The Way It Should Be

Some weekends, it's as if everything falls into place and it all just feels right somehow. This past weekend was one of those. When the kids were dropped off Friday evening, I walked out with Gary and watched each of the kids race to him, hug him, and then I felt small, loving arms wrap tightly around my own leg, and I looked down into Dove's smiling face. Bear ran from the van to hug me too. There is nothing quite like a child who is so excited to see you.

Within minutes of them arriving home, I had a throbbing headache...from laughing so much! They are funniest when they aren't even trying, and they look so proud when they can crack up their daddy or me.

We hit the playground that evening, and it didn't take long for other little kids on the park to gravitate toward Gary. He's like a magnet for little kids. Maybe it's because he's so tall. Maybe it's because he laughs so loud. Maybe it's just because he is surrounded by 4 kids who look like they are having the time of their lives right next to him.

He ended up being "it" for several simultaneous games of tag, and I watched kids drift from the jungle gym and baseball field to race around the park, looking over their shoulders and laughing hysterically until they nearly tripped themselves, trying to dodge him and being tagged. When he left for a few minutes simply to use the restroom, there were a lot of kids looking lost, scanning the park for him, watching for him until he returned!

I couldn't sleep Saturday night, so I just lay awake, listening to the quiet night, occasionally checking on the sleeping, peaceful faces, and enjoying the feeling of love that hugged our home. I thought about each hug, each little hand reaching for mine, the simple but beautiful moments of the day.

At times like that, the nastiness, pettiness, and selfishness that clings to this situation is temporarily suspended, left outside where it belongs. For the weekend, it is just us, just love, just being together. The way it should be.