The generous morning sun streams in, casting a halo on the peach and yellow blossoms in the jar, early birthday flowers. And two little kids who were promised a treat for going to bed early eagerly devour the reward, even though they only kept up 70% of the bargain. But, when a floppy child with bedhead stumbles into your room and says, I just woke up so that I could have my treat for going to bed, the many attempts and long delays are forgotten.
He wants to know where all the people are, because he can’t find a single person who was here, when he came out to use the potty last night, probably just to be sure there were in fact, no kids.
I fell asleep stuffed with delicious sweets and laughter and a heart completely blessed a night of friends new and old; conversations ranging from hilarious and ridiculous all the way to encouraging. As I walked throughout the house closing windows and twisting shades, gratitude spilled out into the quiet darkness, for a home that is big enough to be filled and for the people to fill it.
I thought of the friends we left in Minnesota and I missed their presence in my home. I thought about the fantastic contributions they would have added to the table. Perhaps one of Danielle’s famous flourless cakes? Or the latest new culinary experiment that Elle would have tried. I wondered what stroke of consistent genius my sister-in-laws would have presented. And the local girls who couldn’t come because of last minute life. The friend who would have brought cookies fresh from store bought dough, because no one at all hates cookies and everyone has something to offer that is uniquely them and beautiful. And the one who recently moved away, but insisted upon telling me what she would bring, anyways. I love that about her and I can’t wait to taste that Very Berry Coffee Cake.
In the last 11 years, in my winding trail from Michigan to Florida to California to Tennessee to Minnesota and now, North Carolina, I’ve been fortunate to collect some of the finest people and moments in my vault of life. And unlike the vault of a banker, the value never decreases, it only grows and memories sweeten with time.
Everyone has something to offer that is uniquely them and beautiful and we’re all better off when we believe it, about each other and ourselves.
It’s the richness of life, the way the pieces are shaped just so.
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And unlike the vault of a banker, the value never decreases, it only grows and memories sweeten with time
ReplyDeletebeautiful- just beautiful!
Hi from South Africa :) how beautiful ! gave me goosebumps :) made me remember too... old friends that have since moved on...funny how some people's lives are like a straight path with very few hills and valleys to tread and others have a really twisty bendy...plenty of hills and valleys kind of road to walk :)
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