Friday, September 5, 2008

Perfect, ordinary simplicity

Today I wake up to the happy chatter of my kids, already at the breakfast table. The alarm has failed to go off, but the Husband is in town this morning, and has cheerfully gotten them started.

I come downstairs, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. I kiss each baby on top of their head, smelling the strawberry shampoo. I cannot help but notice Hannah's 'creative' outfit combination. I decide to save that battle for another day. I briefly wonder if her teacher will think I picked it. I decide to not care if she does.

I shuffle over in my slippers and give the Husband a sheepish hug. He smiles, dimples creasing and blue eyes sparkling, and for the millionth time in my life, I fall in love with him all over again.

I take the morning poll of who is buying lunch and who is bringing. I laugh when two of the three get excited for chicken patty on a bun, which sounds thoroughly disgusting to me.

At once, they realize today is Friday, and squeal with glee because this means they get to have music with "Eddie," a man who is probably way too cool to be an elementary school teacher. I wonder if he knows just how much the entire studentbody worships him.

I remind them to pack snacks, and laugh at Chase who always wants to bring candy. I clean up the breakfast dishes and do Hannah's hair. She chatters away, filling me in for the umpteenth time on everyone and everything that happens in the first grade. I say a prayer of hope she talks to me like this forever.

I stand at the door and wave when the bus goes by. It still makes me smile that they want me to wave, but do not want me at the bus stop. Stretching their independence, but still wanting to know I'm there. I close the door and go start sorting the laundry. I think about the fresh peaches in the fridge and decide to surprise them all with a pie this afternoon.

I hop on the treadmill and run to a couple old episodes of "The Office," and laugh hysterically because they are all new to me.

I sit and sweat, drinking the cold, crisp water from the fridge. I feel strong. I feel content.

I find that my heart is full and tears threaten to spill over, as I think of the perfect, ordinary simplicity that is my happy life. I know that this is the place I am meant to be.

I feel blessed.

41 comments:

Ashlee said...

I agree. Normally my happiest moments are when I am sitting at home with my family doing nothing but enjoying each others company. Good times...

Hillary said...

You are blessed. What a wonderful positive way to start the day. I need to do a little rethinking of how I view my days when I wake up. - my hubby;s home and he gets the kids up makes breakfast, lunches and takes them to school! I guess I am blessed, too!

Lorena said...

Sounds like a perfect morning...I love those!

♥Shally said...

I love moments like that... I have so many when I hear my kids playing or see my husband washing the dishes and I just think,


AHHHHHH, life is good.

I hold tears back because I am so grateful.

Then there are those days where all I think is "SO HELP ME!"

But we won't dwell on those days, right?

Queen B said...

What a wonderful day. I love simple and ordinary moments.

And I love seeing someone have gratitude for those moments!

Lauren in GA said...

Oh, Christie...that was so beautiful. It honestly gave me chills.

I hope my boys will always talk to me the way your Hannah talks to you now...I have said prayers of hope, too.

Li said...

This post is so beautiful. Thanks for the reminder that I need to be more thankful for what I've got. :)

Christy said...

I love when you write like this - with your heart full of love and appreciation, because you do it beautifully. Thank you for sharing your wonderful morning. I will be living with my eyes opened a little wider and my heart opened wider still, looking for and recognizing just how wonderful my life really is, all thanks to you.

Becky said...

Yep, to have a morning when I don't choose to yell, ...and things flow smoothly. Love it. I also love the weather that is quickly feeling like fall, the evenings that I have with Eric, walks/runs in the morning with friends, ...and this place that I feel so happy to live in. LOVE LOVE LOVE. It feels good to be grateful and content! Thanks for sharing- when I get this weight off, I just may start "sharing" again.

Annie said...

Yes. Perfect simplicity. Life is made of the sum of these moments. Appreciating them is key.

Thanks, you.

Melain said...

You have such a beautiful, descriptive writing style! I really connected with this whole piece. I too am a marveller of the little things. My heart is full WITH you today.

Ilene said...

Great job at recognizing these perfect moments.

The Office is hilarious. Even if you have seen the episodes before.

