Simple Living: It's Just Easier to be Truthful and Transparent

A few weeks ago, I introduced a new series on Living Simple. Last week, I wrote about how my ideal simple life would look.  This week I was going to talk about what the dictionary says "simple" means and the negative connotation that some put with the word.

However, I have promised this blog to be full of transparency and real life.

If you have not noticed, I will make you aware of the fact that I promised to begin a writing schedule and would do my best to follow through with it unless real life happened and yet I have NOT been on here the past two days.

Well my friends... Real life happened and real life is kicking my tail end.

Today I want to write about how having an open, honest and transparent attitude and life can make things a little more simple. There is NO pretending, no comparing and usually no hurt feelings.

I can tell you honestly that this is one of the situations going on in my life. I was the one that was left out with hurt feelings, an aching heart and feeling left out and unwanted. I wish I can describe that heart felt pain I have in areas that I never knew could hurt but it is slow in healing.

I wish friends I could  assure you that this is all of what is going on, the worst, the extent, but dear friends, it's only the beginning...

We have been thrust into a life that can only be described as an HBO movie. There has been drugs, violence, sex and pain (not on our end). We have tried and tried to get those the Lord has brought to us out of it and it has caused hurt and pain. We are still searching for God's calling and direction but we are terribly confused.

Think that is a lot (maybe not by some of your standards but we live a relatively quiet life)? Well guess what!! The best is yet to come...

A few weeks ago, Dylan was complaining that his finger was really "squallen" (swollen). With all the rough-housing and craziness that goes along with a house full of boys, I thought nothing of it. After a couple of weeks, I had decided to call the Dr. but had never gotten around to it.

Tuesday morning, he came down and was complaining that it felt funny. We didn't have anything to do that day so I thought I'd run up the street to the pediatrician and have the splinter lanced and then he'd have the afternoon to re coop.

Getting to the Dr., it was quickly announced that it wasn't just a splinter that had gotten infected but that we needed to head to Children's Hospital for an x-ray and ultrasound. I was in disbelief. IT WAS JUST A SPLINTER!

After a long day of problems, testing and worried anticipation... The diagnosis was a desmoid tumor. A rare, rare, rare, rare (like 9 out of a million) tumor. It is still hard to read, to type, to believe.

 Do I believe and even KNOW that God is going to deliver us? ABSO-STINKIN-LUTELY! But as a mother that cries when her babies have runny noses (and who is 25 weeks pregnant! Hormones make you so irrational sometimes!), this is almost too much to bear...

The surgeon called this morning and we are going in for a consult in a couple of weeks. It is looking like surgery is the going to be the course of action.

On behalf of our family, Andy and I truly covet and beg of your prayers!

And for the love of a simple of life, be honest and open about what's going on in your lives! :)

What is Simple? What is Living a Simple Life?

Simple living... What is simple living?

I believe that simple living is an individual thing. For one person, simple living is not wearing make-up and to another it is wearing make-up. It's all individual...

One thing I know for sure though is that we are grasping for simple and simple life. We are exhausted with the fast pace, always cluttered, always running and never having any time for ourselves kind of life. We are tired, over worked, and under paid. We are at our wits end!

Well I can say that is true for my husband and I. We are tired. We are worn down. We are ready for change.

Next week I am going to get more in depth on what the definition of simple is and how it relates or does not relate to our life. This week, though, I want us to spend some time doing an inventory and trying to find what simple living means for us and our lives and families.

I would love it if you would share simplicity of your life in your view. I will begin...

When I think of a simple life for my family and me, it:

• has a simple and committed faith and relationship with the Lord.
• has a close knit family that loves to do "simple" things in life such as playing a game.
• isn't so hard to submit to my husband and we spend time doing things together such as planting a garden or taking a walk down a country road.
• has NO debt.
• involves us gardening and being self-sustaining.
• involves us spending more time together and less money.
• involves us doing less silly things and spending time doing more important.

I am sure there are many more but those are ones that stand out to me right this very second. How about you? What do you see as simple in your future or even the way you are migrating now?

A Simple Life

I hear many, many moms asking how they can achieve a more simple life. Less stress, less mess and a little more simplicity...

Do you believe a more simple life is achievable? Or do you believe that the fast pace of this world is just inevitable?

For the past few weeks and looking forward to a season of more babies in our home, my husband and I have been searching and even yearning for a slower paced, more simple life...

Over the next few weeks, I want to take a look at how we can simplify our lives as women, mothers, wives and most of all, servants of an awesome amazing Lord.

So, therefore... Drum roll please..... I would like to announce my official jump back into my little corner of the web universe with a new series -

This series will discuss many areas in our lives as women and mothers. I will discuss how my family and I have simplified these areas and how we can do better.

Some future topics include:
* What is simple? What is a simple life?
* Why is Webster so mean? Simple vs. Plain
* Is it a ridiculous notion that we can get back to the basics?
* A simple faith - Searching for and Serving God with a child- like faith
* A simple wife - Is simply submitting to our husbands unheard of?
* A simple mother - What is REALLY important to plant in those little minds?
* A simple home - What NO TV?!
* Simply Clean - I need to smell the bleach and the White Glove test!
* Simply Cook - But I ordered a five course meal!
* A Simple Diet - Bring on the McHeartAttack!

I hope that you will join my each Thursday for a look at the Simple Life! Now y'all just simply must come back! :)
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I feel so blessed to be starting this series and for the Lord opening my heart and my eyes to this series. I hope you enjoy it. For more blessings and thanksgiving - Heavenly Homemakers is the place to look!