10 Times I’ve Found Inspiration in the Ordinary

Small things. Bits of happiness. God winks. Inspirations. I often become overwhelmed by all of the minutiae that make up my days that I fail to see them. Most nights, when my head finally hits the pillow it’s all I can do to make sure my alarm is set and my blankets are just right before I drift off to sleep. Rarely do I have the energy to think about my day and where I saw the delight in it. If you’ve read the first post, you know that this space is a journey to be more intentional in recognizing and celebrating those moments. Here are some I’ve found recently.  

1. Storied Enthusiasm – Emma loves stories! She loves being read to, and looking through her books. Just like her mama, she will never have enough books. Every night when it becomes story time, no matter how tired I am I enjoy sitting with her and reading books. 
2. “Delicious Fish!” – When Em begs for more salmon for dinner. She has loved salmon since it first touched her lips. On one unfortunate occasion, I mentioned that we were going to have salmon “tomorrow”…cue meltdown because it wasn’t on her plate that very second! This girl can polish off a good quarter of a pound on her own, and there have been times when I’ve had to call my husband and tell him that not only did she eat her portion and part of mine, but that there was only going to be enough for him to enjoy a small appetizer.
3. Solace – On the occasion Em stays with her grandparents and it’s quiet in the house. As I write this, there is a late afternoon thunderstorm rolling in. The rain hitting the windows and the distant rolls of thunder bring a relaxing soundtrack to this calm afternoon.
4. Dancing Queen – There really is nothing cuter than little kids dancing! It’s that adorable toddler dance where she really bobs around with the occasional stepping-in-circles move. I love it! The day she figured this out, we were getting ready to go to the beach and she was so excited. You’d better believe we played Meghan Trainor “Better When I’m Dancing” over and over again just to see her move. She even got her little friend to join her on the beach. 
5. Mornings – I treasure the occasion that I find myself with about 30-45 minutes to myself to get up and actually enjoy my breakfast and have some quiet time. I’ll indulge in this breakfast sandwich my husband started making for me after we got married and read something from someone wiser than myself. Right now, I’m reading On the Bright Side by Melanie Shankle and Fierce, Free and Full of Fire by Jen Hatmaker.
6. High Quality Programming – When Em lets us watch “The Great British Baking Show” in lieu of “Daniel Tiger.” Nothing against the tiger, but watching a show which does not cause silly songs to become stuck in my head is a definite parenting win! Little does she know, we binge watched every season while I was on maternity leave. Now she loves to bake – mission accomplished!
7. A Girl and Her Cat – We recently had to put our cat down. Bijou was 19 years old. She and her sister came to us when I was a junior in high school, and I remember feeding her out of a bottle. She was so patient with moves, etc throughout the years and when Em came along it was no different. When we had floor time, she would come over and rub on Em’s head like she was claiming her as her own personal tiny human. As Emma grew older, they grew closer. They loved to hang out together, and Em would call Bijou over to “sit down please!” while she was reading or playing. 
8. Little Yogi – Em has been practicing yoga with me since she was in the womb. She has just now begun to participate in the practice. I love that she gives her attention fully to the teacher and understands that she has the freedom to move her body how she can and to try new things, even though she might not look just like the grown ups. I take comfort in knowing that I am giving her powerful tools she will use for years to come.
9. Our Tribe – Not only are we extremely lucky to have both sets of grandparents nearby, we have an amazing tribe in which to raise our family. Em has already made connections with other young kids and asks to play with them or to call them on the phone. It’s great to be able to parent in community, and that Em has such great women to look up to. 
10. Fresh Flowers – Several weeks ago, I had some friends over for brunch. My husband thought it would be a great idea to have some flowers for our table so he went out and got some sunflowers (my favorite). I had forgotten how much I love to have fresh flowers on my table. Somehow, flowers tend to make a cluttered table look just a little better. Just a glance puts a smile on my face

I’d love to hear where you have found your inspirations recently!