On the late afternoon that we arrived home from our family weekend, the air was cool, the sunlight was fading, and the tired levels were high. Especially for 17-month-old Emily. And she wanted her mama. But her mama was busy! Brad was entertaining Brendan and Megan and I was trying to unload the car. As I was grabbing bags filled with damp, chlorine-scented bathing suits and towels and trying to maneuver our cumbersome cooler through the entry way door, Emily was wailing and grabbing my legs.
I emptied my arms of bags and filled them with little girl, grateful that the nursery glider we had switched out of Emily's room was still sitting in the entryway, instead of down in the basement, where it was waiting to be brought. With a deep sigh, I sank into the chair with her, mentally going through the list of things I still had to do....picking up wayward Cheerios that had escaped onto the van floor, starting laundry, making supper...and I happened to notice her sigh also, as she snuggled closer.
"Pause, Noelle." something within me said.
And I did.
I had so many "things to do", but I smelled her freshly-washed hair, felt the weight of her in my arms, watched the sunlight create a curly, glowing halo around her face and softly sang her The Emily Song.
I Paused.
It's hard to remember to, as I fly around from one "To-Do" to the next, but after this whirlwind of a year, I try to be mindful of this concept.
Have you "Paused" today?
1 comment:
*Tears* Thanks for the reminder.
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