{God-sized Dreams} Ordinary Days

Reading seems ordinary, but her sweet voice is extraordinary.

My life is filled with the ordinary.

I usually wake up around 6:30 a.m., am greeted by my 3-year-old boy soon after, and then wake up my
kindergartner a little before 7. We get ready for our days. Sometimes my husband is still home; other mornings he's sitting in the quiet of his office trying to get things done before his phone starts ringing. One weekend mornings I sometimes get to "sleep in" until 7:30 or 8.

Cate goes to kindergarten from 8 to 3 p.m. except Wednesdays, when they get out two hours early. {There's also no homework on Wednesdays. Gotta love the Bible Belt.} Ben goes to preschool on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to noon. Ben and I usually go to a story time at a local church on Tuesdays at 9 and often eat lunch with friend Sarah and her two boys afterward.

This week, Holley Gerth asks: What’s a typical day in your life like right now? How can you see God’s hand in the middle of the “small” and ordinary too?

Depending on the day, I may run errands, go to appointments or meetings, meet friends to play, tend to vacation rental business, write, or work around the house. Except for during March Madness, the TV doesn't usually come on during the morning or early afternoon unless I desperately need my boy occupied while I shower. Ben still naps, so it's then that I can be really productive -- whether on a project or with household chores. Lately, I've been spending time tending to details for our vacation rental and the one I manage for another property owner.

Two weekday afternoons I have to wake Ben from his nap to go get Cate and our carpool friends from school. The other days she's dropped off here. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons include homework. Most days, I tend to our dinner plan after homework and then Greg comes home around 5:30 p.m. The kids go to bed around 7 p.m., so the hour or so after dinner is usually filled with reading books, playing games or getting baths -- often while I clean up from dinner.

Once the kids are in bed, I pack lunches on the days those are needed and make sure Cate's backpack is ready for the next day at school. Some nights Greg and I work on whatever it is we're working on while we watch TV. {Right now, we record "The Good Wife" and watch "Damages" on Netflix.} Other nights we play Blockus or Words with Friends.

We usually stay up later than we intended and talk about how we should go to be earlier.

I like weekends because we have time together with each other and often times others friends or family. Some Saturday mornings we go out for breakfast. Others we stay home as long as we can. Some weekends are more packed than others. This past weekend was a much-needed balance of productivity and rest. I often procrastinate going to bed on Sundays because I'm not ready for the weekend to end.

At the end of the day, whichever day it is, I'm reminded that God moves in the ordinary. He gives me choices to choose Him when I'm tempted to hold on to my bad attitude. He gives me opportunities to witness my kids soaking up life and to teach them what Jesus would do. He provides a community that sustains me and blesses my life. He gives us all chances to serve and give and love and learn. Plenty of times, I mess things up. But I'm given new chances over and over again because His mercies are new every morning, and, really, every moment.

Yes, these are ordinary days, but you add them all together, it's really quite extraordinary.
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I won a giveaway on Holley Gerth's blog a couple weeks ago. I was excited to receive a "dream" bag of goodies. But I had no idea the bag itself was so sturdy and practical or that the goodies would be so encouraging! That plague is now sitting on my mantel, reminding me of the dreams God is calling me to. I plan to use the mug for office supplies at my desk because, believe it or not, I don't drink coffee. And, well, we all know I love "You're Made for a God-sized Dream."

All of these items -- and many other "Holley Gifts" -- are on sale at DaySpring's website. Save an additional 25% with the code HOLLEY25 this week. This deal expires at the end of March. Did I mention I highly recommend the tote?!
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 Tuesdays are God-sized Dream days around here and I'm linking this post along with many, many other dreamers on Holley Gerth's blog. You'll find encouragement, truth and community there. I also recommend Holley's "You're Made for a God-sized Dream." It's like a love letter for dreamers. You can buy it from Amazon ($11.19) or DaySpring ($8.24 with code HOLLEY25 at checkout). 

I'm also linking up with Soli Deo Gloria Party at Finding Heaven Today. 

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