“As life becomes harder and more threatening, it also becomes richer, because the fewer expectations we have, the more the good things of life become unexpected gifts that we accept with gratitude.” 

Etty Hillesum An Interrupted Life

I would not characterize our life as either hard or threatening but we certainly have been living with fewer expectations this last while. No expectation of going out to meet friends or spending a Saturday morning leisurely window shopping or even the expectation that you can get what you want/need at the grocery store.

Despite this, these last weeks have felt rich and there have been many gifts. The gift of time – to not rush to a multitude of commitments, to not feel like basic chores have to be crammed into a stolen hour between other pressing obligations, to say yes to playing games or making a new recipe together, to tackling a new project.

The other gift this simple time has brought is the gift of relationship, ironic as that seems. I have spent even more time with the Toad – talking, laughing, playing, snuggling, crafting, competing, teaching, learning, reading, dancing and more. This is an extra special gift as he enters the teenage years when that bond will be naturally tested. I have also more consciously and diligently been connecting with friends by sending emails/texts, facetiming or zooming. I have even had the gift of reconnecting with friends from long ago and catching up on a couple of decades of life moments and current struggles.

Who knew I would be so grateful for the opportunity to stay at home? Who knew I would feel so lucky to have a simple, functional, comfortable home like the Yellow Castle? Who knew I would feel so blessed to be “locked down” with the person I love beyond measure?