Home Alone

Friday morning I scanned the day and categorized our weekend events. With 9 of us still living at home the activities often outweigh our transportation. The juggle began. While taking stock of the day’s activities – it dawned on me. That very night I would be home – alone. Everyone was leaving for their separate events, except me!

A smile overtook my face and my mind began to wander.

I moved through the day in robotic flair but my heart was elsewhere. A date with solitude awaited me. Dreaming how I would spend my time alone – the anticipation was almost as good as the result.

You see, I’m an introvert at heart. I savor moments alone and need a regular dose of solitude. With 11 kids and a busy husband, life has taken me above and beyond anything I ever dreamed. I wouldn’t trade our big/messy life for anything – but an evening alone? Now, that’s a little present from heaven!

The obvious question invaded my mind through the day – “What would I do?”

Wear my pajamas all evening
Play my funky music
Clean out someones closet without protest
Sit and stare
Clean under things
Eat chocolate without sharing a bite
Light smelly candles without apology

The answer? I could do ANYTHING I wanted! And there would be no witnesses!!

Five-o-clock finally came. The mass exodus took place in whirlwind fashion. Instantly, quiet descended upon our home like a security blanket.

To initiate the evening, I lit a girlie candle. Then, I wandered through the yard barefoot – moving the sprinkler and playing with the dog. I took in the sunset and listened to our hovering trees rustle at dusk. Next, I washed my OWN laundry and hung each piece with care, then cleaned out random debris from the boys bedrooms and disposed of the evidence!

When I walk through our home, alone, my senses take in the best qualities of my surroundings. Void of to do’s - I savor the experience.

Once I got the puttering out of my system, I landed in our schoolroom. Sorting through workbooks I came across work from years ago. When I stopped to savor the memories, I realized this will be our 25th year to home school! Flashbacks overtook my dreams of solitude and thankfulness overwhelmed my heart. I can see God’s hand of faithfulness through the years and trust His heart for the few, precious years I have left with our teenagers.

On this night to remember, there was nothing I wanted more than to organize school books and prepare for the year. Another academic year awaits us and I want to be up for the challenge. Lost in thought while tossing the unwanted and clinging to the unforgettable, my party of one came to an abrupt end. The front door burst open and the stories began!