Rural Simplicity

In Matthew chapter 3 Jesus has really just begun his ministry. He is on the road to being famous! He is the new "Big Thing"! (to put it in 21st century language.) Matthew 3 is the story of Jesus being baptized by John the Baptist. It is a humbling experience for John the Baptist as his big moment comes to a close and an exciting awe-filled beginning as God proclaims that he is pleased with Jesus. Wow! It must have made Jesus' human heart feel good, to be praised, to know that everyone is going to follow him and hang on his every word. But what happens in chapter 4? What happens immediately following this great moment? "Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil." Matt 4:1 Of course Jesus knew all along what would really happen to him, and how superficial his fame would be, and of course He knew that as soon as He had his "big moment" that He would be taken away to be tempted, but it doesn't mean that He was ...

Being a mom has a whole lot more to do with life than changing poopy diapers, nursing, schooling, dressing, and disciplining. It's when you change that diaper or where you nurse your baby, how you go about schooling and why and how you discipline. I've made a short 3 point list of rules every mom (or parent) should have. It's short and easy to remember so you can quickly think through the questions when parenting. Rule 1 - The Golden Rule Matthew 7:12 "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the law and prophets." Treat your children as if they are a person, a real person who understand, cares, feels, and dreams. They are not your minions, your slaves, or even yours at all for that matter. They belong to the Lord and they are yours to nurture, love, and teach. They have a soul, and feelings. When debating if you have time to change their diaper, or heat up their lunch, or grab that pair of mittens… remember they have fe...

I think we spend to much time in our lives, trying to make it better. We are trying to be "Better" people, we save to get better things, we try to be "better Christians" by doing certain things, we study hard to get better grades so we will do better in school and eventually get a better job than our neighbor. What is the point? What is our "getting better" getting us too? What are all of those "do not" sermons doing for us? Are we perfect yet? Do we feel like God yet? Is everything in our lives to the point that no one can look down on us? If we spend less time worrying about what others think, worrying about the length of our dresses and shorts, worrying about having enough money, enough clothes, enough food, enough fun, we might actually have time to get to know God. If instead of singing the right notes in church or making sure we listen to the words we sing, we should be singing to God from our heart and meaning every word of it. Instead of...

I have come to realize that organization is a hot topic on the web these days. Although I think it probably always has been and always will be. We seem to all live approximately the same life style, at least enough so, that we all need organization tips. It might have something do with our children... Playing in the dirt Getting into their diapers Playing with the toys we just picked up! Step 1. Morning My bedroom is the back of the house, so that's where I start. After I've done the necessary morning jobs like nursing the baby and getting my husband out the door I start my routine morning clean up. It only takes about 5 minutes or less. I start in my room by making the bed and picking up the clothes, then I proceed through the house one room at a time moving toward the front of the house and ending in the kitchen to make breakfast. And of course I make breakfast before completely cleaning up the kitchen, although I do usually put the dishes away first so I w...

Wow! I did it! I shot and posted 30 photos for November! I am throughly proud of myself and truly amazed at a few of the shots I got with my camera. I'm finishing off November with a glimpse into my December - Christmas Carols! I will be on the road tomorrow headed home to Missouri and ready to pull out the Christmas decor, music, and merriness!  I am thankful for Christmas carols, no other holiday has so many good songs to sing during it's peak. (No other holiday lasts so long either) I love how Christ centered they are, many of our hymns and songs can become too "problematic us" centered. Really Christmas songs should be sung all year round, they are so good! Here is my favorite Christmas carol written by Ron Hamilton…             Born to Die On the night Christ was born Just before the break of morn, As the stars in the sky were fading, O'er the place where He lay, Fell a shadow cold and gray Of a cross that would humble a King...

Marriage…I am thankful to be past the stage in life when everyone is reading articles about being single and why they are glad they are or how they wish they weren't. Marriage is a lovely thing and I'm glad to be on to this stage in my life. God has given me a wonderful husband and a beautiful daughter, I couldn't ask for anything more. (except maybe some more kids!) I am thankful for marriage and the joys it brings, I am thankful for the family God has given me! Sarah

Happy Thanksgiving to all! We had a wonderful family dinner with my husbands family today. I am thankful for the fun and fellowship we can share as a family. I am thankful for how hard all of the mothers work on Thanksgiving weekend, to make a special meal and bring their family together. No one works as hard as a mom. Enjoy your Thanksgiving by showing your gratitude to the Lord! Sarah

