October 3, 2010

These "Ordinary" Days

My sister-in-law, many years ago,
said something that has stayed with me.
On one occasion when I asked her how she was doing,
her reply was simply ~
"I am enjoying the blessings of routine".
What does that mean...really?
Thinking about it more over the years,
I have begun to recognize some of the deeper truths hidden there.

It is a blessing to be in routine.
It is a blessing to have our days pass without incident.

We know when something "out of the ordinary" happens,
it is not always pleasant and sometimes even horrible.
The blessings of routine ~
health, comforts, full tummy, warm shelter,
and the love of family and friends.
These are the everyday and even ordinary happenings ~
these are the BLESSINGS of routine!

Thankful this Monday for "routine" and for friends and family.
May the LORD help us each to see HIS hand in the "ordinary" things
and give HIM thanks for everything HE sends our way.


837. Friendships developing and little secrets shared...
thank you to R and her Mummy for treating us to lunch at a
favourite little tea shop! :)


838. Thankful for boys that help out and even do it with a smile!


839. Thankful for the Thomas Track that we collected over the years.

840. Thankful that Dad took it upon himself to gift much of it to
the boys many years ago. :)


841. Thankful for music in the home and the noise of children ~
did I just write that? ;-)



842. Thankful for the Lego supply we have and the creating that
has taken place with it time and time and time again



843. Thankful for the precious friendship with
sweet little E's Mummy!

844. Thankful too that she allows Emma some up close and personal visiting ~
precious memories!



845. Creative things to do

846. That the boys launched this project on their own

847. Thankful that they did it together




848. Sunday evening popcorn


849. The satisfied customers! :)



850. Mini pizzas


851. Evidence that a boy was here...


852. The cutest boots ever ~
Thank you Auntie Fran!

853. Thankful for the kindness and generosity of
Auntie Fran and Auntie Beverley over the years


854. Outdoor "evidence" ~ a little girl lives here
who imagines and creates with recycling bottles and artificial flowers.



Many Blessings,
Camille

18 comments:

Heather said...

Your sister-in-law is so right. And I like how you've shown gratitude for these routine things, which are precious. As thankful as I try to be, I honour variety over routine in my life and it often causes regret. Thanks for the beautiful reminder.Have a good week.

Love, Heather

Dianna said...

Camille, I really enjoyed your Gratitude post today. Loved all of the pictures of your precious young ones...those happy smiles.

Sunday evening popcorn...sounds like a wonderful tradition...and the mini-pizzas are another great idea. You've inspired me to search through my recipes for special treats that I know my hubby enjoys that they may become part of our tradition! :-)

Always a blessing to spend some time here.

Jill said...

Just love this post Camille and your children are precious!
Blessings,
Jill

Wanting What I Have said...

OH Camille! LOVE the boots! LOVE (and identify with) the recycled container and flower! Laughed out loud over your thankfulness for he noise of children! (Yes, you DID just say that!) And Sunday night popcorn (enjoyed ours last night!). And the blessing and enjoyment of routine! Thank you for pointing me to Jesus again - for encouraging me to be thankful for the routine of today! :)

Have a wonderful start to the week, friend!

Make a Joyful Noise all ye Lands said...

Hello Camille,
I learned that lesson last year. Amy was sick with her new pregnancy and I was traveling to help her a lot with a nursing baby in tow and 3 other children. Nothing was routine about last year. I am so grateful that so far were are enjoying the blessings of home and not having to travel so far to help our daughter in law Amanda.. We shall see how the Lord directs this new pregnancy with Amy... For now, I am soaking in this time of routine. Thanks for sharing your posts they are heartwarming and full of truth...
Enjoy your day. Your family is beautiful...

Blessings,
Virginia

Teresa said...

Camille,

I just wrote a post and an error erased it! I'll try to duplicate it. Thanks for sharing snippets from life with us! I feel like I've just spent the day visiting with you. Routine is a blessing, isn't it? And we just had our popcorn night last night, and I played a game with Abby. It was a fun time. Time with friends is precious too, isn't it? We visited on Friday and the 4 year old girl had to hug Abby goodbye. Then the 1 year old boy had to as well! So sweet.

