Intentional Christmas | Preparing Your Heart and Home for an Intentional Christmas

Brian and I have spent considerable time talking through what we really want for our children.

We want them to:

• value their relationship with the Lord
• value their relationships with us and each other
• find their worth in Christ, not in their stuff
• develop an attitude of gratitude, not an attitude of entitlement
• see that stuff does not matter, people do
• learn that the money God gives us has to be spent wisely
• choose experiences over things

With those goals in mind, we have altered what Christmas will look like for us this year and every year after.

We are choosing to scale back, not just on gifts, but activities.

For the last few years, I have wrapped 24 books and had my children open one every day until Christmas. This year, we are taking a break from the daily book. Instead, we will be learning about the character of God with Melk the Christmas Monkey. We want to redirect our children's focus back to the Lord and off of the commercialism of the season.

We are involved in many church related activities, but we are making sure that we do not overwhelm our calendars. We want to sit back after Christmas is over and reminisce, not crash.

Christmas will be practical, but it will still have the element of Christmas wonder that children look forward to. 

Our home is a decent size, yet space is still at a premium. Once the wrapping paper has settled and the toys have been played out for the day, the issue of finding a place for all of these things comes up. For us, practically speaking, the items we purchase for our children are already having "places" prepared for them. Bookshelves are being purged of "froo-froo" books to make room for books that will last for years to come. Toy boxes are being purged to make room for gifts that family may be giving.

It will have purpose, but it will still be fun. 

My children are involved in a co-op and we also take field trips and visit family frequently. One of the things I know they could benefit from is a backpack. Brian and I have chosen to use a back pack as their "stocking" and some of their smaller gifts (under pants and socks) will be put inside of it.

Addie is now old enough to have a "real" Bible. Because we also want Ian to have a Bible of his own, we have gotten both of them age/reading level appropriate Bibles.

We live in Florida. In the summertime, pools, beaches, and backyard water fun are a part of our daily existence. We decided to gift each child a beach towel featuring a character they prefer. 

The gifts that we are giving our children have been intentionally chosen, based on shown interests and needs that they have.

Addie is completely immersed in the Rainbow Loom phase despite the fact that she does not have an actual Rainbow Loom (hers is like a super simple version of the real thing and is not capable of making anything more than a simple bracelet). We have watched how she learns what she can from cousins and friends and has even learned to use her fingers to make some rings. We decided that she has shown us that she is ready for the real Rainbow Loom as well as a book to help her make some fun accessories.

Ian on the other hand needs a bicycle. Our road was recently paved, so we now have a great place to ride bikes (our road dead ends and we have no traffic). Addie has gotten to ride her bicycle while Ian chases her with the best attitude ever. Once Brian heard him say, "My legs are tired. I need a bicycle." No worries, Little Man. We have you covered.

We are staying away from the "toys" this year. In all honesty, they have plenty of toys, and I have found that the fewer toys they have on hand, the more they play with their toys.

I love that I can depend on several family members and friends to gift us things that are practical and are also needs. Several of my aunts are great at getting my children clothes and pajamas. One aunt in particular always purchases great quality shoes for them (a huge blessing to us!). One of my dear friends almost always gifts us pajamas- something I appreciate so much because it is a need but not something I like spending money on. One of their aunts always calls or texts to find out what our kids want or need.  

An intentional Christmas does not mean you have taken the fun out of Christmas. It means that we are making the thrill of Christmas last much longer with gifts that will be used for a long time to come.

Tomorrow I will be sharing a list of the items we have actually purchased for our children as we work towards as intentional Christmas. 

Simplicity | Alone Playtime

Before we had our children, Brian and I read On Becoming Baby Wise: Giving Your Infant the Gift of Nighttime Sleep (On Becoming... Book 1) by Garry Ezzo (highly recommend to all parents of newborns). The series continues on up through the teen years and is a wonderful resource in dealing with the day to day process of parenting from a Biblical perspective. As part of a baby's day, they recommend alone play time. It begins in the playpen, and as the child grows and develops it moves into their room or a designated play area in your home. However, let me just clarify, alone playtime is not to be used for extended periods of time, and as a parent you are always watching and listening.

Alone playtime is designed to teach your child that they can play without Mommy's constant stimulation, and it gives Mom a chance to do some things that are necessary for her home to function or just a time for her to sit quietly for a bit. 

When Addie was about a year, I would sit her in her room on the floor with some toys around her and then stand by her door. The first several times it was for five minutes. Then gradually it increased to 10 minutes and so on. Basically, as she grew, so did her alone playtime.

Now that we have two children, alone playtime is essential. When siblings are around each other constantly, having some time to play alone is important. I have found that when alone playtime is over, they are bother excited to get back together.

Alone playtime is sometimes needed because of a child's personality. Our daughter Addie is a very social person. She would rather be with others constantly. Her personality needs alone playtime to teach her that it is possible for her to have fun alone without anyone else around. Our son Ian loves being with his sister, but his personality desires some alone time without the stimulation of others.

The hardest thing about alone playtime is the guilt that moms sometimes feel when they allow their child that time without them. I know. I have felt that guilt as well. Yet, what a gift we are giving our child! We are teaching them the art of finding ways to entertain themselves and giving their imaginations room to soar. 

Alone playtime takes some time to teach and learn, but once the idea becomes an established routine in your home, you will treasure that time for the benefits your whole family will enjoy.

Simplicity | Learning to Enjoy Things Without Owning Them

We are always looking for fun things to do with the kids that are age appropriate and won't break the bank.

One thing that I remember my mother doing with us as girls was taking a weekly trip to the library. We would walk there (it was a five minute walk from our house) and spend a couple of hours doing school work and looking through the books. We became friends with the librarians and looked forward to our time spent there.

Fast forward 20 something years, the library has become a favorite place for my children as well.

The library has changed a lot since I was a kid- there are now computers, games, puzzles, and cool bean bag chairs for making yourself comfortable in with a good book. There is now story time for children under the school age during the school year and learning class time for all ages during the summer.


The library has thousands of books, that are available to enjoy. Toddlers, children and adults alike can enjoy all of the books free of charge (unless one is late returning these books, then there is a late fee).

