Monday Morning Coffee

Good morning, my friends! Happy "Recovery from the Holiday Weekend" Monday! I hope your weekend was everything you planned and hoped for. We had a wonderful time celebrating our country's 250th Birthday. We spent time at Madison and Nicolas', our house, and at the condo, doing all the things. Most importantly, we spent time together.

Hot Dog and Hamburger Eating, Flags Waving, Stars and Stripes Forever Playing, Fireworks Bursting, M&Ms Melting, Waves Crashing, Old Memories Comforting, and New Ones Making

It was so much fun! Yesterday, after we said goodbye to Peyton and Chris, with reassurances that we would see them soon, I got to work wiping, washing, sweeping, and tidying. This is something I have always done after saying goodbye to one of my children after a visit. I don't do this because I feel like I need to clean. Rather, I do this to keep myself busy and distracted until the sadness passes, and the fact that my house is put back together is simply an added bonus. 

After my quick therapeutic cleaning session, I promptly lay down on my freshly made bed and fell asleep. Afternoon naps in the heat of summer bring me a special kind of happiness, I tell you. I woke refreshed and ready for Mass, which our parish holds on Sunday at 5:00 PM and is often lovingly referred to as the "Last Chance Mass." After Mass, we grabbed some burgers at 5 Guys, a place we don't often frequent, but we wanted something quick and easy so we could head to the beach. 

Just the evening before, this beach was filled with people, sitting around fires in the sand, listening to music, and watching fireworks. I enjoyed that, for certain. Last night, however, was my kind of evening on the beach. It was less crowded, quieter, and calmer. We sat and visited, and I read my book until it was time to head back home across the bridge.

Today will be a quiet one around here. I have a short list of things I want to accomplish this summer, one of which is catching up on Flynn's scrapbook. I also want to go over Flynn's curriculum and make some choices for the fall. I also want to sit on the porch with my coffee and simply be. Believe it or not, that is the hardest thing to do. With so many things competing for our attention, we may find it hard to feel comfortable letting things be. Things I want to work on? My phone can ring, and I can let it go to voicemail. A text can come, and I can respond later. The constant need for instant gratification can be replaced with contentment, peace, calm, and coffee. And a cookie or two. 

Have a nice day, my friends. Thank you for visiting. I am going to visit with you today, and I am looking forward to seeing what is new in your world. 

Billie Jo