Comments on: Craving Normalcy

By: settlingformore.com » Blog Archive » Searching for Normal

settlingformore.com » Blog Archive » Searching for Normal — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 20:46:24 +0000

[...] and his family.Â He is funny and wise and profoundly moving.Â Â On June 5, he wrote a post about craving normalcy.Â I totally get what he [...]

By: Pioneer Woman

Pioneer Woman — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 14:39:49 +0000

This is a beautiful post. Give Susan a hug for me.

Ever since watching footage of Bosnian refugees in the early-mid 90’s—pregnant mothers walking for days and days, unable to feed their children, unable to sit down and rest—I always go back to that in my mind and am struck with how normal things are for me. As long as I can feed my children and have a place to lay my head at night, I’ll try not to complain.

When my mother-in-law lost her son (my husband’s brother) when he was a teenager, she talks of going through years and years of thinking how trivial everthing and everyone was. She couldn’t be around anyone who engaged in idle conversation about recipes or shopping; she couldn’t handle the contrast to her world being ripped apart.

Time healed that, though, and now she can talk about shopping without recoiling. ;)

By: Mrs. Coach's Mom

Mrs. Coach's Mom — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 23:22:37 +0000

I don’t think anyone privileged enough to bring life into this world should complain like that!! I remember when she l-o-n-g-e-d to be pregnant :-) I try to be grateful everyday that I have a bed in a home without fighter planes flying overhead or bombs dropping nearby; that I can drive or live wherever I want if I work hard enough at it; that I love all of my kids (even Mrs. Coach) and that they all live nearby; that my love of God inspires my love of family, and my love of family inspires my love of God; I try to admire all the leaves on the tree that I don’t see because they are behind all the leaves I DO see. I choose to be happy however I can.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:41:00 +0000

Normal things:
1. My husband’s job, that lets me do my job (housewife), and my husband himself.
2. Tasting, eating and enjoying food.
3. Playing with my children
4. Feeling frustrated with the mess from my children :)
4. Being able to walk through the parkland that backs up to our house.
5. Sleep
6. Our health

Win Susan!

By: blinddrew

blinddrew — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:19:20 +0000

well, tuesday i got knocked off my motorbike so this week i’ve mainly been grateful for the fact that, apart from a three-day-headache and a bit of dizziness, i’ve still got a normal at all.
Today i’ve been particularly grateful that i can stand up without the room wobbling!

Win Susan

By: Julie

Julie — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 18:44:22 +0000

an incredible husband is what i am most grateful for. if not for him, i could never make it through even the normal days.

you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.

By: Denise

Denise — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 17:06:52 +0000

I am thankful for:
1. my wonderful husband…not many would put up with me
2. my 2 beautiful daughters
3. my extended family and small group of close friends
4. my dogs and cats
5. our health
6. having a job, not fulfilling nor very profitable but it does assist in providing the means for life’s necessities
7. a nice home with a large backyard, in a good neighborhood
8. this site….Eldon, you and your family have touched my heart and inspire me
9. the wonderful community here that I love to visit daily…. you all feel like, dare I say family? yes family, this is an amazing place with amazing people from all around the world and we have you to thank for bringing us together Fatty!

Thank you again accepting me into the fold! Prayers and love coming from Missouri. WIN SUSAN!!!!!!!!!

By: bolder

bolder — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 16:59:39 +0000

thinking of you and your wife.

and wishing i could help…

Greg.

By: Amit Behere

Amit Behere — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 16:46:09 +0000

The fact that I can sleep easy at night.
WIN Susan!

By: Don

Don — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 15:07:30 +0000

You know, a while back I was asked by a friend “How ya doing?” My answer is something I continue to use to this day, “Better than most, not quite as well as some.” I was having a hard time with work and, in turn, with family. It seemed like my life was popping apart at the seems. The cool, though my wife may have questioned my sanity, part of it is that I was unusually “OK” with it. I took it like this; No matter what the problem it’s nothing that, by the Grace of God, I can’t get through. I thought about how lucky I was to have my awesome wife and kids, how we had the means to get by for a while, and how awesome my life really was. Bottom line was there was no way I could complain, especially when so many people have it so much worse. I too feel like I have a great close knit group of friends, my family would all die for one-another if we had to, awesome wife, great kids, what the heck more could I ever want? Add to all of that that Susan, you and your family have been a huge inspiration. The way you’ve (you’ve being the family) handled everything that’s been thrown at you is truly an inspiration. I only hope and pray that I could be so strong, and so appreciative. Thanks for the excellent post, Elden!
PS: I’d still kill to know what it is you do! I equally love my job/employer and the opportunities I’m afforded by what i do.