It's kinda quiet

In the hustle and bustle of a Sunday morning, diaper changes, into the church clothes, buckling shoes and the combing & straightening o hair, we arrived at church 15 minutes early. Mom was preparing snack for the fellowship time, looking for music for the Sunday School opening, and glancing over the preschoolers Sunday School classroom material.

Eden wanted to sit with a friend, and I readily agreed.

Lars, highly agitated and somewhat hyper, bounced around like a jumping bean and talked in his quietest voice that's not quite yet a whisper, the entire service. "Hold me" "Cover me with a blanket" "I need Gum" "Push the Tractor" "I don't like the sounds" "Is it all done yet?"....and on and on it went.

Elia sat contentedly with whoever was holding her at that moment, smiling and cooing.

When service was over, I ran downstairs to serve muffins and start the coffee pot brewing, saying good morning to all who passed through the line, and finding out the news of the week. Then came music, followed by convincing Lars to go to Sunday School (he stayed nearly 10 minutes!) and cleaning up the kitchen, while trying to understand the book of Daniel from the Bible Study. Not my favorite, but I'm really trying. I do like the part where he's in the Lion's Den, if that counts for anything.

Since Pastor had to work all day doing visits and conducting the nursing home service, I begged Lexi to watch the kids this afternoon so I could get some stuff done that didn't get done last week, the week before and the week before that. Then, I sheepishly asked Laura if they could be watched (making messes, dirtying the house, and generally producing a cacophony of noise) at her house. If I sent Elia with the other two, this would provide me an afternoon of quiet and solace, something I've not had in my own house since May.

She agreed, and not even under duress!

It is now nearly 4 hours into the ordeal, and I can see both my desk, Eden's play desk, and the living room floor. The TV isn't on, the pager is on vibrate, the radio, silent. The kids aren't here to jump off the beds upstairs, or try to injure each other in the play kitchen, complete with screams and tattle tailing. The dog is asleep. I don't even have a husband chatting with me, which is something I actually enjoy. The only sound I hear is the clicking of this very keyboard. It's glorious.

And, at the same time, kind of quiet. Maybe too quiet? Is this what it's like when you get old? Maybe I'd better hurry up and finish, so I can go get some hugs...