Happy Thoughts for the New Year

It's New Year's Eve.  2014 is coming to a close tonight.  This time of year always causes me to pause and reflect.  I'm not one to make grand resolutions.  I've read the statistics and most resolutions don't last beyond Valentine's day.

I refuse to be a statistic. 

Instead, I look back over last year and think of the fun times, the difficult times, the things that worked well, the things that didn't work so well.  I take note of these things and then gather up my experiences and invest them into the new year.  What have I learned that will help me achieve some new goals in the next 365 days?

New beginnings can happen at any time of the year.  Any life change is a great time to reflect and start anew.  Marriage, divorce, birth, death, sickness, graduation, mountains, valleys.  It's refreshing to give yourself permission to start over.  To clear the slate.  Put the past where it belongs and look forward to possibilities.

Here's a few events that happened to me in 2014.

• January - Studied minimalism and got rid of tons of stuff.  Went all natural with my diet.
• February - Made all our food from scratch.
• March - Celebrated weddings and babies with our friends.  Suffered large amounts of snow and cold.
• April - The flu overtook us and the first signs of spring emerged.
• May- Closed the school year. Went to family reunion. Planted a garden.
• June - Celebrated 14 yr anniversary. Entertained lots of kids. Another family reunion. My best friend moved away.
• July - Feeling very lonely.  Withdrew to only spend time with my family.  Started our 2 week vacation.
• August- Enjoyed an incredible vacation to Kentucky! Didn't want to come home.
• September - Still in a funk.  Started the school year.
• October - Threw a fancy spa party for my daughter's 10th birthday.  Met the governor of Maine.  Organized a fall party for the children at church.
• November - My sister got divorced and my brother had brain surgery.  Thanksgiving at our house.
• December - Celebrated my son's 13th birthday. Heavily involved in Christmas events at church.  Trying to remain sane.

Some good, some bad.  I eventually came out of my funk.  I'm pretty sure I've traced it to hormones in the birth control I started taking in March.  I gave it 6 months to even out and it didn't.  So I went off again.  Nice try.  My all natural diet didn't go so well either.  Too much change gave me abdominal pain for months.  My sister's divorce has been painful to watch.  I'm hoping the new year has better things for her.  My brother's surgery was a success.  The entire tumor was removed and was not cancerous.  He has a long recovery ahead.

At the beginning of this new year, I'm already focused on how it will end.  I want to remember all the good that I possibly can.  I remember major events from last year, but I know there were lots of little things that made every day special.  So, for this year I have created a Happy Thoughts jar for my family to write down little things that make us happy.

I painted some labels with several coats of chalkboard paint and let them dry.

Then placed two labels on an empty candle jar and wrote Happy Thoughts on it with chalk.

I'm excited to watch the jar fill up.  I hope I'll need to get a bigger jar.

Holiday Parties for the Introvert

Is Christmas over yet?

It seems that I have been involved in some Christmas celebration at least twice a week since the beginning of December.  Don't get me wrong.  I love Christmas.  I love spending time with my family.  I love the special music and services that celebrate Jesus' birth and all that it means for us.  I love the lights and the ornaments.  And, honestly, we don't go all out for Christmas commercialization.  We buy gifts and put up a tree but we're tempered folk.  Nothing is extravagant or flashy or overly expensive.  But the one thing that really wears on me is the expectation to be involved in every social event going on!

Since the beginning of the month we have been in two performances of a Christmas drama, participated in numerous choral and musicians practices, performed at a Christmas community night and a Christmas service, helped with a Ladies' Christmas party, gone to homes for cider and sweets, exchanged gifts in our home, traveled to exchange gifts with other family members, and after the holiday was over, attended a church Christmas party last night.

I don't know how people find so much to talk about at Christmas parties (or parties in general) but there always seems to be a continuous din of chatter. I get lost in it.  I certainly don't feel the need to add to it.  But being the only person at a social event that isn't socializing makes you stand out.  And standing out isn't what I have in mind.

I usually try to find a quiet corner (quiet being relative in this statement). And if I can find a book to go with my corner, that's more ideal.  At least then I'm engaged in an activity and wards off attempts to drag me into the cacophony.  But it's better to go prepared, so I bring my own book.