Linsey said...

Beautiful, simple and beautiful.

Bridget said...

Oh, Stie. You said it all and you said it just right. Being a mom rocks. I love those simple, great days.

tarable said...

I am so thankful for days like this, or sometimes it's just an hour like this. And I'm thankful for a blog journal to record the memory and share it with others. Thanks for sharing yours.

Amanda D said...

Very well said. Perfect post!

Unknown said...

For some reason I'm reading this picturing myself as a grandma with no more kids at home...and it makes me want to cry! Thanks for the reminder to cherish the little everyday miracles!

Magnolia Sun said...

You really are so blessed, enjoy them while they are so young. Mine are now 15 and 21 both boys.

Annemarie said...

Love it. Those are all things that bring true happiness.

Now pleeeeeease get a picture of "Eddie".

Paige said...

AHHH, hold on to that. The music teacher is a celebrity at our school too. It certainly takes a certain kind....

Hollyween said...

My barfing child today didn't really give me that 'simplicity' feeling you're talking about. But it reminds me that a lot of the time I do actually have days like that. But you put it way better than I ever could!

And I'm once again jealous of people who's kids get to ride the bus.

Travelin'Oma said...

Beautiful writing! It's so good to be reminded that the ordinary things are everything we're hoping for.

diane said...

I love the ordinary extraordinary days.

CJ, The Purple Diva said...

What a wonderful post. Loved those reflective peaceful moments of joy! Sounds like a little heaven on earth.

Kimberly said...

It's the little moments like that that make life so worthwhile!

Talena said...

You're writing is beautiful! Thanks for sharing and opening your heart to us. You have a special gift for writing and thanks for keeping me inspired.

Chatter said...

I was in the car for 12 hours with the three wee ones today driving back home after vacation. During the 10th hour I was lying with my head back on the seat, listening to hubby singing and filled with complete peace and flooded with excitement and love for my darling hubby. The ordinary life is grand!
Beautiful post!

Kristy said...

What a great morning. I am still waiting for my novel. You are going to write one, right?

Kristy said...

I love those little, ordinary, moments which are actually huge, extraordinary blessings in the grand scheme of things! It's awesome when we can step back & appreciate all that we have been given.

Great post, Stie.

Hazen5 said...

It is so great that you do recognize the small things in life!

danandcindy said...

Last paragraph goes something like this...

I realize that nobody will be home for a while, so I take advantage of the time, and sit my lazy butt down until I am burdoned by the return of my kids from school, at which point I make them get me food and diet cokes from the fridge while I yell at them.

I feel blessed.

Wendi said...

What a beautiful post Christie!
Thanks for sharing.
Crossing my fingers that my morning will be exactly like yours tomorrow.

LMBO at Dan's comment...he is hilarious!

Cara @ Gardenview Cottage said...

We need moments like this to feed our soul. That way when we are having a hard time we can look back and remember.....

Emy5 said...

That was a lovely post, Christie. Contentment can come from being happy with simple things.

the wrath of khandrea said...

wait, what's that i smell? maternal sap? dripping, oozing all over your blog...? yes, yes... i'm sure that's what it is.
i'll slap you if you slap me, and we'll make a note of it all.
deal?

Rochelleht said...

And that, my friends, is the stuff of life! Doesn't get any better than that.

Except maybe if Hannah's outfit had been a little more coordinated...

Jules from "The Roost" said...

Don't you fill so rich in your simple life!? Great post! :0)

Anonymous said...

you are awesome. I truely mean that.

Jessica said...

I have been trying to catch up on blogger since forever and finally got to you on my Reader (you shouldn't be at the end of the alphabet, you know).

And loved every post.

Loved the joy in this one. Loved the Labor Day idea (as I have one coming up) and LOVED (seeped in jealousy) the monkey figurine post...I ALWAYS wonder who in the heck buys that stuff and just wish I'd thought of that post first!

So, moral of this comment is: You have a FABULOUS blog. The end.

queenieweenie said...

I love this post! Thanks for sharing.

Upward Falling Autumn said...

Extraordinary in the ordinary! Great post :)