At the risk of sounding cheesy and sappy and slightly dramatic, I’m going to go ahead and tell you that I think Tuesdays Unwrapped is changing how I live. It has been four weeks since I started the series. Originally I told myself I’ll give it a month.
After four weeks of reading your posts about everyday moments you are unwrapping, I think I’m hooked. Take, for example, the classic moment we all face nearly everyday: dinner was over and the dishes were screaming my name. The kids ran outside to play, giving me the perfect chance to clean up the kitchen.
But the kids were outside playing. Playing, living, enjoying the moment. The air was warm and the breeze was cool, just like May is supposed to be. So I sat in the rocking chair outside, closed my eyes, and let it all be around me.
What was once a chance to finish the task is now becoming an opportunity to slow down and enter in. Let me assure you, this is not my normal. And the task will eventually have to be done. But because of this focus every Tuesday, I am slowly remembering to remember. To notice, receive and celebrate.
You are essential to that subtle change in me. It is one thing for me to share ways I am living on purpose, but another thing altogether to have you share your messy, lovely and unexpected gifts. I read every post. I laugh, I cry, I eat ice cream.
Even though I read each post, there may be times when I simply can’t comment on each one as much as I would like to. It turns into Emily being on the computer too much. I’m not sure how much longer I will keep unwrapping Tuesday, but for this week I want to invite you to join me again. You know the rules:
Link up below to the permalink of your Unwrapped post. To find out what yours is, simply click on the title of your post and grab the permalink from the address bar. If you do not use the permalink, your link will be deleted.
Link back here in your post so your peeps will know what it’s all about. Grab the pink button if you feel so inclined.
39 comments
[...] am linking this post to Tuesdays Unwrapped at Chatting at the Sky. It’s a wonderful Tuesday tradition that Emily started a month ago [...]
Hi Emily,
I look forward to Tuesday each week, because of this post! This afternoon, I had a moment like yours. The kids were in the backyard, playing in and out of the blow-up pool, and also playing keep-away with their soccer balls. I was out there with them, but I was reading a book. Their giggles were so delicious, that I put my book down and started playing keep-away, too. It was so much fun, and I’m so glad I participated. I would like to think that these are the memories my kids will have of me.
I’m really enjoying tuesdays also! Mine is kind of different this time, not so much an ordinary moment… unless you happen to be me. I actually ponder the topic of my post quite often and have since I was a teenager. So I guess it is a everyday experience for me anyway.
Thank you for hosting this! Love, Dana
p.s. I wholeheartedly approve of letting the dishes slide in favor of a love filled moment with your children!
it’s changing me too and i’m surprised!
just this evening i was thinking, tomorrow’s tuesday i’ve got to pay attention to stuff. it makes me do that. even if it is just one day a week (but actually i find myself doing it more often now, like tonight playing apples to apples with the kids).
To shirk the dish duty and revel in the sounds of your children playing…that is definitely unwrapped. Enjoy it
This is something I’ve wanted to participate in since you started it a month ago, but I’ve only done it for the first time today. Thanks for creating an opportunity for us to share with one another
I am loving reading everyone’s stories.
sweet sweet picture~
i love your tuesdays… i think about it all week… and look forward to the life that spills out. i hope you will keep going… because i think we all love it… and i think it holds a lot of value… to our hearts… as we look for our own moment, and then read others… and we learn what life is all about all over again. thank you… you change my life
LOVE that picture. Frameworthy, it is. I also look forward to Tuesdays because I love reading everyone else’s wonderful moments of normalcy that can turn out to be extraordinary.
Thanks again Emily. Love the picture. I too have found myself in this position lately with the weather getting nicer where we are done with dinner and the kids go out with my husband and the house is quiet and it is tempting to clean up the kitchen but I on occasion I’ve been going out too and enjoying their energy and watching them enjoy their dad’s company after a long day without him.
This is becoming a discipline and a delight. Thanks to you for thoughfulness and inspiration. I am determined to work on the technical stuff this week, and do the permalink, etc. , but still wanted to participate.
