Embrace the Ordinary vol. 17

Hello, there friends! I see you’re back from some riveting story-telling about my perfectly ordinary life. 😉 If you expected something else, might I direct your attention to the Advent giveaway? That has a sparkly new picture of the rosary being given away.

For anyone sticking around, I do love the little moments we share here! It’s so heart-warming to me to have this space for sharing what otherwise might be forgotten or unseen moments. But aren’t these the stuff of life, moms? I do think so. Also, I just love clicking through to read each post that is linked up each week. What you share helps me see the beauty in my days, too.

This week and the next several (probably until after Christmas and the New Year!) are going to be busy in my little world! We will celebrate two birthdays and Thanksgiving in one week. There are Advent services, holiday service projects, work parties, friends’ dinners, holiday books to read at home, gifts to make and send…Why re-tell The List? If you are bored you can read it here. Keep in mind, that is just for November. I haven’t even thought about December yet.

Basically, my ordinary days in this time of year are quiet hectic. The unexpected is more likely to happen, and more than once in one day.

So what’s a girl to do when life suddenly turns predictably unpredictable? Roll with it. Roll with the punches, with the last-minute guests for dinner (we are having 7 college kids over. Last week we had 8, and it was great.), with the needs for no book learning on some days, but instead more character-building and soul-searching.

These are the days that leaving wiggle-room is so important. If I don’t leave ample room for the unexpected, then there is not going to be time in the day to meet the needs of my family as well as meet the demands of the season.

It’s also important to say No.

No, I can’t help sell cookbooks today at the church craft fair (because I have to prep food and the house for the college kids coming over for dinner).

No, I won’t be slave to the lesson plans I created (because this week the girls and I needed to connect about some things and books are far less important than learning about kindness, friendships, and forgiveness).

No, we won’t have a perfect Christmas card in a fabulous setting this year (because let’s face it, this weekend is probably our last warm-weather weekend for a while, and guess what? Having a nice home-y place for those college kids to come visit and build relationships is more important than the backdrop for our card).

No, I won’t bake 25 different cookies or cakes or desserts this season (because the time I will spend in prayer is much more fulfilling and needed this season).

It is a time to say Yes.

Yes, Lord, I am listening–listening for Your voice in the request for a meal for a family in need at church.

Yes, we can host a few extras on Sunday to watch the football game (because relationships! and hospitality!).

Yes, I can wake up a few minutes early to begin my day in peace and prayer–because *that* will help me face all the other moments in my day with grace.

Yes, we can have a family movie night, because why not? Because connecting in the simple ways as a family is more important during busy seasons. It helps ground us and give us a bit of time to forget the to-dos and the demands of the holidays.

 

“…there is something holy, something divine hidden in the most ordinary situations, and it is up to each one of you to discover it.”  St. Josemaria Escriva, Passionately Loving the World

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