Book Review- "Unending Devotion" by Jody Hedlund

     This book was everything I was hoping to find in an inspirational novel.  It had a rich and intriguing historical setting, a spunky heroine and a plot that was enhanced by, but not overtaken by, the heroine's love interest.  It was so gripping that I read most of it in one day.
   " Unending Devotion" by Jody Hedlund is about Lily Young and her quest to find her sister who has ran away to a life of prostitution.    Lily is determined to rescue the girl and give her a second chance at life.  It isn't long before Lily crosses pathes with the ruggedly handsome Connell. 
      Connell is immediately captivated by Lily.  She is virtuous in a place that has long since lost its moral compass.   Her drive to do what is right no matter what the personal cost both enthralls and infuriates him.  A few weeks with Lily is enough to leave him questioning his somewhat complacent lifestyle.
      I loved everything about this book.  Lily had so much zeal for life and for God.  The book brought up many spiritual lessons and insights without feeling preachy.  The setting was among the lumber camps in Michigan during the late 1800's which I found to be interesting as I have never spent much time reading about them before.  I will be reading other books by this author as soon as I can get my hands on them!

I received a free copy of this book to review from Bethany House publishing.

Book Review -"To love and Cherish" by Tracie Peterson and Judith Miller

       It's the late 1800's and Melinda Colson is in love with a man who loves her in return.  The only problem is that Melinda works as a ladies maid and is only able to see her beloved Evan one season of the year.  She longs for him to ask her to marry him so that she can stay on the island where he lives and works.  She is weary of having a long distance relationship for most of the year.  When a hurricane strikes the island Melinda is frantic with worry and sets out to find Evan.  Surely he will marry her once she arrives at the island.  Or will he?
       "To Love and Cherish" by Tracie Peterson and Judith Miller is a sweet and mellow story about love and waiting on God's perfect timing.  It is the second book the two authors have written that is set on picturesque Bridal Veil Island.  It gives a glimpse at what life was like for both the rich and the working class of the time period.
         While I found this to be a pleasant light read I probably won't read the other books in the series.  I had trouble understanding Evan's character and kept wishing he would portray his love more convincingly.  I am glad that I read the book, however, as it was a very calm and relaxing read.

I received a free copy of this book for review from Bethany House publishing.

Book Review- Understanding World Religions in 15 Minutes a Day

   I found Understanding World Religions in 15 Minutes a Day" by Garry R. Morgan to be a fascinating read.  True to its title it is broken up into informative, bite size chapters.  The writing style is clear and the content is very understandable.  It covers many religions, some of which I knew of and some that I didn't even know existed.
    This small book answers a lot of questions.  I was amazed at how much of our modern culture is influenced by some of these religions and how naive I was to it. I feel like I at least have some basic insight now that I previously lacked. 
    This book is a wonderful introduction to world religions.  While it is very much an overview, it is perfect for someone who wants to be better informed but doesn't have a lot of time or desire to read volumes on the topic.  I highly recommend it. 

I recieved a free copy of this book to review from Bethany House publishing.

NaNoWriMo

  Everywhere I look it seems as if writers are preparing for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month).  I love the thought of writing 50,000 words in one month.  Sitting down to write with my netbook and a cup of coffee is one of my favorite parts of the day.  I have seriously thought of jumping on board but a few things keep holding me back. 
   The main thing that is holding me back is that I am concerned that I am not ready for this adventure.  I haven't been in the habit of writing daily for very long and that is a lot of words.  I spend a lot of my spare time learning about plot and character development.  I would have to drop all of that for the whole month and I don't know if that would be wise.  I am learning so much and I can see how it is improving my writing. Another thing is that I lack confidence.  I don't want to write a terrible book because I set to high of a goal for myself.  I am still a very slow writer...  I know that these are all excuses but I really want to be a good writer and I don't want to burn out.
  I have decided to set my own goal for November.  I want to write 10,000 words on my currant novel.  It doesn't look like much in comparison to writing 50,000 but it is huge stretch from what I have been doing.  Hopefully I can balance this into my life, reach my goal and still have time to learn more about my craft. 
 
