After the Storm

Sometimes, in the flurry that is living life, there will occasionally be a moment where time seems to slow down--just a little--and if you are lucky, and both paying attention and 'unbusy' enough, you actually got to appreciate it.  

I had that perfect intersection of time and opportunity today.  

It's been an uncharacteristically warm autumn week.  The leaves are brilliantly red and yellow and orange, sometimes all at the same time.  Air smells a bit musty as summer decomposes.  And though it's only 1:34 in the afternoon, the sun already has a slightly sunset cast to it, a golden glow in which flies and bees and mosquitoes seem to glow as they dart about.  Mumford and Sons' After The Storm crooned from the Bluetooth speaker in the kitchen as I headed towards the front door to check on the kids.  And for just a moment, time slowed down and everything was perfect.  A golden moment.  

And while it doesn't look like much, it felt like a gentle hug in the crazy chaos that is swarming our lives and our world.  Just as quickly as it started, it was over and it was back to reminding myself to get Alana a new bike helmet, and texting Kevin to get frozen blueberries instead of M&Ms as potty-training treats, and making sure Barry isn't chewing something he isn't supposed to, and worrying if Emmett has MRSA and if my house is clean enough for the babysitter tonight.  

But I had the gift of that moment and it allows me to weather the next storm and look for the golden moment after.  And I wish and hope the rest of the Fenns get such a moment today as well.