginning of our voyage I loved not having to pick up the phone so much but now I am over That!!   Do not let me off the hook when I return and email me or pick up the phone and call me or skype me or FB or anything!!!  I believe I will reply.