Let's think back to the original Simplicity post . One of the steps to simplicity is learn to enjoy things without owning them. There are so many books I want my children to enjoy, but it would be impossible for us to buy them all. A library offers access to a plethora of materials for education and entertainment.

When it comes to learning to enjoy things without owning them, we are not just limited to the library. There are parks, beaches, festivals, and other things that can be enjoyed for free or for a nominal price without having to own anything.

The beauty of learning to find ways of enjoying things without owning them is two-fold. In some cases in teaches patience in waiting your turn before you can enjoy something. It also reduces the amount of stuff brought into your living space which keeps clutter at bay. Clutter is an enemy of simplicity.

I want my children to grow up understanding they do not need to own everything they enjoy. They do not need to have an extensive video library; they can borrow movies from the library or rent them for a $1 at a local kiosk. They do not need to download every song they like; they can enjoy Pandora free of charge and enjoy their favorite songs and find others like it. They do not need to purchase every book they want to read; they can borrow it from the library.

What important lessons will this teach them in the long run?

• Not every needs to be owned in order for them to enjoy it.

• To save their money for things they really want or need.

• To critically think about purchases they do make.

• Less clutter equals less stress

How will they learn this lesson?

It starts with me and the example I show them. Children will not learn this lesson on their own. They need to be shown that we can learn to find ways to enjoy things without owning them in order for them to learn how to do the same.

The library is a good place to start.

Simplicity | Developing a Deeper Appreciation for Creation

This post contains affiliate links.

The original post can be found here.

One of the steps towards simplicity discussed in the chapter "The Discipline of Simplicity" from the book Celebration of Discipline by Richard J. Foster is develop a deeper appreciation for the creation.

Okay, so let's just lay it out here. 

I do not have a green thumb.

I do not like to get hot and sweaty.

I can't stand the feel of dirt on me.

I (and my hair) do not fair well in the Florida humidity.

So now that that is out in the open, I am also willing to admit that I want to change a few things. As the winter cold came to an end (which for Floridians is anything colder than 70 degrees), we began going outside more, I began hanging my laundry again, and my kids discovered the beauty of uninhibited running outside (because you just can't do that inside a house).

Every year in the spring, I remember this feeling. The one that reminds you that the earth is a beautiful place. The one that causes you to take deep breaths of air and fill up your lungs with fresh oxygen... not the recycled stuff from inside.

The feeling that I need to appreciate God's creation more than I do.

Why am I so afraid of my children getting dirty?

Why do I not want to get in the dirt myself?

There are so many wonders to be discovered in God's creation.

In childhood, what is the ultimate simplicity?

Going outside and playing with whatever you can find.

When kept inside, my children find themselves in need of something to do for entertainment. That is when the crayons, coloring books, toys, and even my furniture and pots and pans come out. This in turn gives us the added chore of having to clean everything up.

When my children are outdoors, God has provided everything they need for entertainment.

• plants (weeds count) to look at, pick, and to learn the art of gardening with 

• large open areas for running without worry that anyone will run into a sharp corner

• insects and bugs to catch (and because bugs do not stay still, the entertainment lasts quite a while)

Addie is definitely an outdoor girl.

Ian is totally an outside boy.

Mommy is a let's-find-something-safe-to-do-inside kind of girl.

Yet I am learning that there is definitely something freeing, calming, and peaceful about just being outside.

• When I hang my laundry, it is then that God puts dreams and aspirations in my heart.

• When I am outside, I find myself praying and praising more.

• When I am outside, I smile more.

• When my children are outside, there is a refreshment that comes over them that they cannot get from being inside.

• When my children have a good play outside, they rest much more easily at night. 

I am trying to develop a deeper appreciation for God's creation. 

Because developing a deeper appreciation for God's creation is a step towards simplicity.

Simplicity | Step Six: Memory Keeping

The original post can be found here.

This post does contain affiliate links.

I would really recommend that you read the original post at some point. Why? Because over the course of a few years, people can change, ideas can change, and the world around us changes so quickly that it automatically causes us to adjust our ideas of what is really important.

I have learned that it is okay to change some things in life.

I used to be an avid scrapbooker.

Yet over time, life changes, technological advances, and priorities have opened my eyes to so many other forms of memory keeping. The key is finding the system that is right for you.

1. Traditional Scrapbooking- If this is your passion and what brings you a sense of accomplishment, then keep going! Having a group of women that you can meet up with can not only help you get a lot done in a short time, but the friendships made and developed in your scrap group help to create memories in themselves.

I love getting together with my group of scrapbook ladies! They are so funny and sweet- willing to give you some inspiration or a flower embellishment to finish off a page. I haven't been able to go in some time, but I have a bin of things just waiting for me to organize and put into some semblance of a memory book for my children.

2. Digital Scrapbooking- We live in a very digital world. Not only can we upload our photos to our computers, but now we can also make scrapbook pages right on our computer. I personally have done this several times and found it quite beneficial especially after becoming a mother.

• There is no need to take out a ton of supplies in order to make one layout. Everything you need is on the computer from digital papers to digital embellishments.
• Sharp and small objects are not out for little hands to get a hold of.
• If you do not care for how something looks, just hit delete. You will not have lost any money on supplies that have been cut too short, don't have the right color, or are ruined because you had to move them.
• There is no clean up. Just walk away from your computer and you are done!
• With as many free digital products as there are out there, the only cost would be the purchase of your computer program and the cost of printing your layouts- which is still considerably cheaper than purchasing all of the individual items used in traditional scrapbooking.

3. Custom Photo Books- Very similar to digital scrapbooking, creating a custom photo book happens right on your computer. Shutterfly (not an affiliate) is by far my favorite online photo book creator to use. Every thing you need or want to make a photo book has already been been provided. Coordinating backgrounds that can be mix and matched, digital stickers, and photo placement templates make it easy to drag and drop your photos in.

