Abnormal normal sounds

For the past hour plus, I have been sitting in a coffee shop drinking hot cocoa (sorry, Kristen!) and eating a brownie, getting stuff done on my laptop. I've finished my first "read-through/edit" of Chapter 1 of my non-fiction book (not ready to call it my second draft yet, but I'm getting there - see goals on side of my blog), checked/chatted on the Faithwriters message boards, chatted with my jewely sisters (some!), sent out jeweler assignments (don't ask if you don't know what I'm talking about - a bit confusing), and a few other things I'm not remembering. This is my first time taking my laptop "out," and I really am enjoying it.

Normally, when I'm on my laptop, I have one of two different "noise situations" going on. Either I have the TV and my kids chattering/screaming/playing/running/arguing in the background (pretty much any time they're awake), or it's fairly silent - I may hear the TV in thebackground from my husband, but really no other sounds.

Here in this coffee shop, it's a whole different kind of sound--one I have vague recollections of from when I was younger. There's lovely music in the background--not too high, not too low. I can hear the "tat-a-tat" of the three or four other folks here with laptops, and an occasional voice here or there. It feels so "normal" - I could definitely get used to this.

However, I really don't think it is likely that I will have this opportunity very often if at all - at least until summer is over, and maybe not then. I only have this opportunity today because both kids are at Zoo camp, and we don't have anything else we need to do. With a busy life, and a husband not as able as he'd like to be to get around and/or help with the kids, this may just be a lovely memory I need to hold onto until I'm in a different season of life.

But isn't that just like God? When I'm going through the active/stressful/tough times, he gives me a little reminder of what blessings await me later, while still reminding me of the wonderful ones I have right now. I AM looking forward to picking up my kids from zoo camp in a bit under half an hour, and returning to my "normal normal."

I still can't help but wait, with some anticipation, of when this "abnormal normal" may be normal for me, at least some of the time.