The Table.

I have found it.

The ideal dining room table. Not only is this table an ideal...but it is sitting in my dining room as I type! How cool is that?

But first let me tell you how this begins. Some of my earliest memories are sitting around the dining room table as a child. I used this table (one built by my grandpa..none-the-less) for homework. I used the table as a hide-out. We often had dinner guests. The dining room table..and the discussions that went with it, were the backdrop of my childhood.

When Big B and I got married we agreed (and still agree) on very little. But what we did (and still do) agree on ...is the importance of gathering around the table.

That said. We have gone through a slew of tables in our 21 years of marriage. Sort of like the three bears. This table is too big...this table is too small....and so we look for the one that is just right.
 
We look at yard sales, we talk about building one. We know we cannot afford the tables we like. What we want is a long, narrow, sturdy table..like the one my grandpa built. That will seat 10-12 comfortably. Because even though we only have 4 living at home? We usually have 6-20 for dinner. Because THAT is the way we roll.

And then, last Friday, out of nowhere..my parents ask..would you like the dining room table that Papa Jim built? They are scaling down. They don't want me to take it if I don't want it..but could I use it?

Yes, yes and double yes!

Are you sure? they ask. Again with the Yes, yes, YES!

We bring it home on Sunday. The VanBibbers come to help us "break it in". (The kids couldn't wait for us to sit..they were starved, apparently)

We use it for co-op and day-care. And what do you know? We have elbow room:)

We visit with friends..over wine, beer, tea and sodas as we wait for

Community Dining!!!!

So YES! Thank you Mom and Dad for instilling in me the value of gathering around the table.

Depleted

Depleted.

That is how I feel.

Not over-exhausted. Not worn out. Just depleted of all energy.

It has been almost two weeks since the Kairos weekend. I have NO idea why it is taking me so long to recover. Maybe it is because I had way overextended myself in the weeks leading to it. Maybe it is because I had way overextended myself in the weeks after.

Don't get me wrong. I am glad I did it, Kairos that is. I'm just realizing that my recharge battery is not working the way I thought it would.

And while I am NOT recharging, the kids maintain their full energy.

Lots of hide-and-seek.

Here Bug discovers he can spy and scream through windows!

The college boys pop in last weekend for a nice, surprise visit.

And while I was delighted to see them both..I still have NO ENERGY!!!  I start to wonder if this is what mono feels like.

My friend Dug put it pretty succinctly.

Dug worked nights as a bouncer and dragged his sleep-deprived self to Kairos most of the week. His words a week later were..It's like having a really bad hangover. Only..I never got to drink. Dang, I should have had a drink. I think we are too old for this.

Yesterday I finally just got sick, sick, sick. I think my body said Enough. I had been fighting some sort-of fluish something for a week. Yesterday, I just gave out. My mind would say..get up and play with the kids. My body said..I think I'll sit here for a few minutes before I throw up or pass out.

Thank goodness for Austen who saved the day!

I tried to stay in motion with the Rugrats. I did not do a very good job. Austen fed them, he played with them, he carried crying babies.

Austen let me sleep.

And today? The  Austen kid is in bed.

For when he was not watching rugrats he was larping with friends. Austen managed to roll over a rock (think summersaultish thing) with his shoulder blade while whacking friends with swords. Now the boy can't seem to get out of bed. I think he is having his much shorter/teen version of depleted.

So now I know. I have some very definite limitations. I am human. (I think I had delusions otherwise). Lesson learned. In other words. Big Oops?!
 
I am taking this weekend off. I had hoped to go to Austin to visit Brian-Scott. But nope.

No plans. Nothing. I am going to sit in front of the t.v. in a vegetative state watching Lifetime movies and/or sleep, sleep, sleep. Then, maybe then. I can replenish my depleted self just a tad.