title from sarah mclachlan song of the same name:
It's not that unusual
When everything is beautiful
It's just another ordinary miracle today
The sky knows when it's time to snow
Don't need to teach a seed to grow
It's just another ordinary miracle today
Life is like a gift they say
Wrapped up for you everyday
Open up and find a way
To give some of your own
Isn't it remarkable
Like every time a raindrop falls
It's just another ordinary miracle today
Birds in winter have their fling
Will always make it home by spring
It's just another ordinary miracle today
When you wake up everyday
Please don't throw your dreams away
Hold them close to your heart
'Cause we're all a part of the ordinary miracle
Ordinary miracle
Do you want to see a miracle?
It seems so exceptional
The things just work out after all
It's just another ordinary miracle today
Sun comes up and shines so bright
And disappears again at night
It's just another ordinary miracle today
It's just another ordinary miracle today
I've been wanting to document the "ordinary miracles" for quite some time. I love Ali's perspective on life and scrapbooking. I've never been able to join in on the cool things she does...one little word,december daily, etc. Nor have I been able to commit to something like project 365.
I thought I'd document in my own little way, by blogging about it. When I can, no pressure...I will take daily photos and do a blog post about them. Documenting the everyday "ordinary miracles".
You won't see the babies much in these photos. I am always holding one, and the other is usually asleep in the swing or bed.
I also wanted to take mundane, daily photos b/c most days I can't remember what I did!
So here's what a day is like at our house right now.
Right to left, top to bottom:
1. 6 am- devotional. I haven't read my bible or done a devotional in a while, and it was time to change that. 2. How funny is it that the topic of my devotional today was "today is a gift"? All about taking life's challenges and turning them into growth opportunities, chances to let God shine through you. 3. On the phone, holding the babies, trying to make their 2 month checkup appointments.
4.Tackling the dirty dishes in the sink. Told you they were there!! 5. 7 am- bigs up, breakfast time 6.Superwhy on the TV
7.Babies down, I have a chance to quickly check my email. 8. 9 am- Sadie has a meltdown b/c I brush her hair. :) 9 and 10. Girls pick their outfits and I help them get dressed.
11.10 am- I'm feeding the babies, the bigs are bringing me food they have "cooked" for me in their kitchen. 12. I take everyone to the library. HUGE mistake. Uh, hello libraries are a place to be quiet...smart move, mama. Not!
13.I need coffee NOW. Run through the McDonalds and figure I might as well get the girls happy meals. They deserve a special treat, and by the way the babies are screaming in the back of the car, I don't think I'm going to be able to make the bigs lunch. 14.Feeding the babies (again) while the big girls have a picnic on the rug. 15. 12 pm Nap time for the babies...maybe I'll get to lay down too! Sadie is napping, Harper is having quiet play time.
16. Scratch that nap idea- here comes sadie. she's wild. 17. and now she is attempting to lay down with the babies. lovely. 18. 2 pm- I've abandoned the idea of a nap and now we are doing art- we talked about new year's fireworks and the girls painted them yesterday. today we add glitter.
19. A lesson on snow. First the girls color a snowman. 20.Then we make snowflakes using q-tips and glitter. 21. While the girls are snowflaking it up, I check the SC boards.
22. 5 pm- I pop a casserole in the oven. 23. 6pm- Blue Moon time! 24. 7:30 pm- the babies are sleeping, so I read the bigs the books they chose at the library.
8pm- bedtime for bigs, littles, and mommy. :) I stay up later when J is here, but when he's not it's lights out for me.
Whew!!! there it is! I know that in a month, this list will be completely different!
The past 2 days I've had the luxury of all four kiddos sleeping or resting at the same time. That's what's happening as we speak and oh, is it delicious. I've got my coffee and I'm doing a whole bunch of NOTHING!!!
I hope your Thursday is beautiful.
xoxo
s
love love love this idea- you will cherish reading this even a few months down the road!
Posted by: Jenni Hufford | 01/06/2011 at 01:09 PM
Wow! I got tired just reading that post! You are amazing-Really!!!! Love this idea & can't wait to read how things are going next week or month!
Posted by: Stephanie Eaken | 01/06/2011 at 01:15 PM
This is wonderful and everyday is a gift, that is why we call it the present. You are an awesome Mama.
