Life in my fourth grade classroom began the same way everyday: Mr. Lahr called the roll. I spent the first half of the alphabet listening to my fellow students say here as their names were called. I was focused and alert, because if I didn’t say here or present or at least grunt and raise my hand, I would be counted absent. Even if I was there.
You had to pay attention and respond, or it would be as if you weren’t there at all.
Not much has changed since the fourth grade. It takes work to be here during December. I mean really here. I can get so focused on the then that I forget the now.
I charge my camera batteries in anticipation of the joy of Christmas morning, but I miss out on the wrestling match happening in front of the tree on December 22.
I spend time pouring over fun cookie recipes to make with my kids but end up frustrated when all they want to do is fight over who gets to lick the bowl.
Perhaps I should make cookies by myself.
Or.
Perhaps I could shift the goal from make cookies with the kids to make individual batter covered bowls.
It is all about changing our expectations. Because if I’m saving up all my worship and expectancy and joy for Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, it’s very likely that I will experience disappointment, conflict, frustration or all three.
So I have an idea. I want to purpose to notice the joy in the everyday. After all, isn’t that what my blog is all about? But December doesn’t feel like the everyday! you say. December can feel more like the crazy. That’s why I’m inviting you to join me on my quest to notice and revel in the daily.
Next Monday, I’m going offer an opportunity for us to share our journey of noticing with each other. It could be as simple as a photo, a glimpse of a treasure you discover while taking a walk or a moment captured during your kids playtime.
A Poppy with his grandson.
A girl all dressed up with no place to go.
A boy caught in the act.It doesn’t have to be a photo. It could be a story, a memory, or a thought you have that helps you to reflect and notice and celebrate even in the midst of busy and planning and crazy.
It doesn’t have to be about Christmas. I know some of you may not celebrate Christmas or perhaps you aren’t one of those people who turn crazy in December because you have perspective and inner peace and sense. Share that with us.
The only rule is that you notice. And then tell us about it by linking to your post on the Mr. Linky I’ll have set up. You can link to a post you have already done in this theme, but I would encourage you to continue to notice this week, even if you don’t document it.
You have a week to think on it. And to let me know if you have any brilliant ideas on what to call this little project of ours. Now let the celebration begin. Happy December 1.
39 comments
i love this idea and i need something to concentrate on besides birthing this baby. which has totally taken over my mind instead of christmas chaos this year.
example: i just cleaned out my closet. it’s 11pm.
I will be keeping my eyes wide open…thanks for the reminder.
What a beautiful idea!
Can we start a midnight club? How many of us are up at this hour? What a fab idea, and would love to join in.
P.S. Is it just me, or are the word verification words becoming more suggestive. This time my word was hotreba, not kidding.
Sorry, Emily. I just re-read my comment and it is clearly confusing. I would like to join you and others next week for “being here”. Not a midnight club or some other thing I might have been rambling about.
Thanks for this reminder. I have a busy day in the morning – which is fast approaching – and I want to remember this thought.
By the way, the picture of Poppy and boy brought sweet tears to my eyes. That’s what I called my grandpa! I’ve never known any one else to call theirs that before.
Lovely idea!
Know what’s creepy? I know from your commenting with the John Deere Mom, an IRL BFF, that you grew up where I currently live. And I know Mr. Lahr. And it took me a minute to remember all of that, while I sat here thinking how weird it is that you had a 4th grade teacher named Mr. Lahr. Doo dooo dooo doo.
I love this idea! Thanks for the reminder to slow down and notice.
OH my..I chuckled with the batter bowl…so true. I have learned through the years to lower the expectations..not everything has to be a Hallmark moment!
-sandy toes
LOVE it!
my word verification is:
mieriemo kind of Christmasy no?
And John Deer Mom KNOWS mr. Lahr!!!?
This is a great idea Emily. I was trying to come up with a name so brilliant, but I have nothing so far. I’ll try to think on it.
This is such a great idea. This is something I’ve been feeling convicted over recently. I need to slow down and enjoy the moment. If I get so wrapped up in planning for C-mas day, then I miss the opportunity to fully experience each day.
Oh Emily, you are brilliant! You are so right. I think part of the let-down we feel after the gifts are opened is brought on by focusing too tightly on one day and one aspect of the Christmas season. I am going to look for the fun every day. Thanks for sharing this thought!
I read this last night as our first real snow was coming down. When my 13 year old son asked if we could go out *for just a little bit* at TEN THIRTY I started to say “NO, it’s a school night”, but I thought of your post. So guess who got hit in the head with many snowballs and came in to have hot chocolate after 11 ON A SCHOOL NIGHT?
(we were up late watching the Bears get beat by the Vikings, so that’s why he was up so late in the first place).
I am looking forward to keeping my eyes peeled!
my heart that was starting to feel the rush and the speed at which to live during this month just slowed down – I will notice
Great idea – stopping to smell the roses never hurts!
I can’t think of a name–but I love the idea! SOmething about December just begs to have every day noticed!
What a great idea! I’m on board!
