Three Hour Delay

Hello everyone! Wowza, it’s been a while since posting here and honestly, I miss it. I miss writing and talking with you all in all the amazing conversations that come from some of these blog posts. I also miss taking time to connect the dots, write it all down and see all the details. Life, as it is, has been busy. We’ve moved twice this summer/fall and finally starting to settle in. Moving has had it’s own challenges, as it always does, but the hardest part is missing our sweet friends.

We also had the added worry of Hurricane Florence. Our river house only flooded a little through the garage, but it’s raised and prepared for floods. Mom and dad’s house did not fare as well unfortunately. They, and so many others, have had to tear out the inside of the house, clean it out and start the process of rebuilding. It has been a slow go, but they are just starting the beginning of rebuilding (and thankfully raising) their house. Needless to say, the last few months have been stressful. Recovery after a flood takes time, like a crazy amount of time and effort. Our friends far and near have been more than generous in helping with so many things and we simply couldn’t be more grateful. I’ll write more about the flood and mom and dad soon.

In the midst of all that is going on, getting caught up in the business of day to day life, sometimes it hits me how much we over look or don’t see something that is right in front of us.

For some perspective, four years ago today I was being wheeled into the operating room and prepped for a surgical biopsy. At this point back then, we did not know that five days later we would get the phone call that I had breast cancer, only that there was a mass growing in my breast and we didn’t know what it was. These memories are tough, but they also make us appreciate exactly where we are at right now – even if I’m halfway menopausal and more tired than I’d care to be ;)

Yesterday we were headed down to the river to spend the holiday to spend with family. And (least shocking thing ever) we were running late. And by late, I mean a solid three hours later than I wanted to leave. But finally, everyone got their collective stuff together, ran all the errands, checked out a ridiculous amount of books from the library, loaded up the dogs in the van and we left town (apparently along with everyone else in the RDU area).

At some point, my brother calls and we realize that we are traveling the same roads but in opposite directions. As we chat, we also realize that we are actually going to pass each other in about twenty minutes. So better than that, we decide to meet and eat dinner. Somehow (ahem, headphones) the kids didn’t hear me talking to him and were surprised and super excited to hang with their cousins for dinner! We don’t live in the same town and with everyone’s busy lives, we just simply don’t get to see each other as much as we’d like to. And when we do, it always feels like it’s never enough time together.

Getting together last minute was really great. We were tired, but we caught up, laughed, drank all the sweet tea, ate food that is terrible for you (but omg, so delicious!) and celebrated an early and impromptu Thanksgiving with a brother and sister and cousins. It was an amazing start to the weekend, as we left smiling and laughing, with our bellies and hearts full and ready to travel on.

And here’s the funny thing about it all, because it didn’t hit me until we got here and unpacked – none of this would have happened if we weren’t running 3 hours late.

Wow. And there it is. With a lot of appreciation for where we are at, here in the moment and over time.

Because being right here in the now, being mindful and present is so important. Because sometimes it means taking those moments that are sometimes so incredibly frustrating. Moments that delay you. Some that maybe make you roll your eyes (like a thousand freaking times). And know that sometimes, even in those frustrating moments, there can be moments of joy around the corner. Even if they happen three hours later than you planned.

Much love,
Shannon