The Beauty of Slow

Since...oh, probably before the wedding, Chaz and I have had a total of about two weekends where we didn't have something going on. Whether that "something" was a business trip, church events, celebrations, or running tons of errands, we've been both consciously and subconsciously longing for rest. This weekend changed that, and with the beginning of the turning of the seasons, it felt like finally turning a page.

Saturday only half-counted. We got up late, headed to Starbucks, and worked on various projects for a few hours. After a run to Target to pick up some general supplies (no one wants to run out of toilet paper!), we headed back home, ate some lunch, and then got ready to make a voyage to Worcester to see my brother in a production of Les Miserables. I took exactly no pictures of him on stage, but I did get this nice shot, complete with my blurry finger. High quality.

We got home at midnight, so I can't say that was relaxing. But it was fun to see the family and to see Jonathan up there singing and playing an excellent drunk. Good job, kid!

On Sunday, we woke up and headed to church. And for the first time in months, I felt like my soul was quiet enough to listen, and I needed that. We didn't have anything planned for the afternoon, so I stopped at the grocery store on the way home and picked up the materials to make a pot roast. Any day with enough time to incorporate a pot roast means a lazy day to be sure.

Chaz suggested a walk to the beach while the pot roast was in the oven. Since the oven has so far proved itself to be reliable, I figured it was safe enough to leave for a short while and we headed the half a mile down the road.

If nothing else, what should tell you the most about this summer is that we live literally five minutes away from the beach, and neither of us had been there even once this year. I'm not a huge beach person, but I've never had a summer where it's been avoided entirely. As a result I'm glad we made it there once before the end of the season. Even if we were wearing jackets.

It isn't often that we get the opportunity to savor the beauty of being home and having time. Our lives certainly won't be that way forever. We'll have children someday and they'll fill our slower hours with all of the things that come along with children. The beauty there will be present, but it will be a different sort. Even before that, there are so many distractions to fill our lives up with noise. So I like to have days like this recorded, so I can remember that these days are necessary, they are refreshing, and they are good.