Posted by: Lora Oliver | 01/06/2011 at 01:19 PM
these are exactly the types of photos I LOVE!
they tell the real story of life!
hand your camera off to harper and have her get some pix if you with the babies!!! or just get tons of them sleeping! you will be happy that you did!!!
love this post soooo MUCH stephanie!!!
tara
Posted by: tara pakosta | 01/06/2011 at 01:29 PM
I love those lyrics! And this post. You are a super mom and just reading about your day makes me want to go take a nap :)
Posted by: Rebecca | 01/06/2011 at 01:33 PM
Love this post.
These are the pictures to cherish. The real pictures.
Love it!
Posted by: Mary Ann | 01/06/2011 at 01:47 PM
Love it! I recently did do Journal your Christmas, and I've started Project 365 this year finally. I hope to keep up with it but documenting the everyday is still my favorite and my main purpose of blogging. My blog is titled "Thrice Blessed" (I have 3 girls) but the description is "Capturing the magic of our ordinary days". Ordinary days are the best!
Posted by: Amanda-ThriceBlessed | 01/06/2011 at 01:53 PM
I'm glad you are doing this! So fun to see your daily life. xo. e
Posted by: elise blaha cripe | 01/06/2011 at 02:02 PM
I love that song- I used it awhile ago on my blog about my Lily...just love the thought that the things she is learning to do that my other children did so easily are now "ordinary miracles".
I'm looking for your book suggestions that you used to have on your sidebar, but don't see it? I love when you recommend books:) Headed to the library in a few...if you have any awesome reads to share, I will check back here before we go!
Love your pics as always!
Posted by: patti | 01/06/2011 at 02:02 PM
A wonderful post and glimpse into the every day, even a month from now, there will be changes as all four girls will be a month older. And at this time in their lives a month is a lot! I love the song too as the ordinary days are what add up to a wonderful life.
Posted by: Berta | 01/06/2011 at 02:09 PM
Sarah Mclachlan can do no wrong,
love that song and this post! :)
Posted by: Jody | 01/06/2011 at 02:17 PM
Love Sarah McLachlan and I love that song! Good for you to document your day- it will be fun to see how it changes throughout the year.
Posted by: Marti Richards | 01/06/2011 at 02:37 PM
Even your dishes look cute! Love the ordinary! That's what makes good mama's great!!
Posted by: Shara | 01/06/2011 at 02:50 PM
What a wonderful idea - your day in pics!! I'm puffed just reading it! You sure are SUPERMUM! Take care.
Vicky (NZ)
Posted by: Vicky | 01/06/2011 at 02:57 PM
I love that song and Sara in general. Great way to document your ordinary days. Don't beat yourself up for not "doing more". I think it's great. You and your girls will treasure these photos!
I wish I would have had a clue to photograph "ordinary" things when mine were little. For the last few years, I've been hesitant to do a 365 because my kids are older and not into me taking their photos as much, but the fact that my son will be graduating high school in a few years made me realize I want to remember these days just as much as when he was little. :)
Posted by: Leslie | 01/06/2011 at 03:08 PM
I LOVE this post...it has all the things I love in it...crafts, crazy girls, dirty dishes (can't ever get ahead of them), meltdowns (everyone deserves one), Sarah M's Ordinary Miracles and BLUE MOON! Thanks for reminding the the ordinary is Wonderful...You are doing GREAT mama! : )
Posted by: Mari | 01/06/2011 at 03:09 PM
You are so REAL! Love it!!
Posted by: Amy | 01/06/2011 at 04:13 PM
This was an AWESOME post! I love it and thank you for a look at your day.Your children are lucky and blessed with the mommy they have!
Posted by: Nicole | 01/06/2011 at 04:46 PM
So glad the girls are all resting at the same time for you! YEAH!! :)
Posted by: Angie F | 01/06/2011 at 05:18 PM
first, i love that song. as soon as I heard it in the theater when we saw Charlotte's Web, i tracked it down. that was years ago.
love your photos. i have embarked on a very little project 365 myself. i am going to try and take an iphone photo each day. right now i am uploading them to flickr and just adding a blurb. i hope once the collection grows, it will tell my story, the story of my family. not sure if i will print them or what. havent gotten that far yet.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/sets/72157625622487701/
t
Posted by: tracy | 01/06/2011 at 05:38 PM
Great idea to use your blog to capture "ordinary miracles." Babies grow too fast and its amazing how different your day can be from one month to the next! It's so neat that you can capture today, b/c like you said in 2 months it will be so different!
Posted by: Corey Brock | 01/06/2011 at 06:26 PM
I love this post, and I love how you're documenting you. Blue Moon is one of my faves, too, so I basically love it ALL!
