When Dad Goes to Atlanta

Felicity and I are entertaining ourselves while dad for Felicity, husband for me is in Atlanta on business. Our primary mission is operation keep mamma distracted until dad returns. This has included many things. For example, going to visit baby Micah (my friend's little son) and eating quesadillas or going to Starbucks and trying a Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino since it has been almost a hundred degrees for the past few days.

I find that with my husband away I want to pack our schedule with friends, family, and former students. All the conversations I haven’t gotten to have yet I want to have now in one big rush. And it has been wonderful.

Yet, all my distraction brings up the balance question. What is the proper balance between busyness and rest? After all, at the end of the day I feel my eyes lids pulling downwards and my shoulders weary from carting a baby carrier. Felicity sleeps, but my mind spins. It turns over on leftover steam from the day. Or perhaps it keeps going awaiting Nathan’s return.

Both is the answer to the question.

I’m convinced, I, and all people, need both the slow and the busy. I need conversations with friends about the joys of becoming a mom and talks with former student about the transition into college. I need to share of myself and receive from others sharing. I need the busy to keep from missing Nathan, the steady constant in my life. And yet, I need the quiet—the repetitiveness of chores, the click of keys on a keyboard, meditations on the Psalms—I need to let my mind rest and I need to pause in the busyness of the day to enjoy my little girl’s smiles. I need to miss Nathan and in the quiet be thankful for the blessings I've received.

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