Introvert problem #1 - Finding enough room in your purse to tuck a book... 
Or two.

Bringing a book to a party causes another dilemma.  Someone might ask what I'm reading.  For someone like me, it's not a conversation I enter into lightly.  I tend to read non-fiction.  Mostly psychology, self-improvement, and finance.  So, really, unless you're willing to go into a deep theological or theoretical conversation, I'd prefer you don't ask.  I choose books with boring titles for this very reason.

I have to say that at last night's festivities, I was saved from having to retrieve my book.  In a far corner of the farthest room was a small table with a puzzle in the works.  There was enough room for 3 or 4 people to gather around.  Ahhh! My refuge!  When I took a seat, a few others gathered around.  We concentrated on finding the right match, we helped locate elusive pieces, we celebrated every success.  There was no call for small talk.  When the noise around us got louder, we huddled closer.  Others thought we all liked the same hobby, little did they know we were really just introverting.

That puzzle table was the most exciting part of the party for me.  I enjoyed every moment.  So here's a plea to all you extroverts and party-throwers.  PLEASE provide a puzzle table at all social events!  It makes it so much more comfortable for quiet people.  It attracts those who shy away from small talk.  And it's a lot less awkward than pulling a book out of my purse.

Homeschool Planning Calendar

I created this Homeschool Planning Calendar as a simple and easy way to keep track of our school days.  We are required to have 175 school days in Maine.  Since we do a lot of field trips and activities on Saturdays and Sundays, I count many of those as school days too.

All 12 months are listed on the calendar so, if you homeschool all year or just like to get a jump start on the year, you can start tracking any time you like!

This calendar is very straight forward.  Just mark the school year in the header and put a check mark or X in the days that you have school.  I also like to number the school days so I can tell how many days we have completed for the year at a glance.

Happy homeschooling!

My Least Favorite Things

Paper clutter and taxes.  My least favorite things and right now, they seem to go hand in hand.

I have a terrible aversion to paper.  I don't know why.  I don't like the amount of it that comes into the house, I can't seem to throw it all away, and I hate filing.  There, I said it.

The result is that I have small piles of paper stashed all over the house.  None of it is organized, and probably most of it is not necessary.  I causes no end of frustration because I'm constantly shifting piles from one surface to another.  I never throw away a paper that might be important but when I need to put my hands on it, I can't.

That's where taxes come in.

Preparing my taxes

I'm not against paying my taxes at all.  I do believe that I live in the best country in the world, however flawed the government may be.  I wish we were more fiscally responsible but there is still much good that comes out of our tax money.  But paying my taxes requires so much paper work!!!

So today, to kill two birds with one stone, I started sorting through all the piles of paper to locate the few things I need for my taxes.  The rest went into the trash can or (gasp!) were filed away appropriately.

Surprisingly, it only took a couple hours to sort through it all.  It's a huge load off my mind.  Now, I have to discipline myself to file papers right away instead of letting it lay around.

21 Days to Simple

It's common knowledge that forming new habits takes 21 days of repetition.  There are so many things that I wish came naturally.  Honestly, I envy some who are obsessive about cleanliness in their home.  I'm not.  But I wish I were.

Since January 6th, I have made my bed every day in hopes of starting a new habit.  A made up bed makes the bedroom feel tidy and it's very comforting to crawl into snug sheets.  It takes so little time and I immediately feel like I've accomplished something so early in the day.

Making my bed

I was not prepared for how strong this new habit would feel.  There have been a couple of occasions when I had to leave the house before my husband was out of bed.  I didn't think about making the bed when I left or even when I returned.  But when I walked into my bedroom and saw the bed, the sight of it startled me!  It looked out of the ordinary and it hurt my brain to walk by it.  I had to stop what I was doing and make the bed before I could continue with my task.  It let me know that a new habit had truly been formed.

My hope is to form some other new habits.  Like not filing papers instead of letting them stack up.  Or refraining from using the dining table as dumping grounds.  To not leave books or papers on the floor.  Maybe to bake something every day.

