Quiet after Chaos

For the past 3 weeks I have been living in a constant state of chaos.... but it has been fun chaos with lots of wonderful new memories being made... however... the quiet that finally comes after the chaos is bittersweet... being both too quiet and also 'finally it's quiet'.

It all started three weeks ago when Joe and I were entertaining our Best Friends (Steve and Kay) during the "Member/Guest" golf tournament our country club held.  Joe and Steve came in 4th place for their flight and won some golf shop credits... they both bought golf shirts.  They had such a great time playing in the tournament and were quite proud to actually place in the winning circle.  While the boys were golfing the 3 days of the tournament, Kay and I shopped, toured town, laid by the pool and caught up on all our 'girl talk time'.  On Sunday when Steve and Kay departed for the airport on their way home, I hitched a ride with them to the airport to head to Akron for a week's visit.

I went to Akron to help my youngest daughter and her husband move to a new apartment.  They moved and unpacked while I babysat their 4 month old son Henry.... tough job.... NOT!!!  I enjoyed every moment I was able to spend with all of them.  Later in the week my other two daughters arrived with my other Grandson, Liam, who is 3 months old.  I did all the cooking while I was there and tried to spoil all of them rotten... which I think I managed to do, making all their favorite dishes... as well as some new favorite dishes!  5 adults, 2 babies, and 1 dog in moving clutter.... definitely equals chaos.  But we had many giggles, lots of photo taking, and lots of talks during that week... and the babies are at the age that they are just now recognizing each other, coo to each other, and reach out to each other.... PRECIOUS!!!!!  I'm sooooo grateful my other two daughters took time out of their busy lives to come spend with me while I was in town.

When I arrived home from my week in Akron, I immediately went into 'Hostess' mode again, entertaining Joe's parents, and Aunt/Uncle, and another Aunt for a week.  I literally had 12 hours to clean the house, change the bedding from when I left with our first bout of company when I went to Akron, and go to the grocery store to stock up on the provisions needed before their arrival.  It was another week of giggles, talking, and touring... but again... constant chaos... did I mention that my husband was out of town for the first 3 days of their visit!???

After the last round of visitors left, the house was sooooo instantly quiet that I found myself looking for someone to talk to, but also realized just how exhausted I was.  Then... it was time to clean the house and all the linens after company and it was good to be so busy to get used to the quietness again.

Entertaining, hostessing, and the traveling over the past 3 weeks has truly been a gift of precious time spent with family and friends, and making sooo many new memories.  I wouldn't trade a single moment of the past 3 weeks, yet I am enjoying this week of 'just quietness'.  I clean a little, I rest a little and catch up on a taped show or two, and then right back at the cleaning.  As I clean, remake the beds, and put things away... I see all my visitors in my head replaying all the time spent with them.

I hope all my guests had such a good time, that they will follow that yellow brick road back to Kansas and come again for another visit soon.  I love being hostess, I love cooking for company, I love making family and friends feel welcome and comfortable in my home, and I especially love all the priceless, precious memories that remain long after they have left.

As Andy Griffith would say.... Ya'll come back now... ya hear!