Currently . . . Vol. 8

Thinking about: God's sense of humor. Yesterday, Peter had trouble going down for a nap, and finally fell asleep snuggling in my arms. As I held him, I was reflecting on how little I'm savoring him these days. Too often, I don't take advantage of the baby snuggles. I'm too quick to put him down to play. I hold him to feed or when he's fussy or in the Ergo so my hands are free. I resolved to enjoy his tiny babyness more, because it is going to be gone all too soon. Then, we woke up at 10 last night, super congested. I got to snuggle him allllll night long, because he needed love . . . and an incline. Just looking for a little middle ground, here!

But in all seriousness, I'm struggling with presence right now. I'm spending too much time watching the clock, waiting for this or that to just get here already, and I'm missing the gift of today.

Maybe now has it's challenges. Toddlerhood with an already spirited kiddo. Residency. Finding a niche in a new place. But I don't want to look back on this time with longing on what I missed out on, because I was spending too much time looking forward to ________.

The days are long. It's only too true. But the years are short. That is too true as well.

Making: We're grilling burgers for dinner! I am more excited about this than I probably should be, but they sound seriously tasty today. It's a cool, hot, muggy Labor Day here (yes, all at once), and I'm anticipating a lovely evening grilling on the deck.

Reading: The Map Thief. Okay, seriously, y'all, this book was a great find! When I took the kids to the library this week Clare was seriously impatient to get to the kids section, so I had to do the world's quickest browse through the new releases to find something for myself. I spied this and it looked interesting, so I grabbed it, and it has not disappointed! It is narrative non-fiction (which I love!), and it weaves the history of map making, the history of map collecting, and the story of a map thief together. It is good reading and so interesting. I would readily recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning about unusual things. And the fact that it is narrative means it lacks the bore-factor that weighs down too many non-fiction books.

Watching:The Sixties on CNN. Charles and I have been catching bits and pieces here and there, and really are enjoying it. [Insert usual history major geek out about learning more about an interesting topic, and how awesome it is.]

Thankful for: I've got the best husband. I know I say it a lot, but I don't think I can say it enough. I'm lucky to have him for so many reasons, but recognizing my need for a break -- even a quick errand alone or a trip to Starbucks -- makes him a rock star. Heck, sometimes, he sees me needing a break before I realize it myself.

Loving: After a homily a couple of weeks ago, I redoubled my efforts to make Sunday a day of rest. To make it the Lord's Day, as we are called to do. Being the mother of two little ones, "rest" is somewhat relative -- diapers need to be changed, families need to be fed, and there is always something to clean up. BUT there is plenty of work that I can make an effort to do on Saturday or Monday. Laundry can usually wait. Errands can nearly always wait (or be condensed to the bare minimum). I can choose to do those To Do list items that bring joy and refreshment. I can choose to snuggle, rest, or play.

Praying: along with Blessed is She. Y'all are awesome!

{Linking up with A Mama Collective and One Lyric for Currently.}