Rural Simplicity

Week 48 - Gather I am thankful for my church family and the blessing to worship freely every time we worship together.  Week 49 - Bokeh Christmas music and Christmas lights make for the most lovely and peaceful winter nights! Week 50 - Numbers Wrapping gifts and counting down the days! Week 51 - Winter The "look" of winter doesn't hit for a while, if ever, in West Virginia. But, the cold does and so of course do winter activities like reading and bundling up in fuzzy pajamas.  Week 52 - Hope/Peace/Joy Looking ahead to a new year and life with the hope and knowledge of God's guidance and ultimately eternal life with Christ!  Planning good habits, looking for ways to see God in everything, rearranging schedules to meet needs, and enjoying the planning process and God's gift to humans of organization and method.  What a fun project this year! I am amazed that it's over and that I completed all fifty-tw...

Week 44 - Spooky After almost finishing a full year of a photo a week, this is only my second "old" picture. This was my halloween costume from last year. We did not dress up this year, and I didn't have a chance to find a fun spooky landscape. I'm not really into spooky, so I'm afraid I didn't try very hard.  Week 45 - Motion Time is never rushed or in a hurry, And yet we go through life in a flurry, Always' saying 'I'm going to be late', As if it were your greatest fate. Time has always been and will always be, Not like your, or like me. We go on and complain, Every day is always the same, Never enough time, For my life is in the prime. There's so much to get done, And not much time for fun. Time cannot be stored. Time we can't afford. Time is time, And it won't decline, To the things ahead. Time has nothing to dread. Week 46 - Remember We remember our veterans and those who gave their yout...

I've hit upon a super fun read recently by the author Trenton Lee Stewart. They are called "The Mysterious Benedict Society" They are each about 430 some pages but quick reads due to the exciting nature of the books. There are three immediate books in the series and then a fourth that (as far as I understand, I haven't read the fourth one yet) delves into a little bit of the history of the series. It is about four brilliant and gifted children, helping an equally brilliant and gifted man overcome many puzzles and obstacles to overthrow the bad guy. I read all three books in about a week and a half, because the books just wont leave you alone. I kept dreaming about the characters and putting off chores to read the books. It's probably a good thing they are finished. (except that fourth one that's a little different.) A Few Other Reads:  Jayber Crow - Wendell Berry I almost quit this book multiple times because Jayber's lifestyle and inner thought...

Week 39 - Neighbor Country life, not many neighbors. Peace and quiet.  Week 40 - Golden I love the calming flame of fire. Candle, fall bonfire, fireplace evening fire.  Week 41 - Passion Nurturing the little people in my life is my passion. Teaching them to work with their hands. Generational teaching (this is at Grandma's house) helping them love hard work and hard people.  Week 42 - Framed Week 43 - Low Key Here are the previous weeks journals in case you want to look back. Weeks 1-5 Weeks 6-9 Weeks 10-13 Weeks 14-18 Weeks 19-22 Weeks 23-26 Weeks 27-30 Weeks 31-34  Weeks 35-38

My book list has gotten out of control again and at the worst time. I was in the middle of book mania, doing Bible study homework weekly, started a Charlotte Mason book club with weekly readings, and of course I had a small(ish) stack of books that I was in the middle of reading or about to start on my nightstand... and then pregnancy brain hit. Oh dreaded pregnancy brain - where a poor, tired mom now can't even do the simplest tasks without messing everything up.  (for those of you who keep up to date with my posts, this is the very same reason there was no post last week.) This has definitely been the worst case of it so far, and reading a book is not even on my radar right now. I'm pretty good with a few school books in the morning with my kindergartener, but by the time I have a moment to read, my brain has long ago checked out. So here is a list of books I've finally gotten around to finishing, or finished in the last few weeks or months and simply haven't ha...

Week 35 - Sunset This was a hard subject, I live down in a valley and rarely see a full sunset. At this time of year I am home putting children to bed when the sun is setting. We stayed out late after church for a special hotdog and ice-cream treat and the perfect sunset accompanied us.  Week 36 - Wisdom There is a wealth of wisdom to be gained from reading. Fiction or nonfiction, novel or biography, self-help, textbook or commentary.  Week 37 - Over the Moon We are over the moon excited about welcoming our third child into the family! Week 38 - Fall Fall equniox is a favorite around here. We love the cool weather, the end of the mosquitos, and the beginning of a new season, school, and the coming of holidays. The food is yummy, the clothes are cozy, and the hot drinks are delicious. I'll list the previous weeks in case you want to look back. Weeks 1-5 Weeks 6-9 Weeks 10-13 Weeks 14-18 Weeks 19-22 Weeks 23-26 Week...

