Now, set your timer, clear your head, for five minutes of free writing without worrying about getting it right.

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

Oh and Ahem, if you would take pity and turn off comment verification, it would make leaving some love on your post that much easier for folks!

OK, are you ready? Please give us your best five minutes on:

{yes, I realize to many of you this is NOT an ordinary picture to post this time of year – however we, in Alaska, still have monthS of winter left. I’m working hard to not get spring fever yet :-D!}

Ordinary…

…Okay, this is hard to start again. Trying again….

Go:: 

What is ordinary? I immediately think ‘normal’? In a year when ‘normal’ has been turned upside down, I just wish I had ordinary back. It was comfortable. I knew it. I could think. function. relate.

Now, with a new normal – it’s like a new ordinary. So what should each day look like?

I want to be like others. A family {with two parents}. A home {not living with my parents}. An income {unemployment stinks & shouldn’t remain a normal}.

I want a good relationship with my kids to be what is ordinary. They’re growing up, what I think of ordinary, normal – they think old-fashioned, weird, out-of-date, and some how some where along the line they’ve decided the rules to the game of life changed. But they didn’t. not in our home.

I want to go back to normal. before. back to the ordinary days of being mom. spending time with my kids being enough. but not really. I know this is the right path, it’s just very different right now.

Our life has been anything but ordinary – for a while now.

However, I am ordinary. but not ‘normal’. Am I still enough?

I’m so thankful my Heavenly Father thinks so. says so. promises it is so.

::Stop

I am going back through and reading how God made me to be Captivating (by John & Stasi Eldredge), re-reading Angela Thomas’ Do You Think I’m Beautiful? These days I’m tired. I’m weary. I want to be energized in Christ. It will come, I just need to wait a bit longer.

Last year I did a book “review” of Captivating*. I see it being searched frequently on my little corner of internet world. I also have noticed as I try to go back and re-read my own posts, they didn’t transfer over very well from Blogger. They’re pretty annoying to read. Just so you know, I did get permission before putting all those posts up last year. Regardless, the book is way better in its entirety :-D, as I mentioned a few times.

*Totally on my own, not because anyone asked me to. I was incredibly encouraged by both & have bawled repeatedly in reading them, & have actually read each several times. I’d planned to do the same with Do You Think I’m Beautiful?, but never got to it. I have owned both books for 5+ years {I don’t remember, but know it’s been at least that long}

So, I’m putting a few questions out to you:

• Have any of you read Captivating?
• Would you like me to ‘clean’ these posts up and re-post them? {or is it not worth it – it’ll give you the push to go get a copy of your own, if I don’t}
• How about Do You Think I’m Beautiful, have you read it?
• Do any of you relate to either of these books as much as I do?

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