[unexpected] stillness amongst the chaos

We were in the minerals gallery of the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History in New Haven, CT (free admission for all!). By "we," I mean myself, my husband, my Mom, Onyx, Dakota, Finn, Austen, and Sam. Just a small group of us this time! (Five of my kids stayed home.) Everyone and their extended family decided that this was the day to visit the Peabody. 

We took in two floors of wonderous sights before landing on the third floor and entering my favorite room of the museum. 

Onyx offered to take Gramma for a stroll and my husband and I sat on a bench, much to the relief of my over-stressed body.

For a moment the crowd disappeared, my mind quieted, and something rarely experienced by a five-day-a-week, 24/7 caregiver who also has a horde of young adults at home overcame me ... stillness. [unexpected] stillness of mind, body, soul, spirit. I took in seafoam crystalline brilliance against inky darkness. Nothing else but brilliance & beauty. For just a moment, but enough to hold on to when I need to find my center; to compose myself; to restart; to move forward in peace.