Posted by: Amy Coose | 01/06/2011 at 06:40 PM
i love that you are making this documentation a priority. it's awesome (and a bit amazing). and you totally know if i were closer, i'd be there at 6:30, Blue Moons in hand :)
Posted by: Lisa Dickinson | 01/06/2011 at 06:44 PM
Wow! I'm tired just reading this. Can't believe you find time for fun crafts for H&S too! That's fantastic!
Posted by: Linda E | 01/06/2011 at 08:28 PM
Ha! I also took a recent photo of a Blue Moon bottle for my Project Life photos. Too funny!
Posted by: Janell | 01/06/2011 at 10:03 PM
Hey....love the post! Just curious as to the titles of your daily devotionals. I really wanted to do a Beth Moore study, but can't commit to one of her studies at the moment. Thanks!
Posted by: Rita | 01/06/2011 at 10:33 PM
You managed all that in one day?? You're a SuperMama! :)
Posted by: Cass | 01/06/2011 at 11:03 PM
Great way to adapt the challenge to what works for you!
Those lyrics are awesome...thanks for sharing...off to iTunes to check out the song.
Blessings...
Posted by: Amy K | 01/07/2011 at 04:00 AM
love the lyrics, love the photos
Posted by: caroline | 01/07/2011 at 05:35 AM
What a day! I really must capture more of our family days! Thank you for the inspiration!
Posted by: Kathy Martin | 01/07/2011 at 06:38 AM
I love this post, but reading it made me tired! Your day made mine seem like a trip to the spa(which I could use) I pulled a muscle in my neck & back so it's been a lot of rest, heating pads & Aleve.
Posted by: Ginny C. | 01/07/2011 at 08:04 AM
Hey there!
The book is called You are My Hiding Place, Lord by Emilie Barnes.
Its short and sweet...not very in depth, but good for this mama with short periods of time to have quiet time!
xxo
s
Posted by: Stephanie Howell | 01/07/2011 at 08:17 AM
I just ordered that devotional book on my Kindle. Wow, Stephanie you are one busy girl. Do have a crockpot?
It is a big time saver in my life.
Your girls are beautiful!
Posted by: Glenna | 01/07/2011 at 08:52 AM
now THAT's a routine! lol!!! =) so cute! sadie stories always crack me up. she's very much like my claire!
Posted by: Kristen Cox | 01/07/2011 at 09:12 AM
Such a great idea :) I am only just this year trying the whole picture of the day idea. I got Project Life and am working on it and loving it. Your journaling is great, you've inspired me :)
Posted by: Robin | 01/07/2011 at 09:23 AM
it's crazy how busy we get...but, we love each and every ordinary moment. i love the lyrics, and your pictures.
Posted by: jackie | 01/07/2011 at 09:46 AM
you are an amazing mom - and I prayed for you last night that God would give you daily strength. His mercies are new every morning! Thanks for sharing - it's the ordinary moments that make the best memories
Posted by: KathyChen | 01/07/2011 at 10:00 AM
I love this idea. Also, I marvel at how much you actually do get done with 4 kiddos (including twin babies) and a hubby who is gone at the moment. It encourages me as I prepare for life to be turned upside down with the arrival of baby number 2. (Ha, and I'm worried about just a second kid.) :o)
Posted by: Erin R. | 01/07/2011 at 11:33 AM
Thanks Stephanie!!! Off to look for it now.
Posted by: Rita | 01/07/2011 at 01:27 PM
thank you for reminding me how exhausting those days were! Sending my oldest back to college after Christmas made me melancholy for earlier days...needed that reminder of how far I've come...don't be surprised when you turn around and they are bringing boyfriends home from college!!! blink of an eye! xoxoxleslie
Posted by: leslie | 01/07/2011 at 03:42 PM
Have you seen Becky Higgins' Project Life? This is the type of thing some people do in it throughout the year. Love the photography of the familiar. It's what we're most destined to forget if not archived.
Posted by: JoLynn | 01/07/2011 at 08:32 PM
Cool post. Parenting little ones is so relentless! My first fed every two hours...I can imagine feeding the twins is quite time-consuming...bravo to you!
Posted by: Debbie S. | 01/08/2011 at 03:19 AM
How do you make these photo grids for your blog? I am new to blogging and I am trying to learn the ins and outs...its taking me a long time! Love your photos.
Posted by: Brandi | 01/11/2011 at 01:45 PM