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Home ยป Blog ยป Ordinary Days

Ordinary Days

by Sarah Turner Clover Lane, Ordinary Days

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I don’t even remember where I left off blogging, time has flown so quickly we are mid-summer already and just counted the weeks till school started and it’s 4 1/2 which is terribly sad, we all agreed.  Why do we have to change everything?  Why can’t summer break be what it used to be?  I remember getting out around the 5th or 6th of June and going back the last few days of August or even after Labor Day.  Now the kids start mid August!  I am not a conspiracy theorist but I feel like it’s creeping slowly purposely to where there will be no summer break anymore by the time my grandkids go to school. Sigh. And I love summer, and no one wants to be sitting in a classroom I don’t think during these sunny bright days.

I have been once again awful at taking photos, but it’s not a priority right now.

Abbey is back from Europe and loved it but the first thing she said when she walked in the kitchen was “I am so happy to be home, I love this country and I never want to live anywhere else.”  That was not what I expected (and after 24 hours of delayed and cancelled flights home) but I loved hearing it, I have to say.  That does not mean she didn’t love her traveling just that we take a lot for granted here I think mainly the convenience of what we are used to.  She WILL miss the food in Italy, Greece, France, and Spain for sure, and was amazed at the beautiful museums and building and art everywhere.

But there’s no place like home.   

This kid found a new barber, which is probably one of his top priorities in life.  Kidding, but he is picky and it’s funny to me.  He is having the summer of his life, biking everywhere with friends and is a very enjoyable happy kid-busy busy busy but always has a plan and is always willing to help at home.  

These two are cuter than ever and best buddies, if they aren’t mad at each other which happens occasionally. 

Patrick has been working on basketball plays, and explains them to me every time he makes a new one.

Some pictures from Bethany Beach DE-went over the 4th and it was so so so crowded.  (Sadly Isaac is in the “real world” now so couldn’t go with us.) The kids had a blast in the waves, but I think I am going to write down on my things to remember forever page “don’t go anywhere over the 4th of July” just to avoid the crowds and traffic.  

Selfies on my phone.

We ate four buckets of caramel corn.  (I probably ate 80% of that honestly.)

Janey saw fireworks for the first time and didn’t like them because they were too loud.

Huge waves were really the most fun for everyone-you can’t find that everywhere!

One day they were even to big for this fellow who will brave pretty much anything the older kids can handle.

It was nice to get organized again-back to being more scheduled and sleep in our own beds, and all have a little space from each other too. ๐Ÿ™‚  

And sunflowers are out!  My favorite.

Stormy Weather

I am almost finished with this book and LOVE it.  I’ve read a few books this summer that I wouldn’t put on my recommend list but this is one for sure.  In fact, I ordered all of Paulette Jiles’ books with a plan to go on a little binge the rest of summer.

It is a Dust Bowl-Texas-cowboy-western-romance and her writing is wonderful, and so are her characters.  

I feel like time is moving full throttle and life is so busy with just every day things as it is.  There are so many changes as the kids get older-new plans for the future, and angst and excitement and worry, new relationships, changing friendships, so so many unknowns and what-ifs. (And lots of avocado toast-which is a symbol to me that living with soon-to-be or already-adult children isn’t always easy for them or for us I think at times.)  I laugh at their “millennial ways”, knowing that they are pretty mild ways (or I wouldn’t be laughing), and that I was just like them in so many ways when I was that age, whether I had a tag to my generation or not-since the beginning of existence I’m sure this was the same.  And finding time for everyone is hard as a mom. I feel torn sometimes with everyone home, helping the big ones do “big” things-job apps, and college apps, and just listening-and emotional energy on my part-and then just doing the normal-and yes, EASY things with the little three-driving, and fixing lunch and reading a book here or there to them.  And then there’s laundry and cleaning the kitchen 10x a day, (EVERYONE NEEDS TO STOP EATING! I’ve said that a few times) which I better get to now.  

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July 12, 2017 ยท 13 Comments

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  1. LizR says

    July 12, 2017 at 12:26 am

    You have six children and you're complaining about crowds?

    Reply
    • Christi says

      July 12, 2017 at 12:47 am

      What an ugly comment. :-/

      Reply
    • PamL says

      July 14, 2017 at 2:53 pm

      Is someone who has 6 children not allowed to have an opinion on whether or not she likes crowds??

