Ordinary Life

I thought it high time to stop in and say hello.

The kicker is, I haven't really a thing to say.

Nothing funny, nothing profound, nothing.

It's just an ordinary day here in NW Indiana.

But with these beautiful, ordinary days come extraordinary opportunities.

Opportunities to trust in the midst of fear, hope in the midst of despair.

Life lessons that encourage us to answer back in kindness when spoken to in anger.

To treat respectfully when we are treated disrespectfully.

Opportunities to love instead of judge.

A gentle reminder that we control so very little in our lives.

With each new ordinary day - we are given another chance to love ourselves and others unconditionally.

With each passing click of the second hand, with each new drawn breath - it's a new beginning.

How can one not hold on to hope and joy in the midst of 86,400 new beginnings in each day?

I feel quiet today.

Grateful.

Humbled by kindness.

I got my sister and brother-in-law moved.  

It ended up being a very emotional time for me - seeing her come into the apartment that I set up for her.

Oh gals - it was a little dollhouse too.

My friends were so kind and generous, everything fell together perfectly, and honestly the only thing my sister didn't have in her apartment was plastic wrap - it completely slipped my mind.

She was overwhelmed, in a most delightful way.

I've been exhausted, and just now, at this very moment - do I feel rested again and ready for the next round of shenanigans.

I've stopped working so much - even in the face of a bit of lack.

There's just flat out too much to do here right now, and me being gone so much was not a good thing.

Not quite sure what's going on with Glenco's job - but he's working part time it seems.

Not sure what we'll do - but for now - all is fine.

When I was at the laundromat washing my sister's clothes in hot water - drying on hot for 40 minutes... 

(the Interweb said 20 minutes would kill bedbugs - so I went 40.  Die suckers!  In the entire move, I never did see one bug - and my goodness I don't think anyone could have taken more precautions than I did.)

....while I was there - I just stared at the dryer going around and around.  One man joked and asked me if they dried faster if you stared.  I told him 'most certainly they do!  By 30%!'

I stared at those clothes going around and around.  

I looked around at the people.  I thought a lot.

What does life really boil down to?

Love and kindness.

That's my thought anyhow.

I flat out don't care how good looking you are, how popular you are, how much money you have or don't have.  I don't care what you drive, where you live, or how you live.  I don't care what you do or don't do for a living.

Are you kind?

Today - right now - that's really all that seems to matter to me.

Are you kind to yourself?

Your husband/wife?

Your family members?

Are you kind to your children?

Your dog?

Your cat?

Your chickens, goats, cows, and pigs?

To strangers?

I believe kindness makes an ordinary life most extraordinary.