The kids and I got to take a spontaneous trip last weekend out to Tampa Bay to visit my dear friend while she was in town for work.  I’m so glad we went.  We got to spend time with my sweet friend, she got to meet and play with my kids whom she hadn’t seen since they were babies, we got to see the amazing waters and white sand of the gulf side of Florida, and I was able to see some new and beautiful woods of Florida on my return trip.  We went to Clearwater Aquarium, home of Winter the dolphin from Dolphin Tale and where we got to see dolphins and sea turtles and touch sting rays, the kids had fun swimming in Emily’s hotel pool, and, best of all, I got to catch up with this person who has meant a great deal to me in my life.  What a wonderful thing to be able to reconnect… in paradise.