When Jonathan and I first started seminary two years ago, we committed ourselves to doing no work whatsoever on Sunday. It has been a tradition that has blessed us so much. Today was no different, except that for some reason, I was inspired to take some pictures so I thought I’d share our Sabbath with you.
We slept all night to the accompaniment of thunder and rain pouring against our windows. It was still pouring when we got up. We loved the rain this morning--cozy grey that just wrapped us up in peace. Then Charlie woke up, humming to himself in bed. When Jonathan went into check on him, Charlie informed him that he was cold. First wonder of the day: communication with our son! What a delight this new found skill is proving to be for all of us! (It turned out he had wet his entire outfit and bed, no wonder he was cold, and even more wonder that he didn’t wake up screaming.) Then, while the boys discussed the mechanics of locomotives, bulldozers and excavators in the comfy chair in Charlie’s room, I mixed together a batch of maple walnut scones. Add a few scrambled eggs, a cup of tea, and a good discussion about John 13 by the light of candles and I do declare there is no better way to start a Sunday! 
We made it home by 3 (! ) for Charlie’s nap, which was sort of a bust since he went to sleep so late in the day. Still, when he woke up, the weather had cleared up. So we rallied for a family bicycle ride up some gentle hills to the playground. (Jonathan told me it was ok that I was lagging so far behind and panting so hard because apparently Charlie is 20% of my weight—but I’m pretty sure it’s because this Mama has not been riding up enough hills to be in shape!)
Why the funny faces, you wonder? This face is the face that he makes every time he sees a camera pointed in his direction. We suspect that dear Nana inadvertently taught it him to by saying, “Smile, Charlie, smile for the camera!” Isn’t that the weirdest smile you ever saw? I hope this is not the beginning of a phase of otherwise cute and candid pictures ruined by his “smile.”
At the playground Charlie ignored all the accoutrements except the swing and then informed us that he wanted to run. So we spent the rest of our time there running through ball fields of clover…which I was just aching to do after that bike ride, let me tell you! [aside: Charlie has been informing me of his desire to run at random intervals during the day ever since I took him outside for what I thought would be a short little run to burn off steam before dinner. I held his hand and said, “Let’s run fast, Charlie!” Charlie then proceeded to run fast enough that I had to jog to keep up with him--for the next 35minutes! In fact he had still showed no sign of tiring when I forced an ending to our escapade. This experiment in burning off his energy failed to dampen his energy even remotely for the rest of the evening. Still, it was a grand success from Charlie’s point of view because he discovered something he likes even better than soccer. To run! ] Thankfully the ride home was all down hill!
Then we piled our sweaty selves into the car and drove to our favorite little hole-in-the-wall joint: Pho Long. I love Pho. Jonathan loves Pho. Charlie loves Pho. 
“Um, OK, the meat and broth are super yummy too!” “Moi, moi!” (more, more!)
2 comments:
Great post, Keren. I didn't want a helmet picture to prove you had one, but to see how cute Charlie would be in one. He's going to grow up with a helmet association with bicycles, and will never know what you did, riding without for so many years.
I can tell he's starting to give you a run for your money, in more ways than one. Enjoy your Sabbaths!
What a beautiful family enjoying a blessed Sabbath. Thank you for sharing.
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