Pineapple cake

I have been reading my Bible everyday after I make my bed, start a load of laundry, and get my coffee.  Doing these 4 simple things every day help me to feel like I have order in my life.  And that gives me peace.

Thinking Outside the Box

I know the journey to a simpler life will be slow.  In fact, it has to be.  Part of living a simple life is to take things slower, to forego the rush of consumerism and forget about trying to "keep up with the Jones's."  To try to rush the process would be counterproductive.  It takes time to adjust to every "new" way of doing things and I have a family who are adjusting in their own time.  In order to keep the peace at home, these changes need to be as seamless as possible.

Whole wheat sourdough

The very first step I took was making my own bread.  Of the four of us in the household, 3 love homemade bread.  (My daughter will eat it for toast but still doesn't enjoy it for sandwiches.  I keep a loaf of store bought bread in the freezer so she can take out a few slices at a time when we have sandwiches.)

I started a sourdough starter and try to be diligent about caring for it.  It requires me to make bread regularly.  I have stepped away from using highly processed foods like white flour so my loaves are made from unbleached wholewheat flour.  I've made bread before and I'm getting better at it.  I'm on a quest for the perfect loaf that will satisfy everyone's preferences.

Finished loaves

I have been scouring the internet and magazines for easy and yummy recipes that will replace foods that came from a box before.  Of course, not wanting to waste food, I have been using up the boxed mixes that we have in the house.  Brownies, cakes, sweet breads, pasta and cereal...  It will all soon be replaced with real, simple ingredients.

Trying new recipes keeps me in the kitchen.  Staying in the kitchen allows me to connect with my family through time and nourishment.  The smell of fresh baked goodies makes the house feel like a home. Oh how simple changes make big differences.

Homemade Convenience

It's not always easy to make changes.  One of the things that I find myself struggling with is the loss of the convenience foods that we used to eat so readily.  Foods like microwave dinners, boxed cereal, canned biscuits, and sliced bread.

Vegetarian Chili

My goal is to keep our diet as wholesome and real as possible.  Most often that means cooking our meals from scratch and that is not always the quickest route.  So I've been hunting down some recipes that will freeze well in single or double portion sizes.  Then we can enjoy the benefits of home cooked goodness and the convenience of grab-and-go meals.

This week my husband cooked up a large pot of vegetarian chili.  We will eat a lot of it in the coming days, which will not need to be frozen, but I did put up 4 single portion bags of chili in the freezer.  These are perfect for Hub to take to work in the morning.  By lunch time, it will have thawed and can easily be poured into a bowl and warmed in a microwave.

Also this week, I have experimented with freezer biscuits.  These biscuits are rolled and cut and then frozen uncooked.  You can then take out as many as you want to go with your dinner, allow them to thaw for 30 minutes, and then baked for 8-10.  They will make a good substitute for the canned biscuits we used to eat.

Freezer Biscuits

I have tried a couple of different cereal recipes.  Cereal is a big deal in our house because both of my kids eat it almost every day.  My son, who is entering adolescence will often eat 2 bowls in one sitting.  A box of cereal averages about $4.00 each so I'd like a box to last a little longer than 3 days.  Many varieties of cereal are full of sugar, artificial colors and lots of preservatives.  And they are mostly puffed with air and not very filling.

Homemade Cheerios

So far I have made home-made Cookie Crisp and Cheerios.  Both are made with whole wheat flour, oats, and minimal sugar.  They are very filling and my son now is full after eating only a half of a bowl.  They have no preservatives so they are kept in sealed containers to maintain their freshness. I usually make a double batch so they last all week.  Then I don't have to think about making more cereal in the middle of the week.  I think I could also freeze additional batches too.  I'll have to try that.

I Want...

Since my life is taking on a new direction, I thought it prudent to figure out where it was I wanted it to take me.  The saying goes, "If you aim at nothing, you'll hit it every time!"  So my goal is to aim at something worthwhile in the hopes that some day I may achieve it or at least enjoy the journey.  These are in no particular order.  Just written down as they came to me.

I want...

