A Simple Life

In these tough economic times, what's a girl to do? To quote Thoreau "Simplify, simplify".

• Bake homemade bread (maybe not much cheaper than store bought bread but oh such much more satisfying)
• plant a garden and save the seeds for next year
• eat at home
• hang the clothes out on the line
• re-use or re-purpose instead of buying new
• carpool when possible
• throw away the TV (OK, not really, but watching less means more time with the family and less ads telling us about all the things we "need")
• cook from scratch
• start making Christmas gifts now
• Volunteer in your church and in your community
• Appreciate the gift of now

Everything may not be the same, but it will be OK.

Stress Management

Tired Fed-Up Stress Exhausted Sales Assistants Shoes Sales, UK, 1954

As much as I would like it to be different, I have a fairly low threshold for stress. That's not a good thing in a family as busy as ours. My first instinct when faced with stress is like the old poem says:

"When in trouble, when in doubt,
Run in circles, scream and shout!"

Not exactly productive is it?

So I have to be very intentional about busting stress before it busts me!  Here are my favorite ideas for managing stress (in no particular order):

• Watch a funny movie or read a funny book.  Laughter always makes me feel better.
• Do something creative.  Bake something delicious, paint a picture, make a scrapbook or a necklace...anything that you enjoy and that gives you a sense of accomplishment.
• Clean the house.  OK, it's not the cleaning itself that makes me feel better, but the end result.  A messy house stresses me out.  Preferably I can find a time when I am home alone and I listen to my favorite music or a great podcast while I clean.  It makes it go by so much faster and then I can relax and enjoy the shiny floors and dust free furniture.  Sometimes that's a quicker and less stressful route to having a clean house than trying to get hubby and the kids to pitch in.
• Sing.  I'm not a singer by any means, but I love to put on some old gospel songs and really belt them out when no one is listening.
• Exercise.  The very last thing I want to do when I'm feeling stressed is to exercise, but if I can talk myself into it, I always feel better and sleep better.  It doesn't have have to be anything seriously strenuous.  This is one of my favorite workouts that doesn't leave me feeling exhausted afterward.
• Talk to another mom and be honest!  It's likely that's she's felt the same way.  At the very least she'll help you feel more normal.
• Read the Psalms
• And last, but not least.  If you think you might be depressed, there is no shame in getting help!  Talk to your pastor or someone else you trust.  You may also be able to get free or reduced price counseling through your local university if cost is a concern.  Don't put yourself last!

"Always leave enough time in your life to do something that makes you happy, satisfied, even joyous. That has more of an effect on economic well-being than any other single factor."
- Paul Hawken

Early Morning

Friday Morning

I'm not naturally a morning person. If I didn't have any sort of schedule to keep I would stay up late and sleep late. Sometimes though, especially in the summer when I don't have anything on the agenda, I love to go to bed a little earlier than usual and get up early the next morning.

I don't set an alarm to jangle my nerves, I just decide that I'm going to wake up early and I do. It's especially nice if I can wake as the sun is beginning to rise. I quietly make myself a cup of coffee, wrap up in my robe, and take my Bible and reading glasses out onto the back porch. I read and pray as the sun peeks over the horizon and the world slowly wakes up in the cool misty stillness before the heat sets in. It's the best way I know to feel close to God and His creation and releases the stresses of my week.

For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for life;
Weeping may endure for a night,
But joy comes in the morning.
-Psalm 30:5

Hope your mornings are refreshing to your spirit!
Much love,

Details

The unconsidered.

The common.

The simple.

The overlooked.

Small things.

Moments of happiness.

Savor the details today.

The Smallest Blessings Thursday

I find that when I appreciate and am thankful for the beauty in everyday things and in everyday situations that I am more likely to wear a smile and be content with where I am in life. I love that the Smallest Blessings meme at Her Southern Charm is encouraging that.

This week my smallest blessing is a plate of homemade cookies.

I am so thankful that I can be home in the afternoons to make cookies or some other treat for my kids and to sit around the snack bar with them while they talk about their day. I get to hear what's on their minds while they fill their hungry tummies with something Mama made with love. It's one of my favorite parts of the day.