Squeaky Hinge Reminders

Take time this summer to slow down and enjoy the ordinary.

Yesterday, I had a day off, the first in a much needed extra long weekend. I was exhausted from work life and personal life. My youngest just graduated from high school and while it was a wonderful celebration, it was emotionally draining as well.

We did pictures with grandparents and attended the ceremony. We went to dinner and opened gifts. The following day, we met with friends for more pictures and went to an arcade/restaurant with those friends and their parents for more celebrating. As I was walking around taking photos of him with his friends, I was reminded of birthday parties of the past when I did the same and I found myself fighting back tears.

I would have never believed when he was five, that I could love him even more at seventeen or that I would still consider photos with him and his friends just as precious as when they were little.

On Sunday, our church recognized him, presented him with a Bible and a gift card and prayed over him and I found myself tearing up yet again, feeling the love and support that surrounded him.

Yesterday, when I woke up, I tiptoed downstairs for a cup of coffee and some quiet time. I had had very little quiet in the past week. My mostly grown kids, were still sleeping and I gave a prayer of thanks that they were both home and safely tucked away. As I headed out to the porch to soak in the quiet cool morning, the hinges on the door, made their usual high pitched squeak.

I smiled as both dogs came running.

We’ve been in our house for fourteen years and that door has always squeaked loudly. I used to try to get my hubby to fix it, but I’ve grown used to it and these days it signals that the porch is open for business and by business, I mean sitting and visiting, resting and chatting, and enjoying Creation and each other.

The dogs went right to their preferred spots on the porch, like they always do this time of year, one right by my side and the other at my feet. On the weekends, my hubby joins us and the kids head straight out there when they wake up. We sometimes sit out there for hours talking and sharing stories, dreaming and remembering.

It’s an ordinary, yet extraordinary recognition of who we are, where we have been and where we are going. But, then life has taught me that the extraordinary is often found in the ordinary.

As summer officially kicks off this weekend, I’m going to try to slow down as much as possible and take in all of those ordinary moments, keeping in mind that in hindsight, those moments often become extraordinary. Some squeaky hinges reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

This summer, I’m blessed to have both of my kids at home. I’m not sure when that will happen again, so in order to enjoy every possible moment of family time, I’m going to only post on Fridays.