Family

Last week I had the honor of helping my sister and brother-in-law with the care of my new nephew. My sister was looking forward to help with her energetic two year old, as baby number two was setting the schedule of a newborn, sleeping in the day and feeding at night. I was ready for pure chaos. However, I was pleasantly surprised to meet the newest addition to our family and find a Zen baby. This little guy just took me in with his deep blue eyes. Gazing intently at me, studying me, asking for nothing, he was just there, with me, in the moment. It reminded me of that space one occupies in meditation. Inhale, exhale, observe. We spent many hours last week, him curled up tight on my chest, breathing, feeling each others hearts beat, just being. As I was leaving to return to Vermont, my sister and brother-in-law thanked me for coming, for cooking, cleaning, organizing, reading stories to my older nephew at bedtime. But really they were the ones who gave me the gift. The gift of spending those quiet moments with a new soul. The gift of tucking my two year old nephew into bed. The gift of family.