Showing posts with label 'tis a gift to be simple. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 'tis a gift to be simple. Show all posts
Friday, November 12, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
What she said
From Take the Poor With You: A Journey in Radical Stewardship:
INTERCONNECTEDNESS
BTW, I love almost everything else on her blog too. :)
INTERCONNECTEDNESS
BTW, I love almost everything else on her blog too. :)
Saturday, January 23, 2010
An Epiphany
I am regretting renaming my blog, LOL
No, that's not my epiphany.
My epiphany is this: I keep many things around the house...books, craft supplies, curriculum, etc, for that "just in case."
"What if my daughter wants to knit! I have a selection of yarn and needles right here."
"What if the mood strikes my younger daughter that she wants to read some American girl books. They're right here!"
"What if I (ahem) feel like we should change curriculm again. Hey, I've got a school supply store RIGHT HERE in my BOOKCASE!" LOL
By having everything at our fingertips, we can just move as the mood strikes us. Tired of playing this game, play another! Tired of reading this book, read another! Want to craft something, it's all there to mess with!
I'm not sure that's a good thing.
What if by keeping those things, I am preventing my children from living a more intentional life. If I pass along my fabric, yarn, craft supplies, extra books, clothes, etc to people who need them, when my children develop a desire to, for example, knit - my daughter will have to plan and think. Plan how to save for the yarn. Work for the yarn money. Figure out how to get me to drag all the kids to the craft store. Plan what to make. Wonder if it is really worth it, and if she really wants to do it at all.
Her actions will be more intentional, her product most likely a lot less disposable after all that effort. She will eventually learn to focus on the important and the enduring. Such a child will be ahead of the game when it comes time to run her own household, and her own spiritual life.
I think that's a good thing.
No, that's not my epiphany.
My epiphany is this: I keep many things around the house...books, craft supplies, curriculum, etc, for that "just in case."
"What if my daughter wants to knit! I have a selection of yarn and needles right here."
"What if the mood strikes my younger daughter that she wants to read some American girl books. They're right here!"
"What if I (ahem) feel like we should change curriculm again. Hey, I've got a school supply store RIGHT HERE in my BOOKCASE!" LOL
By having everything at our fingertips, we can just move as the mood strikes us. Tired of playing this game, play another! Tired of reading this book, read another! Want to craft something, it's all there to mess with!
I'm not sure that's a good thing.
What if by keeping those things, I am preventing my children from living a more intentional life. If I pass along my fabric, yarn, craft supplies, extra books, clothes, etc to people who need them, when my children develop a desire to, for example, knit - my daughter will have to plan and think. Plan how to save for the yarn. Work for the yarn money. Figure out how to get me to drag all the kids to the craft store. Plan what to make. Wonder if it is really worth it, and if she really wants to do it at all.
Her actions will be more intentional, her product most likely a lot less disposable after all that effort. She will eventually learn to focus on the important and the enduring. Such a child will be ahead of the game when it comes time to run her own household, and her own spiritual life.
I think that's a good thing.
Monday, August 03, 2009
I know I changed the name of my blog, but can I still have an epiphany?
In the search to figure out what to do with a very persistant toddler, I came across this thread on the 4Real Forums, When You are Always Surviving.
About half way down, Leonie says:
What a great idea! And that change of perspective alone could be an epiphany, although it wouldn't have been mine. ;-)
What I personally realized relates to what God has been doing in my life regarding space and stuff. Living in a smaller house with 7 people, I've learned I need to be detached from stuff. With constant birthdays and generous relatives, different curricula for different learners, children of many ages and stages around, I've needed to just *let go* of all that is mine (and much of what is theirs, LOL!) so that there is room for what we are using and needing in the moment.
So that when Leonie made her comment above, God *pinged* me on the head and I thought, "Yeah, just like decluttering!" What I have been lamenting as "survival mode" for too long is possibly just God's way of saying "THIS is what is needful. THIS is what is important. The rest is just the clutter of the world, like so many Polly Pocket toys. Be detached. You don't need it." I *get* that. I understand being detached from stuff.
Hopefully the next time I'm lamenting that we are only on Week 8 when we should be on Week 14, or sad that I don't think I can handle the kids in swim lessons AND dance, or wondering when I'll EVER have the house straightened up...I'll remember that it is OK to be detached from activities and success. Even if that success was only my wish for an empty sink or uncluttered floor.