I've been traveling all day on the way to my in-laws for Thanksgiving, so I am just squeaking in this picture before the turn of the clock. (by central time) So I'll be quick tonight… All mom's have an appreciation for diapers, a thankfulness for the biggest helper created to man. ( or maybe I should say women ) No matter what kind you use, cloth or plastic, Huggies, Pampers, etc. I am thankful for diapers!! Amen! and Good night! Sarah

What would a girl do without her accessories!! I love them, I revel in their awesomeness! I am thankful for fun ways to dress up my outfit, cheap ways to add pizzazz. I am not a diamond and rubies kind of girl, I love the $1 jewelry store. I am thankful for the little things in life, the things that randomly make your day. I am thankful that Lord delights in making us happy, but it also reminds me to be grateful to him for those little things. Nothing in life is a coincidence, nothing is not planned by God. Sarah

I am thankful for the provision the Lord makes for my life and for my family. It doesn't always come in the form of money. I am thankful for the uplifting of friends and  sometimes even for the contentment of not having. I've seen a list for people who crave certain foods that lists what you are craving and then a corresponding list that tells you what you should eat instead. In my spiritual life I crave money or things, and want more possessions and really the corresponding lists says all I need is God! Ecc. 5:10 He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income, this also is vanity. Matt 6:24 No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You can not serve God and money. This year as Christmas shopping begins and the holidays start to go wild, I am pulling back on how much I spend and how much I think about receiving things. It's jus...

I love baking, especially during the holidays! My mom is making a sweet potato pie for the whole family in the above picture. We had a fun weekend together. I am thankful for a kitchen to gather together in to cook and bake our needs and wants. I am thankful that God allows our necessities to be fun. 4 days Until Thanksgiving! Sarah 

My little Emma turned 9 months old last Tuesday, I can't explain the love I feel for her! I am thankful for the love of my family, immediate and extended. God has given me a wonderful godly, loving family that I wouldn't trade for the world. Without love, infants die, without love adults go into depression, without love God is not God… I am thankful for love. Love is the power behind life, the thread that holds us together. Sarah

I love boots! I don't just wear them in the winter, I wear them all year round. They are good for working, playing, shopping, and well… everything! I am thankful that I have boots to keep my feet warm this winter. I am thankful that I don't have to bundle them up with holey socks and ragged shoes. I am thankful that they are cute and are more than a necessity. Sarah

I am thankful for naps. It's so nice to be able to catch a quick nap when you've overtaxed yourself and take a long nap when you are sick to help your body revamp, but it's also wonderful when your children take naps because you can accomplish so much more! Never underestimate the power of sleep or your dependency on God for that sleep. We are not all powerful - we need sleep. We must relax fully in the arms of God for at least a few hours every night or we could not go on. (the kids take naps to keep us sane!) I am thankful for the gift of sleep and the refreshment it gives to my body and soul. God is good to have given us such a thing! (it's kind of like a fix-all for me.) Sarah

It's 40 degrees and raining here in Kansas City. It's dark and a little foreboding, hardly any sign of fall is left. People have raked and bagged, mowed, and vacuumed up all of the beautiful leaves to save their lawns. (notice I haven't had a post that I'm thankful for living in the city yet.) I AM thankful for a cozy little apartment that I can decorate like home and fill with warm and inviting things. I am thankful for hot cups of apple cider on cold fall days to cheer me up and make me thankful for what I DO have. Now I just need to find a good book to go along with my cider! Sarah

Why am I thankful for a Christmas list? Because it means Christmas is getting near, It means the holidays have begun and all that holiday cheer is about to begin. Christmas lists means parties, family and friends, and baking goodies! Writing a Christmas lists means you are confident that someone loves you enough to buy you something from that list. You don't write it for no one; you write it for someone you trust in. Sarah

Today's theme is canned goods, and by canned goods I mean the real thing. Time, energy and sweat canned goods; Not sodium packed leftovers in a can.  I am thankful for a place where I can go to can. I am thankful for a mom who not only coaches me in how to do it, but helps me accomplish it as well. I am thankful for free foods, or cheap foods during fall that help our grocery budget through the winter. But most of all I am thankful for the companionship of friends and family as we cut, peel, slice and package together, making memories and having a good time while working hard. Sarah

