Garden of your heart

Striving to live a more simplified life!

I continue to evaluate my life to see how I can make it more simple.  For some that might mean one thing and for others something totally different.  In my striving to live a "simple life" I planted a HUGE garden.  Now....it is great to be able to eat all this wonderful produce, to freeze some, can, etc.  But, what I am finding is it is becoming overwhelming!  So, this next year I have decided to instead simplify my vegetable garden.  In the early spring, I will plant a few things like spinach, lettuce, etc. to eat for the springtime.  In the summer, I will grow the squashes, tomato's, green beans (but just not such huge quantities of it....just enough to feed my household), and then in the fall once again a fall garden to eat from.  I will of course plant some winter squashes, beets, etc for storage for the winter as well.  So basically....this is how it will be...1/3 of the garden will be producing at a time, instead of all of it coming in and needing something done with it!  :)

Another way of simplifying life....I have some dear friends.  We usually exchange Christmas gifts which is so much fun.  But, let's face it, when we are in our 40's and 50's, we have everything we need or want pretty much anyways.  So, I have asked a couple friends if instead of exchanging gifts, we could just plan to do something special together.  For me, it's about spending time with people.  That's what is important to me.  I don't need more stuff....I need relationships!  Both of these friends agreed and thought that would be fun!   To me, this is simple living!  Loving and appreciating the people in our lives. 

I find that "doing lots of stuff......gardening, canning, etc" is a enjoyable, but sometimes I struggle with balance of my time.  So, even good things may need to be adjusted in our lives in order to be able to make sure we are spending the time for the most important things:  Time with the Lord, time with our family and friends, caring for our homes, getting to know neighbors and be a light to them,  serving the Lord and others, etc.  We only get one chance at this life.......I want to live well with an eternal perspective in mind! 

Hello!

08:58, Wednesday, August 6, 2008 .. Posted by LittleHouse

I understand completely about being over- whelmed. We plant a large garden but the only thing we have huge amounts of is tomatoes and they get eaten:)

I like our garden it doesn't take to much time to get ready or plant:)

I am glad to see you are thinking about Christmas already me too:) I have started stitching projects as gifts. I like making the gifts and I also enjoy giving them. I pray for the person during the time I make the gift.

Many blessings,

Ma

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01:13, Wednesday, August 6, 2008 .. Posted by Anonymous

I am so in agreement with this in my life too Debbie! I dont have a garden to be mindful of, but what's been on my heart is too much stuff. We dont need it. We have plans to sell a lot of the things we dont need and the kids dont use etc. This will help with our immediate financial needs, but also the feeling of being weighted down with things will prayerfully subside. I believe God is calling us to a simpler life as well, and I agree so much about the gifts and desire to have relationships rather than "things". I just love your heart in wanting to go deeper and to serve the Lord and to seek after living the best life here possible! Thanks for being such a wonderful friend!
We love you guys!
g and d

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01:23, Wednesday, August 6, 2008 .. Posted by gabbie427

Everyone I talk to it seems is focused on simplifying their lives. Amen. Finally others are seeing what I have seen. Simple lives are so wonderful.

For us, it is eating at home, and not at a resturant all the time, and having friends and family over for dinner instead of meeting at a resturant to eat.

For us, Christmas is being simplified as well. We will have a few dinners with different portions of the family, but I am not going to stress over the perfect gifts, or wrapping paper, or tree decor either. No, this year will be all about dinner, visiting, singing carols around the piano, and watching the little ones play and have fun. Sure, there will be presents, but we are making most of ours, and we realize we went a little crazy last year at Christmas when we realized how overwhelmed our 2 year old was and how he played with one main present and ignored the rest.

God's Blessings,
Amy Jo