“…As I crossed the threshold, I thought how breathtaking, how fleeting, how precious was my ordinary day.  Now is now.  Here is my treasure.” ~Gretchen Rubin in Happier at Home

Ordinary.  It means commonplace, standard, normal.

What does your ordinary day look like?

Ours generally follow the same pattern – hours filled with homeschooling, household chores, running errands.

It’s a routine with which we’re comfortable.  Yes, many of our days could definitely be called ordinary.

And ordinary can be bliss.  The typical day may at times seem dull, but each hour that we get to live this way is a gift.  These moments will not pass again.  Our ordinary will change from season to season, but will never be exactly the same.

May I not take this ordinary day for granted, but embrace it.

After all, no day lived with purpose, filled with service, and covered in love can truly be called ordinary.

I’ve been watching a lot of soccer lately.  A lot.  Sitting on metal bleachers or standing on the sidelines, in 82 degree weather (with mosquitoes) one day and bundled up in coats and boots the next.

My time spent as a spectator has allowed me to observe five life lessons from a group of 9-12 year olds.

1.  Everybody has a position to play.  Some score, some defend, but without everybody doing their part, the team has a difficult time winning.  At home, on the job, in our church or community, we all have a ministry that impacts someone else.

2.  Sharpen your focus.  My daughter’s team quickly figured out who the best players were on the opposing teams and focused on shutting them down, not allowing them to score.  So I need to decide which tasks, goals, attitudes I want to achieve and focus on accomplishing them.

3.  Encourage each other.  The kids cheer together when a teammate scores – or even takes a good shot – raising their arms and yelling encouragement.  We all need that – someone to pat us on the back, lift us up, encourage us to keep going.

4.  Take time to connect with others.  The girls who are waiting their turn to get in the game may be chatting about their school day or playing with each other’s hair.  (Boys usually are not guilty of this.)  While the game is important to them, it doesn’t trump relationships.

5.  Sometimes the snack at the end of the game is the best part.  That bottle of Gatorade and package of Oreos – even at these ages – still ease the sting of defeat, at least a little bit.  As my dad advised me years ago, “Always have something to look forward to.”  It can be a few minutes of quiet time to craft or read a book or spending time with the family on vacation, but knowing there’s a reward ahead can keep you going.

My daughter’s team has struggled this year, but they got a win last night.  Now it’s on to the playoffs Friday night!

We’ve been away on a family vacation to Atlanta the past few days.

One of our favorite places on this trip?

Stone Mountain.

Yes, we climbed the mountain (and I thought I might have to be carted off in a stretcher), but I hadn’t realized how much else there was to do!  My husband and the girls explored the ropes course and we all took a train ride, went to a 4-D show, and played miniature golf.

Another day took us to the World of Coca Cola and the Georgia Aquarium.

We finished that day with supper at the world’s largest drive-in fast food restaurant!

Our last day in Atlanta included a tour of CNN Studios (very neat!) and Zoo Atlanta.

Today, however, it’s back to reality, but I’m so thankful for the wonderful memories we made on our trip!

Sometimes you just need a break.

I’ve been there.  A few minutes of quiet can calm your soul.

I’m an introvert, so I tend to recharge by spending time alone. Sitting in my favorite chair by the window, feet propped up on the ottoman, eating a bowl of granola-topped yogurt while reading a magazine is very restful for me!   However, if you’re more of an extrovert, you may be energized by being around people – perhaps meeting a friend for coffee or lunch. 

No matter what your personality, here are a few ways you might be refreshed.

1. Call an older, experienced mom for encouragement.  Sometimes you may have to wait until nap time or after the kids are in bed if you want to concentrate!
2. Schedule date night – or, if your children are in school, breakfast or lunch – with your spouse.
3. Get up a few minutes early each day in order to have quiet time.
4. Go outside for a quick walk, either early in the morning or late in the evening when your husband can stay with the children.
5. Designate a place in the house as your retreat, perhaps a corner of the bedroom or just a favorite chair.  Plan a daily rest time for your children and use that time to relax.
6. Have breakfast or coffee with a friend.  If you can’t get out by yourselves, invite her over to your house.  Plan an activity for your children – even if it’s a short video – so that you have uninterrupted time to talk.
7. Attend a Ladies Bible study or other activity at church.
8. Find music that relaxes you and have it ready to play when you have a few minutes to yourself.

We all pass through different seasons and may have to adjust our “refreshing times” to what currently fits into our schedule and our budget.  I’ve certainly had times when just grocery shopping by myself was refreshing!

What’s your favorite way to refresh?

Almost two years ago, I set a goal of publishing an ebook. 

It sounded relatively simple.  I wanted to take the posts I’d written on the virtuous woman from Proverbs 31 and compile them into one document.  Then I decided to add a bit more information on each attribute and came up with a few study questions at the end of each section.  Editing and other technical issues came next….

…but I’m extremely excited that this project is finished!

Those of you who subscribe to my blog by e-mail should receive the ebook in your inbox on Friday.  For those of you who subscribe by another method – or who just stop by from time to time! – you will be able to access the ebook through a link on my blog next Monday, July 29th.