ETA: LOL - I continued reading the thread after I posted this, and realized that right under Leonie's quote, someone else said almost the exact same thing in a quote from an article. It's called "abandonment to God's will". Duh. ;-) I swear I didn't read that first! I should have - they said it much better than I did!! :)
About half way down, Leonie says:
I changed my mindset - I tried to think of it as "doing the important things" and not "just surviving." Made a world of difference to me
What a great idea! And that change of perspective alone could be an epiphany, although it wouldn't have been mine. ;-)
What I personally realized relates to what God has been doing in my life regarding space and stuff. Living in a smaller house with 7 people, I've learned I need to be detached from stuff. With constant birthdays and generous relatives, different curricula for different learners, children of many ages and stages around, I've needed to just *let go* of all that is mine (and much of what is theirs, LOL!) so that there is room for what we are using and needing in the moment.
So that when Leonie made her comment above, God *pinged* me on the head and I thought, "Yeah, just like decluttering!" What I have been lamenting as "survival mode" for too long is possibly just God's way of saying "THIS is what is needful. THIS is what is important. The rest is just the clutter of the world, like so many Polly Pocket toys. Be detached. You don't need it." I *get* that. I understand being detached from stuff.
Hopefully the next time I'm lamenting that we are only on Week 8 when we should be on Week 14, or sad that I don't think I can handle the kids in swim lessons AND dance, or wondering when I'll EVER have the house straightened up...I'll remember that it is OK to be detached from activities and success. Even if that success was only my wish for an empty sink or uncluttered floor.
ETA: LOL - I continued reading the thread after I posted this, and realized that right under Leonie's quote, someone else said almost the exact same thing in a quote from an article. It's called "abandonment to God's will". Duh. ;-) I swear I didn't read that first! I should have - they said it much better than I did!! :)
Friday, March 27, 2009
Friday's Epiphany
...is that I'm pathetic.
No, seriously, it is that I am *impatient* and it is ruining my spiritual growth.
This morning was a morning like many mornings. Things weren't going well, and I started to have a major anxiety attack.
"Please, God, make it stop!" I wailed," I can't stand this anymore! Where ARE You? Why don't You listen to me? Don't You care? Do You really hate me? You must, because I keep sinning when I'm like this and You won't make it stop so that I can stop sinning and be with You forever." I didn't say my logic was the best during an anxiety attack, lol :-P I tend to have this all consuming fear that I'm going to go to Hell because I can't seem to stop sinning when I'm having an attack and since God won't stop them even when I beg, He must not love me (yes, I'm that special that He loves everyone else in the world but not me :-P) Hence, I'm going to Hell.
See? Pathetic. ;-)
Many minutes and many tears later I managed to get a few things done without myself or someone else ruining them and the worst of it lifted. That's when I had my epiphany:
It lifted.
Just like it always does. Just not the *moment* I begged for it.
He heard my cry and answered me.
OK, I think I really AM pathetic, but God *does* love me, hear me, and answer me. I just need to WAIT. And it's usually not all that long!
************
I hope you all don't mind me sharing these things. I don't do it to show how screwed up I am, or how holy I am (NOT!) - I write them down so I don't forget, and in the hopes that they may help somebody else.
************
In other news, I decluttered a multi-book set of "Teach Yourself to Play Violin" (not it's real name, I can't even remember what it was nor do I want to go look for fear I will not be able to control my urge to take it out of the give-away bag.) I have always wanted to teach myself the violin. I've had those books for years with the hopes that it would happen some day. I don't have a violin, nor do I have space to *store* a violin, or time to *practice* or learn the violin. Besides, I have two instruments here (electric piano and flute) that I *do* know how to play and I never bother. If I want to be musical I should use what I have - bloom where I'm planted and all that.
It was hard, but I really felt the Holy Spirit nudging this one. I did put it in the bag with a prayer that if it is meant to be, these or something better will find their way back to me at the right time.
I feel free.
No, seriously, it is that I am *impatient* and it is ruining my spiritual growth.
This morning was a morning like many mornings. Things weren't going well, and I started to have a major anxiety attack.
