Renewed Pursuit

Thesaurus.com states that simplicity is the absence of complication and pursuing is listed to have as one's goal. Since I last posted Pursuing Simplicity has not been my reality. I am on the tail end of a whirlwind couple of years! While it has been exciting and thrilling to be in the midst so many changes my heart and soul still has a deep-seeded desire to seek and pursue the simple life.

Since January of 2010, when I last posted, I have had two children graduate high school, one as recently as May 2011. Moved one into college for his freshman year and now that son his headed back for his sophomore year. I have seen my third son graduate high school and decide to sit out a semester to work and experience life before going to municipal fire protection school in the spring. Our oldest is furiously trying to get finished with college and hopes to graduate in May 2012. And now we are in the throws of getting ready for our last child to enter her senior year! Yes, that will be three children that have graduated in three years. There were four years between the oldest and our second child but the last three are stair-steps.

I have met myself coming and going the past year and a half. While I love the busyness of life and the excitement that takes place when you see your children growing up and heading off to live their dreams...it has been hard! I have not been focused on my writing or blogging. I have lost sight of my main goal in the process....making our lives as simple and uncomplicated as possible. The Lord has really pressed upon my heart that I need to embrace this season and to take the time to not only listen to what He is teaching me but to pour out what He lays on my heart.

I am re-dedicating myself to being more focused on keeping things simple and to pursue a less complicated life. In the process I am going to focus more on writing. I suddenly have a lot of time on my hands. The prospect of my baby girl graduating high school in May 2012 is beginning to resonate with me and the fact that I will soon have an empty nest! Where oh where has the time gone! My focus will most certainly change and my time will be dedicated elsewhere in a very short time but this pursuit of simplicity I believe will take a lifetime.


The three younger children at May 2010 Graduation


May 2011 Graduation

Beginning Again

Life has a way of snagging you and pulling you into a whirlwind when you least expect it especially if you have three teenagers living under your roof as well as a college student three hours away! Much has taken place since I last posted in March. We had one son severely injured in his last home football game on Senior night and who only this week went back to school after being out for more than eleven weeks! We had another son injure his ankle in a farming accident that only by a miracle of the Lord did he not lost his foot or worse his life! Our baby girl started driver's education and now has her permit! One son acquired his first job! So many other things I could have documented and did not. I had written only sporadically before March and mainly focused on great sales that I had found or books that I was reviewing. I will still do some of those same things but this year feels different.

I really want to re-focus and begin to journal again. It is in those times of quiet repose that I can hear the Lord speak to me ever so softly amongst this chaos called life.

This year...2010...is going to be a huge one in our home. Our second son will be graduating from high school in May and heading off to college in August. I will turn an age that I even hate to write down or utter for fear that I realize it is really happening...I am arriving at middle age! EGADS! I will turn 50 in June! How can it be? I mean in my heart I feel young, vibrant, full of life and yet in reality I am at a crossroads...mid-life. Soon we will have an empty nest and while I am very excited to see my children growing into young adults I find myself worrying if I have raised them right, given them the tools to make it in this life that is so full of uncertainty and strife. Have I pointed them to Jesus enough and His Word?

It feels good tonight to be up late pounding on this keyboard. The thoughts that are rolling around in my mind have taken up my precious sleep at night so perhaps the best way to solve those quiet conversations in my head late at night when everyone is asleep is to write them all down.

I first started this blog because I wanted to pursue a simpler life in all areas. My blog tag line says "A Christian Mom in pursuit of a more simplified life in all areas body, mind, spirit, finances, and health." I don't feel that I have pursued much of a simplified life in the last year. In my heart I long to but in reality I have felt like I have been on a bullet train speeding along praying I can keep all the various events of my life in balance. I have not done a great job of that at all. So begins the journey anew. That is one thing about our Father that I love....He can refresh and renew our hearts, minds, and lives. I am ready to get my plan of action going but the plan will have to wait until tomorrow. Until then...