Around 14 hours

Yesterday was a tiring day. The mental back flips and physical tasks had taken us both by surprise and we were tired. When he got home from work, we took an afternoon shower and put on comfy clothes and flopped onto the loveseat where we both easily fell asleep until a tag-team of flies teased us awake. The nap was enough to give me strength to make dinner. “I’m making noodles.” I announced. “Noodles?” he said surprisingly, “Great My Love!”

It dawned on me that groceries were costing more, and I had paid more for 18 eggs than I ever had in my life. $5.89. Those were the least expensive ones and I tried to comfort myself with the thought that at least they weren’t mediums. However, I had perused the discount racks in the back of the store and found thin spaghetti for $0.75 a pound. 16 whole ounces of dried semolina rather than 12, or 8 or even 6 ounces. I bought two packages thinking they were $0.99 a box, only later when I looked at the receipt did I realize they were the lesser. These are small wins. Too small to carry me into a place of awe or excitement, but cooking them, then smothering them with butter, garlic, cheeses, chicken broth, sauteed onions, mushrooms and basil was rather thrilling. The steamy large bowl was placed on the table, the temptation to both dive into it at once was thwarted by me knowing that we couldn’t both eat as quickly if we shared one bowl. Our oversized wooden bowls however were quickly filled and emptied. So much good filled our psyches faster than our stomachs. Everything seems better with carbs.

We sat back on the reclining loveseat with our legs stretched out and had strength to do some planning and paperwork for the next day. About an hour later we began a new Netflix original series, something too scary, on the tube, and I felt like a boob as we went to bed early with gory images lurking about. I admitted it aloud, and he said, “Well, we won’t watch that again.” I knew he was glad too to come clean and we prayed as we snuggled into each other.

At 3am we both were awake, and after some head rubs and gentle hums by 4am I said, “Well, should we just get up?” He was too cozy in the covers, but I rose easily, obviously rested, a lit the dining room candles, pressed the electric fireplace/heater button, and started our tea and coffee. I reheated the potpourri on the stove and finished up the dinner pans. Warm water happiness ensued. At peace and still knowing much is unsettled, I went and lured my love out of bed and put a mug of warm coffee with extras he usually forgoes into his tired hands. Then I chose YouTube on the television monitor and found Joyce Meyer larger than I’d ever seen, having only watched/listened on my phone. It was peaceful to sit there until duty called, he showered while I knew we had to eat. So, I made two pork chops, 3 eggs and 2 Mexican squash for breakfast. I enjoy eating by candlelight in the morning more than at night. We resumed the sermon after a few minutes of chowing. It was even more peaceful with my tummy full.

I was worried about what I was setting out to do today, so I paused Joyce and told my Love my fear. He said he was afraid too. We prayed, me first then him. It’s the loveliest time of any day when we join hearts with Jesus and thank Him, petition Him, and confess our weaknesses, not necessarily in that order. He knows what we need. We forget so easily. Only by uniting like this does the hope, joy, and wonder return. We are reminded what’s true. We know that as we submit to God and resist the devil he will flee. After a tender kiss and kind words of see you soon, my darling headed out into the dark to be the light while deciphering which dragons to slay and which ones to love on.

“I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and delivered himself up for me.” Galatians 2:20 (cha-cha-cha)