Seeking Simplicity: 10 Small Ways to Start Living a Simpler Life

Wow--18 months!  I cannot believe it has been 18 months since I posted here.  Life has been full and busy, but mainly I just haven't had much to say.  It has been a period of growing pains in my life for sure.

I guess I need to update the header of my blog as I am now a mom of 8!  Our eighth child, Hannah Leigh, was born 9 months ago.  She is an absolute delight and a balm to my soul.

The past year or two I have grown increasingly interested in simplicity and minimalism.  It's not an easy quest with 8 children and a large house, but I am learning that living a simple life is not just about downsizing and decluttering, but is more of a lifestyle and a state of mind.  Here are a few ways I have been seeking to live a more simple life as I go about my daily tasks as a mother at home.  I have these words posted where I can see them as a reminder to myself.

Slow Down
I am learning to take my time with each thing I do rather than feel hurried all the time.  I feel that it's better to get less done if I am doing it well and enjoying the task at hand rather than get more done and feel stressed.  I love how Ann Voskamp says, "Life is not an emergency".

Savor
I want to really taste every moment of the day and savor the time.  Whether I'm snuggling a baby, combing a little girl's hair, chatting with a teenager, washing dishes, or cleaning up the fifth spill of the day---it's all a gift I want to drink in and appreciate.

Single-task
I used to try to do a million things at once.  Or I'd start one thing and then go to another before finishing and on and on.  Now I am doing one thing at a time until it is done.  This brings such a feeling of accomplishment and peace.  I try not to worry about what I'm not doing and focus on the ONE thing that I am doing.

Silence
Recently I enforced "screen free before 3" in our home.  With the exception of using the computer for school, we have no tv's, video games, or computer games on before 3:00.  I am trying to limit it at all other times as well, but this new rule has changed our days.  I have also stopped playing music as much.  I am finding enjoyment in doing my work in silence.  I hear the children.  I hear rain or birds outside.  I hear appliances running.  It's very peaceful and calming.

Smile
Happiness is often a decision we make and sometimes the first step is simply smiling.  Smiling at my children even when I'm not smiling inside can turn a stressful situation around.   It's amazing how putting a smile on your face usually ends up leading to a smile in your heart.

Sing
How powerful it is to sing during the day, especially if it is praise to the Lord.  I especially love to sing the old hymns.  They bring so much comfort and joy to my heart.  Scripture songs like Seeds Family Worship are another great way to keep praise and truth on our lips.

Speak Less
I am not a big talker but I still find myself rattling on at my children when it is unnecessary.  Sometimes I even get sick of my own voice.  I also notice that eventually my children start to tune me out. I am trying to get into the habit of speaking less and correcting only when truly needed.  Being quiet quiets my spirit as well.

Solitude
I have a place in my home where I go several times a day.  My children know when I am there they don't try to enter.  I take a few minutes to refresh myself, to think, to reflect on my day, to think about how to make my day better, to pray, read a few verses, or even just to look at Facebook for a few minutes in peace.  A few minutes alone is usually all I need to refuel, especially when things were getting especially loud or stressful.

Self
Solitude is a major way I take care of myself so that I can take care of others, but I have recently learned there are many other things I must do.  Taking the time to plan and prepare healthy food is one way and exercise is another.  Also, just making the time to do things I enjoy, like taking a long hot bath with a book. And most of all, spending time with the Lord every day in bible reading and prayer.  I have time for what I make time for.

Sabbath
I am really starting to enjoy Sunday as a Sabbath day by truly resting.  Sometimes it doesn't feel like a rest with the hustle and bustle of Sunday mornings and getting myself and 8 children out the door in the mornings, but the washing of worship and the Word once we get there makes it all worth it.  And the rest of the day is spent resting, reading, planning, eating, hanging out with my family.  It's like a holiday we get to have every week.

