Peaceful Easy Feeling
The other morning I was thinking that summer break starts soon. Swimming, camps, playing, and most of all…I no longer have to get up at 6:00. Sweet! No alarm, no snooze button, no mad dash to pack lunches. Sleeping in until 7:00 or a decadent 8:00 is within my grasp.
But when I got up this morning to a perfectly calm house I began to lament the loss of my early mornings. Yeah, the extra sleep will be nice, but when I walk through the quiet of the house I feel deep gratitude infiltrate my morning. My house feels most like a haven before the lights come on.
On my way downstairs I grabbed clothes out of each sleeping child’s room so I could start my first load of laundry. Graham had the covers pulled up to his chin, with his long blond hair tossed wildly onto his Webkinz. I smiled as I thought about his enthusiasm for life, knowing that when I wake him, his smile will take only seconds to form. In JP’s room I found his baseball uniform on the floor and scooped it up. He’s such a sensitive kid; the most consciences of the bunch. What a blessing in an eleven year old boy. In Paige’s room I picked her wet towel off the floor. How many times do I have to tell her? I only have five short years before she’ll be out of the house. And sweet Merritt, she had a tough night. I’ll have to come back to her room for the laundry. She’s sound asleep after a bad seizure at 3:00 this morning. She ended up gagging and throwing up in her bed, well actually my hand, but at three in the morning the only thing I could think to do was wipe it in the sheets. Peace has settled across her now.
The kids are more precious in these quiet moments. It’s like God is revealing their essence to me. Taking away the complaints, the bad table manners, the muddy feet, and the loud games, is the gift of the morning. The calm makes my thoughts more vivid and my gratitude more sincere. I pray for each one of the kids and seek guidance for the day.
If I’m on schedule my first load of laundry will be ready for the dryer before I have to wake any kids. As I dump the clothes into the washer, I feel like I’m accomplishing something before anyone rises. But then again, just watching sleeping children was enough of an achievement to get me through the day.
When do you find your solace?
13 Responses to “Peaceful Easy Feeling”
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May 24th, 2007 at 11:58 pm
I’m going to make a wild guess that that is Merritt in the picture. If so, she is absolutely gorgeous! What a beautiful girl.
I find my solace when I’m up in the night with the baby, and everyone else is asleep. I love the nighttime quiet in the house. And when you combine that with the sweetness of a newborn needing food and a snuggle, it’s my favorite time of day. Actually, I’ve enjoyed being up in the night for years - while I don’t like it so much when the sun rises and the day begins, I love the early morning hours when I can sit and snuggle a little one and not feel bad that I’m ignoring the dishwasher or the laundry or the cleaning or the teaching. I love the moments to just sit and hold a child who needs holding.
May 25th, 2007 at 8:54 am
What a sweet picture, and blog entry too! My solace is found when I nurse my son. I have a rocking chair and footstool in his room, and he snuggles into his Boppy pillow and nurses while I read a book and listen to the birds outside. Now he’s weening, and I’m so saddened that this time I’ve been spending with him for a year is coming to a close. I’ll have to find other moments of solace soon!
May 25th, 2007 at 9:02 am
My gosh, what a beautiful picture. It’s striking to see it and then read your description of her night, before that point in the picture. I’m like you, I find my gratitude in the quiet moments in between the chaos. But when I feel luckiest is when I can access that feeling in the midst of it. That is a gift and it should hit more often than I let it. Thanks for a truly beautiful post.
May 25th, 2007 at 5:32 pm
just went back through the last couple of posts, and loved the cc cookie one, and the one about kids helping. At our house at least, kids are happy to help,if asked, but the proactive helping I don’t think will show up until they have their own houses!! I think they are hardwired that way??? And, today’s post is just beautiful, very peaceful and grateful. Thank you. keep it up! caroline
May 25th, 2007 at 8:04 pm
Dear Kathy,
I’m been inattentive to your site recently but I’ll try to not let it happen again. My loss. My kids are grown and out of the nest but the memories of when I found solace came jumping out at me with vividness that I had not expected. I don’t remember early morning as being the best time. They were usually bouncing me on the bed then. My solace came after they were in bed - clean scrubbed, smelling fresh with shampoo and toothpaste. The more I thought about my solice moments, the more I had sweet memories and wonderment about where the time went and how did it go so quickly. Enjoy those moments. You do such a great job of awakening the joy. I’ve found myself thinking during times of stress “what would Kathy’s perspective be in this situation?” Thanks!
