I think I failed to mention that when I was sick last week Tim was out of town. He had a 3 day/2 night business trip to another town in Louisiana and although I wished he’d been here, we were well taken care of by my MIL (thank God for her!!) and in retrospect I’m kinda glad he wasn’t here just for the possibility of him getting sick as well.
It probably goes without saying that when he returned on Thursday evening my heart swelled as he walked in the door and I was more than elated to see him (but, I said it anyway…).
As he entered the door the boys ran into his arms in classic Norman Rockwell fashion as I held our 2 week-old daughter and we smiled at each other. A little later he hugged me tightly and told me how sorry he was that I was sick while he was gone.
After the baby’s 10:30ish feeding we laid down in our bed together and he was out in an instant (as most men are prone to do, right?). I was having a hard time falling asleep myself, a million things running through my mind like a long train full of box cars of my thoughts (as most women are prone to do, right?)
“I still need to buy Halloween costumes for the boys, what time did I need to pump again, is that lightening outside, I need shampoo, did I sign The B Man’s homework, I want those shoes on Etsy I saw yesterday for Baby K, Oh crap I forgot to return that email, I need to get on those giveaways for my blog (did y’all catch that?), hopefully I can eat something besides cream of wheat and pretzels tomorrow… “ (and on and on and on…)
In yet another attempt to fall asleep I turned on my left side facing my husband, and my arm fell perfectly into his to hold his hand and so I did. I could see his face a little in the bit of light cast from the light I left on in the bathroom area and I simply took in his features while we exchanged the same air as we’ve done for so many years now. My thoughts changed to how long and how much I’ve loved him and how that love continues to grow and even transform as we approach our tenth wedding anniversary and almost fourteen years as a couple. I listened to his breathing and heard our baby’s on the other side of me as she lay in the bassinet, and I thought about how much I love her too and my boys and how extremely lucky I am to have only had the stomach flu and not something much, much worse. And how blessed I am to have three beautiful, healthy children asleep in their beds, well fed and with access to clean clothes and water ever day. How God put a man in my life that loves me and thinks I’m beautiful no matter how I look on any given day or after having a baby (he told me so after reading my post the other day).
As these thoughts continued the rain began to tap on the window, at first sounding like a gentle wind chime and shortly thereafter, a mini-monsoon. I relaxed into my blessings and found sleep somewhere there and it was glorious.
I feel the need to mention that this post was inspired by the writings of a newer bloggy friend of mine, Susan at Warm Chocolate Milk. She’s a wonderful writer and has inspired me to try to write better too. I hope she takes this as a compliment. 😉
that’s just beautiful elaine, and i got to tell you first 🙂
Elaine, this is just beautiful, so heartfelt and makes my heart sing for you. I think Susan will definitely take it as a complitment!
I think you definitely succeeded in your goal. This is so beautifully and tenderly written. Lovely.
Simple things make me happy too! Great post.
Such a sweet, sweet post. Now you have inspired me to write more heartfelt and inspiring posts.
Hi Elaine! I’ve been following your blog for ages but have never posted. This post of yours? Beautiful. Congrats on your newest gorgeous girl and hope you’re feeling better from the ‘flu.
that is so beautiful. it is good to find our blessings every now and again.
You are truly blessed….so nice to read.
Hope you are feeling back to your normal self….the kids are beautiful.
What a great post.. I enjoyed reading each and every paragraph.
You are making me cry!
I’ve had the same feelings lately (which is great considering my severe baby blues just prior). Life just doesn’t get any better than this. We are just so lucky.
A beautiful written post. 🙂
You are blessed, just as I am.
Wow! This post is stunning. Very well said indeed. 🙂
Happy almost anniversary!
I really want to post more heartfelt things like this, but it’s hard. I get distracted and interrupted frequently and it feels like there aren’t enough hours in the day. But this is very well written and I feel as though I can picture it perfectly in my head.
Congratulations on your lovely family and many happy years to come!
This post makes my heart happy for you and the love you have for your husband is beautiful!
I know he has the same for you!
Love this!! So sweet and so peaceful. What a great way to put it! 🙂
What a beautiful post! I have tears in my eyes… 🙂
Your words are so vivid and I can nearly picture you all in my mind as you were that night. Then, I almost felt like a stalker or something :O) Truly beautiful writings.
What a beautiful post…
Lovely post! It’s good to remember all the things we have to be grateful for every so often.
Beautiful! Thanks for reminding all of us how blessed we truly are!
You know, I was thinking the same thing about my husband the last few days…we do not have even half your years of marriage yet but he was such an amazing labor coach and is already such a great dad!! Thank you for the reminder never to forget that. You guys are a great inspiration!
Oh wow! Thank you! Sorry I’m so frazzeled lately. Going back to work part time and Wes in kindergarten might be more than I can handle. I’m getting so far behind on e-mails an on catching up with everyones blogs. My own blog is suffering too (along with the laundry and everything else). This post was wonderfully written. It’s smooth and detailed..I love that. 🙂 With it you reinspired me to work on writing again, myself. Sometimes my writing is good, sometimes it’s just so so. I guess it reflects my life. Sometimes I put a lot of effort into things…sometimes I just go through the motions.
Thank you.
Very sweet post!