I need a rocking chair!!
No post today, just a comment for you. We spent Saturday cleaning, cleaning, cleaning – I’m in total nesting mode and the house was such a wreck I wanted to move and start all over. Sunday, though, we didn’t have anything to do, so we took some family time, went to Toys ‘R Us and spent a Christmas gift card for Piper and came home to rest. This time when I’ve been so queasy with the baby that I can’t be or do what I HAVE to get done has really helped me to sit back and enjoy where I am, sit down and rest, or NAP – which I’ve never been able to do, EVER. I find myself quieter. I feel more organized. My life feels simpler. I know it’s got to be a God thing, because I have SO MUCH that I need to get done before this little one is born, but I don’t want to look it in the mouth. I’m praying He’ll give me strength and drive to finish when it comes time. I can so appreciate that rocker and the sounds of your children with the undone dishes in the sink.
Oh, and I HAVE to leave you this post I found yesterday – I bawled, and I think you would totally love this little account!
http://mamahooper.blogspot.com/2009/05/letters-to-eliana.html
I love Tuesday’s Unwrapped, too. And it makes me sad that I’m not linking up this Tuesday. My week has been kind of crazy. But I have seen the simple pleasures in this week despite the craziness. I’m thankful for that. I’m not linking because the post that I would link would really be posts (with an s). It’s a post with a follow up post and that’s just too confusing for me to think about, and too confusing for readers to have to look at this post then click on the link for that post. And they probably wouldn’t want to follow the trail. Anyway, it’s not just ALL about the linking up here anyway. It’s about seeing it and experiencing it in your life! As you said, it’s a bit life changing. Thanks for all your encouragement
Emily, I’m wracking my brain for an Unwrapped to share because mine is the same as yours! Last night, as I was cleaning up dinner dishes, it occurred to me that I should be outside with my husband and kids. I never did heed the call to drop everything (the kitchen was a mess!) but I even mentioned the fact that I should just let the housework go as I was emailing a friend.
I know I say it all the time, but you’re such a blessing. I hope you soak up every moment of this God-given day!
Lisa
This is my first time “unwrapping.” I think this is such a neat idea. I didn’t actually even intend to until I was in the middle of my morning blog post and realized, “Hey, this little detail is an accomplishment. It was worth something.” Thanks!
I’m so glad I finally had something to contribute to Tuesdays Unwrapped! I love the idea, I’ve read what others have written, and I’ve been more conscious of cherishing the everyday, small moments of life, but I just haven’t participated until now. I hope you’ll keep this up!
Its changing me too – I had the slow down moment yesterday and said no in my mind to about 14 things that could have used my undivided kid-free attention. But I enjoyed the outdoors so much more and we all survived. Thanks for keeping me mindful of this each week. I find myself looking for the small and otherwise unnoticed, mundane moments.
Love it.
Hi Emily–
Thank you so much for following your heart to begin this series, continue it, and learn from it. There’s a lot of talk about “transparency,” but it seems to me that it’s a lot like that old joke about the weather: Everyone talks about it, but no one does anything about it. You’re actually doing something about it, and I appreciate you for it.
Thank you for inspiring me to notice and savor these little (yet important) moments and hosting this party.
Good for you for forgetting those dishes for a while and enjoying the time outside with your children. Love the black and white photo of them walking together. So sweet!
So glad you’re enjoying it. If it becomes a burden to host than it kind of loses the point doesn’t it? I’m good with taking it a week at a time. You could always switch to once a month.
Now I’m going to go watch my daughter ride her new bike. She keeps asking when I’m going to be done, and so I better go unwrap this moment.
I thought for sure this was something that has been going on for some time!
With that being said, ah, what an encouragement this has been to me. My gifts are always photographed (can’t help it, it is my nature/curse) 
I’m loving the opportunity to use my camera to capture the tiniest moments, the messy ones, the less-than-perfect ones, and of course the ones that make me giddy inside.
I love the gift you shared today, beautiful picture of some beautiful children who are so truly blessed to have you in their lives.