4. Project Life- I love Project Life by Becky Higgins. Her method is designed to quickly get your photos out of the shoe boxes (or Ziploc bags in my case) and into meaningful albums. These albums can be used in a multitude of ways from being a 365 project depicting the everyday moments each day in your year to being a week in a glance album. I have done both methods. My new method will be using her products to create memory keepsake albums for my children's special moments- Kindergarten graduation, special arts and crafts, photos of milestones, a place to keep track of what we call "Addie-isms" and "Ian-isms."

5. Smash Books- Although I have never personally made a Smashbook I have researched on Pinterest what a smashbook is. I like it! It is an artsy, eclectic way to preserve your emeories of the little moments in our lives. As its name suggests, as you accumlate tickets, brochures, recipts and others pieces of life, you put adhesive on the back and "smash" it right into your book.

This digital slideshow created with Smilebox

6. Smilebox- I am definitely a music person. I love adding soundtracks to our life. Smilebox is a free digital program which can be downloaded right from the Internet and allows you to put your photos together quickly and add a soundtrack (theirs or your own). The best part is you can share your Smilebox via social media! Now, you are not the only one enjoying your photos, but you can share it with others who would never get to see a "hold-touch-feel" scrapbook.

7. Blogs- Blogs are a great way to keep your memories. Writing out what your family is doing, what your children are learning, and how you are feeling all along the path of motherhood is a great way to remember what life was like. I often go back to the early days of this blog and just read. I am so thankful for all of the writing I did because there is so much I have already forgotten. Without the written word, so much of our family's memories would be forgotten. Pictures alone cannot tell the stories.

8. Social Media- I cannot count how many albums I have on my personal Facebook page. Can you? How many times have my children said something funny or sweet and I have quickly typed it up and hit post? I know where all of their saying are. Not on a scrap of paper that can easily be lost. They are all in one place. And I love having the interaction of others during moments that are special.

There are so many avenues of memory keeping today. Find what fits your personality and works for you and run with it.

Do not let yourself get so stuck in what you used to do that you create an added burden for yourself.

But most importantly remember- don't let memory keeping keep you from making memories.

Simplicity | Step Five: Purge/Declutter

The original post can be found here.

My next simplicity step is one that I have been doing for years, and I am sure many of you do it as well.

Organize/purge on a cycle.

When I was teaching, I would go through my room (when I was single) or house (once I was married) twice a year. The first was during Christmas break, and the second was during the summer (my two big breaks). I would go through my closets, drawers, and under my bed (I used it for storage of hope chest items), toss what was unusable, give away or sell items that were in good condition but I would not be using again, and keep only what I needed. For some, twice a year is all that is necessary. However, a husband, two children, and bigger house later, I am finding that cycle organizing is what works for me. So exactly what is that?

For me cycle organizing means that I start at one end of the house and begin the organizing/purging process one room at a time. By the time I make it all the way around the house, it has been about 4-5 months and I begin the process all over again. For me, this method keeps things from having a chance to build up around us. It also makes the next cycle of organizing and cleaning out easier because fewer things have had a chance to accumulate.

Those of you who have small children know that they outgrow clothing sometimes in about three months. It is nice to be able to go through my children's drawers and cycle out the smaller sizes and cycle in the bigger sizes. This also gives me a better picture of what my children actually have available to wear, and gives me a heads up if it is time to take them clothing shopping.

Toys are also great to cycle in and out. (Check out my post at Frugal Homeschool Family for more on that.) By cycling toys, Addie always has something new-to-her to play with and her toys get plenty of use. As she outgrows items, they are either sent to Goodwill or saved for Baby number 2 (thinking ahead...nothing more :).

Also because of the cycle, my cabinets, closets, and drawers stay neater and doing a quick purge is always possible. It also keeps me aware of what I have, so buying doubles rarely happens.


I would encourage you to clean out one drawer or cabinet today. It can be a craft drawer, clothing drawer, bathroom drawer, bathroom cabinet, kitchen cabinet, or (dare I say!) junk drawer.

Have a blast!

Simplicity | Step Four

The original post can be found here.

This post contains affiliate links.

Today I am going to talk about one aspect of making things simple that has two parts (my complicated side is coming out here).

Have a schedule/plan.

I actually use both of these on a daily basis. Addie and Ian have been on schedules since they were a few weeks old. For safety/common sense reasons I won't go into detail about what our daily schedule is, but our schedule includes wake time, meal times, nap time, school time, bath time, and bed time. The rest of life fits around that schedule.

Now in all reality, life happens and sometimes schedules have to be adjusted, but having a general schedule to work from helps a lot.

The schedule also helps me to gauge what the best times for us to leave the house are and when it would be best for us to get home. I am able to plan grocery trips, visits, and the occasional picture taking session (it is so nice to know what time of the day your child is the happiest since the pictures will be around forever!) around our schedule.

A plan is also very important. You wouldn't go on a trip without knowing what your final destination would be, so why go into your day without knowing what you want the final outcome of the day to be.

When Addie was much smaller, I would literally plan my day to the minute with our activities. Now that she is older and we have Ian, the main schedule stays in place, and I keep a piece of paper on a clipboard with a list for myself of what I want to accomplish during my day for myself and for them. As things come up they are added to the list. The goal is to have everything crossed off by the time Brian gets home (or before).

My plan works like this:

I make a list of things that I need to accomplish in my day. The list ranges in size from day to day. Some things are always there, and some things change. Some days have very little planning because we will be out most of the day (like two weeks ago- co-op, lunch at the park, ice cream with Grandma, phone call with Kristi, dinner, Grandma and Pops house) and some days.....

I prefer to break up my day into three parts- morning, afternoon, and evening. I plan my day based on what I can realistically do within those time frames. But my plan has to fit into the "times" that I have designated for our structured schedule. (You can see a better quality photo of what that week looked like here. The colors do not stand for anything... they just look pretty!)


One mistake I was making early on in my new role as stay-at-home wife/mother was filling my to-do list with too many unrealistic goals. I was so used to having only two weeks at Christmas and 2 months in the summer to accomplish all of my self-imposed projects in my home that I went into staying-at-home with that same mentality.

I tried to do everything in my home in the first two weeks after having had a C-section! (Me and my self-imposed goals and ideas!) I finally realized that I had the rest of my life to clean and organize, and that I was not limited to a short time span. This helped to relieve a lot of stress for me.