"Please, God, make it stop!" I wailed," I can't stand this anymore! Where ARE You? Why don't You listen to me? Don't You care? Do You really hate me? You must, because I keep sinning when I'm like this and You won't make it stop so that I can stop sinning and be with You forever." I didn't say my logic was the best during an anxiety attack, lol :-P I tend to have this all consuming fear that I'm going to go to Hell because I can't seem to stop sinning when I'm having an attack and since God won't stop them even when I beg, He must not love me (yes, I'm that special that He loves everyone else in the world but not me :-P) Hence, I'm going to Hell.
See? Pathetic. ;-)
Many minutes and many tears later I managed to get a few things done without myself or someone else ruining them and the worst of it lifted. That's when I had my epiphany:
It lifted.
Just like it always does. Just not the *moment* I begged for it.
He heard my cry and answered me.
OK, I think I really AM pathetic, but God *does* love me, hear me, and answer me. I just need to WAIT. And it's usually not all that long!
************
I hope you all don't mind me sharing these things. I don't do it to show how screwed up I am, or how holy I am (NOT!) - I write them down so I don't forget, and in the hopes that they may help somebody else.
************
In other news, I decluttered a multi-book set of "Teach Yourself to Play Violin" (not it's real name, I can't even remember what it was nor do I want to go look for fear I will not be able to control my urge to take it out of the give-away bag.) I have always wanted to teach myself the violin. I've had those books for years with the hopes that it would happen some day. I don't have a violin, nor do I have space to *store* a violin, or time to *practice* or learn the violin. Besides, I have two instruments here (electric piano and flute) that I *do* know how to play and I never bother. If I want to be musical I should use what I have - bloom where I'm planted and all that.
It was hard, but I really felt the Holy Spirit nudging this one. I did put it in the bag with a prayer that if it is meant to be, these or something better will find their way back to me at the right time.
I feel free.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Tuesday's Epiphany
Thinking over what the realtor said last week ("OMG you have a lot of STUFF" lol), and mulling over what we had already considered doing about it, namely -- renting a storage unit until the house sells, I realized something.
98% of the things I would be storing I bought at yard sales, consignment sales, library sales. In other words, for pennies on the dollar. Or they were gifts. The local storage facilities charge about $60 per month for a climate controlled 5x10' space, and upwards of $80-90 for a 10x10 space (necessary if we are storing any furniture to make the house look nicer. Our furniture has definitely seen better days). The fact that they give a "$1 first month" special is irrelevant since if I do my calculations based on 2 months of needed storage it could just as easily be 3, or 5, or 8 before the house is sold. Revelation: I could give away most of the stuff we would store, and buy back what we *need* for less than what it would cost to store it. Plus, the thrill of the chase, trying to find something at Goodwill/Craigslist/yardsale is FUN for me.
We certainly DO have *some* room for storage, so I can make this situation work even better by giving away what is easily gotten again (i.e. kids clothes) and use that space to store things that are more expensive or I wouldn't buy used (curriculum, extra towels, etc.). Heck, even buying 30 rubbermaid bins to stack floor to ceiling in the basement room would be cheaper than 3 months of storage at a storage place. No, we can't put our old but still used kitchen table in a rubbermaid bin, but with everything else out of the way maybe we could deal with that a different way.
Thinking, thinking...
98% of the things I would be storing I bought at yard sales, consignment sales, library sales. In other words, for pennies on the dollar. Or they were gifts. The local storage facilities charge about $60 per month for a climate controlled 5x10' space, and upwards of $80-90 for a 10x10 space (necessary if we are storing any furniture to make the house look nicer. Our furniture has definitely seen better days). The fact that they give a "$1 first month" special is irrelevant since if I do my calculations based on 2 months of needed storage it could just as easily be 3, or 5, or 8 before the house is sold. Revelation: I could give away most of the stuff we would store, and buy back what we *need* for less than what it would cost to store it. Plus, the thrill of the chase, trying to find something at Goodwill/Craigslist/yardsale is FUN for me.
