Finding my way

I feel like I've been on somewhat of a journey over the last few months....a lot has happened to us and changed in such a short time. Nothing life shattering, I suppose, but I realized, I'm no longer the person I was this time last year...

When I think about how much precious time I wasted on what was unnecessary...how much more time I would have had to take in all the amazing riches that is my family....it makes me cringe. 

Simplicity is a process, and not something that one just suddenly arrives at. It must be continuously worked towards. Stuff creeps in...physical clutter, but mental clutter too. We let that busy bee mentality seep back in. And we have to force ourselves to just stop, take a deep breath....and let it all go. To turn back to what we've seen is truly important. God, our families, a personal relationship with life....not just through the looking glass...but a real one on one with life. 

Over the past few months, we've let go of more than half of our belongings. HALF. It was scary. As we began to filter through our home...letting go of what we deemed no longer worthwhile or really meaningful, something happened. The void where the stuff we thought was so special once lived, began to be filled. With laughter, with love, with beauty......with life. I no longer had to spend my time managing our stuff. I had time, guilt free time, to do what I pleased. The chores that I thought were neverending...came to an end....at least for a while. The piles of laundry that once littered our home, are now gone. 

I am able to have my cake and eat it too....a clean home, and no guilt for not spending extra time with my children. We read, we color, we play. That's not to say that my life is trouble free. Who's is? The last few days, trouble has come in the form of a fussy, teething baby, who alternately has a knack for climbing....A 5 year old testing his limits....and teens and pre-teens with biting tongues towards one another. But as I sit here, another day in the books, I think back to where I was this time last year. I felt like I was drowning, with not enough time to do all that I felt was necessary, and what I knew was important. I'm so grateful for where God has brought my family. 

This journey is certainly not over. Really, it has only began. We're still finding things to continually whittle away at to bring the calm and the joy...the simplicity. Facebook was recently one of those things removed. It was such an odd feeling to have something so superficial leave such a strong feeling of loss when I finally decided I was done with it. It had become an idol in my life. I've seen more quality of life in the last week than I have in years. I had no idea how much it had taken over my life...my thoughts.....my priorities. 

I'm looking forward to more change as we continue to work towards the common goal of living a life that brings honor and glory to the Lord. Simplicity, at the root, is little more than a life wholly focused on living for Him. 

Blessings, 
sara