Different people have different ways of making their lists and schedules. Some use Day Planners others use printouts of daily plans. This year I am using the Erin Condren Life Planner (pictured throughout this post)- which I LOVE!

Find what feels comfortable for you and works best for your family. Then make a plan. I pray you have a scratch-it-all-off-your-list kind of week!

Simplicity | Step Three

The original post can be found here.

How are you all doing with the idea of simplicity? The idea of simplicity is something so many of us want to achieve, but we must also balance that with the reality of the times we live in.

Believe it or not, I originally was going to go about the "simplicity" thing in a very complicated way (go figure!). I decided to break down what I was already doing, rethink my steps, and then add to the process over time. Things stick a lot better when they are done in steps. And everyone in the house gets to learn the steps along with you without overwhelming them. They begin to fall in with the plan without realizing it.

If you are new to the blog, then before reading today's blog, I would encourage you to check out the last two blogs here and here.

Today's Simplicity point is.....

Plan your meals at least one week ahead. 

I'm sure this is not new (or news) to many of you. You may even plan a month at a time. High five! Planning my meals by the week has always helped me considerably in planning my day, grocery list, and budget. Let's see why and what an effective way to go about this is.

1. I can see what our plans are for the week.

If I need to have a quick meal, have enough time for an elaborate meal, if we are having company, or if we will even be home for dinner on any given day, I will be prepared to feed my family each day. Why plan a meal and purchase the ingredients for a day we will not even be home for dinner? By checking the calendar and planning ahead, we will be more prepared and waste less.

2. It allows me to use what we have in our pantry.

By planning my meals, I know what recipes I will be making, and I can gear them around what is already available in my pantry. Again, we will spend less if we cook based on a plan, and base that plan around what we already have available to us.

3. I am able to grocery shop with a purpose and not without a plan.

As I plan my menu, I have my grocery list beside me. As I pick out my meals, I am able to go to the pantry, fridge, and freezer to see what I have and what I need to pick up. Write down your needs immediately and precisely according to what your recipes requires. Nothing is worse than going to the store and bringing home the wrong size can or wrong amount of items.

4. By planning ahead, I can see if I need to let my meat defrost during the night.

For example, last week we had a whole, little chicken for dinner. Because it was a slow cooker recipe, I needed my meat to be defrosted and ready to go in the morning. Because I knew what we were having the next day, I was able to have it ready for the slow cooker instead of looking at a frozen piece of meat in the morning and wondering what I was going to do with it.

5. By planning ahead, my husband knows what he can expect for dinner when he gets home.

He loves that! And hey, he works hard, so he deserves to know that I have a great meal waiting for him when he gets home.

6. By planning ahead, I am able to save money!!!!

Planning meals based on store sales, coupons, and stackable deals (store sales and coupons- my favorites!) will help you save. Buying this and that because I may want to use them at some point will make you grocery bill larger than necessary. However, don't be afraid to stray off of your planned list if you see a great sale on something you will use (dry goods, canned goods, etc.).

Last week, our local Sweetbay was having a going out of business sale (25% of their store brand products). I went ahead and purchased quite a few things that were not on my list, but they were all ingredients that I use in our favorite recipes or that would make delicious but quick dinners. I have already figured out that I will not have to purchase dinner items (including meat) for the next four weeks!

Planning ahead will take between 15-30 minutes of your time. But it will relieve you of stress throughout the week. You won't find yourself standing in front of your fridge, with the clock ticking away in the background, thinking, "What am I going to do for dinner tonight?"

And please remember, the number one rule of wives, mothers, teachers, and women in general... be flexible! If your husband wants to take you out to dinner one night, don't say, "Oh, I have such-and-such meal planned for tonight."

Go!

He is probably just trying to thank you for having had such great meals planned for him. If it is already cooked, just save it for the next night (I always keep one night as left over night since we always have left overs). If it isn't cooked yet, you can always move that meal to next week's schedule.

Archives | Simplicity: Step Two

The original post can be found here.

"God made man simple; man's complex problems are of his own devising." Ecclesiastes 7:30 JB

Here is a quick recap of the 5 steps from last week: 

Have a morning routine.

Do one load of laundry a day.

Load your dishwasher throughout the day, and wash the dishes at night.

Pick up as you go along.

Do a "Clean Sweep" several times a day.

Today's simplicity point is an extension of last week's points.  

Prep the night before. 

I had gone into this a bit in a post at the beginning of the school year, but here are some other ways that I have worked these into my home.

Make and pack lunches. (most of the time). By packing the non-perishables and putting the sandwich in the fridge, it is one less thing for me to do in the morning. It also gives me a chance to be creative with my husband's lunches, instead of trying to slap a lunch together when I am still groggy.

Hey, ladies, while prepping your husband's and/or your children's lunches, try sticking a little note inside. Brian has kept all of the notes I have put in his lunch box over the years, and it is a blast reading back over the notes. Doing this the night before helps me to really think about what I am writing to him without feeling rushed in the morning.

Get the coffee pot set. Cleaning it out, setting the water, and measuring out the coffee makes the morning very sweet. All I have to do is push the button as soon as I wake up.

Check the calendar to see what dinner is for the following day. Nothing is worse than having a crock pot/slow cooker meal on the schedule, waking up and having a frozen piece of meat to work with. 

Give your house a "Clean Sweep" one last time. I hate waking up and finding a cup or mug here and there. Having everything in its place the night before ensures a smooth morning. There is something to be said about not waking up to clean yesterday's mess. It also helps me sleep better knowing that I do not have anything hanging over my head.

Look over your plan for the following day. Knowing what is on your next day's agenda will help you plan accordingly for meals, dress, lunches, schedules, and diaper bags.

By prepping the night before, I have plenty of time in my morning routine to have my devotions without feeling rushed. I am able to sit and enjoy my quiet time with a cup of coffee (prepped the night before, of course) without the feeling of just doing it to cross it off of my list.

I hope you find these tips helpful for your upcoming week.

Archives | Simplicity: Step One

The original post can be found here.