Happy Tuesday everyone!
LOVE the photo! and the story. and if you’re cheesy & sappy, then i am, too. “tuesdays” have definitely changed the way i’m living my entire WEEK! that’s for certain.
having said that … “tuesdays unwrapped” should be a guilt-free zone.
and maybe we can all help carry the burden by sharing comment-duty. and know that it touched someone whether a comment was left or not … even if that person is YOU. the point is that YOU unwrapped your busy world … that’s all that really matters!
Thanks for nudging me to write a post that has been rattling around in my head for days now. Love your photo and your “rocking chair” moment.
Emily ~
Thank you so much for heading over to my blog last week and encouraging me in my new blogging adventure! It is a bit scarry to make a blog public, but I am loving every minute of it. I’m back again this week unwrapping my Tuesday with ya’ll… so head on over if you get a chance!
I appreciate you taking the time read and take an interest in all the gals who post. What a blessing you are to our lives. I would be so sad if Tuesdays Unwrapped stopped. I hope you will be able to continue… but understand if not. family and living life come first
thanks again for a wonderful Unwrapped Tuesday!
Blessings, Emily @ too Blessed 2 Stress
Sweet Emily. Thank you, friend. I love your heart.
Love the picture of them walking together! Thanks for doing this theme. You know, even if you stop doing it, I’ll probably continue posting my Tuesdays Unwrapped every week. I need it sometimes. Much love, gal!
Thanks for letting us participate. I have had to slow down this week and look around for something to write about. I think that’s the whole point, right?
[...] I was inspired by Emily at Chatting at the Sky to unwrap my Tuesday today, and take a few minutes to enjoy the two littler people God has given our family. It’s [...]
Thanks for hosting this, Emily, and for visiting my little corner of the blogosphere.
I would say something witty about your writing voice, but baby brain has robbed me of my knowledge of what that actually means. And in case you were wondering (which I’m sure you were, because I know everyone on the internets spends all their time wondering about ME), I have my degree in English.
Sigh.
Someday I will use that degree for more than an excuse to send huge amounts of money to Those Who Gave Me Loans.
Thank you for inviting all of us to be part of your blog! I shared a very small moment today. But it made me smile.
Blessings!
What a beautiful idea! I love to unwrap my days- and sometimes, it’s unwrapping a moment, an insignificant one, and how lovely it becomes as it spills out all over!
I write my “Letters to Eliana” whenever she opens my eyes to something new… but our most recent *moment* was an unwrapping of the simplest kind… I already knew what the gift was!
Blessings to you!
The last couple weeks I have loved reading all the links to this post. I have been so busy that I could not make time to participate. I am so glad I made the time today. What great posts from everyone. Thank you Emily for encouraging us to look with softer eyes at our worlds around us.
Even though I never seem to have a post of my own to add, I look forward to reading about other folks’ stories. Thanks for allowing us to encourage one another by sharing glimpses of our precious moments.
Oh, Emily, thank you for reading my post. I appreciate your encouragement. The honesty and openness you display here is such an inspiration. God bless you!
Emily, I just have to say thanks again for this…and it’s changing me too. I’m finding myself more mindful of the life that is to be lived, and less worried about the things that need to be done. It does seem like a stretch–or maybe too dramatic–to give a blog carnival credit for changing my mindset. But it sure has been a catalyst. And I’m oh so thankful to you for spurring us on to treasure those small but enormous moments we might have otherwise missed!
I’m late again! Participating here is changing my life, too. Now, in the middle of those days, I consciously look for the beautiful, special, wonderful that I always find hiding in there somewhere. And I’ve been so touched by the stories of others. Thank you again.
I have been doing the 365 project… a picture a day and it has really opened my eyes. This linky however is extra special because my youngest graduated kindergarten and this is hitting me harder than I thought. sigh…
Just noticed on this sweet little photo that the girls are all “standing” on the left foot and the poor little fellow on the end is the only one “on” his right foot… Is he trying to keep up with those little ladies? My son gets drug right along with the girls too!