      Reply
  2. Christi says

    July 12, 2017 at 12:48 am

    Summer seems to go faster every year, for sure! Loved this snippet into your ordinary days.

    Reply
  3. Ruth says

    July 12, 2017 at 1:45 am

    I agree with not going anywhere over July 4th. It's the traffic you have to wait for, and the other people stepping on your beach blanket as they walk by, and the number of swimmers you have to not run into. I remember Bethany Beach, DE. That wave looks enormous!
    I love that picture of Patrick and Janey – Patrick's eyes are so funny!
    I feel certain that You are not filling out the job and college applications, because you are a fan of letting the teens do their own work, but they do tend to ask Mom a lot of questions…
    About that clean kitchen – get up and admire it at about 2am. It might look good then, when everyone is asleep! (hopefully)

    Reply
  4. Mary Kate says

    July 12, 2017 at 2:28 am

    I'd love for you to do an in-depth post about having post-college working adult kids living at home again. We are nearly there and I feel like if we don't have some ground rules that both parties can live with, it's going to be no bueno.

    Reply
    • Aimee Kollmansberger says

      July 12, 2017 at 12:03 pm

      Yes! I would love to hear those thoughts too! I have six children and my oldest is 18 but will be living at home as we figure out next steps over the next few years.

      Reply
  5. Billie Jo says

    July 12, 2017 at 4:16 pm

    Hello, Sarah!
    Ordinary days are the best.
    I live for the days we go nowhere, and remain in the little cocoon we created here.
    As the children grow, it isn't as easy!
    Happy your daughter is home from her amazing travels.
    My Madison is preparing to return to Denmark for one more semester, then she and her Nicolas will return to stay here with us!!!
    Have a cozy, summer fun filled day!
    Than you for continuing to write here.
    So many have abandoned blogging for other forms of social media, and it just isn't the same. : )

    Reply
  6. Unknown says

    July 13, 2017 at 11:24 pm

    You provide such a nice and necessary reminder of the sweetness and significance of ordinary days, restful nights, and family love. Thank you.

    Reply
  7. Unknown says

    July 14, 2017 at 12:45 am

    I can relate to it all Sarah. If only we could close the kitchen for a few hours ๐Ÿ™‚ Happy summer!

    Reply
  8. I'm just saying: says

    July 14, 2017 at 1:03 am

    Didn't we used to get three months of summer and now summer break is ten weeks instead of twelve? But time itself seems to have sped up as well. How is this possible? It's not because we're are busier than we ever were either.

    Reply
  9. conveyableflow says

    July 14, 2017 at 3:28 pm

    Sarah! I've been out of blogland for a few years now (busy life… plus instagram has ruined me!) but this morning I was just thinking about you, wondering if you were still writing and how you all were doing… I started reading your blog when I was pregnant with my first eight years ago, I wrote you an email once and rudely I don't think I ever even thanked you for your helpful reply! So– I just wanted to drop you a line to let you know how much reading your posts meant to me back then, and how much they still do mean… your words echo in my heart and mind often. Glad to see that you're carrying on, and crazy to see how your kids have grown. It just goes too fast! Wishing the best for you and all of yours โค๏ธ –angie

    Reply
  10. Susan says

    July 19, 2017 at 2:56 pm

    Thank you for your ordinary days posts! I love them! It's so nice to slow down and spend a little time reading them…and then go right back to my busy life raising my family! xo

    Reply

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Sarah Turner

When our first baby was placed in my arms I knew there was no place I wanted to be other than home with him every day. Twenty five years, and five more babies later, (six children, now ages 26-8), I still feel the same. I blog here about motherhood, how to make a house a home, easy recipes, and simple living. You can read more about me here.