 I am excited by my goal and I hope that it will prepare me to be a real participant in NaNoWriMo next year.  If you are participating this year or are setting goals for yourself I would love to here about it! 
 

Book Review - "Nothing to Hide" by J.Mark Bertrand

 " What do you say to a fallen partner?  What do you say to a man you started off despising and came to grudgingly respect, whose death is on your conscience and whole absence you're only beginning to feel?" 
  Detective Roland March is a complex character who is trying to put together the  pieces of a grisly murder case.  A man is dead.  His head is missing and his finger seems to be pointing at something, but what?  The deeper he digs, the more dangerous and confusing the investigation becomes. While analyzing the clues Roland finds himself reflecting on his past which forces him to not only work through  the current case but through buried issues from his past.
    "Nothing to Hide" by J. Mark Bertrand is a suspense story that ties in present with the past in a fresh and exciting way.  Its plot twists and turns until it reaches an end that I did not see coming.  I have not read very many police suspense stories and I must admit that this was not my favorite read.  Some of this is probably because this book is part of a series and I kept feeling like I was missing something, which I probably was.  I am guessing that this book is geared more towards middle aged men then it is to young moms, like myself.
  Despite it not being my favorite, it was well written and I very much enjoyed the conclusion. The characters were deep, even the secondary ones.  I also thought it tied in deep spiritual questions in a thought provoking manner. 

I recieved a free copy of this book for review from Bethany House publishing.

Library Magic

  Some of my favorite memories from childhood involve the library.  I can remember following my mom through towering aisles of books well before I could even read.  I knew that it was a special place, a place to be respected and loved.
   When I was a bit older and was reading everything in sight I would ride my bike through our tiny town to the even tinier public library.  It was stuffy and dim inside.  Usually it smelt of cigarettes.  The librarian would chat with me while I picked out my next read.  Sometimes she would order in something that I had been looking for.  It wasn't until years later that I realized a single room with a few book cases around the edge wasn't a large collection of books by most standards.  I loved it anyway.
  Now that I am grown, I still get that awe struck feeling when I enter a library.  Most of the time I go with my three little ones in tow.  We whisper and giggle as we talk about the difference between fiction and non-fiction.  We select some books to go along with our homeschool lessons.  They love the library as much as I do.
  Rarely I do manage to get away all by myself and get lost among the shelves of books.  Today was one of those days.  I wandered up and down every row just to see what was in them, allowing the titles to spark my imagination and inspire me.  I carried the feelings of inspiration home with me.  Maybe they will grow into something great.

Sick Kids Blues

  It is definitely one of "those" days.  One of the days where you have to clean at top speed to keep from going crazy because you have been stuck inside with sick (and crabby) children for DAYS.  While my older two children feel horrible and aren't up to doing much, my one year old feels awesome and is terrorizing his siblings.  He is so cute running around and tackling them, a huge, slobbery (can you say teething?) grin on his face.  Fortunately he loves helping me clean.  He and I have tackled the front closet, organized the movies and cleaned the front entryway.  Of course a few of the movies vanished but over all we made a pretty good team.  I am sure that the movies will show up in some fascinating location.  I did manage to make a stack of things to give away.  I even hid it before my cleaning partner found it and scattered it all about!  While it may be a stuck in doors, I want out sort of day, at least I am a tiny bit closer to the simply, organized life style that I so desperately crave.

Sticking to It

  After my last post I sat down and did some serious thinking about my goals and my life in general.  I came to the conclusion that I dream much more then I actually do anything about it, which I already knew but seldom admit to myself.  I am very good at coming up with lists of how to accomplish what I want to do but I am not so good at getting it done.  The past week or so I have been taking steps to make sure that I am working towards what matters to me the most and focusing on using my time wisely. I realized that God, family, writing, and friends were at the top of my list of priorities.   Here are some of the things that I have done to be active, not passive, in my own life.

I have spent more time playing with play dough, coloring and doing projects with my children.  I normally try to run around and do things while they play. While I still do that to some extent I have had so much fun just slowing down and enjoying interacting with my little ones.

I invited a friend and her children over and decided it was going to happen even if I couldn't get my house perfect in time. We had a great time!