We certainly DO have *some* room for storage, so I can make this situation work even better by giving away what is easily gotten again (i.e. kids clothes) and use that space to store things that are more expensive or I wouldn't buy used (curriculum, extra towels, etc.). Heck, even buying 30 rubbermaid bins to stack floor to ceiling in the basement room would be cheaper than 3 months of storage at a storage place. No, we can't put our old but still used kitchen table in a rubbermaid bin, but with everything else out of the way maybe we could deal with that a different way.
Thinking, thinking...
Sunday, October 19, 2008
My Latest Epiphany
This morning I was uploading photos for some presents we are making for Christmas - which gave me lots of time to sit and think while the computer cranked away. Looking at all the pictures (and seeing the random junk!) started my mind down it's usual path regarding decluttering. I often wonder if I want to give away too much - not because it's bad to give away everything one has, but because it's not all MY stuff - I'm trying to give away many things that my family enjoys, for the sake of my sanity.
My epiphany this morning was that God *knows* what I'm like, and he ordained that I would be the mother/chief organizational officer of this family. I've been sensitive and anxiety prone since I was a wee babe! He *knows* I would be in a house a touch too small for us (probably for the long haul, it seems!) and that I absolutely start freaking out when there is too much out. He even blessed me with two older girls, who have taken up my mantra of "we don't NEED this, let's give it away", although they (like me) are horrible about putting what they DO own away (you know the story of the apples not falling far from the tree!).
So I can DROP. THE. GUILT. about having only a minimum of toys or books. This life should be about me getting to heaven, and about me bringing my whole family there with me! If I am having anxiety attacks because the house has gotten out of control, and then yelling at my children, then it is OK, and the greater good, to get rid of more and more. Perhaps God placed me in this family so that I *could* get rid of the bulk of everything because that will be important for something in my children's future.
So I'm going to try hard to drop the guilt about making my children live like poor waifs. They are richly blessed - with family, friends, AND toys (and they STILL have a lot even though it sounds like I've thrown away everything they own, LOL) and I'm a good mom BECAUSE I'm on top of this, not despite it.
My epiphany this morning was that God *knows* what I'm like, and he ordained that I would be the mother/chief organizational officer of this family. I've been sensitive and anxiety prone since I was a wee babe! He *knows* I would be in a house a touch too small for us (probably for the long haul, it seems!) and that I absolutely start freaking out when there is too much out. He even blessed me with two older girls, who have taken up my mantra of "we don't NEED this, let's give it away", although they (like me) are horrible about putting what they DO own away (you know the story of the apples not falling far from the tree!).
So I can DROP. THE. GUILT. about having only a minimum of toys or books. This life should be about me getting to heaven, and about me bringing my whole family there with me! If I am having anxiety attacks because the house has gotten out of control, and then yelling at my children, then it is OK, and the greater good, to get rid of more and more. Perhaps God placed me in this family so that I *could* get rid of the bulk of everything because that will be important for something in my children's future.
So I'm going to try hard to drop the guilt about making my children live like poor waifs. They are richly blessed - with family, friends, AND toys (and they STILL have a lot even though it sounds like I've thrown away everything they own, LOL) and I'm a good mom BECAUSE I'm on top of this, not despite it.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
I think I just might
Today I was musing with the girls about toys. "What if I got rid of all of your toys. Everything. What would you do? How would you spend your days?"
"DO IT! Mom, do it!" shouted out my 8 and 10 year olds together.
My 5yo was a bit more hesitant. "Not our lovies, right?" This is the same child who came to me this morning asking if I knew where a certain "special" bear was. Said bear had never been played with or asked for in over 1.5 years, and said bear made an exit to Goodwill many moons ago.
Maybe they want me to pack up all their stuff so I just. shut. up. about decluttering for once.
Maybe they realize that if I pack/give it all away they won't have to clean up after themselves and their little sisters because there won't be anything around!
Oh I am so tempted though. Summer seems a good time to do it.
Perhaps I'll pack up everything save a few special or particularly multipurpose items. For example the huge cardboard "bricks" we have get used in a thousand different ways, by all ages. Or maybe I really will just hide it all somehow, to prove something to the girls, since they want me to anyway!
The biggest issue I see with all of this is just WHEN am I supposed to start packing this stuff up, and where in the world do I put it??
"DO IT! Mom, do it!" shouted out my 8 and 10 year olds together.