Melissa
I had a grand plan to decorate the Christmas tree and make cookies from scratch. A broken ornament and a potty accident later, things were not going well. To make a long story short – the evening ended by rolling our pre-made Pilsbury sugar cookie dough. Know what? It didn’t go as planned, but we had a ball!!!!!! We spent all out time decorating the cookies and my 6 year old stood and watched them bake the whole time they were in the oven (I don’t know if I have ever seen him still for 7 to 9 minutes). No bowl to lick – just the scraps from between the snowflake and Christmas tree cutouts.
Of course the camera wouldn’t come on during all this, but that’s okay too. We’ll just have to do it again next year.
I’ll be thinking of a name!
I came her via chickadee. What a timely post! Better to write it now with determination, than to write it the week after Christmas with regret!
How about “Show Stopper” – seems like it could be two fold. On the one hand, don’t we all try so hard most of the time for show and we end up losing sight of what things really mean? Then, two, the things that we NEED to notice should be the real show stoppers.
I discovered your blog a while back through your sister but I haven't posted until now… sorry! I love your honest take on things and your struggles in dealing with small children is so familiar to me – mine are 4 1/2 (going on 13) and 18 mos. Some days are just not what I planned. BUT, you have to love the unpredictability and try ever so hard to stay in the moment so you don't look back years from now and think I wish I was more present when they had sticky fingers and were ripping out all my bathroom drawers. Because there is beauty in the moment, hard as it is (for me) to see sometimes.
Also, LOVED your post on scrapbooking. I too have a big bad boy pile of photos and I have given up scrapbooking. I am totally inspired by your 4×6 index card idea – I have the same kind of albums. NOt even kidding here, it was Mom genius at it's finest. Stop by my blog sometime if you get a chance!
Love,
Kari
~Reese & Marie~
Happy December to you too! I have the word “merry” on my mantel right now, I like that word, we don’t use it any other time of year really, but why not look for a little more merry? I’ll be keeping my eye out for it!
YES! The John Deere Mom and I both know him quite well. As in he was our principal for several years. Until 2 years ago. When he *cough*WENT*cough* back to the classroom.
And no, that’s not Gladstone. That’s some little train we rode in Johnson County.
I believe that means I’m 2 degrees of separation from you and the Nester. EEEK!
Great reminder! Thanks!
Oh yes…you know that I am all over this one. Even if I am not actively doing the slowing down part…this week.
When Taylor said that he hated decorating the Christmas tree more than studying for his final exam…hmm…reflect and reconsider..hee hee.
I was just thinking about this the other day and about my cookie baking expectations. I decided they would be the cookie decorators instead. I’d have them all baked and ready to go. What a great idea, Emily!! I’ll be sure and link up next Monday!
Good Morning Sweet Emily!
Thank you for your timely post and reminder to savor the entire month and not just one day. My Christmas decorations are still in the attic and I am still sporting my favorite Fall decor…thanks to ya’ll and your awesome ideas BTW!(Too pretty to take down! LOL!)
I normally don’t struggle too much with the busyness of December and can find a balance between chaos and normalcy. However, just the thought of going into the attic to retrieve all the Xmas stuff has me balking this year….maybe I’m feeling overwhelmed with having to be “Martha” from all of your awesome blogs!?
Hubby and I had a family meeting last night with the six of us and discussed some holiday plans. I am so much in favor of foregoing most of the gifts (we have always done the three-gift idea)and concentrating on those in true need. (After a missions trip to China earlier this year, I know true need and most of us in America do NOT have it.) This is so hard for hubby and especially his extended family to grasp as they are very materialistic…any ideas out there to combat the “gimme” syndrome? The kicker is that Christmas day is also hubby’s birthday, so that is a struggle as well…
Sorry for blabbing. My heart is heavy with a desire to serve the Lord and his people as well as my own family…
emily, I love this post! I just linked to it actually. Thank you so much for writing it.
Yesterday after first reading it I kept reminding myself to notice on my way home. I noticed the colors of the trees and just the feelings of contentedness, etc.
I plan to keep noticing and hopefully will have a post for next Monday! Great idea! Thanks! Kelly
p.s. I call my grandfather Poppy too! Kelly
i wish i could join in on Monday, but hopefully i’ll be on a beach somewhere…
thank you for leaving me a comment! I hope the wedding pictures will be good… crossing my fingers!
GREAT BLOG!!
Emily – I think you’re great! I love this idea and the fact that you are encouraging us all! I hope to participate in the fun…noticing, noticing.
Love you!
I am new to Blogger.com and came accross your blog and I just spent the last hour reading them.
I think this is a wonderful idea and I have the perfect picture in mind. I love your blogs!
I left a comment on this post…I don’t quite know where it wait…So, I’ll wrote one more…Hi, Im Meme from Screaming Meme…I love your blog and I wrote about you on my blog this morning…I thought you would want to know…:) Meme
I love it! I totally need this!
)
How about the name “notisserie”? Since you are all taking the time to notice the small things.
Wow what a wonderful post. This truly made me think. I am the same way and now with school I am even more focused on Christmas day but not the play I will watch before or the tree lighting that is going to happen, or even the first school concert my daughter will play in with her band. I justkep focusing on the day forgetting that so much more is going on. Thank you for reminding me to slow down and make it all a memory, not an expectation.
thanks for the reminder!