I have been taking time to thank God for the good things in my life.  I am amazed at how many blessings I miss when I am to busy stressing about things.

I am writing more, much more.  I am working on a short story for a contest as well as what will hopefully be a young adult novel.  I started with a tiny goal of 250 words a day to get into the habit of consistency.  I think it is working!  Now when I sit down to write the words come out much more freely and I find myself looking forward to sitting down with my net book and seeing what happens. I usually end up with much more than 250 words.  It is so much better then the inconsistent way I was going about things before.
 
It feels amazing to see a list of "dones" instead of "to do's" !

Rambling Thoughts

  Time seems to pass so quickly.  Sometimes I can't help but wonder what, if anything that I do will pass the test of time.  Will it matter days, years from now?  I suppose to put my mind at ease I should resolve to ask my self that before I start a task, before I turn on the tv or settle down with angry birds.  Time is precious.  I want to exert wisdom in how I utilize it both for my sake and as an example to my children.  If I know that I have put forth my best effort maybe the time I do spend in relaxation will be more refreshing and less riddled with guilt and rambling thoughts of how I should be doing more with the time I have been given.

Back on Track

  Somehow I let my blog get off course.  I haven't been blogging very often. Hopefully now that we are more settled in our new home I can get back at it!  I am still actively cleaning out any and all excess that I discover.  I love how our new home is starting to take shape! Now to get to work so I will have something worth blogging about!

Book Review - "Finding Our Way Home" by Charlene Ann Baumbich

"Once she'd served herself, Evelyn sat down, bowed her head, put the palms of her hands together , and said her usual premeal prayer, a prayer that covered many things during the day too. "Grace, Amen"

Finding Our Way Home by Charlene Ann Baumbich (Chapter 1 Excerpt)     " Finding our way home" by Charlene Ann Baumbich is a cozy afternoon type of book about the power of grace and how it worked in the lives of two very different women.  Big boned and perpetually sunny Evelyn has just graduated high school and much to her parents dismay has chosen to put off collage to work and to eventually marry her fiancee.  She ends up working for Sasha, a former ballerina whose career met a tragic end.  Bitter Sasha can't help but warm up to Evelyn's cheery disposition.  Together the unlikely pair help each other through physical and relational trials all while learning about grace,both God's grace and the grace that friends and family extend.
     This is the sort of book that you want to curl up in a comfy chair with a cup of tea and a splash of sunshine.  I loved Evelyn's go get em, glass half full attitude.  It was very refreshing.  I was, however, a bit perplexed by two things.  The first being that it had more comments on sexual intimacy then I was expecting in a Christian novel.  They were tasteful and moral but I was surprised none the less.  The other thing was that a talisman played a significant role in the story.  Again, I was surprised to find this in a Christian novel.  It seemed odd to me to have God's grace and a talisman play large rolls in the same story.  Other then that, I thoroughly enjoyed this read.

I received a free copy of this book for review from WaterBrook Press.

Book Review - "Submerged" by Dani Pettrey

   Baily is a girl with a past. She has since come to know Christ as her saviour but things she has done long ago continue to haunt her. The death of her beloved aunt cause her to leave the new life she has made for herself and head back to the one place that she never wishes to see again. It is the small town of  Yancey, Alaska, a place where everyone knows the girl that she used to be. She plans to go to the funeral, wrap up her aunts affairs and go home.  That is, until clues surface.  Clues that lead her to believe that her aunts death was not the accident that every one believed it to be.
   "Submerged" by Dani Pettrey is a fast paced story with interesting characters, intriguing scenery and a deep message about letting go of the past and accepting the future Christ has in store for us.  I thought the mystery was a bit predictable but the characters were so full of personality that they filled in any gaps. The way the author wove in romance and a bit of Russian history into the story helped it to grab and hold my interest. I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading other stories by the author.

I recieved a free copy of this book to review from Bethany House publishing.

