It has to Ordinary, before it is EXTRAordinary

Saturday was just an ordinary day around my house. Laundry, some cleaning, playtime and naptime,the general mommy and wife duties. After my hubby left for nightshift, my sweet Hannah and I rode over to my in-laws' home to feed their dog. They were lucky enough to escape to the mountains for a weekend and Hannah Joy and I got to love on their sweet pup while they were gone. As we left their house and headed home, my ordinary day transformed itself into an extraordinary one. My cell phone rang and words I never expected to hear, and definitely never wanted to hear hit my ear - "Bev, your dad is at the hospital." After gathering the immediate information, where, why, etc, from my mom, I quickly hung up the phone and began rearranging my thoughts. Trying desperately to think clearly so that I could safely drive us home and then get my daughter into capable hands, while I went to the hospital, it was as if time was standing still. I remember driving and calling friends to arrange care for Hannah. I vaguely remember seeing two deer in the road and I guess I swerved, or they trotted off, because miraculously my car is still in one piece. I remember looking at the clock and it being 7:10 PM. I got home and even though I was moving (frantically) around,getting things together for Hannah and turning on lights,and changing clothes, it still felt as if everything was in slow motion. After depositing my child in the hands of two of my dearest friends, I headed to the hospital. It still amazes me that I got there, because I honestly don't remember the drive. Just that feeling of wishing the car would go faster. Once arriving at the ER, I was very much relieved to find my father in great spirits, my mother, not so worried and capable doctors administering the much needed medical care. What a blessing to finally realize that although his symptoms could have been signals of something serious, they eventually were discovered to be not so serious and all is once again well with my father. He is back home and back to his normal self. But it got me thinking...an extraordinary day, either good or bad, has to began as an ordinary one - just by definition alone.

As I thought about this, I realized that all the extraordinary days in my life have started out as just that, ordinary. Ordinary days turned into extraordinary ones as God dipped down and made His presence known in my tiny world. For example: the day that my hubby called and asked me out on our first date - just an ordinary Thursday, I worked all day and then a phone call at night that would ultimately change my entire world. Then the day he proposed, completely ordinary, until the question was popped and the ring presented. The day I spoke with Hannah's birthmother for the first time, an ordinary Sunday, after a very ordinary Sunday afternoon nap, and then the phone call that really did change my life in a most EXTRAORDINARY way! The day Hannah was born, well, okay that was extraordinary from the minute I woke up so I will leave that one alone...and then there was last Saturday. An ordinary day, turned extraordinary as I struggled to calm my fears and managed to move into the Lord's presence in prayer in my heart, even as I moved in seemingly slow motion in body.

God, dipping into our lives, making the ordinary, extraordinary.