Quiet

In quiet moments when you think about it, you recognize what is critically important in life and what isn't. Be wise and don't let good things crowd out those that are essential.

It is about 9:30 pm on a Tuesday night and all is quiet in my house.  My ten year old is sound asleep on the loveseat, his little brother on the floor sleeping, one tired dog in the chair next to them and my hardworking, exhausted husband on the couch.  Sam, being the "teenager" in the house, is in her room as it just isn't cool to hang out with us in the living room anymore.

I don't think Jeff always understands why it is that I want to stay up a little later and play on Facebook or work on another post on my blog, but for me it is a way to relax from a day full of constant action from the time I got up until now and to just reflect on life as a whole with no interuptions.  I find it necessary to maintain my sanity really.

As I sit here and type this I glance over my shoulder and look at everything around me.  Yes, my living room is a mess!  I gave up on maintaining its cleanliness once Lukas became mobile.  I took a count and there are officially 2 large tractors, 2 small tractors, 2 poop spreaders, a chopper, chopper wagon, a General Lee, an ambulance, a Hummer, a Ford pickup, a combine, a dump truck, 5 mini Monster trucks, a garbage truck, a Tony Stewart #20 Nascar car and one train set strewn across my living room at this moment.  Yes, definitely a health hazard but at the same time I feel blessed.

Blessed that I am able to provide my child with things that he enjoys and bring a smile to his face while at the same time I'm reflecting on the fact that they are spoiled and I could've used that money in different ways perhaps.  Improvements on my house, a professional massage or something.  But then I think, before I know it they will be grown and I can then do things for myself.

I look over towards the wall and see pictures from past vacations with our family and I see the one from our second trip ever to Arizona when Zach was just about 1 1/2 years old and Sam would've been 4.  We had one of those old fashion pictures taken and Sam and I are in saloon dresses and little Zach is holding some dice.  It brings a little tear to my eye.  How fast life goes!  It seems like just yesterday when that picture was taken but it can't be obviously as my kids are so grown up already.

This busy, busy life we lead.  Disappointing really.  I think as a whole we all need to just chillax and slow things down a bit.  Stop feeling like we have to stay busy to keep up with the rest of the world.  What's wrong with just slowing down and hanging out at home and talking to each other, playing a board game, hide and seek or what not.  Why must we complicate life by running in 20 different directions on any given day?  Some people just seem to be busy doing nothing really.  Nothing of real importance anyway.

I love these quiet times.  They soothe me and make me appreciate everything I have.  A person needs to do that, to have that time for themselves, even if it only lasts for 30 minutes or so.  No matter what you choose to do to relax and reflect, do it.  It helps to make me sleep better at night too.

Nighty night.  Sleep tight and don't let the bed bugs bite.......