The Third Day ~ The First Smile

Elainea and Mom on the Beach

Girls at the Beach

The First Smile

The Dimples

The Rockwell Family

Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.
Thich Nhat Hanh

Everyone has said that the third day a blanket of calm and happiness wraps around the children and they begin to emerge from the sadness. Well today was the third day and this morning Elainea was still sad. She followed me around with a pout on her face. She threw a temper tantrum when I left the room without her. It seemed that the cloud of gloom was not lifting. We ate breakfast and then hung out in our room for a little while. Then it was off to the beach and then the park. The beach was so beautiful. It was exactly what we needed. I stripped of Elainea’s shoes and put them into the sand. She was beginning to get playful and so I took her down to the shore and let her feet get wet. That is when the crying began. I looked into her eyes and there was still a sadness about them. After Hannah built her first sandcastle and Elainea put her feet into the pantry breaking down one of the walls, we all started laughing, except Elainea.

We then went to the park and the kids began to play. I helped Elainea slide down the slide and then it happened, a genuine smile! A couple of more times down the slide and then laughter! She has the cutest dimples!