Night Owls

The most wonderful thing happened tonight. I was getting ready for bed. Brandon was watching something on TV, the dogs were snoozing in peaceful little piles of fur. Suddenly Brandon muted the TV, the dogs sat up, alert. Then in our silent little house we listened intently to two owls hooting softly outside in the night.

We crept to the bedroom window closest to the field to listen in the darkness. The dogs sat patiently, heads cocked to the side, as we pressed our faces to the glass. There in my room of dreams we held our breath while the owls called out hellos from their nighttime hunts.

Oh, that spare bedroom. I call it my "room of dreams" because of all the hope that lives in those walls. Have you ever been inside a room like that? A room where peaceful feelings just jump out at you? I cannot be in that room without feeling terribly wistful, and without picturing a crib against the wall, a rocker right there in the corner . . .

It was too dark outside to see anything, but still we peered into the skies, just in case. "I wonder what they're saying to each other?" I asked. "Hoo-hoo's on first?" Brandon said. Well, that's why I married him.

I thought a little bit about my room of dreams while the owls continued their hunt. My room of dreams has waited patiently, though last month I noticed that the mess in there had become quite a jungle, and that with just five months left in Moscow, this room will probably never see any of my babies. It wasn't sad, like I thought it would be. So I moved all my clothes in last month and laid down a rug. I dusted off my dreams and polished up my hopes, so I can see them better while I'm there getting dressed. It is such a wonderful room. It is my Someday room.

Have you ever wished upon a midnight owl? I have.

I bet you know what I wished for.