Simple Life

I really want a simple life. Things have been so crazy here lately. Layla has been sick. It started with a cold and ended up turning to an ear infection. Thankfully, we got her on some antibiotics, and she is now her happy little self. Z's back surgery is now on the 6th (instead of the 13th), so we are moving into the new place this weekend. My parents being the wonderful people they are, are coming tomorrow to help us move. Z got called in for a 24 hour shift this morning, so he will get off at 9 in the morning and then we move. (poor guy.) I'm trying my hardest to have everything packed up before I go to bed tonight. So...why am I blogging?? I'm just looking forward to Sunday when we wake up and know that everything is in one place.

Back to the subject of a simple life. I'm tired of the clutter and chaos. I recently downloaded the free ebook Organized Simplicity for my Nook and was thoroughly surprised. While, I admit, I have not read all of it, I really enjoy the points made. The first chapter is called "Stuff" and starts off with this quote: "Too many people spend money they haven't earned, to buy things they don't want, to impress people they don't like." -Will Rogers.  I love it. What do I think when I think of the word simple? I think easy. I think important. I think life. When you take out all the clutter and small things that take up space in our house, what is left? It's mostly the people, obviously. It makes room for life to happen. Forts. Hide and seek. Outdoors begin to call because the house is mostly empty. There's no television beckoning your attention. There's no computer needing your surfing. Instead, there's a basketball court waiting for you. There's a park with a swing set just begging for you to come push your child. There's a kitchen aid mixer (yeah, that awesome aqua one!) waiting for you to make some cookies to share with your neighbors. So, after you take out all of the distracting things in this life, you're left with the simple things. Kindness. Fun. Active things. Fellowship. All of those things that have been tossed aside and replaced with TVs, cell phones, computers, etc.

After we move into our new house, I will be going through all of our "stuff" and ridding ourselves of it. Is there seriously a need for 15 coffee mugs? 20 plastic travel cups? 20 non-matching towels? No, I don't think so! Plus, I guarantee that there is someone else who will use them and would be grateful for them.

I'm excited about making our life into a more simple lifestyle. I may blog about it, but I may not. I haven't decided yet. At the moment though, I have a sweet little girl who is just begging for some more snacks. Keep it simple.

The simplest things are often the truest. -Richard Bach