I am thankful for journaling, writing, and dreaming.  I am not a talker, I'm a writer (hence the blog). I started with a diary when I was little and then after burning a lot of nonsense I moved up to journaling; I am on to my fourth book now. (The Growlery I, II, III, IV)  I love reading biography's of people in the past, but am disappointed because they are all about famous people. I want to know what people like me did, thought, and felt.  I don't have any aspirations of being published, but I would like my children and grand children to know what it was like when I was young. If you want to get started on your own journal you can read my post on  journaling here . I am thankful for dreams and hopes. I am thankful for pen and paper, for doodling. I am thankful for reading back and learning from myself (from what God has taught me).  What do you enjoy doing? Talking over coffee with a friend? Chatting with your spouse before bed? Journaling alone? E...

Today I have tipped over the halfway point of Novembers Thankfulness Photo! I'm really enjoying this months blog challenge and I just might end up making it a tradition.  Today's picture isn't super unique or beautiful, because I wasn't sure how to capture it. Last night my hubby and I had a game night. (we actually had a game day, we played about a dozen games in all yesterday!) In the above picture we are playing four games at once…four strategy games! Two on the boards you see and two online at yucata . 1) Oregon, 2) Kingdom of Solomon, 3) Hacienda,  and 4) Zooloretto. Now that I have sufficiently explained this crazy picture I want to say how thankful I am to have a husband who loves to play games and also likes to try crazy things…like rotating between four strategy games! I am thankful for board games that challenge my brain and get me away from the t.v. (although not the computer screen in this case). If you are wondering I won 2 games and he won 2 games. I m...

Quilts aren't special unless they have been given to you by someone special or used by someone special.  The quilt in this picture is from my husband's Grandma. She made this quilt from his Grandpa's old jeans. And of course there is obviously a special little someone who is using it!  I am thankful for blankets because I love to snuggle under them at night and pull them right up under my chin. I am thankful that I don't have to wear a parka to bed to stay warm. I am thankful for the way you can snuggle under them when reading a book to a child or by yourself. I love how the warm air gets trapped inside the blanket making you a heater and the blanket your insulation resulting in the perfect mobile home!  It's hard to think of right now because of the cold weather, but I am thankful for blankets that you can spread out across the grass or sand and have a picnic in the sun and nap out under the blue sky and white billowy clouds! The perfect day! Sometimes it...

Today's theme was supposed to be apples AND pumpkins, but I failed to buy a pumpkin this year so I only have apples.  But they are crisp delicious orchard apples! I am thankful for harvest time and the delicious produce we get to eat fresh every day. I have been canning up a storm the last several weeks, storing up cheap or free items for the winter. I love eating a fresh apple that crunches and bursts with flavor (unlike grocery apples in the middle of spring that are mushy and flavorless!)  I am thankful for pumpkins; they are one of my favorite fall decorations. The best part about decorating with a pumpkin is when Winter comes you can cook it and eat it. Below is my favorite pumpkin recipe. (you can use pumpkin and sweet potato interchangeably)                                 ********************************************* Cranberry Sweet Potato Muffin yield :1 dozen 1-1/2 c. flour ...

If there was ever one thing I missed while gone for college it was definitely Fall activities! Hayrides, bonfires, corn mazes, etc… A couple of weeks ago I got the chance to take my entire family to the corn maze, My in-laws were in town that weekend and of course all of my cousins and family that already live here came! We all had so much fun! I am thankful for ways to get outside, even on a chilly night, and enjoy the crisp clean air while enjoying time with friends and family! I am also grateful for the baby carrier pack that I have to haul Emma around in (she slept most of the time) and I'm also thankful for the extra exercise I got while hauling around a 12 pound baby! I don't know why we are all so infatuated with fall; why it's sooooo much better than the other 3 seasons of the year, but I think I'll just leave it a mystery and enjoy it's hypnosis over me! Don't be afraid to bundle up and enjoy nature! Your T.V. series can't be that important. Be...

