all over and back

we drove somewhere around 3,700 miles in the past three weeks.

i was home for Christmas for the first time in three years.

i visited an abundant wealth of old friends and dear friends and family and more family and new friends.

and i shared all of it with T, who has up until this point been unmentioned on this blog of mine. Mainly because it's not my place to tell his story. But our stories are about to become a whole lot more intertwined, so maybe someday soon I'll tell more of what that story is becoming.

it was a whirlwind of driving and pictures and food and empty cornfields lit by fading sunlight.

it was the chaos of gatherings and the quiet sleepiness of cups of tea as darkness falls.

it was exhaustion and elation and long runs in my favorite park.

it was sunshine and football games and a long bike ride on a beautiful trail.

it was hugs and conversations and dreams.

it was such a sweet, sweet time of grace and mercy.

i'm still drinking it up, still enjoying it even as I transition back to work and routine.

because...I'm terrible at taking time off.

And the depth of these blessings isn't one I'm going to forget anytime soon.