"God made man simple; man's complex problems are of his own devising." Ecclesiastes 7:30 JB

I have been thinking about the idea of simplicity lately...and how I tend to over-complicate things.

So for my own peace of mind, and for the sake of the rest of my family, there are some routines (or daily habits) that we have that make life simpler around here.

Have a morning routine.

Knowing what I am doing every morning takes the guess work out of the first part of the day. Morning routine items include my devotions, putting on the coffee, getting Brian's lunch together, putting a load in the wash, changing Ian's diaper and clothes, emptying the dishwasher, waving "good-bye!" to Brian/Daddy as he sets off to work, making the beds, getting myself dressed, breakfast for the kids and me, drying my load of laundry, and school. It seems like a lot, but actually, several of these things take little to no time at all.

I only do one load of laundry a day.

It goes into the washer as part of the morning routine, and once it is dried and folded, I don't think of laundry until the next morning. Both kids put their own laundry in the hampers, so I do not have to chase down dirty clothes. Addie puts her own laundry away in her dresser drawers. I remember working on this with Addie when she was much younger, but now that she is older, the time I put in back then has payed dividends.

The dishwasher is loaded throughout the day and the dishes are washed at night.

This method has kept the sink empty throughout the day. However, this also calls for the dishwasher to be ready for dirty dishes. As I mentioned, emptying the dishwasher has become one of my morning routine items. Addie and Ian help with putting away the dishes and items that go in the lower cabinets. Addie keeps an eye on Ian and only lets him help with nonbreakable items. As she gets bigger, she will take over my part of the "putting away" and Ian will take over her current job.

We pick up as we go along.

Throughout the day, as things get pulled out for use, I have been making a conscious effort to make sure they go back as soon as we are finished using them. So many times, it is easier to say, "I'll get it later." But the rule is "if you take it out, you put it away." Even if it takes forever! It really is worth the time and effort now to teach them how to put things away the was we want them so later, we are not having to undo something that was done incorrectly.

I do a "Clean Sweep" several times a day.

Throughout the day, things are bound to get left out accidentally. We do a "Clean Sweep", which is basically beginning at one end of the house, walking through each room making sure that it looks the way it is supposed to, and moving on tho the next room. I usually time myself for 15 minutes for the whole house (because the house is already in order, this should only take 15 minutes). The kitchen is always the last room that I hit.

These steps are ways that I have been able to streamline/simplify my morning and day, and I am able to accomplish more during my afternoons.

Archives | Simplicity

This post contains affiliate links.
 
Original post found here. 
 
"God made man simple; man's complex problems are of his own devising." Ecclesiastes 7:30 JB

In 2010, the word i chose to focus on was simple or simplify. In some ways to simplify and declutter (which was my word for 2009) work hand in hand so maybe I was just building on that thought.

As I was talking to my Aunt Ruth on the phone, I had mentioned that I wanted to simplify things in my everyday life that I can sometimes make so complicated. She mentioned that she had a book at her house (Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth by Richard J. Foster) that I could read and look through that talked about simplifying.

 After reading the chapter on "The Discipline of Simplicity", I thought I would share the major points with you, look back at the posts from that year, and look at how I worked this into my own life.

So many times we think that by getting rid of things we will make our lives more simple, however, simplicity begins in the heart and is evidenced by outward actions.

Christ was not complicated at all.

He said come as you are, not come with all you have. If we come as we are, we will stand before him with nothing in our hands. So many times we carry around physical, emotional, and even spiritual baggage that weighs us down and keeps us from living a restful, stress-free life. When we realize that He is all we need to truly be satisfied, that is when we have reached what true simplicity is all about.

As part of an upcoming (review) series on this blog, I will be taking the following ten points from the chapter and delving into them in greater depth. I will also be applying these principles to my life and noting the changes that come from choosing the discipline of simplicity.

1. Buy things for their usefulness rather than their status.
2. Reject anything that is producing an addiction in you.
3. Develop a habit of giving things away.
4. Refuse to be propagandized by the custodians of modern gadgetry.
5. Learn to enjoy things without owning them. (parks, libraries, beaches)
6. Develop a deeper appreciation for the creation.
7. Look with healthy skepticism at all "buy now, pay later" schemes.
8. Obey Jesus' instructions about plain, honest speech.
9. Reject anything that breeds the oppression of others.
10. Shun anything that distracts you from seeking first the kingdom of God. 

I hope you enjoy this "look back" series as much as I look forward to the review.

Ma Ingalls: Simple Was Her Way of Life (Part One)

There was a slight mix up with Tuesday's post. Because I had begun my original draft 2 weeks ago, it posted yesterday, but you would have had to scroll down to two weeks ago to actually see it. I have since adjusted the date so if you missed it, you can check it out by going to the post right before this one.

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When I began writing this post it turned out to be a super long post. So long that I would never want to read a post that long! So I have broken up this post into two parts. Part one is today and part two will post tomorrow.

 



There is so much surrounding us that complicates our lives. Things that started as a way to connect with others become time suckers, sites that are supposed to give ideas draw us in until we are in idea overload, and we read countless stories of people who appear to be able to do so much without breaking a sweat.

Facebook is one of my favorite social media outlets. It gives  me an opportunity to keep up with my close friends, share pictures of my kids with family and friends, and stay connected with friends I made in childhood who I still feel as close to today as I did then. Yet, there can be so much unnecessary drama, which draws us in because it is curiously juicy, people whom we have known who are making life choices which sadden our hearts and cause us to be depressed, and the misled comparison game because, as was so wisely said by someone, "we are comparing our behind the scenes with someone else's highlight reels."

Pinterest is a wonderful invention, if used appropriately. It has a wealth of ideas and helps us to branch out into unfamiliar territory in order to try something new. However, it can also leave us with a feeling of inadequacy if we meander too long. Way too many picture perfect living rooms, kitchens that do not appear to actually be cooked in, and super duper organizational sites. We can feel as though we do not measure up, or we put too many project to-do on our list to get to and feel defeated because we know we will never be able to do them all.

Blogs can also be wonderful. There are so many encouraging sites that foster a love for husbands, children, and home. But there are also blogs that appear perfect. We look at the families described and wonder how we could ever compare. Or we see blogs where the author is comes across as proud of their indifference towards doing their best in their home. They have given up and flaunt it proudly.