As winter and cold nights come stealthily in I am thankful for nights at home. I love to snuggle up on the couch with Caleb's old quilt and a good book for the evening. And I always have loads of candles lit. (They are my extra source of heat!) Too often I waste my days or evenings with electronics and addicting things and forget how awesome it feels to read a book with the lights turned down low. Tonight would be a great night to read a book! Sarah

Caleb and I had a lot of fun setting up a portrait studio for this picture. we need a good bit of work on positioning especially head angle, but hey, it looks okay and it was loads of fun! I am thankful for my husband, that crazy guy I married two years minus one and half months ago. He is kind, and extremely patient, outgoing, and loves to serve others. He is also crazy, annoying, and stubborn, and that is why I love him. I am thankful for the Lord bringing him into my life and showing me that I needed to start at square one again in learning just about every Bible character trait. (Patience, love, tenderhearted, forgiving...etc.)  Oh! And I love his curly hair...that's why I really married him :)  Sarah

Today's photo was taken by my husband, Caleb. He likes to play around with my camera and is pretty stinking good at it!  I am thankful for wildlife, for animals in general, and the quiet companionship they give. God gave us so many beautiful things to look at, every animal is beautiful and different in it's own way. (except opossums...they are just plain ugly!) I am thankful for the animals we have trained and can enjoy up close and I am also thankful for the charm of the wildest of animals that we dare not approach. A still day is smothering, but an afternoon with a small breeze and birds flitting through the air, maybe your dog loping across the yard...perfection! Sarah

I am thankful for clothing, especially as the winter sneaks it's way in I am thankful for warm sweaters and jackets. I am again grateful for a bountiful supply of clothing never having less than what is needed. God has richly blessed my family with more than we need. Sarah

I am thankful for food, and the abundance that we have of it. I am grateful to be full and satisfied and never wondering where my next meal is coming from. I am also thankful for a dinner table to fill with family and friends. Eating with my family, no matter how big or small, is something I will always treasure.  Sarah

Hebrews 4:12 "For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword..." II Timothy 3:16 "All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness." I am thankful for the Word of God, and it's truth. I am thankful that it is in my language and that I am free to read it as I choose.  I am thankful that God's Word can never become outdated, that it is as good and relevant today as it was when it was written. Sarah

The Church - It's really a group of people not a building, It's the children of God, not the cement, beams, and drywall. The Church is the living, walking, breathing portrait of Christ. I am thankful for my church, for the building we have been given to meet in and for the saints that attend. I am thankful for the weekly fellowship I can be apart of and for the wonderful pastors who teach from the Word of God.  I am thankful for the godly music and for our music pastor who spends a lot of time preparing for our services. I am grateful for the teachers and nursery workers who are involved in our children's lives. I am thankful for the godly examples we have to follow.  I will be at prayer meeting tonight...I can't wait! Sarah

Today I learned that a sweet and godly family in our church just had to life flight their 5 1/2 month old baby due to heart complications. My heart is tight with pain for them and I wonder if I could endure such a task. Today, I am SO thankful for my sweet and healthy little girl and praising God that she is just that, healthy. But I also pray that I would be strong in my God if He would ever choose me for such a trial. I am thankful for the sweet little soul God has given to me to raise and train for His glory. She is a blessing and a strengthening factor in my life. I teach her basic fundamental every day tasks, She teaches me basic fundamental every day Bible truths. I am thankful for my daughter, no one can understand a mother's love until they are a mother! Hug your children today, they are a special blessing from God and a soul who needs your love and guidance.  Sarah

Day 4, and I'm still keeping up! Today I am thankful for one of the best things ever created...Books! Today I  lumped together books, learning, and wisdom because they all work together. I am thankful that I do not live in a country or an era that books are illegal, too expensive to afford or not legible to me because I don't know how to read. I am grateful for so much learning right at my fingertips, whether it be a tangible book or something electronic. Our brains were not meant to lay idle, they were meant to question, to ask, to learn, to seek out, and understand. The best book ever compiled is the Holy Bible. I am thankful for a book that never gets old, a book that I can read over and over again and always find and understand something new. A book that God wrote to me, to lead me through my life journey until I meet Him in heaven. I am so thankful for Books! Sarah

Day 3 of Thankfulness November. Today's theme is Parents. I am so thankful for my parents, they have always been there for me. They are fun, loving, faithful to God and each other, and hard working. My Dad is laid back and calm, He is wise and good at making decisions. He has helped me in learning how to think ahead and come to a reasonable conclusion before rashly moving ahead. My mom  has taught me that work can be laid aside and that people are more important than work or things. She was always willing to play with me and always got me involved in doing what she was doing, giving me a good work ethic and a love for work. My parents never claimed to know it all when raising my brother and I, but did the best they knew how and prayed for us and for wisdom a lot. Now as I raise my daughter  I find myself teaching her things that my parents taught to me. Thank you Mom and Dad! I love you both! Sarah

