A Whirl into Simplicity

So many thoughts about life are "a-whirling" around in my head. Where to start?

A couple of weeks ago I did some serious spring cleaning (6 month purge). I removed from our house bags and endless bags of stuff. I'm talking a MASSIVE house purge. Actually it was all good stuff. In the fall I had done a serious purge and gotten rid of the junk. What was left was the good stuff. However, I realized that just because it has value doesn't mean it needs to sit in my house collecting dust. So I got rid of our excess. I got rid of the things that while good, were beyond on needs and wants. For example I removed clothes, shoes, books, games, decorations, sheets, towels, kitchen utensils, pans, etc. If we didn't use it or if I had say 10 spatulas when I could get by with 4 I put them in my thrift pile. (Which was the size of my living room).

Now the kids can close their dresser drawers. They each have a couple pair of pants-nice ones, church ones, and jeans, 3 or 4 collared shirts, 5 or 6 t-shirts, 1 pair old tennis shoes for working, 1 pair of nice ones for regular, etc. etc. I have two brown skirts, two black skirts, 2 pairs of p.j.'s, and on and on.

"That book was nice, but gee I haven't read it again in 5 years. I think I'll give it to the thrift store for someone else to read and benefit from. That's a nice classic. It's an easy read. Not a favorite or one we really need to study. I'll chuck it and then when I need it I'll just get it from the library." Thus some of my thoughts.

I found myself desperately wanting to get rid of our excess to bless others lives. In return I found that I was freed up! I have less to dust, less to straighten, and less to put away. I'm not overwhelmed when I open a closet now. There aren't 8 extra pairs of twin sheets ready to fall on top of me since they are just shoved in the closet. I know exactly where things are. I am finding that I'm taking better care of the things I have. When it's toast I'll just replace it because I know what I actually need!

I'm not overwhelmed with cleaning. I'm freer to spend time with the kids and really play and really learn. Very empowering. I challenge anyone to see what they have in their house that they really don't need. It's like our house had a bi-pass. That drastic. Do it, I dare you. (P.S. My husband and my kiddos LOVE it, and we haven't missed a single thing yet).

Other thoughts. We recently - a month ago- stopped buying milk, bread and cereal from the store. You see I have more time and I'm not overwhelmed. So we've made lots of homemade cereal and lots of yummy whole wheat bread. I've always made hot breakfast and bread, but this is serious now! Sandwiches on home made bread, that's a new one. We are cooking a lot more things home made and we are going to the store a lot less. Olivia made home made whipping cream today just because we can.

Go green? Well, I think I might have the bug a little. Over the last three weeks we have started walking everywhere. Yep that's right. (That helps that going to the store to buy milk-who wants to carry that home?) That's including church. I need to state that we live in a very rural town. So it's not like things are super far away. Our piano teacher lives two miles out of town. I've been teasing the kids that they better work up their muscles because in a month or two we are hiking out there baby! Yesterday I had to help at a funeral and it was windy and rainy. I also had a salad with dressing to get up to the church. So I figured it I could walk then I would be able to walk in almost anything. So I did and I survived it. Go figure? Two months ago I'm sure I wouldn't thought I wouldn't have made it. So no scheduling in the treadmill to "work out" I'm just going to stop being lazy and work out all day long. "Pioneer Children Sang As They Walked and Walked and Walked....." The kids and Alex are super troopers with this as well. They think it's kind of fun. They might not have liked the rain storm yesterday though. What do you think?

I recently read a post here that has really got me thinking about the "stuff" that we surround ourselves with. I love her ideas about having kids do real life things. I'm anti-craft. I've always thought they were pointless. I'm so happy that someone is validating me!!! haha So we make, build and create things that serve a purpose in our lives. That includes real life math problems and real life books that teach real life problems. Sewing projects that are gifts. I'm loving it you know. She also has some other really good things to say. Check it out.

That's enough for now. I don't want to shock anyone. But seriously let's think about it. We are the laziest people (Americans) in the world. We drive everywhere, buy everything, do busy work worksheets, and make trinket junk. Let's ask ourselves why? We were born to create and serve. Let's remove the junk from our lives so that we can fill the full measure of creation!

