The idea is to take ten photos on the tenth of the month and share it, documenting a day of your life and the ordinary moments. There is beauty in the ordinary.
Our spring is in full gear, and like you, it is pretty busy. Lots of activities, plus things are winding down with the end of the school year coming, bringing on a bunch of other stuff to attend to. However, on this particular day of April 10th, we didn't actually have anything going on. So, true to the idea above, we are trying to find the beauty in the ordinary moments. Nothing special, for sure, but they are the moments that make up our days. We were looking at old videos and so many times mentioned how we had forgotten how the kids did this or that. At the time, it was a huge part of their personality or day, depending on what we discussed. And yet, we didn't remember! Crazy. So, here are some little details...
Early school mornings... the daily routine, getting up, eating breakfast, brushing teeth...
And now, Ross takes the kids to school on his way to work. It works out well. They get a little extra sleep in time, and it is on his way. Loading everyone up...
And, I am blessed that as the kids go off to school, I get to get a little work out in. On the days that I don't feel like it, I really have to remember all the reasons why I am thankful and lucky to go. I love to read Kristin Armstrong's blog MileMarkers, and a couple years ago, she wrote about changing words and changing perspectives. Changing "I have to" to "I get to." I printed it out, and think about it often. Here is a snippet...
I get to charge up this hill. I get to wake up early and run. I get to hit the gym after work. I get to work on a new writing project. I get to make dinner for my children. I get to clean my house. I get to pack lunches. I get to help with homework. I get to take Luke to football, Grace to drama, Bella to choir. I get to pick them up from school. I get to go to the grocery store. I get to run an errand/do a favor for my husband/wife. I get to call my Mom/Dad/grandparents today. I get to help my neighbors while they are out of town. I get to make healthy choices for my next meal. I get to stand up for myself or someone I love. I get to train for this marathon, triathlon, half-marathon, 10K, 5K....
The more I thought about what I get to do, the less I realized I had to do. It was just a shift, just a new perspective, just a new and more grateful method for labeling the things in my life. Think about it -- if you stopped yourself every single time you were about to say, "I have to" and changed it to "I get to," it might change your entire experience. It might also have a profound effect on the people you are speaking to. Try it. Kristin Armstrong
And, well, music totally helps too, once you get out there, don't you think?
And goodness, I feel like I go to the grocery store all the time! Even if I meal plan, we run out of food like crazy! Growing kids, I guess. Again, I have to think, I get to do this...
People think its a little strange to be taking pictures in the grocery store... just sayin'
I am usually a couple minutes early to pick up the kids from school. Sometimes I go early on purpose. Just because it forces me to sit and have nothing to do but read or listen to music. I am reading a series of books with Zoey right now, and this is one of them... It is the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan, and I am enjoying it. I am impressed with the quality of the books for young ones these days.
And well, here's to keeping it real, as they say... Every day the kids come home and literally dump their stuff here! Max was just sorting through all of these papers he brought home to show us! Plus, shoes and jackets and socks come flying off too... It makes me smile though, until I trip over it all.
And how about Zoey's shirt? Totally 80's right? I swear I had a similar fringed shirt when I was exactly her age!
A little dinner prep... salsa, yum!
And at dinner (Taco Tuesday!) Ross is demonstrating the turn your head technique to eat a taco. He had to do this because while he was gone, Zoey convinced Max that he could eat a taco like a sandwich (turning the taco completely horizontal) and eating. Everything falls out, as you can guess!
Max was giving me a spelling lesson after dinner.
And the evening ends with showers... And no matter how much he complains initially or over anything, you can always always always get this guy to smile, and I love that and am thankful for his happy, smiling personality.
Hope you had a great, ordinary or extraordinary Tuesday friends. Be Blessed.
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