Now please do not mistake what I am saying. Even God's Word says that we are "to provoke unto love and to good works." (Heb. 10:24) I believe that God wants us to grow in every way- spiritually, physically, mentally/intellectually, and emotionally. He doesn't want us to stay where we are. We need to find people and places that are like iron to us (Proverbs 27:17) that will help us to grow as women, wives, and mothers. I am just of the opinion that rather than growing, we allow ourselves to play the comparison game and that is where life gets complicated.

Caroline Ingalls' life was simple. She had no Facebook, Pinterest, or blogs to compare her life to. She only had her life. What she knew. And she knew she did what she did well.

Today we are going to look at only three aspects of her life that showed great simplicity- schedules, décor, and holidays- and then I will let your mind wander from there as to how you can take the principles fro Caroline's life and apply then to yours.

Simple schedules- Everyday was simple. There was a normal routine to her life. She woke up, got dressed, and proceeded to make breakfast for her family. Each day had a specific task assigned to it. Lunch (dinner)  and dinner (supper) had assigned times and life and chores fell in between. There were not constant daily appointments. She did not have to chauffeur her children to this lesson or that class. Life went along quietly. There are times when a lifestyle of routine may seem mundane, yet how simple it is. To know, for the most part, what to expect out of your day is such a simple gift.

Simple décor- In all honesty, I do not think I could ever be as simple in my decor as Caroline, yet I like the idea of not having to worry about every little detail about how many things should be grouped together, how many pillows on a couch is tasteful versus how many is comfortable, or having to dust every little knick knack in every room. Caroline's decor was limited to her China doll and the shelf Charles made for it their last Christmas in the Big Woods. Quilt's were not made to match a color scheme, they were made of leftover material and old clothing repurposed to keep the family warm during the cold winters. The kitchen table was where life happened, so besides mixing bowls, sewing baskets, or a bowl of potatoes needing to be peeled, the only other centerpiece might be wild flowers that her girls brought to her after a day of hard play. Beautifully simple.

Simple holidays- I think my favorite aspect of of Caroline's life was her celebration of Christmas. Simple. The gift exchange was a family affair. The idea of a long Christmas list was unheard of. Caroline and Charles exchanged gifts among themselves and their sibling and spouse who spent the day with them, and the girls received gifts from only their parents. The gifts they received from their parents were simple. The girls received knitted red mittens and a peppermint stick, and on this particular Christmas, Laura received a doll because she did not have one. And they loved it! There was a good deal of baked goods and a delicious meal was served, but that was it. Decorating was minimal at best and there was no such thing as the "stress of the Christmas season."

Now, if simplicity is something you are striving for, how can taking one of the aspects mentioned above and working specifically on that help make life simpler for you and your family?

Lord willing, tomorrow we will be focusing on the following topics: meals, faith, and parties.
 

Simple is good!

Simplicity | Live Life | Morning Routine

5:45 a.m.

I wake up to the alarm on my cell phone.

I don't mind waking up this early. This is the only time of the day I get to take care of Suzette- not in a selfish way, but in a way that ensures that I am ready to take care of the rest of my troop for the rest of the day.

Because of everything that was taken care of the night before during the Evening Routine, my Morning Routine has been set up for success. Which is why waking up early isn't a bother.

The Morning Routine, as explained in the book One Bite at a Time, consists of five things that fuel you the most.

My Morning Routine consists of the following:

1. Bathroom time- I've mentioned in a previous post that this and my next item are constants in my schedule. Brushing my teeth and putting in my contact lenses are very important to me. For one, I like to see. End of story. Secondly, if Addie wakes up earlier than normal and finds me mid-routine, well...... I have this things about having my teeth brushed.
2. Quiet time- Reading the Bible and having prayer time is very important to me. If I do this when the kids are awake, my time isn't focused on what God is trying to teach me, it is distracted by what Ian might be discovering or answering one of Addie super-important questions. By having my quiet time before the house stirs, I am uninterrupted and can focus on my time with the Lord.
3. Vitamins- My friend Sherri was so happy when I told her I had added this to my morning routine! She has been trying to get me to take vitamins for years! (Side note: I always take my vitamins when I am pregnant because someone else is dependant on them. But for me, I wasn't so consistent.) Now I take my vitamins and lay out Addie and Brian's vitamins too.
4. Stretch- I've been doing crunches in the morning and then stretching out my back. It feels good to start out my day doing that. Yesterday, Addie woke up early and found me in the office doing my crunches. She looked at me and said, "Mom, are you exercising? It's the middle of the night!"
5. Get dressed- because my outfit has already been picked out, I just have to lotion up, put my clothes on, do my hair and make up, and I am ready to go. Nowhere in particular, but I am presentable for my husband before he leaves for work, and my children who have to look at me all day.

Addie is also learning to have her own morning routine, which helps me have one less thing that I have to check off of my list. He routine consists of:

1. Read the Bible- We have a wonderful children's picture Bible that we have gone through together several times called the "See With Me Bible". She is able to go through an account and tell herself the story without needing any help. This is teaching her how to make putting God first a habit in her life.
2. Get dressed- She is at an age where she is able to get herself fully dressed and take care of her own pajamas.
3. Brush her teeth- We do check her teeth to make sure they have been brushed well, but this is another item she is able to check off her list.

Once my morning routine is over, I kick it into high gear and become wife and mother. A CD goes on to pump up the family for the day ahead- last week it was Steven Curtis Chapman's Declaration and this week it is Rebecca St. James' Worship God. A load of laundry goes into the wash, Brian's lunch (from the night before) goes into his lunch cooler, Ian is rescued from his crib, changed, and put into his outfit for the day.

Having an established morning routine has had quite a few benefits for our family, the most important one being a family breakfast. Because Brian is totally on board with me, he has been getting up a little earlier, too. This enables our family to sit down to breakfast together before he heads off to work. We don't have elaborate breakfasts (cereal, oatmeal, oatmeal casserole, grilled cheese, hard boiled eggs have made the "menu" for us) but we have a time together that we did not have before.

