I’ve been away. I’ve been working. And it’s reminding me how much I love to be home. To have my babies around me, busy, laughing, messing, creating. The sun is pouring through the front windows and the school table is a complete wreck. I’ve just finished folding two loads of laundry and I’m off to make our lunch.
Thomas the Train is spread through out the living room and I hear the soft, sweet play mumblings of Jack as he rolls the trains around the track, crashing them off bridges and round corners. He crawls and scoots, stands and admires, scratches and begins again, naming engines as they charge out of the station. I remember the day I realized that he had somehow learned the names of each of his Thomas trains: Spencer, Jack, Daisy, Toby, Ben, Percy…. He wasn’t reading. We didn’t have a television. How did he know the names? He didn’t know his colors even, but he knew the names of his trains. I found this startling and verging on miraculous. Some of his first words were the names of his beloved trains. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to part with these guys.
And so today, as the clock ticks down to my time to leave, I am watching and waiting. I’m listening and whispering thanks.
Thanks for:
- 146. Thomas trains
- 147. school table
- 148. sharpened pencils
- 149. unkempt curls
- 150. pajamas
- 151. hot coffee
- 152. rays of sunlight sprinkling my front garden
- 153. George Winston
- 154. bookshelves filled
- 155. chalk dust littering my corner
- 156. weekend projects lined up
- 157. plants to water
- 158. magazines, filled with inspiration, on my desk
- 159. temporary jobs
- 160. a good book waiting on me tonight
- 161. money in the bank
- 162. the first peek of my daffodils, planted 3 months ago
my heart wonders at the gifts of my life. silently I call out thanksgiving and soak in the contentedness of my situation. today, i am here. I am home.