Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Ordinary Life


I love to watch the sunrise. I love the stillness and quiet of the morning, the anticipation of a new day and all the promise that it holds. In the early morning calm I am reminded that God is here and that he cares. The sunrise brings with it the chance for a fresh start, a new beginning, and renewed strength for whatever the day brings. I am grateful that God knew we would need these new starts, and that we would need them frequently!


Now that there are no kids in the house I don't see the sunrise very often. Mark and I don't have to get up before dawn to make breakfast or pack lunches or drive kids to school. And we miss those moments - the miraculous turning of the sky from black to brilliant hues of pink and orange - those moments that confirm that God is indeed a God of goodness and mercy, a God of new beginnings!


I haven't seen the sunrise lately, but I have seen the dawn of a new day in my life! For the first time in nearly a year, I have felt relatively normal! I feel good physically. I am not tired. I can eat. I can leave the house. I have been successful at rejecting fearful and worrisome thoughts. I feel the sun rising...


Thursday night Mark and I had the privilege of attending the George and Barbara Bush A Celebration of Reading at the Hobby Center. It was a really fun evening!


Friday night Mark and I enjoyed the Astros game with my parents. The Astros won, and we stayed all the way through the fireworks at the end of the game. Lots of fun!


Saturday I actually worked in the yard! I can't remember the last time I did that! It felt good to be in the sun, using muscles I haven't used in a long time. I'm not sure my surgeon would have been too happy, but he wasn't here! 


Sunday night I went swimming! I haven't been in a pool in a year! 


I read this quote from a cancer survivor today: 


"All I wanted was ordinary life back, for ordinary life, 
it became utterly clear, is more valuable than anything else." 
(Katherine Russell Rich, The New York Times, 4/26/2010)


Thank you, Lord, for giving me my ordinary life back. Please help me never to take that blessing for granted!


Maybe I'll get up and watch the sunrise tomorrow...



5 comments:

  1. Hey, Laura! What a joy to read this post! Isn't the ordinary life extraordinary!!!!!
    Love you and ALWAYS praying for you!
    Ellen

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  2. So beautifully written, and the pictures are amazing!
    I don't want to miss out on the ordianary...thank you for the reminder!

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  3. Ordinary is Extraordinary! I love the times in life where I am so moved or shaken that I am beyond grateful for whatever it is that has caused me to see something differently... gratefulness for ordinary is a beautiful and peaceful place to be.
    Your ordinary days sound absolutely amazing and I am beyond happy that you are experiencing that freedom to do these things again. HIGH FIVE !!!!!

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  4. Moved to good tears again! I will get to see the sunset every night in my new home. I can't miss it-the rooms are all glass. God is Glorious!!!

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  5. SO glad you are enjoying ordinary life again! What a blessing it is!

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