Finally.....working on simplifying...

When did life get so complicated???  Really??? 

So, I was in Target the Thursday before Easter Sunday with Lily and she and I were going to get some Easter  basket "stuff".  Now, I've never really been that into big huge Easter baskets.  I'll get the kids stuff and hide them and such, but I never put a whole lot into it.  And the good Lord KNOWS this momma doesn't need all that candy around!  But, anyway, we were approaching the Easter section of Target and I stopped and just watched at the mayhem and people cramming through the aisles, loading their carts up like it was Christmas.  Really?  I tried to make my way through just to get a bag of M&M's and I looked at Lily and said "we're out of here!" 

Since when did Easter become Christmas?  It's also sad that Walmart had Cadbury creme eggs (my fave as a kid) out right after Christmas.  As Lily and I turned around from the madness it's when I rememberd simplifcation. I washed my hands of all the hullabaloo that surrounds each holiday; it's pathetic how stores and merchants capitalize on these holidays.  Sure, it's great for the economy; but is it great for our hearts?

Grandma Mavis was always so simple when it came to Easter.  She made a fantastic meal with homeade rolls (I can still taste them), she'd make a bunny cake just because and she gave us kites and candy but we all had to share the candy.  She'd put it in a big ole basket in the living room for everyone to take a handful and then we'd go out into the field and fly our kites.  Our kites sailing in the wind on a beautiful, sunny, Easter day was yet another symbol of renewal and rebirth. Flying free.  Of course, as a kid, I didn't realize that then, but as an adult, I see the correlation.  That was Grandma and Grandpa's way of simplifying Easter and all that it means.  I want that for my kids.  Although, in Arizona, you don't quite get as much wind to fly kites.  LOL 

But, that doesn't mean I can't do the same type of thing for my kids.  My job as a momma is to help mold my kids into godly little human beings full of compassion, grace, faith, love, and all that goes with those traits.  For a momma in a big city trying to go against the grain of society, that can be a huge challenge.  It's one that I'm willing to take on, though.  It's something that has been tugging at my heart for a long time.  I had such a simple life growing up.  It doesn't mean my childhood was perfect; it was far from it and it's a story for another day.  However, the simple country life that I had and everything that I didn't has me longing to show my kids what that is like.  It was awesome and if I could, I'd take them to the country in a heartbeat.  But, I can't.  So, God has challenged me to live that same simple life in this crazy world.  I'm ready. 

Blessings,
Tanya

Introduction of sorts

I am a stay at home mom of three beautiful, amazing children ages 7, 5 and 1.  I always knew when I was young that I was going to go some place warm; you know, dreaming as a kid of the beaches of Florida or California???  I knew I'd get out of small town Minnesota - little did I know that God would lead me to Arizona; TWICE??!! At the same time, that simple life still calls me, beckons me and is in me.  You'll never be able to take the small town out of me.  The question is, how can I merge the two and continue to be where I am and provide the kind of life I have always desired for me and my family: God centered, family oriented, grateful, gracious, compassionate, giving, joyful hearts, forgiving, servant hearted, humble, patient and faithful? 

My desire to live simple life and enjoy the fruits of my labor is overwhelmingly apparent.  How can one do so in the midst of a world full of modern conveniences at his or her fingertips - LITERALLY!  :P

As I sit down and reflect on my past dumb dumb (reminds me of Night at the Museum: dum dum tree, LOL) mistakes, I realize that they weren't so much mistakes as opportunities to be enriched.  Based on my past and what I have learned after years of study and getting better and better at my job as a stay at home mom, always seeking out new ways of doing things and re-doing things, I needed to figure out what I wanted (and more so what God wanted) for me, my husband and our three kids and any future children we may have or adopt. 

How do I wish to achieve the simple life I desire?  I need to break down all the areas of my life; and there are many, ways and areas we need to address, grow in and simplify down to find that healthy balance.  :) 

Growth:  in my prayer life and in relationships:  With god, myself, my husband, each child individually and friends and any community or church involvement. 

Simplicity (so I can focus on my growth):  household simplifying, frugal living (being good stewards of the money that God loans us), baking from scratch (need to take care of the bodies God has given us and use what nature supplies us), budgeting (goes along with frugal living: being good stewards of "our" money), decorating on a dime, holidays, volunteering and giving back, home remedies, simple foods and recipes, simple exercises, education ,parenting, preparing our kids with simplicity, grocery shopping, repurposing, meal times, time management, housework, etc....

I think God has given me the opportunity to stay at home and I need to run with it.  I still desire to help out financially, but I am doing that in some ways with my transcription and in some ways by being frugal and finding the simpler way of doing things to stretch that dollar.  I will be honest in saying that the past 8 years have been a roller coaster of ups and downs, but I think we have a handle on things now.  The 30's are the new 20's, right??? ? LOL  It has been a struggle, but I think it is all in how you look at it, what you've learned from it and what you can pass on to others!  That's the gift!!!  Financially things were tough, but I was there for my family in a way that I never had growing up.  I think God has allowed me to be a MOM; the mom I always wanted and needed growing up.  This is my chance to get it right.  :)  I love my mother...she is a wonderful lady a very SIMPLE lady (apple doesn't fall far from the tree' eh?); but, growing up she was not emotionally available when I needed it the most.  There was not a whole lot of love and affection in my parents house; neither between my parents, nor with me and my siblings. As for me and MY HOUSE, there is and we will serve the Lord! 

Whether you are a WAHM, WOHM OR SAHM (or dad!!!), we are all PARENTS trying to do what we feel is best for our family in this particular season of life.  Isn't that enough and the truth?  No need for competition. :)  Whether you home school, private school or public school; whether you are crunchy, whether you attachment parent, whether you WHATEVER.....we are all in the same boat and the simple life can be achieved so we can focus on what really matters. 

So sit back, enjoy your cup o'joe (or your beverage of choice) and let us dig into the simple life!  :D