Help! The Year Has Started Without Me!

Like a lot of my other ambitious, motivated, and introspective fellow sojourners, I spent the days leading into 2010 resolving resolutions, gathering goals, and pondering passions. Before baby new year took it's first toddling steps, I had pretty much prioritized my projects and pursuits.

But our home-from-college son was still hanging out, or at least sleeping (sometimes till noon), at home so I couldn't get too serious about getting back on track.

Then the day after Nate flew back to his Oklahoma campus, I packed up my laptop, books, novel manuscript, cross-stitch project, and clothes and drove to Tampa. The next morning, our daughter had surgery. Somebody (me!) had to give her and her husband a helping hand with their two energetic boys.

I'm still here, a week after her surgery, changing diapers, giving kisses before naps, reading bedtime stories. (And, yes, I'm also unloading and loading the dishwasher, folding laundry, and sweeping the floor.)

I may not have jumped into 2010 with zeal and purpose. But a couple of nights I stayed up way past my bedtime and listened to Nate talk about college classes and friends. And now I'm spending quantity time (a healthy mix of chaos and peace) with my grandboys and their parents.

January speeds by while even my priority projects languish. So be it.

Next week I'll be home, back to a routine, back to my beloved grindstone.

And missing Nate coming in late.

And missing Jeremy's ceaseless questions.

And missing Jedidiah's impish baby grin.