Lots of big things happened in 2025 and I will write about those later, although I think all of them already have their own blog entries. Top spot has to go to the birth of my granddaughter, obviously. The lowest, most heartbreaking has to go to the two unexpected deaths. But, I am not here to write about those. Today I want to write about the ordinary, the expected, the common.
I was looking back on pictures from the year and reflecting on the everyday moments. The things that make up the bulk of my life: family, work, and church. And I am grateful for all the joy that came from the regular rhythms of my life.
I have a family who loves me. They see me at my best and at my worst and are there for me in both. Sitting down for dinner, going to church, praying, chauffeuring. These are all uneventful but bring me joy in the mundane. In the broader family, lunch with my sister. Chats with my brothers. Texting in our sibling chat. Memes. So many memes. Reminiscing. I am lucky that I am close with my siblings and that those bonds grow deeper as we age. One of the pictures from my collage of ordinary below is from my brother's house. Just a regular day and yet so extraordinary.
Church is a biweekly rhythm for me since I go on Sundays and on Tuesday mornings and throw in community group on Wednesdays as a third. All of these are part of my typical week. There is no special programming. The structure is always the same. But the familiarity is comforting. I love the people. The church retreat, which I blogged about in October, was wonderful. But, that was an event. It was unusual. As I walk up the steps of my church on a regular day, I feel incredibly blessed that this is my church and I am grateful for the ordinary, common rhythms of it all.
Going to work is a standard part of my life three days a week. It isn't glamorous. There isn't generally a lot of thanks or fanfare. But, I am lucky enough to love my job, to love teaching my students. And, I have friends at work who spend time with me and make work fun. We chat in the hallways. Have coffee. Laugh and cry. Raid the emergency chocolate stash. Vent our frustrations. Curse the broken photocopier. On a regular Thursday at work. This too I am grateful for.
For all of it, I am grateful. Because as I posted on social media, "if you must look back, look back in celebration for the ordinary in your life and know, with all your knowing, that it isn't ordinary at all. It is magic. All of it. See it. Really see it." So, perhaps the ordinary moments are actually extraordinary after all...because of the people. My family, my church family, my coworkers, and my friends, they are the ones that make my ordinary magical.