And spending more time together, for me, is the greatest benefit of establishing routines.

Simplicity | Live Life | Evening Routine

Last week, I mentioned in a post that Brian and I have begun an evening and morning routine. It is not a concept that is foreign to us, but knowing that we must stick to these items in the evening as part of "the routine" means that we cannot skip a night because we are too tired.

Brian and I have been turning off the TV a little earlier in the evening, before the "I'm too tired" bug hits. We work together as a team to get a few of our "like" items done quickly, and then move on to our other items.

Sometimes a few items are taken care of before the "evening routine" time, because that is just how it happens.

Here is my list for the Evening Routine.

1. 15 minute clutter pick up- It only takes 15 minutes (if that) because we pick up after ourselves throughout the day. The kids pick up and put away their toys before bed. Basically what we are picking up are our coffee mugs and dessert plate from "our time".
2. Make Brian's lunch- Having Brian's lunch made in the evening actually takes less time than trying to make it in the morning (go figure!). What can be put into his lunch cooler in the evening is placed there, and everything else is refrigerated until the morning. This is also the time I prep the coffee maker. 
3. Clean the kitchen- Again, this only takes a few moments because I clean the kitchen as I cook and immediately after dinner. All I am putting away are the last few dishes we used.
4. Set out my clothes for the next day- Being able to walk into my bathroom and see my outfit hanging there is another thing I don't have to bother thinking about first thing in the morning.
5. Read- I have always loved reading, so reading is kind of a treat I can enjoy for finishing up all of my other tasks. It also helps to relax me so that I can fall right to sleep.

Taking care of these things at night actually cause me to want to wake up the next morning! And when you want to wake up in the morning, it starts out as being a great day.

Simple: First Things First

Isaiah 26:3 "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee because he trusts in

Thee."

Growing up, we were taught to have our devotions every morning before we got up from bed. Our Bibles had places beside our beds that would allow this to actually happen for us. I remember going to kiss my mother in the morning and her asking, "Have you had your devotions yet?" There were times when she would send me back to my room to have my devotions before I could kiss her!

That taught me a great lesson. I needed to put my time with the Lord before everything else.... even before those I love.

I got married and continued to have my quiet time. I would wake up at 5:30 in the morning, before Brian ever budged, and I would have my devotions in the living room. Then I would take care of my home before I went to work.

Addie came along, but that didn't stop me from making time for devotions. I began having my quiet time in the middle of the night when she was still waking up for feedings. When she was no longer waking up in the middle of the night, it was still easy to put her in her bouncy chair and have my devotions. Sometimes I would read my devotions to her or I would enjoy them on my own and I was convinced in my own mind that once Ian came along things would not change.

Once I had Ian, I found myself slacking. My devotion time was not happening on a daily basis. I would have my devotions three or four times a week. I would wake up knowing that I needed to have my quiet time, but then I would let feedings, caring for my husband and children, keeping the house clean, cooking, doing laundry, and all the other stuff crowd out my quiet time. Sometimes I would stop myself right where I was and sit down to read a scripture, and sometimes I would tell myself, "After I finish such and such, I need to sit down and read." But of course, after I finished that thing, I forgot to sit down and I would move on to something else.

I found my days feeling frazzled and unsuccessful. And then it hit me one day that the reason I was feeling stressed was that I was not spending an adequate amount of time with the Lord.

I began making sure that right after Brian left in the morning that I would sit down in the office and have my devotions. I also gave Addie a little job to do to keep her and Ian occupied while I spent time with the Lord. Addie began to read the picture book story of Noah that I have to Ian while I have my quiet time. I am also teaching her that when Mommy is reading the Bible, she cannot interrupt unless she or Ian are hurt or sick (asking if she can watch a show does not warrant an interruption), and the office door is wide open so I can watch the kids playing in the living room.

My days have been going much more smoothly, I am not frantically trying to complete everything in my day, and God is speaking to me through my quiet time right where I am at in life.

For me, the first step to keeping life simple is making sure that I start my morning with the Lord.

A few weeks ago, I had my yearly exam (Okay, let's clarify. I've never actually had a yearly exam. I only go to the doctor when I am pregnant. So this was my first yearly exam.). I got up, got Brian off to work, fed Ian, got myself and the kids dressed, grabbed breakfast for Addie, dropped them off at Mom L's, and headed on to my 9:00 a.m. appointment. As I was driving, I began feeling that same frantic feeling that I hadn't felt in a while, and it dawned on me. I hadn't had my devotions (and 9:00 appointments are completely unreasonable for me right now)! I turned on the radio to our local Christian radio station, said, "Lord, forgive me for not spending time with you. Speak to me through the radio."

Then I laughed.

Seriously, Suzette?

I turned off the radio and called my friend Sherri. She is such a sweetheart. I told her, "It's going to sound like I'm rambling but this is the situation...." and I went on telling her about my morning. Then I said, "....and I know I'm feeling frazzled because I didn't have my quiet time.Would you mind reading the Bible to me while I'm driving." After we both chuckled, she read me several verses from her own devotions (I called her as she was having her quiet time) and she ended with Isaiah 26:3, "Thou will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee because he trusts in Thee."

God's Word is so true. When I let myself get so busy doing other things I feel overwhelmed and stressed. When I am in the Word, reading it daily, and really being open to what God is trying to tell me, I am at perfect peace. And what a sweet place that is to be.

How Times Have Changed

While Brian was out of town, I used some of my time in the evenings to watch some documentaries that I had heard of but never really had the time to sit down and watch. I would recommend both: Food, Inc. and Foodmatters. Highly educational and highly disturbing.

My aunt Elsa came for a visit yesterday and we spent some time discussing the things I had seen in these documentaries, especially since she and my uncle work hard to maintain their health through healthful eating and vitamins. We began talking about chicken (Food, Inc. showed some disturbing facts about chicken and how it is raised, fed, and bred to give us the amount of meat we see in the packaging).

My aunt went on to say that when she was a girl, she remembered going to the meat market with my grandmother, picking out their chicken, watching the butcher slaughter the chicken and then taking it home. She said that she didn't remember the chicken being as large as the ones on meat shelves today.

