9.15.2006

The Sameness in Days

After our trip to Colorado this summer, I posted about angels in the airport. My mother-in-law left this wonderful comment that has stuck with me for the last couple of (tense) months:

What an answer to prayer...Having angels on watch reminded me of an experience I had after several years of turmoil in my life. [We] decided that so called boredom was a blessing. It meant things were running smoothly, no one was ill or had recently died, and our lives were at peace. Since then we have learned to cherish the sameness in days.
This week has been a week of cherishing the sameness in days.

Regrettably, there's something in my emotional hard-wiring that gets nervous when things are "too" happy or "too" safe or "too" peaceful, and I find myself getting restless or anxious, waiting for the other shoe to drop, or even sometimes when the peace has stretched "too" long, and my anxiety has built without "result", I end up feeling depressed and getting really grouchy just to mix things up a bit.

But this week, with David home and the boys feeling well and being pleasant, we are just basking in boredom and it is lovely. I haven't had much to post because we've just been spending time together.

David reads the news online and mutters things like, "The king of Tonga finally died" while the boys play legos at his feet. (He's great for breaking news like that.)

We get excited over birds in the bird feeder on the window and David helps Cal look them up in the bird book so Henry can say, "Hi, chickadee" the next time one lands.

We go grocery shopping or take the kids to the mosh pit at the mall.

I've made dinner at home four nights in a row and we sit around our own table and pray together and eat and talk.

David and I lay in bed at night and rehash our three months away from each other and actually giggle about things, a little like newlyweds.

Mostly we're just together and all is well. I'm re-wiring my hardwiring and teaching myself that the sameness in days truly is a gift, and I'm making myself sit down and simply enjoy the non-drama.

19 comments:

someone else said...

Oh, I hear you on this one! Three years ago we had such a horrible family trauma and had to learn to re-define what "normal" meant for the rest of our lives. As peace began to settle back in, I became suspicious of that peace and a little fearful that the other shoe would really drop with a thud. My sense of normalcy sometimes falls under suspicion still, but I'm learning to trust the calm and peace as it comes. God has been good.

I'm so glad your family is united again and you can savor these times together. It sounds so lovely.

Emily K. said...

There's this poem - I want to say it's by Wallace Stevens, but Google did not produce any results for me - about this very concept. It's something about having perfect stillness of mind and being able to live in that rhythm even when things DO get hectic. Very zen, in a way, but I like it a lot. I'm glad you're happily reunited. Congrats on making it through.

Amanda said...

My mom calls it "beach time". We all need a little beach time every once in awhile especially after we've just been through something rough.

Glad that everyone is together again and doing well!

Super Happy Girl said...

Hurray for stillness and "beach time".
There's nothing better in the world than one's own family.
Enjoy the non-bloggable moments :D

The Amazing Trips said...

I'm so glad he's finally home. It's sounds like you are having a wonderful time.

Unknown said...

Secret Agent Man has returned home for a 3 day stint. We're so glad when daddy comes home. We shared one of the those nice moments you are talking about tonight. Before he drifted off to sleep and I drifted down to my office, I told him that I wanted Friday night to last longer. Because if Saturday comes, then we are one day closer to Sunday, which is not a day of rest for me. Which is okay, because it makes me LOVE Mondays!

Angela said...

Jay calls those "boring" days "compromising". It means, I don't get to haul us around the city on adventures and he gets to lounge around in sweatpants. That's not what I thought compromising meant, but whatever. I do like it.

Sameness of days is SUCH a cool phrase. GO MIL!

So, "The King of Tonga finally died" made me laugh so hard. I love it. Also "mosh pit". Ain't that the truth.

Susannah said...

A nice bit of reverie. I like this: "basking in boredom." Enjoy!

Unknown said...

It sounds wonderful. I'm glad you're trying to bask in it.

Lana said...

you're right, sameness and boring days are a blessing.

Glad you have your DH back now!

Blogger profile name said...

Three months apart must have been so difficult. Sometimes I think I have just enough patience to last until my husband gets home; he handles much of the bathtime/bedtime routine and lets me unwind. Thanks for the reminder of the blessing in a sameness of days!

rena said...

If you were to look up the definition of contentment in the dictionary, you'd find this post. Peace to you, and continued "sameness of days".

Barb said...

Appreciate the boredom. It's so nice to hear how contented you all are just to be together again. Sometimes sameness and boredom are blessings.

T.S. Eliot said...

I'm so glad you're able to enjoy each other and the quietness of "boredom". But really, knowing your boys, even just through the blog, it can't be boring for too long. You could always spice things up by taking an extra long shower and seeing what kind of mischief they get into.

Millie said...

Such a sweet little post. I think it's also called "contentment," which I've been experiencing a lot of lately. Nothing exciting... nothing dramatic. Just a lot of small good stuff.

Especially Heather said...

Im so glad things are settling down for you! Non Drama is always a great place to be!

-H

Unknown said...

Non-drama? Is that possible with a toddler??!!

Teresa said...

Sounds like a wonderful time! Cherish those days!

Blackeyedsue said...

I love that..."The Sameness of Days". I think I will have to use that.