The Journey to Simplify

As you probable have noticed by now I really enjoy A Place Called Simplicity a lot.  Linny and family live their lives for Jesus and I love the ministry of her blog.  I don't know if she calls blogging a ministry but to me it is.  She has taught me so much about listening to God and acting on what he is speaking to us about.  She has been instrumental in a lot of changes going on in me and my family.  It really all started with her Crazy Love post and it just keeps going, she is writing about the things that are in my heart. 

I have been feeling the need to simplify our lives.  We are a family of four with enough possessions for a family of at least six if not eight.  We live in a modest size home that is stuffed to the gills with THINGS.  They are not cherished things, most of them are not things we can't live without and we somehow keep getting more things.  We just had a wonderful huge yard sale of things that were donated from others and a few things from our home, mostly things from the attic but not the things that are making our lives hectic and are consuming our thoughts and energy. 

I have been feeling so overwhelmed by the messes that are all over our house.  Our children do not treasure the possessions that they have, they have so many they can't keep track of what is precious to them.  Unfortunately, I am certain that the rest of my family is not yet in the place that I am.  M did go through her room and parted with a grocery bag of odds and ends from her room but that is just a small tip of the ice berg.  My family really likes THINGS.  I remember when we moved into our house we moved from a much smaller house and so much of our house felt empty, eight years have passed two children have joined the family and the house if full.  I have found myself dreaming about our old smaller home, wishing we were in a smaller home.  The American Dream is usually to have a bigger house and I am dreaming of a smaller house. 

With all major life changes small changes start the process.  I am hoping that by clearing out the THINGS that I have excess of or have not used in a long time I will lead the transformation of our family.  That we can simplify our lives, be happier with each other not with the things that own us.  I had been changing some of our spending habits by making our own laundry detergent, using foaming soap that I make myself instead of buying a new bottle,  each time we run out but those are very small changes, it is time for our family to make some really big changes. 

My prayer is that by the time we are ready to our fall fundraising yard sale that we will have a great amount of things for sale from our own home.  That our excess will help us bring our daughter home.  I encourage you to follow along with Linny as she shares her experiences in Simple Living, I know that I will be.