My 5yo was a bit more hesitant. "Not our lovies, right?" This is the same child who came to me this morning asking if I knew where a certain "special" bear was. Said bear had never been played with or asked for in over 1.5 years, and said bear made an exit to Goodwill many moons ago.
Maybe they want me to pack up all their stuff so I just. shut. up. about decluttering for once.
Maybe they realize that if I pack/give it all away they won't have to clean up after themselves and their little sisters because there won't be anything around!
Oh I am so tempted though. Summer seems a good time to do it.
Perhaps I'll pack up everything save a few special or particularly multipurpose items. For example the huge cardboard "bricks" we have get used in a thousand different ways, by all ages. Or maybe I really will just hide it all somehow, to prove something to the girls, since they want me to anyway!
The biggest issue I see with all of this is just WHEN am I supposed to start packing this stuff up, and where in the world do I put it??
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
I had a flash
Yesterday an image flashed across my mind of what our little house could be like if we radically decluttered. I mean RA-DI-CAL-LY. Living extemely simply.
Oh, it was nice. I admit the vision I was having was of me BLOGGING about it, not actually living in it, LOL!! I think all the Little House on the Prairie reading we are doing is effecting my brain, too.
I am so tired of getting upset over *stuff*. You know, like trying to pull one shirt out from under other shirts and having them all come down on your head or the floor. (what? Things like this don't happen to you on an hourly basis? LOL)
I always hesitate for three reasons. One, we spent MONEY on this stuff. I use this one mostly on gifts for the girls that don't get as much use as I'd hoped, like the small parachute that I thought we could use for "gym class"). Two, it's something I *do* use once in a while, like when we have a party (um, once a year?). Three, I feel like I'm depriving my kids of something by taking so many things away.
That last one bothers me the most. But this morning while thinking about my "vision" of last night, I thought back to my own childhood. What were my memories?
Sitting in the back yard, or playing on the swingset.
Reading.
Playing with toys? Well, I do remember my Barbie Townhouse, LOL. I really did love that thing. And certain stuffed animals. And blocks (because we still own them).
But I'm sure I had a ton of toys. That I don't remember. That says something to me.
My favorite memories are of books, nature, and other people. The *things* were secondary. And I was one of two children born 6 years apart - how much more will my own children - 5 all born 2 or so years apart - have memories of the *people* and not the things?
I *think* this tells me that I can get rid of even more, and we'll all be OK. Better than OK. Happy.
Why does it feel like stepping off a cliff, then?
Oh, it was nice. I admit the vision I was having was of me BLOGGING about it, not actually living in it, LOL!! I think all the Little House on the Prairie reading we are doing is effecting my brain, too.
I am so tired of getting upset over *stuff*. You know, like trying to pull one shirt out from under other shirts and having them all come down on your head or the floor. (what? Things like this don't happen to you on an hourly basis? LOL)
I always hesitate for three reasons. One, we spent MONEY on this stuff. I use this one mostly on gifts for the girls that don't get as much use as I'd hoped, like the small parachute that I thought we could use for "gym class"). Two, it's something I *do* use once in a while, like when we have a party (um, once a year?). Three, I feel like I'm depriving my kids of something by taking so many things away.
That last one bothers me the most. But this morning while thinking about my "vision" of last night, I thought back to my own childhood. What were my memories?
Sitting in the back yard, or playing on the swingset.
Reading.
Playing with toys? Well, I do remember my Barbie Townhouse, LOL. I really did love that thing. And certain stuffed animals. And blocks (because we still own them).
But I'm sure I had a ton of toys. That I don't remember. That says something to me.
My favorite memories are of books, nature, and other people. The *things* were secondary. And I was one of two children born 6 years apart - how much more will my own children - 5 all born 2 or so years apart - have memories of the *people* and not the things?
I *think* this tells me that I can get rid of even more, and we'll all be OK. Better than OK. Happy.
Why does it feel like stepping off a cliff, then?
Monday, May 19, 2008
I'm doing the unthinkable
I'm decluttering books.
Shhhhhhh...
Shhhhhhh...
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Yes, yes!
What she said!
I'm going to print this out, photocopy it, and send it to all our relatives. Monthly. Twice monthly before Christmas.
(ht: Kim)
I'm going to print this out, photocopy it, and send it to all our relatives. Monthly. Twice monthly before Christmas.
