Cacophony to Quiet

It’s always interesting when family comes to stay.  The house begins empty and quiet with beds folded out, made and prepared.  Then the door slams.  Suitcases get lugged in and plopped on floors or desktops.  We get the patter of little feet.  Giggles and laughter… and cries and howls. Then the next set erupts into the house with blankets, and pillows and toys and clothes.  The surfaces of the house gather stuff—sundries all over the bathroom countertops. Food and cups—empty and too full—cover the kitchen counters… and tables.  Papers, drawings, paper plates, napkins, dishes, games and puzzles cover the tables.  The floor fills with toys and balls and abandoned clothing until every surface of the house is covered.

The walls ring with shouts and running and doors slamming and brisk breezes whisking through.  Mittens and jackets come on and off.  Kids shed pond dampened shoes.  Sticky faces filled with s’more leftovers sometimes make it to the bathroom to be cleaned… sometimes not.  Babies cry because they’re tired, or bonked, or sick, or teething, or for no discernible reason at all.

The fireplace warms the downstairs and the oven and baking warm the kitchen. People talk and visit, and shout, and play.  Toy guns Voop! Voop!  The piano klinks, kids and adults munch and great fun is had by all.

Then, one by one the families leave.  With each departure, some surface space is reclaimed.  Loads of laundry make it through the washer and dryer.  Beds are remade, towels put away.  The cacophony diminishes.  The joyful laughter of shared stories and conversation quiets.

Finally the last suitcase rumbles out the door.  The final sweep-through collects bits of treasures too precious to be left behind.  The last of the plastic cups are tossed from the counter tops. The house is once again quiet… and empty.

Miranda and Dan left on Monday.  We took down the Christmas decorations on Wednesday.  Callie and Marian did a great job denuding the tree.  Tom tackled the outdoor lights. Marian and Callie learned to hand sew some bags.  Aaron worked on a clay project the last day.  Rebecca left on Thursday and by Thursday afternoon the house was back to its quiet, empty stage. It felt a little bleak.

But it was time to head back to work. I have several copywriting jobs I’m doing. My accountant has come up with more letters and seminar invites and follow-ups to write. I was behind on writing articles for my coach.  And I have an invitation to submit some leads for a financial newsletter that could net some good money.  So I dove into that Friday and Saturday.

Tom snoozed.  I think the “hibernation” kicked in.  The fire was warm.  It was quiet… and a bit cloudy and dark.  And he slept.  He might tell you it was the edge of a cold he was fighting.

Saturday Tom went to a funeral and presided at that.  In the afternoon we went to a baptism.  It was very nice.

Today I was called to be Teacher Development—that is I teach the teachers how to teach.  I also substituted in teaching Gospel Principles. I like doing that.  We had a good fast and testimony meeting.

Life is good.  I guess it’s good there’s a mix of excitement and quiet.  We are blessed.