May 26th, 2007 at 1:56 pm
This is such a wonderful post, Kathy.
It’s evident that peace has settled across you.
May 26th, 2007 at 8:22 pm
Dear Kathy,
What a wonderful picture of Merritt. It reminds me of our third child, a beautiful son, born with Down Syndrome. His life was like an ‘angel’ to
our family. Born without the “future’ of progress and success as the world views life, but indeed, with a life of blessing to his parents and siblings (and others) as we sought to know God’s love through his life in our family. Be wise and patient in knowing that LOVE through Christ comes in many unexpected places. I look forward to your book. I know that Merritt has a beauty blessed of God and your gift in telling
her story will be a blessing to many.
With much love to you and your family. Debby Frierson Kvam
May 26th, 2007 at 8:26 pm
What a beautiful image, the house silent awating the movement of the day. Certainly the blessings are clearer in the silence. What a gift to have a mother who gazes at each child and sees the unique qualities that define this special life. In much the same way God looks at each of us and says you are precious to me.Thank you for sharing this beautiful moment with us.
May 26th, 2007 at 8:35 pm
There is nothing so innocent and peaceful as a sleeping child, as you have captured here in this photo - so precious. I find solace at night, when the house is quiet after a long, busy day. I like when I read stories to the kids before they go to bed, although my daughter can read the stories to ME now and they barely fit on my lap anymore. And it’s comforting to me to be able to rub their backs and talk to them about their days when they’re in bed. Somehow all the other junk melts away, and I feel like I’ll start the next day with a clean slate.
May 27th, 2007 at 9:18 pm
I may not be of the same sex as most of your fans, but I’m grateful that I’ve found your website. Your perspective is refreshing, insightful, entertaining, and profound. Yet you communicate your insights and wisdom in such a friendly, approachable, non-academic, appealing, and relatable way. You’re a delightful writer, and an equally gifted human being. I look forward to giving your book to the many, many people I know who would not only benefit from it, they’d enjoy reading it. Some, may not even realize what a positive impact it may have on their lives, until some point in the future, when someone asks them, “How did you recognize that?” You give us all, lots to think about. Thanks!
May 28th, 2007 at 2:44 am
Kathy,
What a wonderful question. When do I find my solace? You have created a thinking tank, not for just new mothers with small children but grandmothers like myself. You see I find such joy with my three beautiful grandchildren in a different but also meaningful way. I love their “sleep overs”. I revel in going to their rooms after I have tucked them into bed, putting the last book they read away and thinking “I wish they were awake so I could read them another book”.My time to have with them is going to be so much shorter than it was with my own children . I am so blessed, as a grandmother, to enjoy the sweet sound of the children playing, giggling and yes, even when they quibble with their siblings. When they leave and all those chores still have to be done I pray to my Heavenly Father to give me many more moments to spend with them. (Then, I lay down for a nap!)
Thanks for your inspiration and for allowing all generations to learn Lessons From The Laundry! Your book will be great to pass on to my girls.
May 28th, 2007 at 1:25 pm
Wow, it is such a blessing to hear from so many of you about the solace you may find in the midst of full lives. And thank you for the kind accolades.
I just saw my parents this weekend and I know thay are chomping at the bit to know what I’ve said about them in my book. Don’t worry Mom and Dad, I left out the part about playing in the manure pile and sticking feet in the toilet. But I did tell them that I’m proud of what I was able to convey. Hopefully soon I’ll have news about a publisher and I’ll be able to share some stories about the grass stains, sweaty shirts and stinky socks…the grimy stuff that taught me some lessons.
Blessings!
Kathy
May 28th, 2007 at 11:28 pm
This is PRECIOUS! and I needed it. I honestly have not been making time for what’s important lately…. (((((HUGS))))) sandi