Eric Holen

Sometimes weekends go by way to fast and sometimes, like this weekend, they are just perfect. Nothing in particular made it so, it was just wonderful.

Saturday did not start off like I had planned. I was supposed to attend a ministry meeting at the Connection Church at 9:30 a.m., but a late-night brush fire led me to oversleep. So instead, Yvette and tag-teamed the kitchen. One of the things that I love about our relationship is that we work, as well as play, together. We tackled that kitchen and within an hour, it was spotless minus the mopping. Trust me, our house is generally not the cleanest, but Yvette and I love something about a clean kitchen. Just wish it would happen more often.

At 1:00 p.m., a good friend of ours dropped off Mason, her son, while she and her husband went house hunting. While babysitting may not sound like fun for some, Yvette and I could not have been happier. We wish we could do it more often. I have a 16 year-old daughter from a previous marriage who I have not seen in 12 years. More about that later. Yvette and I love children, but due to a couple of medical issues, we will not be blessed with children of our own. Babysitting for our friends is such a joy for us.

After Mason played and scooted around the house a little bit, we placed him in his “high chair” to eat. As you can see from the picture, our three dogs were just as interested in what he was eating. The last time we saw him, he was not as mobile and was still spoon and bottle fed. After eating, we took a partial walk around our community with him in his stroller and the dogs on their leashes. It was the first time that we had tried walking all three dogs and the first time that two of them had been walking. The combined walk only lasted 20 minutes by which time I was tired of trying to keep their leashes untangled and they were obviously thirsty. When we got home to drop off the dogs, Mason was asleep in his stroller. So Yvette and I walked spent another 20 minutes walking the other half of the community and just talking while Mason slept. Playtime ended far too soon and Mason’s mom picked him up only 3 ½ hours after she dropped him off. We had not seen Mason in a least a month and he was so much more active.

After Mason left, Yvette and I proceeded to start a one year clean-out of the closet. We collected 12 dress shirts and 2 suits that I have not worn in well over a year. I moved on to the bookcase in my office. The clothing and the books will be donated later this week. Then Yvette and I had a “leftover” dinner. Given that we had bought a new car the previous Saturday, we were trying hard not to go out too often so that we can save money. Being a childless couple, and carpooling 90% of the time, it is too easy for us to stop and grab a bite on the way home from work instead of cooking. By Saturday, we had leftovers from three different nights and combined, they tasted great. We finished the evening with a movie, and then I went to bed a little early since I was still a little tired.

This morning, I got up on time and made it to the Connection Church to help setup. Today, I got to mentor another team member on coordinating the video during the first service. It was different at first because my controlling nature wanted me to run the show, but he did a great job. Then the band played one of favorite worship songs, “Salvation Is Here” by Hillsong United. The song rocks and the best part is that I got to hear it twice when Yvette and some more of our friends joined us at second service.

Yvette and closed out the afternoon with an inexpensive bite, did our weekly shopping and then barbequed when we got home.

Again, nothing specific, just a wonderful weekend. Yvette is on the treadmill right now which means that I will need to get on when she finishes. Tomorrow, I weigh in again.