My heart’s desire is that you will find this material a help as you seek to be the Godly woman He has called you to be.  These words do not come from one who has mastered these virtues; rather, they cause me to see how desperately I need God’s grace and strength to meet the ideals given to us in God’s Word.

Thanks to all of you who encourage me with your e-mails and comments!  Though I’ve never met some of you face-to-face, I love knowing that we are walking through our Christian lives together.

I love traditions.  From March Madness to Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day to Christmas Eve, I like having familiar activities and outings to anticipate.

Lately, I have a hard time starting new ones – as evidenced by my failure with the red plate!  Incidentally, when my younger daughter cooked supper on Tuesday night, she awarded me with the red plate for memorizing my Psalm 145 passage.  Maybe I should put her in charge of setting out the red plate from now on!

Our July 4th tradition is attending a minor league baseball game here in town.  Our girls have made it part of their tradition to wear red, white, and blue.

 
The stadium is nice and you can glimpse the Ashley River through the trees.

We sit in the same seats every year.  I’m thankful for a few rows of “family section” where alcohol’s not allowed.

The girls get their faces painted…

.

and, when I’ve been sitting too long, I can go wait in the concession stand line.

And yes, we do watch the ballgame.

Even a non-baseball fan like me has heard of A-Rod, so having him in the game for three innings made it a bit more interesting this year.

We had a brief rain delay in the bottom of the seventh inning.  After the game resumed, the home team tied it up 5 to 5.  Extra innings….yes!!  (Not really….)

The game ended in the tenth inning, and then came what we really showed up for – the fireworks!!

Hope you had a happy 4th of July!

Ever since last summer, our oldest daughter has wanted to go ziplining.  While planning our annual June vacation with family in the Tennessee mountains, her younger sister decided that “she was scared, but wanted to try it, too.”  (This from two girls whom you have to drag onto a roller coaster.)

So last Wednesday, the two girls and my husband geared up for ziplining.  (I loved all thrill rides back in the day, but never had a desire to throw myself into space attached only by a small harness to a thin line suspended over the treetops.)

As we stood on the platform, ready to begin, I could tell that both girls were having second thoughts.  The guide assured them that after the first time, they would love it.

I wish I could have been on the other end of the line and seen their faces when they arrived.  By all reports, however, they did love it and handled the other five lines just fine, including doing one upside down.

I thought about how it’s that way with life at times.  Whether it’s facing a personal fear or taking the plunge into living out a dream, it’s the unknown, the fear of failure that keeps us on the platform.

It’s often the first move that’s the hardest – the stepping off into the unknown, trusting that the harness will hold you.

Yet if God has called us to do something, He will give us the strength to do it.

And once we take that first step, we’ll learn – just like my girls – that the view is so worth it.

Photo Source

I have several friends who are turning 40 this year.  As for me, I passed that milestone a few years ago!

In spite of the grayer (or in my case, whiter!) hair, slower metabolism, and dimmer eye sight, I want to assure them that it’s not all bad.  While I realize that we’re each in different seasons of life in our forties, this list of reasons why I’m enjoying this particular decade may encourage others who are just now entering it!

1.  My children are old enough to take care of themselves….mostly, anyway.

2.  I find myself taking more time to realize – in the moment – how special are the memories I’m making.

3.  I’ve come to a better understanding of what I like….and what I don’t.

4.  I recognize the value of a true friend.

5.  I have a good reason for why I can’t remember anything any more!

6.  As heaven grows its population with more people I know, my thoughts of going there for eternity are even sweeter.

7.  I’m learning to appreciate every day that I feel great and every night that I sleep well!

8.  I love and admire the man I married more and more.

9.  I no longer force myself to ride roller coasters.

10. Because of what’s come before, I believe I’m learning that trusting God and His providence works for the best in every situation.

11.  I’m not yet being asked if I want the senior citizens’ discount!

What’s one of your favorite things about the decade you’re in?

As I see “middle age” on the horizon, I’m realizing that there are some things that will never happen again.

I will never…

• fit into a certain, smaller size of clothing.  Ever.
• have my hair naturally grow in blond…or even brown.
• be able to read fine print without either strong light, holding the page at arm’s length…or wearing glasses (haven’t caved to those yet!)
• stay up all night and not pay the consequences for days.
• ride roller coasters that have loops and go upside down.
• eat a large piece of cheesecake late at night and go to bed feeling anything but sick.

However, while recognizing that increasing age brings with it a few limitations, I’m thankful there’s still plenty that I can do.

I can…

• cherish my husband and the love that’s grown between us in twenty-one years of marriage.
• enjoy having children who can dress, feed, and entertain themselves.
• plan new adventures with my family while recalling with fondness all we’ve done together thus far.
• continue to challenge myself mentally, perhaps even physically…occasionally.
• be thankful for my good health.
• choose to use this time I’ve been given wisely.

Yes, this few-pounds-heavier, highlighted-hairdo, and early-to-bed lifestyle has its fair share of compensations!