Oh, What a Beautiful Morning

It's Monday morning and I'm enjoying a few moments of unusual quiet. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, I've already been running, had a shower, a cup of coffee, and picked up the house, and the most lovely of all . . . both of my girls are sleeping.

We had a whirlwind of a weekend, with a very full day yesterday. It started out early as we packed everybody up and went to speak at a gathering about 45 minutes out of Louisville, in the hills of Kentucky. We had a wonderful time with the folks there. Though smaller in number, they gave us a warm welcome and in Kentucky speak, "loved on us." It was really a blessing! The morning wouldn't have been complete without a potluck, and to my great amazement an entire Thanksgiving meal was set out for us, plus lots of other stuff. We enjoyed turkey, dressing, sweet potatoes (I couldn't leave without the recipe), gravy, rolls, cranberry sauce, and even pecan pie for dessert! Oh my! What a joy to be among all of you Mt. Eden folks. Thanks for hosting us with such loving hospitality!

It probably doesn't suprise anyone that the girls fell asleep on the way back home after a fun morning and a full meal. However, transferring them to their beds didn't work quite so well so though I was hoping for a nap, the brief hours of the afternoon were interrupted numerous times with children's laughter, dirty diapers, looking for Doll, some fussyness and finally letting Clara Anne get up even as Chloe fell asleep just before we needed to leave again. Isn't that usually how it goes, moms?

We were invited to a cookout last night with some new friends who live a bit outside the city, and have a lovely lawn and swing set/activity place for kids to play, including a sand box! Clara Anne was in her element. It struck me as we were there what a typically "American" situation that was--cooking out in your backyard with your kids running around on the grass. It was just plain fun! We were having such a great time that we decided to put Clara Anne and Chloe to bed there so that we could stay a bit later and play some games. This is the second time in the last week that we've done this (put them to bed at someone else's house), and I am amazed and thankful that it has worked so well! Clara Anne has done well with staying in her bed, and Chloe seems to be willing to go right to sleep too. It helped that the girls were tired out from all of that fresh air and exercise! We adults had a rousing game of Catch Phrase after the girls were in bed--always a fun crowd game.

So it's no wonder that after abbreviated naps yesterday and a late night last night, both of my girls needed naps this morning. But morning is fleeting . . . and lunchtime guests are coming . . . so I'd better get going. Let's do this again tomorrow morning, girls!