April 2, 2012

This weekend turned into one of staying home, snuggled up on the couch surrounded by books and snuggles from kids (once returned from a cousin's baseball game). Bones aching, throat sore, and with no television to escape to, I filled the valuable quiet  time with reading.
I was able to finish this one, which I mentioned last week.

The author Katrina Kenison writes with such insight about this life I am entrenched in. She empathizes with the mother who feels like life is moving too quickly.  She writes a chapter dealing with simplicity, "So often it seems, we are the ones who make our lives more complicated than they need to be.  We set the bar too high, take on too much, turn small doings into big ones.  In part the culture is to blame. . .There is more to see, more to buy than ever before.  And how easy it is to fall into thinking that living well means partaking of all that's offered.  With so many options and opportunities  to choose from, it can be a challenge just figuring out where to draw the line."  (35)


Towards the end of the book, she quoted Thomas Moore, family,  he wrote, "is the nest in which the soul is born, nurtured, and released into life." (218)  The timing of this particular quote is symbolic because just last week, I noticed our bird friend is back in a plusher nest above our patio speaker.  I like to watch her, listen to her chirp, and think about whether or not we will see the eggs she probably sits upon.  Last year, I hardly noticed when she left. . .and I definitely never noticed the babies. I don't want to miss out on the life that is occurring here in this place--each day it happens, some days more daunting than others but I know in a flash it will be gone and I don't want to miss it by being over scheduled, over burdened, or by comparing what my kids do to those around me.  I just don't want to live like that and this book spoke to my heart.

In her next book,

 her boys are now grown--one will soon be leaving the nest and is heading off to college.  Her spirit is restless as she tries to cope with losing a job she loved and boys who don't need her in the same ways.  You must watch this clip of her reading from this book. It's beautiful as the book was.

My weekend reading left me lifted up and encouraged.  I found peace and comfort in the calmness of the world that she created for her sons.  My Everyday Extraordinary is simply the Gift of Ordinary Days. . .blessed immensely and ever grateful.