My Blurb book has arrived! Talk about a wonderful way to preserve family pictures and memories in a simple and lovely fashion! If you have not heard of Blurb.com, it is worth checking out! It took time, but it was well worth it! You simply download the BookSmart program they offer and get to work in uploading and laying out your own book! Now we have the first two years of our marriage in book form and it is not going to disintegrate any time soon. All the pictures are printed on the pages.
For the previous posts in this series, visit here.
The third reason we are aiming to live a simple lifestyle is in order to maintain a hospitable home. I want our home to be a place of refuge to those whom God calls us to serve, whether it be neighbors, incorporating new families from the church or strengthening old relationships. Hospitality is a command!
After discussing that every member has a gift to contribute to the well-being of the entire body, Paul commands that we be devoted to one another, serving in the Lord, “contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality” (Rom. 12:13). And in 1 Peter 4:9, “Be hospitable to one another without complaint.”
Live simply that others might simply live. ~Elizabeth Seaton
The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak. ~Hans Hofmann
Eliminate physical clutter. More importantly, eliminate spiritual clutter. ~D.H. Mondfleur
We don’t need to increase our goods nearly as much as we need to scale down our wants. Not wanting something is as good as possessing it. ~Donald Horban
Valentine’s Day should be like any other day…but then again, it is a good reminder to get a little more creative this time around! I love expressing my appreciation to my hubby, but being that creativity is not my forte, I need help! How can we express our love in a simple, frugal and most importantly, meaningful way?
Here are a few ideas from our household…
“A wealthy plantation owner invited John Wesley to his home. The two rode their horses all day, seeing just a fraction of all the man owned. At the end of the day, the plantation owner proudly asked, ‘Well, Mr. Wesley, what do you think?’ After a moment’s silence, Wesley replied, ‘I think you’re going to have a hard time leaving all this.”
~ Retold in Randy Alcorn’s, Money, Possessions & Eternity
The question is, are we living in such a way that this world or the next is our home? Where are my attachments? Am I accumulating assets for this life or the life to come?
Do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” ~Matthew 6:19-21
My Papa has always been a very visionary man and a whole-hearted self-employed entrepreneur. He went through a few very difficult business failures before I was born and when I was young, although I was oblivious. God provided everything we needed. We ate very simply, but we did not need much to be happy…definitely not a message this world sends out, but it is true. When you have little, you are satisfied with little, if you have the love of a wonderful family around you (at least this seems to be the view from a child’s perspective).
“He who has God and everything has no more than he who has God alone.” ~ C.S. Lewis
The management of finances seems to be the biggest marital conflict and often causes great stress, worry and anxiety. Why is this? Why is there such a strong trend among wives and mothers to be so focused on frugality? I have struggled with this issue over the last few months, and I have desired to seek out the Biblical truth in these matters. In light of our family motto that I have written on the top of my blog (living simply in order to give generously), I would like to expand upon this in a short series.
For Frugal Fridays, Crystal shared her 5 ways they saved $100 dollars last year. Here is our list, posted a little while back (more specific one frugality and being good stewards). It is a good refresher to review this list, and add to it this year.
Here it is in simplified form:
1. We choose to cloth diaper and we love it too!
2. We switched to CFL bulbs.
3. I hang my laundry to dry (it is possible, even in the Pacific Northwest!).
4. Paid bills and charity gifts online.
5. Limit trips out. We limited our errands to 1-2 a week to save gas money. Having one vehicle also helps with this!
6. We eliminated paper napkins and towels (cloth napkins are so elegant!)
7. I am in process of gradually fading out all store bought cleaners and body products and making my own.
While out and about doing our errand shopping on Saturday, I stumbled across a great find at our local Dollar Tree. Of course I am in need of a new 2008 calendar for my kitchen and regular planning, and low and behold they sell calendars for $1! These were the large kitchen calendars you can hang anywhere.
Normally I have spent anywhere from $10-$15 on a decent calendar, and would have never thought to buy one there. Even the price on the back was listed as $10. Stop by your local dollar store today and save!
I have been struck recently by how easy it is to buy into the consumerist mentality that this world offers to make us happy. When I first became pregnant with my daughter, I was amazed at all the fancy gadgets that were available to satisfy every need that your child might have. Everything was so colorful, and fancy! Deluxe toys for your tiny baby…is that necessary? What is this encouraging? I thought to myself, why do we need all these fancy items for our children? Why do we feel like we have to entertain them? Do we not know that God has given them creative instincts to creative, think and develop their own entertainment without the need of computers, televisions, etc?
I have been surprised at how far I have slipped from this belief I held during my pregnancy. I bought or was given so many different little toys for my girl to play with. I thought since I was always buying the items used, we were being wise and frugal. What she really needs is relationship! She needs my love and attention. She is so happy to be doing what mommy’s doing in the ergo or just watching me from the laundry basket (thanks to Stephanie over at Keeper the Home for that idea!). The things I bought didn’t make her happy. She preferred just sitting up on her own with daddy’s water bottle, or my watch, or a little book. Wow! How eye opening!
I remember while growing up, my brothers would thrive in making up games of their own. They would build board games, etc. and be entertained for hours. They were so much fun! Building wise habits now in our entertainment decisions for my daughter will help greatly as she grows older.
My eyes have been opened to how easily these purchases have been increasing this worldly materialist idea in my head that we need an abundance of possessions in order to be happy or make our children happy. It’s a false hope! Only Christ Jesus can satisfy that deep desire for happiness. Not sucumming to this mindset also saves money and builds up the family life as we spend more time together!
Well, I am clearing things out today! That is my step for today in making my home a haven! I am returning to a simpler lifestyle!
And no, that picture does not come from my house, thank goodness!
What steps can you take to simplify your home? Here are a few ideas:
God bless!
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