Simplify all things

I sometimes get so caught up in my internal life that I forget to take a moment to just focus on the external and what it says about the internal...Maybe that's why I struggle with keeping the sink clean and the oil changed in the car.

Sometimes you have to give your attention to the ordinary things. . . like how you your possessions need to be trimmed down to make living in a small space manageable.  Since moving to a single wide (sounds so much better than a "trailer" doesn't it?) last February we have been feeling the cramp.

Several car/truck loads have made their way to the Salvation Army or the Goodwill store in town.  My sweet Yankee prefers Salvation Army which is about an hour  drive on the interstate or a good thirty minutes on twisty-turvy appalachian two lanes.  Since he often goes to work via the interstate we usually opt for the hour drive.

There are many other ways my life begs to be simplified and I am excited about the journey ahead and where it might lead our family as a whole.  Here are a few helps I am discovering along the way.  I cannot say that I have completely tried and tested all of these but I thought I might share them because some of you might benefit and I believe that the people behind these resources are passionate about helping others and inspirational.  They have already helped shape my thinking in new directions.

In the Kitchen

I recently (in the past year) found a blog that I love. . .I mean I actually read it on a regular basis- at least once every two weeks.  It is the stonesoup.com/blog.  What I love about it is the idea of simplifying your time in the kitchen as well.  Jules Clancy boils most of her recipes down to 5 ingredients.  She also has an virtual cooking school that is currently offering a brief course for free.  You can download free e-books and also hear her lovely Australian accent on You Tube tutorials.  I am so excited that simplifying is going to finally extend to my kitchen as well.

Homeschooling

A great resource. . . Titus2.com.  Steve and Teri Maxwell have eight children.  That I cannot imagine for myself. I think it is great, I just do not think I could do it. But I can understand Teri's honesty about her struggles as a mother.  Her striving to be a meek and quiet spirit and manage her home and school well.

 I purchased four of her books: 1."Managers of their Homes", 2. "Managers of their Chores", 3.  Managers of their Schools".  I must admit that I have not applied all of the suggestions she has made. I do not agree with some of their convictions. But I think there is a lot in the Managers of their chores/homes especially that has and will continue to change my life as I apply it and mold it to fit my family.

She certainly has changed my mind about what it means to live with a schedule!  I am still working on applying some of her ideas and it has been close to a year 1/2 since my purchases.  The fourth book I purchased was "Homeschooling with a Meek and Quiet Spirit" which has nothing to do with simplifying your life but more to do with surrendering your life:)

I cannot fail to mention www.Triviummastery.com with Diane Lockman.  I ordered her book on classical education and it has truly simplified the idea of classical education for homeschooling.  If you order her book you also have a lifetime free access to an online homeschool planner course which I am currently in the process of completing.  I may be wrong about this being an unlimited offer for people who purchase the book so don't take my word for it.  Check it our for yourself.  At any rate I believe that it is worth the cost if you plan to pursue a classical education.  It cuts out a lot of confusion but it is time consuming to work through the homeschool planner.  Go at your own pace if you choose to use the online homeschool planner.  Diane is very gracious and available for any questions you might have and there is also a Facebook forum.


Technology/Media/Resources/Information. . . .
As I share these sources of information I realize that our society's obsession with more information and more resources and more technology often leads to the very de-simplification that I am trying to avoid.  So for me, I aspire to limit my computer time to 1/2 hr each morning and 1 hour blogging on the weekend.  I also see the need to discipline myself to only watch one major TV show or movie per week.  With school and home I have plenty to do without much more TV time.

 I think that reverting back to things I enjoyed as a child help simplify my life in a way that nothing else can.

Here's a little list of things I did as a child that help me simplify and hit the reset.  Make your own if you want and post it over your sink or put it on your blog.

• sit on the porch and watch the sun rise before starting breakfast
• talk to God whenever I feel that I need to rush around like a mad woman
• lay on my back in the grass and inhale the air and feel the sun
• climb a tree
• collect rocks
• read a book
• draw anything you love- nature, your kids, your husband, anything beautiful
• play cars with your not so big boy
• wrestle with the kids
• snuggle with kids and hubby
• make food, people and fun the priority, not performance and competition and tasks
• laugh loudly and do not worry if people think you are silly
• play ball
• pick apples, pears, walnuts or anything that grows that you have access to.  Peel, crack it, open it with other people you love and then when it is ready enjoy it with people you love
• ignore the phone during dinner and during family time
• turn the lights out and opt for candles
• star gaze
• catch bugs, frogs and lizards
• see how many sounds you can count outside
• write
• play pranks on those you love 
• if it will not matter tomorrow then it doesn't matter today. . . remember
• ride a horse or just brush it- very therapeutic 
• clean the barn
• dig in the dirt for potatoes
• pull weeds
• plant things
• don't watch TV hardly ever
• sing songs about God and to him
• play an instrument just to relax and create
• work as a family doing something that makes you sweat
• eat dinner together
• smile

Some of these I didn't do as a child, but most I did.  Time to disconnect from the screen and spend some time practicing what I preach!