A Spot of Joy on a Late Night

It is so far past my bedtime, this late-night delirium is probably the only thing keeping me from over-thinking this post to the point of cancelling it before it ever leaves the draft box (which is my normal way with the Whocares blog). I have had an overwhelming realization of my current state of apathy in the last week or two. It isn't exactly depression, by then again, maybe it is. It is still too cold to go outside. It is dark at 6:10, right as Nate is pulling in at night to come home to us. Isaac is gone every day now, which i think has been a slow revelation of loss to me. Ella, the bright little torch of her namesake, also comes with a high price on my patience, as all 2-year-olds do. And then, there has been the never ending process of potty training. (Darb, I can hear your amen!) The potty seat tucked into my oversized purse everywhere we go. The dum-dum suckers in the pockets of every jacket, one occasionally escaping down into the very lining of my coat through some mysterious hole...

But tonight, three things happened that are 'blog-worthy' in my heart: A bit of levity and light amidst heavy winter drudgery.

1. Our first stop after dinner tonight was to Borders. Nate found a book he wanted to read today while perusing some self-proclaimed geek design site. When we were there, Isaac was strangely desperate to buy a book for himself. He picked up several things that were far beyond his maturity level and when I finally asked him why he was so anxious to buy something he told me, "I just really think I am ready for a chapter book. Claire is reading a chapter book, and I think I should have one too". Thankfully he was easily appeased with the stack of beginning readers we already have here at the house, which he has never noticed.

2. Leaving our second stop, Nebraska Furniture Mart, after a hilarious round of circulation through the massage chairs (at Isaac's request), Ella just simply told Nate, "I have to go potty". She and I quickly rushed to the vacant room of stalls, found the largest handicapped space (which miraculously smelled of lemon cleaner), and camped out there with our Tinker-bell potty seat until all of number 1 AND number 2 were dispelled. With a sucker in her freshly (obsessively) washed hands, we peacefully made our way home in dry pants.

3. After tucking the kids in bed, Nate sat and read his new book to me, out-loud, for several hours. We haven’t successfully read together like that since before the kids. The geeks were right; the story is great so far.

The Lord really knows how to treat a girl when she needs it most, eh?
I’m praying for bright spots in the routine of your week.