Practicing these small simple habits each day has brought so much peace and purpose to my heart.  When I start to simplify my mind, heart, and atmosphere, it frees me to begin simplifying in other areas like my home, activities, and finances.  Even when I lose my way and the stress builds up and the tasks start to pile up around me, I can look at these words and turn my heart back to simplicity.

Staying connected to God through the day using perpetual calendars

I wanted to share about something I started doing a year or so ago that has really helped me. I use perpetual calendars, or "DayBrighteners" to keep me connected to God throughout the day. The prayers, bible verses, and inspirational quotes in them help keep me focused all through the day. I use ones that are inspired by books that I have loved.

Now I didn't go out and buy these all at once, so don't feel like you have to spend $100 today if you want to start this habit. I started with one and built my collection from there. I have found them on ebay, at thrift stores, on paperback swap, and ok, I splurged on a few as they came out. They are $7.99 on CBD.

In my bathroom I have the Power of a Praying Woman calendar. So it's the first thing I see in the morning. Every time I visit that bathroom I re-read it and meditate on the prayer or verse.

In my bedroom I have the Power of a Praying Wife. I read and pray about it as I'm making the bed, straightening my room, or putting away laundry each day.

In the kitchen I have Nancy Leigh DeMoss's A Heart at Rest calendar. I was dismayed to find that this is no longer available. It is my favorite. If you can find one, I highly recommend it!

On the computer desk I have the Love Dare calendar. I put it there so maybe my husband will read it too ;)

In the downstairs bathroom I have Ann Voskamp's God in the Moment daybrightener. If you read A Holy Experience or have read One Thousand Gifts, you know this is good! This is where I'm usually wiping the little ones' little bottoms, so it's good to have the perspective of God and beauty in everything while I'm in there ;)

In the children's bathroom I have the Power of a Praying Parent. While they are taking their bath at night, or as I'm brushing their teeth, I can pray for them using the prompts and scripture for each day.

Another good place to put one is in the laundry area. I don't have one there, but that is where I keep my copy of a Busy Mom's Guide to Prayer. This really helps me to pray for every area of my life as I'm folding laundry. It is a WONDERFUL book. It is spiral bound so it's easy to keep open to where you are currently.

This is just one of many ways we can stay in God's Word and prayer all throughout our busy days. Keeping little reminders up in every room I am living and working in is a good way to keep my mind focused on seeking Him first.

Titus 2 To-Do List

I have a lot to do each day, but does any of it matter at all if I haven't done my Titus 2 to-do list? I pray that I will concentrate on what really matters. Not all of it is easy, but I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength to do it. If I do, I have a feeling all that other stuff will fall into place.

Titus 2 To-Do List

1. Love God (seek Him, spend time with Him daily, focus on Him)
2. Love my husband (serve him, honor him, make time for him, cater to him)
3. Love my children (serve them, discipline them, teach them, spend time with them)
4. Be self-controlled (for me this means get up a reasonable time, don't waste time, don't yell at the children, etc.)
5. Be pure (for me this means being picky about what I put into my mind through tv, internet, music and books)
6. Be busy at home (no laziness!)
7. Be kind (to everyone....even when it's hard)
8. Be subject to my husband (probably the hardest one, but there it is in black and white)

Can I do all this every day? No. Absolutely not. Can God help me, empower me, strengthen me, give me wisdom, and enable me to do all these things? Yes, He can! God, make me a Titus 2 woman.

My Favorite Getaway

My nightly bath is something I look forward to all day long. After the house is quiet I start filling up that tub with hot water and bubbles and end my day by relaxing and energizing my spirit. This is also the time I get a chance to savor my favorite magazines in total silence. I especially look forward to this time if one of my favorite magazines is waiting for me, Eternal Encouragement.

Eternal Encouragement??? What is that? Some new gem I've discovered? Nope. Something I have long loved and treasured, but now has a new name. Eternal Encouragement is the new name for TEACH Magazine! I have loved TEACH for a long time and I never would have thought it could be improved, but WOW! It definitely went through Extreme Makeover: TEACH Edition! And the results are amazing!!

