Simplicity...

Ive always been a big journal girl. I have multiple going at one time usually; on my computer, a couple of notebooks, and I typical make notes in whatever I'm reading, too.  Recently I've started one of just thoughts. Whenever there is something that overcomes me with emotion Ill jot it down. So far, its filled with some goals, some dreams, sorts of a bucket list if you will, things that have angered me, as well as quotes and verses that have brought emotion or hit a cord. 

As some of you know we are trying to sell our home. To be honest its taking a lot longer than we thought it would.  However, recently a lot of my devotionals and prayers have been about patience and not really as far as the house but it has taught me that I need to be patient and wait on the Lord.  He is preparing us for the next phase in our faith and his plan for us, isn't that awesome?  Now, I know there is a difference between lazy and being patient and sometimes I can blur those lines, but I'm working on it. ;)

A pretentious, showy life is an empty life; a plain and simple life is a full life.

                                                               (Proverbs 13:7)

While trying to be patient Ive learned a lot and I believe a lot of it is how God wants us to start living. Ive prayed on how we can simply and live more like Jesus and to start I think he wanted us to simply our surrounding.  Yes, it needed to be done when we listed our house, but never in a million years did I think I was going to learn anything from it. 

But here we have it;

- How nice it is to live simply.  If I was working in an office I think it would be a little different but for me this is how it is.  When we decluttered the house I literally emptied my closet to just a handful of items.  A few nice shirts and pants, and a few yoga pants, a pair of jeans, and a couple sweatshirts.  Anything that could fit in my dresser stayed.  I have to say, doing laundry in no longer so daunting. It's actually nice that I can do a few loads a week and there is no giant pile (in anyones room for that matter.)

-Making the beds in the morning makes the house feel so much put together even if the living room and kitchen are covered in toys. I have been making the beds in the morning as part of my routine, not because we might have someone come look at the house, but because as much as I hate to say it my parents were right.  It just feels better even if you are just going to mess it up when you go to bed that night.  Or in my case the kids like to lay in the bed, Kypton takes his nap in our room so I typically have to make it 2 to three times, but its been worth it.

-Toys on toys--no more.  We severely limited the toys.  We have three baskets that they can play out of and thats it.  Now I miss having more options only because I get sick of playing cars and building things, however, the kids have GREAT imaginations and can usually keep them selves pretty busy. 

-MORE TIME!! When the house is picked up, the dishes are done, the laundry is done, the kids are napping....guess what?  I HAVE MORE TIME FOR ME!! That's right..call it selfish, whatever, I have time...look, I'm blogging and its not 11PM! I got in a shower and Im ready for the day, I got to ENJOY my devotionals without worrying if one of the kids was going to need me to do something, I got to think and actually hear myself, and I got to work WITH instead of talk at a stranger on her health goals. 

I'm telling you the thought of living simply is a bit intimidating.  I never thought decluttering would be this nice.  I never thought my kids could go without so few toys or me without so few clothing options.  It has been a blessing in disguise, really.  Consumerism is out of hand and I no longer want to be a part of the problem. Trust me I have a list of things that are waiting to be sold.  As soon as we know our next step, things will be rolling out!