how to give more to my family in the garden and less from the store and even farmer's market
how to make a wood fired pizza oven and start cooking by fire more
how to congeal my thoughts into something substantial for you....
how to simplify
being happy with who I am = simplifying
staying home and making do = simplifying
not being swayed by what the world find to be valuable = simplifying
not worrying about the future = simplifying
eating out of my garden = simplifying
many people who I talk to about simplifying their lives start with something organic, like eating or supporting local farmer's markets
truthfully, the only way we, as individuals, can live simply is an individual decision.....find out what is clouding your mind....
is it from the television? the computer? the shopping at "big box" stores??
Television is a waste of time for us..........kids included
when looking out the window the other day, I noticed my oldest son walking around the grounds......alone......
not discontent or melancholy, but rather, just walking...........he is a big thinker
(I have no idea where he gets that....)
so I asked him what he'd like to do this week, now that we are done with studies......a bike ride.....camping....bowling.....
I was all ears and rather eager to grab my keys and his water bottle and take him wherever he wanted to go....
'Mama...that all sounds like fun....but I like it here.....(insert brother's name here) and I are planning on making a movie today in the woods....'
okay I thought....he'll change his mind....now that I planted this seed of inspiration and fun thoughts, he'll want me to take him later
nope
not one word
all i can think of is how to simplify
my thoughts
my life
me
xo+simple blessings,
I love the whole idea surrounding this post. I am SO much needing to move in this direction, but overwhelemed with where to start. Thank you for the thoughts to at least get me started!
ReplyDeleteMi unisco a te come followers;D
ReplyDeleteAmo vivere in campagna!!
La tua famiglia รจ bellissima!!
Baci dall'Italia
Sabry!!
Love this!! I read on resolved2worship once something like, "You don't have to entertain unspoiled children." I agree. :)
ReplyDeleteYou are a model for us all Anne Marie.
ReplyDeleteIt all begins for me with a nudge, a sense of urgency.
What a wonderful young man!
Laura
White Spray Paint
Loved today's post.
ReplyDeleteAs I prepare to celebrate my 25th high school reunion (in 1 week!), I recently reconnected with a very sweet girlfriend. We remained friends throughout college and our 20s, but somehow lost track with one another in our 30s. Motherhood?!!!
Anyway, we talked on the phone last week b/c she does not have EMAIL! Yup, she doesn't ever use a computer.
Now, I'm not advocating giving up all technology...my kiddos school requires it for certain forms of information relay...but...
she pointed out to me how crazy it sounded when I shared with her that a girlfriend, who recently delivered twins, was facebooking/blogging from her hospital bed. She asked me, "who does that?" And I thought..."a lot of us".
Chris and I have been seriously scouting out acerage. Not b/c we want to run-away and hide from it all...but b/c we just want to simplify. (Well, that and as hard as I try and make our backyard an oasis away from it all...I have 3 neighbors whose property runs across the back of our 1-acre lot...and that's a sizeable subdivision lot!
We just want to wake up to birdsong, allow our children to wander/explore our property, and be able to expand our garden...without having to get permission from the HOA! LOL
Simplifying.
Sounds like heaven to me!
The word SIMPLIFY was put in my spirit a few years ago. Little by little, I am still trying to get in that direction. I didn't have a computer till recently... Right now, I'm without a cell phone for 2 months and LOVE IT!! Technology is wonderful but has its boundries(in my opinion). I will not be pressured into all this technology....because people matter to me....their friendship, who they are, a human spirit which you cannot sense in a text. I want to get back to basics, don't care if it isn't popular. Yes, the good part of all this is meeting people you would have probably never met! Thats good technology!! Anyway, LOVED YOUR POST! From one sweetie to another....Roxie
ReplyDeleteI love the sound of the word Simplify myself.I am a farm girl & nature lover at heart and when I am surrounded by those two things I really don't need much else in my life.
ReplyDeleteI use to spend countless hours outdoors roaming and letting my heart be free and just ponder over my thoughts.
No amount of materialistic objects can fill that void in your life, when you get that out of control feeling and always whats next we should stop and just get back to nature.Let our roots get a hold of the ground and earth once again.
I believe people feel that the more they own and bigger and better will make them feel whole and successful and in reality it isn't so true.
Great Post! Thanks for sharing and enjoy just being happy~Cheers & Blessings Kim
Anne Marie,
ReplyDeleteI love stopping by your world here. It makes my heart stop and rest and reflect. YOu have opened my eyes to look deeper into my heart and allow God to work and show me that slowing down is needed and good for my very being. As I have gotten older I find that the simple joys of life like seeing a rainbow this evening bring me the greatest blessings. Thank you for blessing my heart.
Growing up and living in California, that idea is pretty foreign to most people here. I long for simplicity and have been working more towards achieving it. While my kids were growing up, I worked hard to give them a simpler life and teach them that material things were not the instant happy pill...I notice now that they are 17 and 20 that they do think differently than most kids their age and embrace simple things like gardening and cooking from scratch...for that I am happy. Baby steps for me...but by retirement, I hope we are there! Thanks for sharing, your posts are always inspiring! karen....
ReplyDeleteHello!
ReplyDeleteI think you are already leading a simple life Anne Marie!
But you are right, there's always something more then we can do. Well, this sounds funny...we have to do more to, in the end, do less (to live simpler). How funny we have become as a society! Our grandparents did live a simpler life and did not need to study books to do that! I read books that "teach" the simpler life...isn't that ridicoulous??? But, I like reading them and seeing examples of people that do that! AH AH!
Your son, you have sowed and now you're seeing the results.. I LOVE THAT!!
With love,
Fra
I forgot.... the first sentences of this post are exactly what Denny and me are thinking and speaking all of the time. We can't stand going to supermarket anymore, such a waste of time and not funny at all!
ReplyDeleteFra
sounds like he had the perfect day in mind. you have amazing children anne marie. i think they come by it so naturally. two great parents. have a wonderful day!!
ReplyDeleteThis is really a great post! How awesome it is to be able to simplify.
ReplyDelete