Busy Watching

Is it just me, or is that statement something of an oxymoron? I think it is.

And yet it is true these days in my life. There are several people that will call Main Street, Madrid, their "home away from home" this summer. Josh and Nate will continue to be at home here. Added will be Song, a Korean piano student; Kirsten, an art major from NY; Johannes, a young man from Germany who wants to spend some time stateside to practice his English; and Tanda, a Zimbabwean who will live on campus but will retreat to this family home regularly for r&r (we've adopted her since family is far away!) And lately I just sit back and watch their comings and goings and settlings and rearrangings and say, "Whew! What a busy day this has been!"

Aside from the "added" few I have my own seven children still living here and a daughter's sweet little family down the street and another daughter's dear family in sunny CA. Keeping up with their activities can leave my head spinning. At times I feel a bit breathless even though I am in spectator mode most of the time.

So, for the past week I have been busy watching. Once I catch on to this newest rhythm I will hopefully join in a bit. Meanwhile I am still adjusting to my new position; I once was the pace setter, but now I just run alongside.

I look at it this way: at least I'll still be running! That should be one step better than "busy watching". Won't it?