Silence is not so golden

Our house has suddenly become all quiet.

While Christel stayed home packing for Vietnam, I drove our two youngest kids to Nova Scotia this past Sunday, where they will be staying with close friends while we are away. The 12 hour car ride up was a blast with lots of talking, singing, laughing and phone calls home to Mom. It was loud. We listened to the audio books of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe as well as The Magicians Nephew. The classic versions read by famous British actors. (The way they were meant to be read.) We stopped only for bathroom breaks, Wendy’s Baconators and Subway footlong meatball subs. Good times and great memories.

Along the way I could see that they were both torn between the excitement of seeing their friends and the sadness of leaving home for such a long time. Every once in a while I would look in the rearview mirror to see Micah holding Jasmine’s hand letting her know it’s going to be okay. He’s a great big brother. He’s been fascinated with Knights recently and is becoming quite chivalrous.

The ride back home alone yesterday was silent. I missed my kids the minute I got on the road, and with every hour that went by the silence became more deafening. Wow. This is going to be hard.

Christel said it best; “I often think in the midst of the chaos, noise and craziness of everyday life that I would love to just have a day to myself. Even a minute alone.” With tears in her eyes she ended the statement with; “I don’t like it. I want my kids home.”

Whoever came up with the saying; “Silence is golden,” must not have enjoyed the wonder of having kids around.

As Jack Handy observed in Deep Thoughts; “The face of a child says it all…especially the mouth part.” Conclusion: We love the sound of our children.

Micah and Jazz getting ready for the road trip.

Our brave adventurers.

-Rob