Adjusting

     Just a few short weeks ago I lived in the north west part of the United States. It was snowing the day I left. Now I find myself with the gulf of Mexico practically in my back yard. I've traded endless wheat fields and snow capped mountains for emerald waters and sparkling white sand. The change is quite drastic. I'm sure I will miss where I came from but I am quickly falling in love with it here. It is so green! Somethings will take a bit of getting used to however. I am not used to very much traffic. One could drive for miles and never see a car back home. Here people seem to be everywhere and most of them are in a hurry for some reason or another. I am also not use to all of the bugs and lizards that are scurrying about everywhere. Overall the pros seem to out way the cons. The colors, scents and the lure of the unknown are definitely feeding my imagination. I wonder if anything will become of it.

Book Review - "Tandem" by Tracey Bateman

    "Her own screams woke her.  She had dreamed she was alone in the dark, captive of a madman.  When she opened her eyes and realized the nightmare was real, she couldn't stop screaming."  With a striking balance of family drama, mystery and a perfect dose of chills Tracey Bateman had me engrossed in her novel "Tandem" within the first chapter. 

Tandem - a novel by Tracey Bateman (Chapter 1)  
      The story takes place in the quaint little town of Abbey Hills.  Nestled in the Ozark mountains, this once idyllic town has found itself the host of some sort of evil.  People are being murdered.  For awhile it seems that a house fire has killed the murderer but a fresh string of murders has demolished that theory.  20 something Lauryn Mcbride has inherited her father's auction business and is in charge of the estate.  It is her actions that unearth dark secrets as she works to balance her work, personal life and still care for her father who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's.
    I wasn't sure what to think when I realized that I was reading an inspirational vampire story but I must say that the author made it work.  She skillfully wove a story that was both touching and thrilling. The characters were complex and the themes were subtle but strong.  I was blown away by the thought provoking last paragraph.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I received a free copy of this book to review from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

book review - "The Messenger" by Siri Mitchell

    " The Messenger" by Siri Mitchell is a Christian historical novel set during the revolutionary war.  It follows Hannah Sunderland who is a devout Quaker and Jeremiah Jones, a colonial spy who feels he has nothing to live for.  The story alternates points of view between these two central characters as their paths meet and they both become involved in aiding a group of patriot prisoners.
     I thought that the way the story explored the historic setting through the eyes of two such different characters to be fascinating.  I must admit, however, that I found the first half of the book a bit difficult to get into.  By the end I was completely caught up in both the plot and the characters.  The spiritual growth that takes place in the story was slow to unfold and I felt it was rather incomplete but at the same time it was thought provoking. I found Hannah's honesty and desire to do the right thing no matter what the circumstances to be very encouraging. By the time I finished the novel I had a renewed interest in colonial America and a much deeper understanding of the Quaker faith.  Overall I would say that I enjoyed this book very much.

I received a review copy of this book for free from Bethany House publishing.

Moving

   I haven't been online much lately.  Hopefully I will be able to start blogging with some regularity again.  My husband just came home from a year long remote tour and as soon as he did we moved across the country.  We have been at our new base for 3 whole days now.  Tomorrow we will be moving into our new home.  I will have to write about my progress as I strive to set up our new home and fit into a new community.  One thing is for sure, it will take some time to adjust to our new surroundings.  It was snowing when we left our last base and now we are at a sunny beach!

book reveiw- "Fierce Beauty" by Kim Meeder

  " Friend, God is calling you to be beautiful, but not in the way the world demands."  This quote from the introduction of Kim Meeder's inspirational woman's book "Fierce Beauty" brings to focus the main theme of this highly uplifting read.  Reading this book is much like having a mentor sit down with you and encourage you to forget what the world thinks and strive instead to be the unique person that God created you to be.

Fierce Beauty by Kim Meeder (Ch. 1 excerpt)   
 "Fierce Beauty" is full of Biblical truths that the author skillfully makes relevant by using a wide range of real life examples.  The descriptive language took a little while for me to get used to but once I did it pulled me right into the scenarios.  Each chapter begins with a story from the author's life and ends with a thought provoking application.  By the end of the book I felt like I knew the author and that I knew more about my Heavenly Father as well.
   I would defiantly recommend this book to anyone that is feeling worn down by the world.  It is unlike any other woman's book I have ever read in the way that it stresses over and over again to not be passive but to stand up and fight for what is right.  One of my favorite chapters was # 17 "The Race , Don't you Ever Quit!".  This quote from it might have to go on my fridge " A warrior is not distracted by the entanglements of this life.  She answers God's call to fix her eyes and her energy on running hard to the end of the race... where her King awaits."

