A Snow Day in September

I am convinced that snow days are one of God’s ways of making us stop for a bit. Everybody is all ready to go for their day–lunches packed, homework done, clothes out. And, then, all is cancelled and you’re forced to press the pause button on normal life.

Last night, my parents drove 2 hours up and 2 hours back just to say hello, hug on us, and treat us to dinner. All was well. Lydia was a ball of energy and chatty, chatty, chatty. The night was busy with the bedtime routine and getting all ready for today. Then, busy again as Mark and I bonded with our Macbooks over Connecting While Correcting planning and registration details for Together Called and all the business that causes busyness.

As were calling it quits for the night, we heard a door creak and some whimpering. We found Lydia laying on the hall floor with a fever. She was hot and weak in my arms. And, then she started throwing up. And, no one likes throwing up.

Before we were even all cleaned up, I emailed the senior leader of my Bible Study. “Help, I need a sub for tomorrow! I can’t lead my core group. Lydia’s sick.”

It was a long night with Lydia sleeping by my bedside on a crib mattress. This morning, she woke up chipper and chatty again. “Hmmm…could I pull off still going to Bible Study? Maybe I could find someone to stay here with Lyds so that I could still lead…”

And, then she said it to me: “You gonna take care of me today?”

“Oh, yes, sweetie. I’ll take care of you today. That’s my job.”

“Okay, Mommy. And, I’ll take care of you too.”

And, so, we’re home for the day. My Bible Study group met without me. And, I’m sure they were just fine without me. And, Lydia and me? We’re having our own snow day in September. We’re in our comfy clothes and enjoying the quiet house and the sunlight streaming through the windows and the cats curled up in the warmth of that light. And, I’ve pressed the pause button on all else and have been babying my baby today, and we’ve both been eating it up.

Her fever has come back now, and she’s so quiet and gentle. I’m so glad that it’s my job to care for her today. And, I’m so glad she’s taking care of me too.