Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so. One day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world, your return. ~Mary Jean Iron
Every once in a while when we’re at home, just doing ordinary things, I’ll be fussing around the house getting things prepared for the next day, or thinking about my “to-do list”, when all of a sudden, God will open my weary and distracted eyes to *the truly wonderful ordinary moments* happening around me.
Like this one from Friday night; Dinner was over and Rich was reading to the little ones. Davy and Caleb couldn’t resist joining them so then there were five heads close together on the big big couch. Grace was quietly folding hundreds of socks because we’re a large family and it’s a chore she reluctantly helps me with.
With a jolt, I realize again how extraordinary “ordinary life” really is. I see, really see, my very own family, my pretty things, my cozy home, and my heart swells in gratitude as I look for my camera to try to capture the gift of now. I’m thankful for each day God gives me.
Good to be Home 
That’s the way to live. See God and love in the ordinary moments.
Yes, such a beautiful, “ordinary” moment. The love and grace and togetherness is anything but ordinary, isn’t it? Thankful when God opens our eyes to His grace. The heads all together…just love. And Grace, that is a labor of love
Beautiful, Shanda. I see that in you so much – finding the beauty in the goodness of everyday life, and I really appreciate you for it. The Lord has given you eyes for these things. Blessings!!
so sweet, so real. 🙂 love it
The socks made me smile. So did all those sweeties reading together and the kiddo laying on the back of the couch! Ha!
What a great moment you captured. =)
Awww, I just got a little emotional over that post. Thanks for the reminder
Shanda,What a beautiful “ordinary” moment. You are so right, they are all around us, sometimes we are buried under them but mostly they aer swirling all around us. So glad you captured this moment for you to remember ~Cinnamonp.s. Tell Grace that she looks just like me matching all our socks :-p bleh~ I don’t much like it either
Amen.
I recognize those moments sometimes too. It’s like some galactic pause button.
beautiful shot of real life!
Ahhhh I love this. Thank you for sharing. And I wholeheartedly agree! Love the ordinary.
It is truly wonderful for one to realize the gifts they’ve been given. Beautiful family.
Ordinary times are the most beautiful, if only we can truly see them.Thanks for sharing yours.
Life is amazingly full of fascination
Where do you find all your wonderful quotes, Shanda?? I am reading The Resolution for Women and a few chapters ago and it talked about living in the now, not rushing onto the next thing and truly appreciating wht is happening at this very moment. Thank you for the reminder as I had definitely forgotten that wonderful tidbit of information!Blessings~Cindy
@blessedwithfour – Cindy, Hello! I get the quotes from books and also from my favorite website “the quote garden”… Your books sounds very interesting! ~Shanda
So beautiful…right down to the hundreds of socks!!!