• to be content with my blessings
• to make efficient use of the space I have available
• to make efficient use of my time
• to build strong relationships with my family
• to keep a home that is tidy and inviting
• to cook as much of our food from scratch as possible
• to grow a garden for fresh produce and preserving
• to make do by reusing, mending, or making what we need with what we have
• to be aware of what goes into and on our bodies
• to be an example of a blessed life without consumerism
  
• to teach other women how to be satisfied at home
• to take pride in my work and my family
• to teach my children at home throughout their high school education
• to save money by cutting costs in practical ways like stockpiling, preserving, sewing, hanging clothes to dry
• to be debt free
• to retire with plenty and not be dependent on the government
• to be a life-long learner
• to make my own cleaning products
• to treat our rented home as if it were our own
• to say "no" to stressful situations
• to enjoy simple pleasures
• to read a little every day
• to minimize whenever possible
• to keep only positive influences in my life
• to apply Biblical principles to all areas of my life including finances, marriage, children, home.
• to find a mentor
• to keep a positive attitude
• to self-reflect often and avoid blaming others
• to be open and available to God's leading even when I don't understand
• to prepare for the seasons of life
• to always be thankful
• to be diligent
• to be generous, kind, and empathetic
• to age gracefully

I Heart Home

Happy Valentine's Day!

We are in the midst of a snow storm here, which makes having a cozy, comfy home a true joy.

Hand knitted dishcloths

I began a small project a few days ago of knitting up some new dishcloths.  These homemade cloths are by far my favorite.  They last for a long time and I can make them the size and pattern that I choose.

Knitting things for the house is a labor of love.  I don't have to take the time to pick out the right color of cotton.  Nor do I have to use the down time I have in the evenings to make them.  But I feel a connection to my home by slowing down and making the effort.  And not only do I feel a sense of accomplishment when they are finished, but every time I use them when cleaning up after a home cooked meal.

Living a simple life isn't necessarily about doing things the easy way.  It's about slowing down.  Making the effort. Enjoying the process.  It's about real life and real love.

Not So Long Ago

In September of 2013, I officially closed my housekeeping business to return to homeschooling my children.  We had homeschooled for several years but for the 2012-13 school year we tried a local private school.  It solidified my love for homeschooling.

My children are 12 and 9.  I didn't think I was spending many hours away from home, but I didn't realize the effect it was having at home.  I worked hard at being the best I could be at work, so it was hard to let the biz go.  It was part of my identity.  However, I kept reminding myself that I would never regret spending the time with my children, but I might regret NOT spending the time with them.  That made the decision easier!

So began the endeavor to not only homeschool again, but to step into the role homemaker and home economist, and to ENJOY doing it!

My new uniform!

I suppose everyone looks for some purpose in their lives.  I always wanted to have a big impact on my world that stretched beyond my immediate surroundings.  So, my biggest struggle was myself.  I made the choice to be the best I could be at the work I had to do at home.  To take pride in that work like I did in my business.  To build strong relationships with the people that I love the most and set myself up to make the transition to the next phase of life as smooth as possible.

The first thing I did was clean house.  I mean, clean OUT the house!  I threw away, donated, and gifted everything that I saw as excess!  The kids got involved and went through their rooms, toys, and clothes.  I wondered some weeks if the trash pick-up workers thought we were moving out. I took my wardrobe down to only the things that I love and fit well.  I promised myself to not buy any new clothes for the year of 2014.  I kept only the dishes that we use regularly.  Extra decorations were taken down and packed away.

My house is small and I had been lamenting how cramped I felt.  But now!  It feels comfortable and manageable again.  It's becoming my favorite place!

It's amazing how cleaning out your surroundings always leads to being aware of other areas that need to be cleaned out.  I cleaned out the refrigerator and the pantry.  I realized that we eat far too many processed foods and not enough REAL food!  So part of my new journey is to not replace boxed foods with more boxed foods.  I want to learn how to make it from scratch at home.  I also want to produce as much as I can at home for my family.  That means stepping up the garden and taking it seriously instead of it being a mere pastime.

I feel like I've taken great strides already.  Mostly in my attitude.  Home is my favorite place to be with my favorite people, doing the things that I like the most.  And I always look forward to tomorrow!