That conversation led to one we have had many times before. We began talking about that "simpler life" again. The one we both love and wish still existed. I thought about my life and how I try to keep things simple but it doesn't always seem to be as simple as I imagine it to be.

Women used to have wash/laundry day. They had ironing day. They had cleaning day. But they also spent time visiting with family and friends. They had time to be neighborly. They had time to walk to the grocery.

Then I really thought about it.

Families did not have an endless supply of clothing. They had a few outfits a piece. So while laundry had to be done by hand, it was not impossible to do it in a day because the load was not mountainous. So unlike my 5 loads a week.

Homes were so much smaller than they are now and required less furniture and held fewer knick knacks, so cleaning a home didn't take as long as it does today. So unlike my need to clean a room or two each day to get to the whole house.

As for time, we have the benefits of technology that they did not have: cell phones so no matter where we are we are always connected, computers so we can keep up with our Face book accounts, Pintrest boards, blogs, Twitter accounts, and whatever else we want to see at our finger tips. And let's not forget the television! Where would our society be without it? Hmmmmm.......

And what about the million extras that we involve ourselves and our children in which keep us so busy that even if we wanted to visit we couldn't because we never know if someone will be home or not.

It really got me thinking..... and I still am.... of what needs to change right here, in my home, in my life, in my priorities to make sure I am living not just a simpler lifestyle, but a life that relies on the Lord and focuses on my husband, children, home, and those I love. A lifestyle that reduces stress. A lifestyle that I love.

Simplicity in Decorating: Painted Ornaments

I have always seen those little wooden frames at Michael's and Joann's but I never thought about trying them for myself.  I am not a painter, and for those of you that have followed me long enough, you know that I prefer to stick with things that I know I do well. 

After Christmas last year, Faye, Addie and I went to a large craft store (don't remember which of the two metioned above it was) to check out their after Christmas clearance sales.  I found these cute little frames for ten cents, and decided that this would be the year we had some fun as a family making them (thanks for being such a good sport, my dear, and for letting me run with my ideas.)

One day during our school time, since Brian was home, I pulled out the paints and frames (and one of Daddy's t-shirts), and we all sat down at Addie's table, which I moved into the dining room.  Addie loved it!  She tends to love art, coloring, crafts, glue, and all that good stuff.  In her mind, the messier the better!

We had a great time, laughing, talking, teaching her how to rinse her brush in the cup (not that it mattered much since she blended her colors on the frame itself). 

Now granted, with the amount of time it took to prep, make sure that everything we needed was at arms reach, that no one would need anything while we were painting, and panicking that the mess would be bigger than I imagined it to be (which it wasn't) doesn't make for the simplest project ever.  However, it did make for a time of simple fun for one particular little person I know. 

It was, in the larger sense, a simple family activity that I am probably going to make sure that we do again next year.  I think it will be fun to see how Addie's art and skill changes and progresses over the years.  Will Brian and I make one next year?  Probably not.  Like I said before, painting is just not my thing.  But it was a wonderful (and cheap) activity that the three of us could share in. 

Simplicity in Decorating: A Homemade Ornament

Here is an idea of a simple ornament that you can make for yourself and your children. In this day of digital pictures, it is easy to go back several years in order to "make up" the pictures for this project. 

Get a picture of each child alone (preferably) near your tree or other Christmas traditional item in your home (for us it is the tree and snowman) where you can measure their growth.  In your picture editing program or with stickers after having them printed, add the year at the bottom of each photo (in Adobe Photoshop Elements 8, I changed the opacity to 65% to soften the look of the numbers on the photo). 

Print out 2 pictures of each child (this will give you a set of two ornaments).   Adhere a pretty Christmas patterned paper.  Use a corner rounder to soften the edges.  Make a hole and insert an eyelet.  Thread with a ribbon and hang. 

By making two ornaments you can have one for your tree and save one to give to your child when he/she grows up and moves into their own home.  What a gift for them to receive a set of homemade ornaments documenting their growth each year!

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Don't forget to come over here and leave a comment in order to be entered in the drawing for Joyce Meyer's devotional The Confident Woman.

Simplicity in Decorating

This year, I have really taken a conscious approach to keeping our decorating simple. I have done this in several ways.

• Before Christmas ever came around, I had Brian bring down everything from the attic (Thank you, Dear. I know  how heavy those boxes were.).  I then went through each box and decided what I was going to use and what was no longer needed, necessary, or wanted.  That left me with fewer boxes to go through when I started decorating.  The things I decided not to keep, I sold in a garage sale (Christmas money!).
• I spread my decorating over several days.  Let's face it, it doesn't all have to get done in one day!

• The first room I did was Addie's. Usually the main tree in the living room is done first, but this year because Addie is very much aware of lights and Christmas trees, I wanted to do something for her to get her excited.  I had a small Christmas tree that I used in my classroom for ten years.  That little tree with a few simple ornaments and one string of lights now has a new home in Addie's room and one very happy (and proud) little owner.

• The next day, I did tackle our tree.  For the last 6 years I have used the ornaments that we bought during the "after Christmas" sales the Christmas before we were married.  Last year, I saw that the tree looked rather dark (my ornaments were rustic country looking).  I decided last year that I wanted to change the scheme to red and white.  After Christmas, I picked up two boxes of red and white balls and the bow at the top.  Dad brought me the rest of the ornaments and I love my new tree!

• On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, I set up the rest of the decorations (wreaths, table decor, our kissing ball-which works quite well!).  What I did not use, I have decided to save for next year's garage sale.  

• I have also decided what I need to look for during the after Christmas sales (I never buy decorations before Christmas).  I am thinking that next year, I want to put a wreath on every door in our home.  I am also going to look for ready made bows for each wreath.  Mom was a master bow maker, and I cannot tell you how many times she tried to teach me how to make them.  I always told her, "Oh, Mom, if I need a bow I'll just have you make it for me."  Now, I'm trying to remember the steps she used to say when making a bow. 

Make your decorating a simple process for yourself so you can enjoy more of the season.  I am all done decorating (have been for almost a week now), and I am ready for a month of celebrating and making memories.