Not only has the name changed to Eternal Encouragement (with a slogan of "Inspiring Women to Become More Like Jesus Every Day"), but the format has totally changed. The magazine is smaller now (the size is perfect!) and it's in COLOR! The many articles are organized into three "Departments": "Godly Women", "Godly Homemakers", and "Godly Mothers". This season's issue was a total of 63 pages--63 pages of nothing but meat! Rich, inspiring, challenging, encouraging article after article that make my heart soar with passion for my calling in life!

What hasn't changed about the quarterly magazine is the theme for each issue. This issue's theme was "Time Flies". I cannot begin to tell you how, well, timely this was for me. Using my time wisely, not wasting it, living in the moment, treasuring TODAY. And somehow tying in with all this there are articles on child training, recipes, controlling clutter, marriage, free homeschool resources, product reviews, healthy eating, and SO much more. One of my favorite articles was "10 Ways to Make Today Your Best Day Ever" by Lorrie Flem. It's my new to-do list.

Eternal Encouragement magazine is the absolute best magazine for all aspects of our lives as wives, mothers, homemakers, homeschoolers, and most of all, women of God. It is an investment I have never regretted making. You can subscribe to it at www.eternalencouragement.com.

I already subscribe to this magazine, but I also received this product for honest review from Eternal
Encouragement Magazine as a part of The Gabby Moms blogging program. All
opinions expressed are solely my own.

Lord of all, or not at all

This is a repost from August 2006. My third baby Isaiah is now 5 and my sixth baby Tyson is now the almost-11-month old. To be honest, it was easy for me to trust God in having more babies because they are my greatest joy and delight and I long for more! Now my faith is tested in that I am having to trust Him in the opposite situation:the possibility of never having more. This is where I really have to remind myself--He is STILL Lord of all, He is STILL in control, He is STILL on the throne. I can trust Him with this just like I always have.


August 11, 2006

Today my baby Isaiah is 11 months old. I seriously can't believe how fast this year has flown. David was only 10 months old when I became pregnant with Isaiah, so now there is officially a longer break before I have my next baby. Most people would probably say, "Your next baby?! Your youngest IS still a baby--and he's your third in three years!" But you'd only say that if you didn't know me Anyone who knows me knows that my not being pregnant yet is not good news OR bad news. If I found out tomorrow that I was I would be absolutely thrilled. And even though there are days I long to be expecting another son or my first daughter, I will be just as happy if my womb remains barren for three more years. Because I trust God's perfect timing.

So although I announce my non-pregnant state thus far with a bit of relief that I'm over the hump of "too soon", what I'm truly amazed by is God's never failing presence in my life. Although I've technically been able to become pregnant for at least six months now, my womb has not been opened because it is God who opens and closes it and it is not His time.

I am so at peace with this area of my life because I've given it over to Him. After all, shouldn't we give every area of our lives over to Him? We never have to worry about "trying" or preventing--we just LIVE and love whatever God brings our way. What freedom and joy! I will never have any regrets. You will never visit a nursing home and hear old ladies say, "I wish I'd never had those last two children. They were just too much on me." No! It's unthinkable. But I'm sure you'll hear MANY ladies lament, "IF ONLY I'd had more children." But I will never have to live with those regrets. I will always know I had the perfect number of children. No more. No less.

Who knows? God may be done with my womb. Three may be it for me. But I truly hope there are many more waiting in the wings for us. I imagine myself at my 90th birthday party, surrounded by maybe a dozen children, scores of grandchildren, hundreds of great-grandchildren, and the beginnings of countless great-great-grandchildren, and looking around at what the Lord has brought forth from our union. He started with two and from that came hundreds of His children, serving Him and doing great things in the world. What a legacy!

