Precious Pleasures

This was a wonderful weekend of quiet, rest, and calm. I hadn't realized how much my soul was craving those things until they were here, and I was happily recharging my battery and feeling thankful for a little down time.

Saturday the boys were up bright and early to head to a camp out with the scout troop. I got up with them to help load the cooler while they packed (and packed and packed) the car. Those boys had enough equipment in that trunk to camp for a month!

Off they went, and suddenly it was Emma and I alone in a clean, quiet house. I snuck up to Hannah's bedroom to borrow a book that I have been meaning to read. She loves Christian fiction, especially stories about the Amish, and has gathered quite a collection of books that she has been after me to read. While I was in her room, I remembered that a few weeks back, Hannah had some friends over for the evening. The girls got a box of old dollhouse furniture out of the attic that I had saved from my childhood. They had fun unwrapping the tiny treasures and admiring the frail, old furniture. They set some of it up in an old, antique trunk that Hannah has at the foot of her bed, and I kept forgetting to peek in to admire their handy work. So Saturday, I lifted the lid and marveled at her own private Lilliput. I stole a moment in the stillness and quiet to thank God for Hannah's friends, for their creativity, and for the sweetness of their interests.

I crawled back into bed with Emma and a piece of left over birthday cake, and completely lost myself in a Beverly Lewis novel for the next several hours. Birthday cake, baby toes, a bed, and a book. Beautiful. My Mom came over in the afternoon and we went to a new German deli. My nearly perfect day now got even better with the addition of some imported chocolates. Mom and I tried out a new restaurant for dinner. We split the turkey sweet potato meatloaf and it was spectacular. I need to figure out how to add sweet potatoes to my meatloaf here at home. Mom and I had a great time with Emma. Everywhere we went, people gazed into the stroller and talked to her. The big family we sat next to at dinner couldn't stop playing with her. There are few things more fun than showing off a cute baby. :) The boys called during dinner to say that there was an 85% chance of thunderstorms so they had decided to head home early and not spend the night at the campground. They pulled into the driveway late at night while Mom and I were playing cards. I was happy to see those tired, dirty faces and hear their tales of fishing, canoeing, hiking, and riding a zip line. While unused camping gear was paraded through the entryway, I stole a moment to give thanks for a break from the boys, and even more thanks for being reunited again.

Yesterday we had some surprise visitors. Casey and I have been friends since high school. We don't see each other often enough, but when we do it is like no time at all has passed since our last visit. She has two precious girls named Shelby and Samantha. Samantha is a year old, and has gorgeous red hair. Casey stops in now and then to give Emma some things that Samantha has outgrown. Here I am with Samantha, and Casey has Emma.

Hannah got back in town last night. She had been in Kansas City for a scripture memory competition, where her team took second place. Her great aunt, who lives in Kansas, traveled there to see her compete. We all went out to dinner to my favorite deli where I enjoyed a bowl of broccoli soup and listened to stories about her weekend. After dinner I crawled back into bed and finished that book! It seemed impossibly absurd to do so after accomplishing nothing for two days, but I was far too relaxed at that point to be motivated by guilt.

Today is Monday morning. The laundry is going, we're out of milk, and someone is complaining about math, so everything seems just right. This is what I saw first thing this morning, so I know it is going to be another really good day. I just feel it deep down in my refreshed and well rested bones!