School will have a late beginning this morning, but all is well. Second son is asleep on the sofa in the living room---the pass-through room for the whole house. We're being quiet. A slow beginning to the day. The pugs lay 'round about him, and even Romeo, the male dominant, is being sweet. He's all slung out in front of the sofa---keeping guard. They seemed to remember him when he came into the house yesterday morning, after we picked him up from the airport. Four months is a long time, but apparently not long in a dog's mind. Romeo has a short attention span, so this is miraculous. The pugs are all about laps, so acceptance is easy for them.
This son went to Powell's bookstore in Portland, before they boarded the plane on Sunday night. He bought me a used copy of Dark Night of the Soul by St. John of the Cross. He knows my tendency to enjoy Catholic writing. Said they had a huge section of it. Amazing bookstore and yes, I'm jealous he got to go there. A wonderland of books, I hear.
Right now, I'm still in bed, just enjoying the blessing of this son at home. We've deeply missed him. He's so sane and well-grounded in the Lord. We can be ourselves when he's here. He gets it. All of it.
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Really feeling this new week is the start of good things. Fresh starts. Cooler weather up ahead, even tomorrow. Rain coming. Less drama. Quiet days. Pumpkin candles. Sweeping porches of fallen leaves. Simmering stews. Letters to be written. Fall-ish things. Anticipation. I do love autumn.
The ability to exhale after so many months of frustration and ultra-busyness is amazing. Now to watch the Lord begin His work of healing our spirits.
Enjoy your day.