Among Christians there seems to be two belief systems. First there are those who believe that God created the universe, set it in motion, and left it to go it's course and let nature happen. It astounds me that any follower of Jesus Christ could think such a thing. Then there are those who believe that God is involved in our lives down to the last detail, that every second is orchestrated by His Divine Hand. I am among these. I've seen Him too much in my life not to know this. He's done and worked out way too many things--from the most life-changing things to the tiniest things that seem to not even matter. Since He loves us so much and is so involved, why not give it all up to Him? Why not entrust every detail of your life to His wisdom and love? In that total surrender is true joy, peace, and freedom. You will never find that in anything else--not in yourself or a loved one, not in material things, not in the pleasures this world seeks after, and not in drowning out life with things that confuse your mind. Only in giving it all to Him.

It's all about You.

It's all about You, Jesus.
All this is for You, for Your glory and Your fame.
It's not about me, as if You should do things my way.
You alone are God and I surrender to Your ways.



This has been my sing-all-day song lately; my sing through the mess and the noise and the chaos and the exhaustion song.
It's so easy for me to give into selfishness in the midst of these long hard days when I am constantly cleaning only to have it messed up,
constantly disciplining only for the same child to commit the same offense 30 seconds later,
constantly shushing only to have the noise level rise,
constantly cooking only to have it all gobbled up with nary a thank you, mom!
Constantly going going going and giving giving giving, and never a moment for me.
It sounds like a good way to forget about "me" but I find myself crying out "Me! Me! Me!" What about me? I need a break! I need quiet! I need something for me me me! WHY do I have all these little children? WHY am I keeping them here 24/7?

But then the Lord reminds me, life is not about me. My purpose in existing is not so I can live and die and have as much fun as I can and just enjoy life while I have it. My purpose is to serve and glorify Him. It's ALL. ABOUT. HIM.

I can think of no better way for the Lord to teach us unselfishness than through motherhood. Because of motherhood, I am all but forced to die to my self daily, to take up my cross, to deny my self.
The world wants to tell me everywhere I go that I am crazy because children are burdens, I need to have an easy life, I need the money children will take, I need what my flesh wants. Can no one see how selfish they look when the glare at me, shake their heads, point their fingers, make their condescending comments? I may be just as selfish, but my heart is crying out to them, "It's not about ME!"

It's all about You, Jesus.
All this is for You, everything I do all day, I offer it up to You as a sacrifice of praise, for Your glory and Your fame.
It's not about me. No matter how many times I lose my temper, lock myself in the bathroom, or think about giving up--I know it's not about me, as if You should do things my way!
You alone are God. I'm not God. You alone are God, and I surrender to Your ways.

The Ultimate Microscope

Have you ever read something you wrote long ago and it is like someone else wrote it? I posted the following in September 2006 and I barely remember writing it but I am SO convicted by it right now:

More than anything else in this life I want to love and serve God with everything that I have and I want every single area of my life to be in the center of His Will. Have you ever put all the little details of your life under the ultimate microscope of God's Holy Word? It's easy to overlook things a lot of times. Every thought and attitude, every action and pastime, every interest, every decision, every possession, every spoken (and unspoken) word. This is what I want for my life. I want every single little thing to give glory and honor to Him and to be in line with His glorious standard. Isn't that an awesome goal to reach for? I pray that God will open my eyes to any thing in my life that is not pleasing to Him and doesn't bring Him glory. As I read His word and pray in my private times with Him, I will be asking Him to show me His ways and teach me His paths, to guide me in His truth and teach me. Reveal to me what needs to change in my life. Show me any areas of hidden sin that I may obey You; for if I love You I will obey You.

My private thoughts?
My attitudes?
My behavior toward my children?
My respect for my husband?
My TV/movie/music choices?
My family size?
My ways of spending precious time?
My sleeping habits?
My eating habits?
My conversations?
My desires?
My spending habits?
My vanity?
My self-focus?
My homekeeping?

Oh Lord, as usual, I need a lot of work. I pray You will lead and guide and help me as I seek to bring every part of my life into obedience to You.


This goes along with a song that has been MY song this week. God has really spoken to me through it. And now I come across this old old blog post. I think He's trying to tell me something :-)