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Happy Easter! A beautiful day filled with hope an Happy Easter!  A beautiful day filled with hope and new beginnings - focus on the future, the blessings, the cycle of life where darkness doesn't triumph, but light and love and fresh days ahead - and sunshine - does.  We grow and change and let the old shed, the suffering transform, and rebuild with energy and hope to become closer to Jesus.  Love to you all.
I love my home and I hope you do also. With all t I love my home and I hope you do also.  With all the imperfections and maintenance it requires, when I pull up and walk in I want to stay, to relax, to feel safe, for daily life to be easy, and to care for "home". I want simplicity, ease, convenience.  To me when my home is simple, without being filled to the brim of things that just take up space I love it best.  I hope if you've participated fully or even partially as time allowed in 40 Bags in 40 Days you've found that joy and pride in your home.  I plan to share more little challenges and tips as the year proceeds to trouble shoot areas and keep maintenance effortless and the house love flowing.  Daily life in our homes should bring us joy and ease while we care for our families, we should be thoughtful stewards of our money and of our time and simple living is the answer to that. 
Thank you for participating! ๐Ÿก
I think this is one of the best things about the 4 I think this is one of the best things about the 40 Bag decluttering process.  When I know what I have and have removed all that I don't, it cultivates more discretion and caution about what I bring back in.  I think there is also some realization of how much money is wasted on fads, or thoughtless purchases.  It's quite eye-opening.  I've become so much more careful, and find we all take better care of things, as do my children.
The final week of 40 Bags in 40 Days! I've tackle The final week of 40 Bags in 40 Days!  I've tackled all the areas of my home with exception of my oldest daughter's room (not the photo)- which she is excited to work on this week.
The simpler the room, the easier it is to clean an The simpler the room, the easier it is to clean and straighten up.  And then the more enjoyable it is to actually sit in that room.  It's not a hard equation, all it takes is ruthless purging-and not just little things but larger items also.  Functional furniture is the key and very few decorative pieces especially when children are in the home, makes life so much easier. 
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As we head into the last week of the 40 Bags in 40 As we head into the last week of the 40 Bags in 40 Days Challenge I'm hearing from so many of you what a difference it has made in your appreciation of your homes, a certain contentment, and at the same time a thrill of looking in on the organized kitchen, closet and living space.  I agree!  I love purging, cleaning and organizing a space and then going back later that day just to get that wonderful sense of accomplishment.  It makes such a difference! 
๐Ÿƒ
A lighter, fresher, calmer home is the result of de-cluttering.  I even had a participant who had been planning on listing her home, start 40 Days just to get her house ready to sell, and then was so ruthless in the process and also thrilled by the results that they decided to stay put in what seemed like a new home to them.  What a savings of time, money and energy. 
๐Ÿƒ
Next week I will be talking maintenance and answer all questions! โ˜€๏ธ
Tips For Shared Kids Rooms- This bedroom has seen Tips For Shared Kids Rooms-
This bedroom has seen every configuration possible.  With kids spread out 18 years apart, I've had to be creative over the years-which I think is the key to sharing rooms.  It is all possible-I consider it a rare luxury and privilege to not have to share a room although I know that is not the norm today. 
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I like to create a simple look with white furniture (this ends up making room transitions easier also when moving someone out and someone else in.) I also like to match bedspreads for a cohesive look. 
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Clip on bed lights save space. 
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A simple shared book shelf can hold a child's special books and knick knacks and if necessary can be assigned per shelf.
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When my kids were younger I had my dad build me a large wooden roll out box for under each bed.  This held each child's toys. 
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All clothes are kept in a closet instead of dressers to save space.
I feel like I bailed on everyone following 40 Bags I feel like I bailed on everyone following 40 Bags progress and tips.  My excuse is the stomach flu ravaging us all here in the last week with me being the last to fall and the slowest to recover.  On top of that the weekend before I tried to roller blade (don't even ask how many steps I made it) and majorly bit it.  Thankfully I think I just sprained my arm. So I've been using one arm for nursing sick children back to health, and doing whatever cleaning and cooking and straightening I can do.  Alas, last week was a wash.  We have two weeks to go.  I'd like to continue and end on a high note.  How about you?  Even a little de-cluttering counts! Spring is in the air and I can't wait to throw open my windows and let fresh clean air circulate through my fresh clean orderly home. โ˜€๏ธ๐ŸŒท๐ŸŒฑ
Especially where kids are concerned- we tend to th Especially where kids are concerned- we tend to think that the more things they have the happier and more occupied and loved they will feel.  Nothing can replace human interaction and I've found that too many toys has the reverse affect.  They cause overwhelm-just like us - we'd rather sit in an orderly space than one filled with too many things to do and too much stuff.
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When it comes to kids closets here are some tips-
1. Hand me downs don't all have to be received.  Or received at all.  Be choosy and keep just what they will use and need.
2. When children are presented with too many choices, tension and acrimony can exist.  Being able to open a closet with a reasonable amount of outfits can create more peace.
3. Cultivating independence in care of clothes is easier when there is less and the space is simplified and organized. 
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More tips coming on the blog this week.  I am moving my blog platform so I can't make any promises - it's under construction and that's exciting!
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