Sabbath rest

God wasn't tired after a week of creating the world and everything on it. Yet in His wisdom He created a day of rest. He created a day of rest for all of us who need a break after a week of doing all kinds of stuff! I'm so thankful for that. It definitely makes me stop and appreciate what is most important to me...my God and my family.

That said... I desperately need to simplify preparation day (Friday). I love to have good food and a clean house for Sabbath. For some reason though I wait until Friday to get all of this accomplished. It ends up being a very crazy and tiring day. Gotta do better with this.

Doctors

I really don't like going to the doctors. I haven't been for a physical in three years. For the last few months I've been thinking about making an appointment, but just never seemed to get around to doing it. Yesterday, conveniently after the office was closed I made a firm decision that "tomorrow I will make an appointment to have a physical." So, this morning I get up and of course I don't recall the "firm decision" I had made just the evening before. The day starts out like any other normal day. I had the radio tuned in to my favorite Christian radio station while I made breakfast. It was then that I was reminded of my "firm decision." God used a radio blip to jog my memory and affirm to me that scheduling a physical is important. A woman was talking about how important it is for mom's to take care of themselves, too, because we have people that we love depending on us. One way, she proceeded to say, is to have regular physicals. So, I waited until the office was open and picked up the phone. I now have an appointment and am quite delighted that the soonest they could get me in is more than a month away! God is good. Interesting that this isn't the first time He has used the radio to get my attention.

Simplify

Several years ago I visited Amish country in Ohio. I walked away very impressed and determined to lead a more simple life. The Amish I saw looked so happy and content. It's tempting in this world to get caught up in, well, just about anything you can imagine. Seems like living a simple life should be easy, but in fact it is not simple at all. Why is striving to live simply so complex?

In my kitchen I have a small wooden block that says "Simplify" on it. It serves as a reminder to me that when I start feeling like life is getting out of control for me that I am absolutely in control and need to start simplifying a little better. Most of the time that means saying "no" to something that is in itself not bad or complex, but is going to add to all of the other good and non-complex things I am doing.

Being a mother of a six year old and a 1 year old gives me great opportunities every day to enjoy the simple things in life. I learn a lot from them when I simplify my day and focus on them.

My blog "Keepin' it Simple" is my journey towards simplicity in life to keep stress at a minimum, to enjoy my children and my husband fully, and to not get wrapped up in a chaotic world. Most importantly to keep the noise of life to a minimum so I never miss out on what God is saying to me.