Life isn't a doorway to success, it is a journey through ups and downs. But that is about all we look for - doorways on the up and up. Final pieces of perfection to "make us happy". As if walking through a doorway could ever make someone happy for ever and ever. Does walking through the doorway of university make life good, does walking out through the carved oak doors of the church after saying 'I do' make you feel complete? Will stepping across your first homes doorstep make you a better person, or stepping out of those sliding glass doors from the hospital with your first child bring perfection? "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." ~ Winston Churchill  You might have a history, or you might be alone in the world. You might have big dreams, or not so fancy desires, but no rounding out and fulfilling of a soul will ever happen with ones sights set on one pivot point. You will find that tha...

I talk about books A LOT!  So, I figured it was about time to make my very own book list of favorites. This will be a work in progress as I am always finding new and beautiful pieces. (I added three books to this list just since starting it.) These are my favorite books, but if you need more ideas of what to read check out my post on "How to Find Good Books." Young Children (and up) What Do People Do All Day? - Richard Scarry Miss Rumphius - Barbara Cooney  The Relatives Came - Cynthia Rylant Make Way for Ducklings - Robert McCloskey The Little House - Virginia Lee Burton Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel - Virgnia Lee Burton One Morning in Maine - Robert McCloskey The Tales of Winnie the Pooh - A. A. Milne James Herriot's Treasury for Children - James Herriot Blueberries for Sal - Robert McCloskey Owl Moon - Jane Yolen Beatrix Potter series - Beatrix Potter Flossie and the Fox - Rachel Isadora Dandelion - D on Freeman Andre...

Let's talk about hormones today. I have been on a wild hormone journey for many years now, and have just recently found a way to cope with them in a way that I feel comfortable with. I am not a doctor and am in no way prescribing anything for you. I will be sharing my experience, and sharing links to websites that have helped me a great deal. My Story 7 years ago I started taking birth control pills. I was 22, and in good health - until I started the pill that is. After several months of taking them I quit because they were making me depressed, and very disagreeable to live with. (for myself and others) Two pregnancies and six years later, I was still struggling with hormone imbalance from the pills and life in general. Mood swings, extreme tiredness (I could sleep for 10+ hours every night and take naps), brain fog, depression, and weight gain. I felt awful, and it was increasingly harder to run my house and manage my children feeling this way.  Wellness Mama If you...

Week 31 - Excitement  I can ask for any emotion and get it in a moment's notice from this girl. Week 32 - Musical  My oldest is excited to start piano lessons this fall. My youngest is excited about his big sister! Week 33 - Animal  This is one of many pictures I took back in 2015 when we were looking at the property we were going to buy. It had been unkept for 10+ years and the wildlife was and still is so fun to watch! Week 34 - Senses  Kneading bread with Mommy. I'll list the previous weeks in case you want to look back. Weeks 1-5 Weeks 6-9 Weeks 10-13 Weeks 14-18 Weeks 19-22 Weeks 23-26 Weeks 27-30 Sarah 

Consistency. Here is the hardest part of the whole plan. Once you have worked for hours upon hours creating the welcoming space you desire, the last thing you want to see is for it to all fall apart. This is the sixth and final post in our Organizing series. You can find the first five posts here. 1) Habit and Routine -  Read it here . 2) Finding Your Personal Space -  Read it here . 3) Taking Inventory  -  Read it here. 4) Questions to Ask When Purging -  Read it here. 5) It's Time to Organize - Read it here. Here are few keys to keeping a clean space - clean. Decide That You Will Keep it Clean. Sometimes you do all the work, but never mentally come to the decision to not let yourself do it again. Be severe with yourself, even if you are exhausted from doing all of the cleaning, make yourself decide to keep it clean.  2 Minute Rule If something takes 2 minutes or less do it right now. This rule alone will evaporate clutter. It takes l...

I'm three books away from reading 50 books this year, which is wonderful and a bit dissappointing because my goal was 100 before the end of the year. I've read a ton of JV books since last posting about books and here are the good ones (Because some of the ones I read aren't worth mentioning.) Poppy - AVI Good book for adults or children. Illustrated by the same man who wrote and illustrated "Locomotive" This is a story about bravery and extreme odds. The books falls under the secular realm, and has boyfriend/girlfriend and opposition to parents. The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle - AVI Written by the same author as "Poppy" This book will keep you on your toes, wondering who did what and why. The Trumpet of the Swan - E.B. White I don't like this book as well as "Charlotte's Web" but it's still a great book. I love the many details of natural history that this book explains. Homer Price - Robert McCloskey Robe...