Alone on Sunday: take two

A funny thing happens when your husband is suddenly called to spend a significant amount of his time doing something that he didn't choose, but that you both believe is important.

You start to appreciate him more.

This week was my second as a bishopric wife (sorry to those of you who don't know what that means. Sort of like the presidency of a congregation. Very demanding. Doesn't sit with his family.)

I decided to use a more Zen approach this week--accept that I probably wouldn't see much of Mike (since I knew more what to expect), sit in a better getaway spot with J just in case, enlist the help of his favorite childless couple.

The morning started as expected--Mike off to early meetings, with the expectation that he would come home only long enough to get us packed up and out the door so we could arrive really early at church.

Instead, he came home with almost 2 hours to spare. We enjoyed having some extra time with daddy, truly enjoying it for what it was: an unexpected gift.

On the way to church an angel of mercy came down and put J into a deep sleep.

(This has never happened.)

Mike carried him in to church and lay him down on the back pew (far from any unsuspecting crotchety men), and then guess what.

He slept soundly for the next 1.5 hours. A true Sabbath miracle.

When he awoke, he was happy to go into nursery and join his friends and his beloved teachers. I was happy to have enjoyed an entire meeting without worrying how next to distract him.

After church, Mike was able to leave with us, only slightly later than most other people. We came home and spent more daddy time together--plenty of tickles, plenty of "steamroller", plenty of all the good things we get to do together.

It could have been like any other Sunday we've had for the past several years. We've always had him around all day. But this time the family time felt like a gift. And so it was better.

I know I've been lucky to have as much time with Mike as I do (have I mentioned he now works from home 3 days a week?). This is not at all how I was raised: having a dad around more often than not. Most of the time I take it for granted, don't think about how fortunate we are. But Mike's new calling has given me a new perspective on things, at least this one precious day a week.

Sunday was as good as I can expect my Sundays to go for a while. I certainly don't expect a repeat of all the fortune I had. But I sure am grateful I got it this time.