What is Sweet and Simple

Today I actually did have a decaf latte (from Starbucks) as in the blog title. I'd given them up for the summer. More often I brew a cup at home on my downtime, and I guess it is cafe con leche. I add evaporated milk for just the right level of creaminess--not too much, I don’t want milk with a touch of coffee--and I've taken to using brown sugar instead of refined white sugar for whatever that’s worth.

This afternoon I wanted to reflect on what especially impressed me this week:

What I’ve appreciated the most are basics—like, I’m thankful that it is possible to find a quiet moment of solitude. It amazes me sometimes that with our relatively dense population, it is still possible to be alone. I relish it.

Similarly, I sometimes marvel when I’m outdoors and, for a few seconds, there’s no detectable sound of traffic or people. I try to stop and take in the silence. I live just outside DC, so we have a lot of bustle.

I appreciate my husband. The other day after work he wanted to run me a bubble bath. That was the first time since my childhood that my bath was prepared for me. Although I really had planned to take a shower and rush into our home office to get on the computer, I took time to sit in the tub and reflect on his thoughtfulness and to realize that I’m special to him and that my husband is a gift. Awww!

I am proud of my 3 ½ year old son who only recently is beginning to sleep in his own bed through the entire night. I’ve been used to having little feet pressing into my back for the past few years, and now I get to stretch out some. Truth be told, I'll miss the nightly routine that was a sweet time of bonding. He would drift off to sleep beside me after we had our chat as I rested on a pillow beside him while reading a book. It is a little sad for me to know the toddler stage is over, but I encourage my son to stay in his own bed through the night. (and not be fearful) We still have our time, but now I go to his room and kneel at his bedside to talk, listen and pray with him before he goes to sleep. He tells God what he enjoyed and what he’s looking forward to. “Spiderman and moonbounce”