Have a blessed week!
Teresa

Ann at eightacresofeden said...

You are so right Camille - there is blessing in routine. It has been raining here for days, it is school holidays but I am very thankful for the rain which we really needed and for the lego block supply which reminds of the opening lines of a poem penned by a mum 'Oh give me a home where the children can roam and the lego is strewn around...!!
As much as I love the home decorator blogs with the 'styled' shots I really do love to see homes such as yours that have evidence(such as planes and popcorn!) that people actually live there and really do enjoy life together within that home!

Trisha said...

Yes! Camille, I LOVE routine. :) It's nice to see pictures of your beautiful children. Wow...1000 is so close, isn't it?

Camille said...

Dear Heather ~ There have been those times that have not been ordinary and they remind me to be thankful in the routine and even the mundane! I appreciate how you put things..."honour" variety over routine...how true that can be! Oh that we would value these quiet peaceful times...good memories can be made here too. :)

Dear Dianna ~ Your encouragement today was sweet...thank you! Funny how many of our "traditions" centre around food, isn't it? Enjoy building up your supply of ideas. :)

Dear Jill ~ Thank you for your encouraging words! It is lovely to hear from you. :)

Dear Jennifer ~ I *LOVE* your expressiveness...it warms my heart! Yes, the noise of children...I know I will be sad when it's no longer there. And the Sunday evening popcorn tradition is fun, isn't it? :)

Dear Virginia ~ Oh do I hope this pregnancy goes much better for your daughter! How difficult it is when the non-routine things come along...but how WONDERFUL that the LORD promises to travel through them with us. How precious to belong to HIM!

Dear Teresa ~ So sorry about your post! That's frustrating! :( Thank you for stopping by today...it's good to hear from you. :)

Dear Ann ~ LOL...a "real" home...is that what you see here? ;-) Well, there are times I would like to sweep all the Lego away and clean up the puzzles...I think it will be soon! How fun that you are on school break right now...we are in the "thick of things" with the work...Christmas is our next big break. Enjoy your holidays! :)

Blessings to each and every one of you! You all bless me when you visit...thank you!

In His Love,
Camille

Camille said...

Dear Trisha ~ I missed you just now as I hit publish and find that you left a comment just as I did! So sorry for that! Yes, routine...you would know the blessing of that in a fresh way as you are in the thick of "non-routine" at the moment. How precious that the LORD promises never to leave us in the midst of it all! :)

Blessings to you my friend!
In Him,
Camille

His bondservant said...

Camille,

Just love the pictures of your children. They are precious! My kids love Legos too and I am always amazed at what they come up with. I appreciate this post so much because since I have had my sickness...it has become so real to me about just the beauty of the ordinary days. I pray that I will never take those for granted again because truly they are a most blessed gift from His hand!


In Christ alone,
Jackie

Camille said...

Dear Jackie ~ I'm so sorry about your illness...but your testimony of God's goodness through it is a blessing! I pray that HE will heal you completely and you can once again enjoy the "ordinary" days. Continue to look to HIM my friend!

In His Love,
Camille

Unknown said...

YES! I'm all for routine!

Camille said...

Dear Jenn ~ I agree! And I know you appreciate routine just as much as I do...how wonderful that everything is back to normal around your home! :)

Blessings,
Camille

Linda said...

Love the photos of your children-so precious!!
Beautiful and a wonderful gratitude post! You are a sweet blessing.
Hugs

Camille said...

Thank you Linda! You are a sweet blessing too! :)

Have a lovely evening!
Blessings,
Camille

Tami said...

Your photos are so fun! Love the smiles on the little ones. And #841 is my personal favorite from your list this week. ;o)
Oh routine...yes, rejoicing in the mundane because it is just that. It's so easy to forget and get bothered by the next task that needs to be done.
Thank you for sharing the bit of wisdom from your sister-in-law.
You are a blessing to me!!
Much love,
Tami

Camille said...

Dear Tami ~ Thank you for stopping by...it is always a blessing to my heart when you do! Ah, yes...the noise of the children. Sometimes I do long for quiet and then I realise that would mean no children in the house...how sad my heart becomes! Have a wonderful, "routine" day my friend! :)

In His Love,
Camille