(ht: Kim)
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Simplifying Homeschooling
Cheryl linked to this great little list of 10 ways to simplify homeschooling:
Simplifying Homeschooling
My favorite quote (I want to memorize this):
Simplifying Homeschooling
My favorite quote (I want to memorize this):
Although we may have an audience of skeptical relatives, homeschooling is not a circus, and we refuse to train our children to do tricks for people.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Haiku Friday
A dying to self
This purging of our clutter
The Story of Stuff
You've probably all seen this ~20min video, The Story of Stuff, but as I continue to go through the house, getting rid of things, its message is really hitting me. I think a small portion of what it says is "spin" - twisting facts to make a point - but in general I think it's something most Americans need to watch.
I want to keep this in the forefront of my mind - every little needless thing I bring into my house is harming someone somewhere down the line.
Wondering how to reconcile my thoughts on this with the perceived "need" to fill some Easter baskets in a week! Ack, a WEEK! Is next week really Holy Week??
OK, so I'm off to panic. ;-)
For more Haiku Friday, visit A Mommy Story.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Haiku Friday
Clothes - GONE. Fabric - GONE.
Declutter bug has bit me
Run for your life, kids!
~~~~~
Decluttered in the last two weeks:
-7 bags of baby and toddler girl clothes and baby boy clothes (waah! But it does feel very good to lighten the load, and many of our clothes were passed down to us so I'm just paying it forward.)
-many cloth diapers. I'm trying to streamline (although in the process I'm bringing in more...hopefully a post on all this some time later)
-1 huge box of fabric. I kept only what I have *specific* plans for.
Two more bags of clothes and a little stack of games are still waiting to be given away.
Next on the "pounce list" - kids books and toys. No, not kids, books, and toys, LOL. Wish me luck - I want to be ruthless. We are either going to move, so I need to ruthless, or stay in this too small house with too little storage, so I need to be ruthless. :)
For more Haiku Friday, visit, A Mommy Story.
Monday, January 21, 2008
In honor of Menu Plan Monday...
I'm sharing our new two week rotation of meals. Breakfast and lunch are not set in stone - this is more of a guide. For the most part, the plan is free of dairy, eggs, nuts, peanuts, citrus, tomato, chocolate...maybe something else, I can't remember! LOL
Here is the link to it:
Two week winter meal plan
The column farthest to the right is the shopping list of ingredients I'll typically need to shop for for that day's meals. I left out some staples, and if I need it again later in the week I didn't list it twice. I'm thinking about adding paper products/cleaners to this list and then printing it out as a permanent checklist. Well, permanent until I change this meal plan in a few months, LOL.
I've only just started it, but I can't tell you how wonderfully mentally freeing having this all set up is. We used to shop sales (actually dh would shop for the most part) and then bring home all this food with no idea what to make from it. Granted, I became an expert at making dinner every night from a mish mosh of ingredients, but it's a sressful way to live!
We can still shop sales, we just need to stock up when things we USE are on sale, instead of buying something edible only *because* it's on sale.
It was so nice to wake up this morning, check the chart (not have to think at 7 AM) and know I needed to get out the crock pot and put in the chicken. I'm sure over time it will all become second nature. This is good. Simple.
Wondering how I can do it with all the other areas of my life!
Here is the link to it:
Two week winter meal plan
The column farthest to the right is the shopping list of ingredients I'll typically need to shop for for that day's meals. I left out some staples, and if I need it again later in the week I didn't list it twice. I'm thinking about adding paper products/cleaners to this list and then printing it out as a permanent checklist. Well, permanent until I change this meal plan in a few months, LOL.
I've only just started it, but I can't tell you how wonderfully mentally freeing having this all set up is. We used to shop sales (actually dh would shop for the most part) and then bring home all this food with no idea what to make from it. Granted, I became an expert at making dinner every night from a mish mosh of ingredients, but it's a sressful way to live!
We can still shop sales, we just need to stock up when things we USE are on sale, instead of buying something edible only *because* it's on sale.
It was so nice to wake up this morning, check the chart (not have to think at 7 AM) and know I needed to get out the crock pot and put in the chicken. I'm sure over time it will all become second nature. This is good. Simple.
Wondering how I can do it with all the other areas of my life!
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