Ah, normal days.

"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, via Ali

I had a fantastic and energizing trip to DC last week...also very humbling and overwhelming! I feel like I'm standing at a threshold of a door and taking a deep breath before stepping through (do I want to step through? what does it mean for my life and my family? what can I give? what should I hold back?)

I'm relishing the return to normal days this week. Sam is home sick with a fever (and will be fine soon) and we are enjoying being cozy and homebound for now. I'm baking a bit and lighting candles and breathing. Folding laundry into tidy squares. Ah, I love margins and space between the busyness of mothering/life.

photo via

Comments

[calibosmom]

So well expressed and I couldn't agree more! Blessed normal days...

[Jenny]

Gorgeous.
Normal days are like dessert to me.

[Christie]

Normal days are my absolute favorite of all.

[gab]

Annie! I remember being in a college RS class and hearing that normal day quote and remembering it ever since. (Is there more to it? Is it part of an essay?) Love it!

[cbentley]

I love love love the Mary Jean Iron thought. Thanks for that. It reminds me of the little volume I hold dear: Being Home by Gunilla Norris. She writes about the sacredness and the blessing of ordinary daily tasks: washing, folding, setting the table, sweeping, etc. Lovely. Lovely