Thoughts please. : )

September 8, 2009 (Tuesday): A Message From the President

Family Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 1

Mom School
Pray
Song: Called to Serve and My Body is a Temple
Weekly Scripture Memorization: 3 Nephi 11:29 : )
Current Events: Today we watched the broadcast by Pres. Obama to the school children of American. We had quite the lively discussion about socialism, environmentalism, discrimination, pushing agendas. All I could see in my mind was a picture of Mao's Red China. Scary. And people don't even see it.

History/Science: Went to the Herret Center, a Natural History Museum. We had a very fun visit. It focused on Central American/Mayan history and animals. We've been several times over the years, but this was a good visit. They had some computers set up and we played Mayan games and puzzles for a while.
Science: Played "Spin the Bottle." I made questions out of all the vocabulary words and subjects we have learned so far this year and put them inside the bottle and they had to answer the question if it landed on them. They REALLY liked it. We'll add more questions and keep playing as the year goes on.
Science Experiment: "Magic Gas" Fill a plastic bottle 1/3 of the way full with warm water. Add a package of yeast and a teaspoon of sugar. Swirl to mix. Then place a balloon over the top securely. Wait and watch as the balloon magically rises. (We helped ours along because it said to place in a warm window sill. We had no warm window sill today. So we turned the oven on and just them on top of the oven). Point: Since yeast is a plant the carbon dioxide from it rises and causes the balloon to rise as well.
Science Observation: We looked through the telescope at Jupiter and its four moons. (tonight)

Life Skills: Major grocery shopping and library
Service: Make cookies for a community member.
Chores

Family: Currently my computer is giving me massive problems and extreme mental anguish. Therefore, I'm keeping this simple... Everyone did: Math, Math drill, spelling, creative writing, phonics, grammar, geography and free reading. Some people did a little more, but I'm going to pitch this computer so I'm ending...

The Rhythm Poem

When I was in 5th grade my teacher taught me this poem. I have always remembered parts of it. Since our family moved back to my hometown I am now good friends with my 5th grade teacher. I asked her for this poem and she obliged me. I also had her teach this to "my young women" for an activity we had that had to do with Choice and Accountability. I have since taught it to my children. We clap it out. I don't know who wrote this poem. This is the poem as I have it....

Rhythm Poem
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Be choosy * * When you choose a choice
Be decisive when deciding a decision * * *
Don't be like mannequins and ladyquins * *
Letting others put you in to positions * * *
Don't be like a puppet on a string
Letting others make you do the things you do.
Controlling every action to their satisfaction
And speaking every single word for you.
Don't go through like a sha dow
Following someone everywhere he goes
Never moving independently
And letting others * step on your toes.
Don't be like a mirror on the wall
A copycat, a polished imitator
Reflecting everything that passes by
A duplicator, an impersonator
Think for yourself! Be a leader!
The product of your own composition.
Be choosy! When you choose a choice
Be decisive when deciding a decision.

01/23/09: Day on the Hill

Today the older three were able to go to the capital and learn more about our government. They loved it! They each presented a bill they had written and then tried to get it to pass. They learned about parliamentary procedure and the way laws are passed. They were able to meet a Idaho Supreme Court Justice and tour the court room and his chambers. They can't wait to go next year.

While Alex took the kids to that Caleb and I swam and than went to my sisters and hung out with her and her children.

Everyone had a fun day!

A great book for homeschool culture in the family...

So Much More by Anna Sofia Botkin and Elizabeth Botkin

My review:

Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow! This book is controversial! They directly assaulted Marxism, individualism and socialism in convincing fashion and come out, in my opinion the winner. Not only does it attack Marxism but it openly assaults the general Christian population and says they are way off also.

It sure challenged my beliefs in many things, and for the most part has actually changed how I view things. I find myself challenging things in society in my head now and asking questions. "Who said this is the way it is suppose to be?"

My husband and I have had a lot of conversations about this and we also watched the video that goes along with the book. This is a great book to study with your older children after you have read it. A great book for homeschooling families. I just can't get over it, so much to think about. So many things to ask questions about and challenge.

The only thing I didn't agree with was some of the theology in the book, especially relating to Adam and Eve. At the same time I actually agreed with a whole lot more in theology than I even thought that I would.

If you dare to read this book you'll either come out loving it or absolutely hating it. Many will rebel against the ideas presented, but it will sure make you think...

A life changer...

View'>http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1064820?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">View all my reviews.