I received a review copy of this book for free through the "Blogging for Books" program with the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Plugging Away

   Sometimes life feels pleasantly busy and sometimes it seems so full that one can barely  move under the weight.  Right now it is feeling like the later.   Bible study this week was on not being anxious.  I have really been working on applying it.  Between moving later this month, finishing up another year of home school and several other stressers I have had lots of opportunity to work on taking my problems to my heavenly Father instead of trying to handle them on my own.  One thing that I know for sure is that I need more practice!  I am very good at being anxious.  I am off to tackle my to do list but I think I will try to revisit this topic sometime in the future.

Writers must Write!

  I have always loved to write.  The first time I remember getting lost in a story of my own making was when I was about 8.  Well, that's the first time I wrote one down anyway.  I wrote stories and poems all through high school.  I loved to journal and write lengthy letters to my family and friends that lived far away.  I wanted to be a writer.  Then I grew up.  Somehow my love for writing became buried deep under all my other obligations. About two years ago my desire to write woke up.  It had never really gone away, rather I didn't nurture it and I had let myself think it was something beyond my reach.  I made subtle steps towards my dreams but none big enough to get me anywhere.  This year I decided to set goals and go for them.  I decided to write!  I knew all along that my end goal was to write fiction and that I didn't know the first thing about where to start.  Lately I have been reading blogs by authors that I admire.  I have found books on writing and publishing.  I have been brushing up on my grammar.  It may not lead anywhere, but even if it doesn't, I feel like I have found an old friend.  Writing is worth the effort it takes pursuing it no matter where it does or does not take me.

Cleaning Out

  My husband has orders to a new base and we will be moving in a couple of months.  The closer we get to the moving date the more I crave simplicity.  I do not want to start life in a new location with all my old junk!  I tend to hold on to things just in case I need them someday.   Today, as I was going through my clothes, it dawned on me how many things that I own that I don't need.  I can't take it all with me.  Why do I feel the need to have so much?  In the grander scheme of things very few, if any of these earthly possesions will matter.  ( I must say that some of them make life awfully nice though!) 
    My goal is to pare down as far as I can.  I want plenty of room in my life and my home for the things that matter the most.  I don't want to be held back by things.  When I can, I like to give what I don't need directly to those who can use it.  When I can't,  I donate it.  While I love sharing my abundance with others I am starting to realize that I would save so much time and money if I was just more careful before I ever let things into the house to begin with.  We are military.  We will be moving over and over again.  Hopefully I can be disiplined and keep this in mind when I am tempted to buy things that may be nice but that we don't really need in our lives.

Keeping Easter Meaningful

    My children are so excited about Easter.  They can't wait to go on an egg hunt and visit family.  My oldest son has been pestering me all day, trying to get me to cave and tell him what is going to be in his Easter basket.  ( I didn't cave!)  I don't have a problem with the tradition of getting a basket on Easter morning or searching for hidden eggs.  I have so many fond memories of these very things from my own childhood.  However, I want Easter to be more then a collection of traditions.  I want my children to know that Easter is about God's only Son showing His love for us by laying down His own life for ours.  I want them to be amazed by the miracle of Him rising from the dead.  I want them to realize that because of this miracle that they too can have eternal life.  I want them to have open hearts towards God and accept Jesus as their saviour.  I don't want these amazing truths to be lost in the hype of the holiday. 
    This year two of my children are old enough to really start grasping the reason that we celebrate Easter.  While I love that they are old enough to grasp truths and eager to learn I also find it to be intimidating.  Sharing my faith with my children is such an important task and I feel strongly that as a mother it is one of my main callings.  We have been reading Bible stories that focus on Jesus and His death and resurrection.  Today we went through a set of "resurrection eggs" that I picked up at the local Christian book store.  My children loved it!  They took turns opening the eggs as I read the corresponding passages.  They peppered me with questions and were in awe that someone could love them so much that they would die for them.  Watching their little faces light up was heartwarming.  I hope and pray that my little ones will hold the truth of God's word in their hearts as we celebrate tomorrow.


