The Simple Life...

The simple life... My thoughts drift toward Mayberry, or Walton's Mountain(I'm part of the TV generation). What do these shows really bring to mind? Family, church, home, hard work, fresh baked bread, and a sense of community. Lately, I have been wanting a simpler life. My plans were a place in the country, room for lots of kids to run and play, a huge garden and some chickens. Sounds a little like the Waltons, I know. God has other plans for our family right now, but I still feel he is calling me into a simpler life. I read in a blog somewhere(I have no idea where, if I find it again I will give credit where it's due) spend the limited time we have each day being productive or fruitful. This has really changed the way I evaluate the things I choose to spend my time on. It isn't about keeping myself busy, but almost the opposite. I want to be deliberate in the way I run my home, raise my kids, serve the Lord. I want to be fruitful and productive, which means I need to really be focused on the things I am doing. I cannot focus well when I am running crazily from one thing to the next and my home is not in order. So, as a new school year starts I am limiting my involvements outside my home. I will not be the Stay-at Home Mom Who is Never Home!!! My husband and I took out our grass in the backyard and replaced it with raised beds for gardening. I am not re-enrolling in MOPS, even though it is good, it isn't best for our family right now. I want more time to be at home with the little ones; they need a simpler life also. And yes, I've been working on my bread baking skills(this is really an art!) and we are thinking of building a brick oven in the backyard. I still plan on attending a women's Bible study, and serving at AWANA because these are productive, fruitful times for myself and the kids(and we LOVE them!!). The simple life, for me, is to love my husband, spend time with my family, do the hard work of running a home, serve the Lord at church, and do it all with a glad heart and in His name.