Day Two of the Thankfulness Photos! Today's theme is A Fall Activity and I chose a bonfire! I am thankful for Fall Activities because I love getting together with friends and family. I always leave those get-togethers refreshed and blessed. Bonfires are one of my favorite fall activities because I love to be outside and I love the mesmerizing effect of the fire; It's so calming. I am enjoying this fire tonight with my church family! Come back tomorrow to meet my parents, two of the most influential people in my life! Sarah

Welcome to Day One of my Thankfulness Photo Shoot. Today's theme is Autumn, and what a lovely theme to shoot today! I am thankful for a new season; One of joy and celebration! Autumn is my favorite season because of crisp clean air (which is so refreshing after a hot summer), a new or altered wardrobe, and mostly because of the activities we get to participate in... Bonfires, corn mazes, hayrides, drinking cider, wearing sweaters and jackets, carving pumpkins, preparing for the holidays with party's, cooking, and decorating. I AM THANKFUL FOR AUTUMN! Check back tomorrow for my Thankfulness Photo on a Fall Activity! Sarah

In just 8 short days November will be upon us. I love November and always call it the Thankfulness month due to the large celebration we have the 4th Thursday of the month...THANKSGIVING! Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday and I like to extend it by thinking of ways to show thankfulness each day of the month. This year's goal is to get a picture of thankfulness by taking a themed photo each day. Below I will list what I am doing each day, feel free to join with me or make up your own list! Happy Shooting! Sarah

My Child is "That One Kid". You know the one that makes everyone want to quit volunteering for nursery. The One that makes people cringe when I show up at church because they know she's going to scream the entire time she is in the nursery or taken away from her Mother. I get defensive, and offended when I see people treating my daughter that way...especially when I find her stuck in the corner in a playpen crying in the nursery because they didn't know what else to do. But who, when at home alone, gets annoyed and tired of carrying around a baby who doesn't want to be put down, who doesn't know how to keep herself entertained? Who wants to go and let them cry in their crib until they fall asleep. Yes that same mother. That same Mother who gets offended at church. That same mother who thinks the nursery workers should have all 6 infant/crawlers under control. I just finished reading a blog dropped to my inbox titled "Not the Perfect Day". That...

I'm on a 10 day wedding extravaganza with my 7 month old daughter and my best friend. My parents and I drove through the night and arrived at my Grandparents house early afternoon today. We are here for my cousin and best friends wedding. I am to be the matron of honor and got off of work for a whole week to help prepare for the wedding. I am back in my mother's home state of Michigan, and not just anywhere in Michigan - DA U.P. (the Upper Peninsula of Michigan) As my husband put it today on the phone..."You sound chipper" well, yes, yes I am! I am about as happy as they come. There is something about fall in MI that you just can't beat. The sand that gets everywhere in your car and suitcase that irritates me and makes me smile. So much family everywhere you turn, and such sweet and fun conversations at all times! Dear friends I haven't seen since my wedding or college days are coming and I am overwhelmed with excitement and fear that I won't get enough t...

Bible journaling is a very profitable thing to do. It really keeps your mind engaged on what you are reading and gives you something to look back at and refreshes your memory on thoughts you had on the passage for that day. I have come up with a simple way to keep track of your Bible study each day. It can be short and simple or expanded into something long and tedious, depending on your time and desire for the Word. Here is the layout... Bible Verses 1:1 "write out the verse" * question about the passage? * question about the passage? * question about the passage? * question about the passage? * question about the passage? Flesh - Something the flesh thinks about the passage Spirit - a come back about what God says about the passage Flesh  - Something the flesh thinks about the passage Spirit -  a come back about what God says about the passage Flesh  - Something the flesh thinks about the passage Spirit -  a come back about what...

I love to read novels that are rooted in history. They don't need to be perfect, just something that gives me a glimpse of the past, and what it might have been like. One of my favorite authors is Louisa May Alcott; She has a nice perspective on life. Sometimes when I come out of my reverie I think of how I could be like the character in the book. There are so many lessons to be learned by characters and their shenanigans. Delving into ones life and character can really be a bonus if you can take their good qualities and act them out into your own life. Don't think reading fiction is necessarily a waste of time. It's simply another chance to learn from someone else's mistakes. These characters are not completely fake, they came from someones imagination and are more than likely created because of something the author themselves has experienced or someone close to them has experienced. What other time could you look so closely into someones life and see their hurts a...