Wow - I can't believe that it has been exactly a month since I last posted about our busy lives. And the last month has been just as busy. But, after a marvelous week-long respite in balmy Mexico, we came back refreshed and ready to take on challenges with renewed enthusiasm. We also have turned our attention and our to-do list to a very important upcoming event . . . . welcoming Brandon home from his mission in 12 days!!!
We are turning the guest bed/bonus room into something approximating a bedroom for Brandon's short time at home, since he doesn't have a room anymore (I still need to post pictures of his old room which is now Aubrey's new room). Today I am going to pull Brandon's clothes out of storage and get them all washed up and ready for him.
I have been moving like a whirlwind through the house; organizing, cleaning, decluttering, even repainting door trim. Why? I'm not exactly sure. I certainly don't expect that Brandon will notice any of these things. He will just be happy to be home and in a comfortable situation again. But having things clean, organized, and decluttered to welcome my son home after two years is important to me, and the only thing I can compare it to is the nesting instinct I felt before giving birth to each of the kids.
I feel kind of like I am meeting someone "new." I'm sure Brandon will be the same in so many ways, but I think he will also be a more mature, independent, spiritual, and seasoned-by-life-and-hard-experiences version of himself. I can't wait to meet this version of my precious oldest son, and I want everything to be comfortable and accommodating.
Also, I don't want any nagging "to-dos" or random household stuff to distract me from the time we will be able to spend visiting with Brandon. Just like the times when we brought home a new baby, I want to spend time focusing on the "new" member of the family. We have a precious 7 weeks with him before he begins the next stage of his life back at BYU. I intend to enjoy this time and focus on what really matters - relationships.
So, when I wash and fold clothes today I anticipate feeling the way I felt when I folded baby clothes in the weeks before giving birth. The ordinary chore of laundry will be enjoyable and fun as I think about the child I am welcoming back to our family from far, far away!
