Tag Archives: parenting

life uncomplicated

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I tend to overcomplicate things; life, parenting, faith. It is a reoccurring problem that I have to keep in check. Life is better simplified. Walking by faith and God’s Word alone – aka ditching many/most of those “spiritual” books out there. (Note: because something is labeled Christian does not mean it really is.) That goes for parenting books too. Not that there aren’t a few out there that might be beneficial, but when you have to sort through all the others, it isn’t usually worth it.

All this mass of ideas and theorizing often distracts from what is right in front of us. The best thing – knowing your child; knowing God through His Word. Focusing on life. Once these things are progressing, well, things start to get clearer. I don’t know about you, but I haven’t the time to sort. I need the real stuff. The stuff to live on, survive, and thrive. I don’t want to be distracted or deceived. I don’t desire to waste my time discerning someone else’s “wisdom.” Humanity’s posturing doesn’t really lure me anymore. I am learning to keep it simple so that I can have more time for what is important.

p.s. There is one author who has written on spiritual and parenting topics that I do recommend. But that is for another post.

Next week —> life after a fixer

update + sifted

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It has been a busy month: moving and unpacking, adjusting to city life for this country girl at heart, dealing with a sick toddler and baby, a little traveling, trying to find some time to grow our side income to get us to our financial goals, and just the day-to-day responsibilities and modifications at our new home.

Next week I am excited to start sharing some of the recipes I have experimented with for our family (chickpeas are on the menu again!), as well as a few ideas on what to do with an abundance of that summer harvest which may be piling up for you (for me it was plums and potatoes)! I also want to finish the Life-in-a-Fixer posts with the last photos I took before we moved and reveal the plants (and trees!) I started growing at our new home!

Today, I am leaving some links to my favorite internet discoveries since my last sifted post. I hope you enjoy!

: : This homemade deodorant recipe is amazing! It really works!

: : I found sage growing in our yard, so I will be making this as an all-purpose cleaner.

: : Since downsizing to 1,000 square feet, I have found inspiration in posts like this.  Hopefully soon we can build our own tiny home, tailored for our family (there are certain benefits to marrying an architect). Less is more!

: : Love this post about focusing on beauty even in the midst of difficulty. Holding on to those moments, especially in parenting!

Follow me on Pinterest for additional links!

sifted

sifted

I took a small break from sharing online. Sometimes I need rest from exposing my life. It is difficult to allow myself to be vulnerable in this whole blogging venture. Exposed to scrutiny and judgment, opening up my life, and my family. It is a dangerous, radical thing, especially in this season. That and we have been so busy that it becomes hard to sit down and compile my thoughts and projects coherently without consuming what little and precious time we have left.

If I don’t feel ready to speak, it is helpful to let others do it for me. Below are some of my favorite internet discoveries of the month. I plan to collect these links each month or so, and post them for whoever else may be interested.

: : The disappearance of childhood has been on my thoughts lately. I want my children to grow up slowly, enjoying a connection to nature and simpler things. Too often children skim over their best years staring at a screen or sitting and reciting things in a classroom.

: : As our family transitions to a gluten-free diet we have been loving this recipe. Great for making a large batch and eating leftovers throughout the week or freezing. If you have any favorite gluten-free recipes, let me know!

: : These 5 things are quite important, and I think I will always feel like a beginner gardener.

: : I love these thoughts on parenting and grace. I couldn’t have explained it better.