Monday, July 14, 2008

The windows

I’ve stopped waving. I can’t see their car anymore, but I can still hear my daughter’s voice giving us her usual farewell.

“Bye! By-y-y-y-y-ye! By-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-ye!” I picture her head out the window, hollering a little louder just in case we are still standing on the steps to the house. And we are… clinging to that distant voice that carries through the night air.

Another visit is over. One by one, carloads of our kids, their kids and the dogs all drive in different directions to their homes.

We stand still for just a minute more straining to hear that voice, but it’s quiet now, so we head up the steps to the house. The dining room light shines through storm door windows that are covered with fingerprints, handprints and some very doggy looking smudges.



It’s late. I can wash windows tomorrow.

The morning sun reveals just how many kids made their way through that door. The bottom rows of windows are a mess! With Windex in hand, I pause just a moment and relive the laughter, the tea party, the hugs.

No one will be stopping here today. The windows can wait till…

Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. Psalm 97:12

Two Writing Teachers

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love the sense of joyful chaos shifting into a sense of calm.
Kevin

Anonymous said...

i feel the same today! mine left for camp! I smiled today as I hung out their laundry.

But my house will be full again, soon! It's so important to "live" the moments we have with each other...with all 5 sences! I love how you and family do just that!

CBN

GirlGriot said...

I love this! I love the image of you standing after the car has gone from sight, still listening for the sound of your daughter's voice, love that she knows you'll be standing there, that she still calls out her farewell despite the fact that she can no longer see you. This is wonderfully told!
--Stacie

Joel and Marcie Fenske said...

It's nice to be missed... and loved! Oh yeah, it's not me... it's my kids that left those smudges that you're missing! :)