   John 3:14-17 
As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up;  so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.  "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him

Book Reviews

   I love to read but I find it hard to get to the library regularly.  My three children are very noisy and I almost always have them with me.  I found out that some publishers offer free books for people that are willing to write and post reviews on the book.  I have two books to review on the way.  I am so excited!  Not only am I getting to read and keep the books, I also get to work on my writing skills by composing reviews.  I love having a reason to write.

Bedtime Bliss

  All three little ones are tucked into bed, fast asleep.  After a long day this can feel like the most amazing accomplishment.  We have been sick with colds the past week and the children have been extra snugly ( not to mention a bit cranky!)   Now that they are sweetly dreaming I can work on my writing, my crochet project and maybe start reading my next chapter for Bible study.  Oh, and pick up after my messy little munchkins. 
  Bedtime seems to be the only time of day that I can stop and think.  Often times I feel like I just keep moving and doing.  Its easy to miss out on the joy in life when one lives like that.  Today I picked up my baby and tickled his belly.  He dissolved in giggles.  It snapped me out of work mode and brought what really matters into focus. I don't want to be so busy caring for my kids physically that I am mentally absent.  I want to cherish their giggles, nonsensical songs and zeal for all life has to offer.  This same zeal can definitely make them hard to keep up with however!  Which is why bedtime is such a blessing.  It gives me the time I need to reflect, accomplish and rest so that I can wake up tomorrow and be present for my children.

Still burning

   That candle of mine is still burning.  I've had it burning all day.  I am hoping to have it melted away by the end of this week.  I am still brainstorming for ideas of how I want to decorate it.  I really should burn candles more often.  It lends such a cozy atmosphere to the room, despite the constant mess and clamor of my little ones.

Melt Candle, MELT!

    I have been searching for a practical yet pretty storage solution for my wooden crochet hooks.  I crochet constantly so I want them to be readily accessible.  I found the perfect glass jar .  It has a clean line to it with just a touch of elegance.  The only problem is that it is a candle jar, complete with candle.  I have been burning the candle for days!  Of course when its a candle that I want to burn quickly it happens to be a quality one that burns forever.  When the candle is finally used up I am going to line the bottom with something soft to protect the hooks.  I am not sure what yet.  I am trying to come up with some ideas to decorate the jar without overwhelming it.  I do not want it to be to cluttered but I do want it to look unique.  Maybe if I burn it all weekend I can get to the decorating part soon!

Fresh Strawberries!

    Today may have been cold and bleak but the availability of fresh strawberries shouted out  SPRING!   They were such perfectly sweet berries too.  Even if it isn't spring here yet at least I know that it is somewhere.  I love how something as simple as a ripe berry can add hope and brightness to a otherwise routine day.

Spring Snow

       It has been such an unusually warm winter.  In many ways it has been a blessing to have less snow to shovel and to be able to go out without bundling up but part of me has missed the snow.  This morning I woke up to a sparkly, white world.  Even the branches of the trees had a thick layer covering them.  My children were exited about the possibilities that come with such a day. 
       By afternoon the sun was bright and the snow was melting.  We took advantage of the warmth and spent a few hours making snow angels, snow forts and stomping our feet in the slushy streets.  There is something so satisfying about stomping on slushy snow and watching it fly in all directions.  Watching my children's faces as they discovered this simple joy was even more satisfactory.  We ended our snowy day with large mugs of coco.  I am always amazed at how some of the most spontaneous, unsophisticated moments become the best memories.

My current project (or one of them,anyway)

    For the past two years or so I have become somewhat of a crochet addict.  I find it to be a relaxing and rewarding pastime.  This is one of my current projects.  It is going to be a baby blanket.  The design is so simple but I fell in love with the classic nature and texture of it.  It works up quite quickly.  Seeing that my baby likes to tug on and cuddle my projects this is a good thing!  Time to work on it is scarce.  I am not sure if the baby is a boy or a girl so I chose a neutral, earthy color.  The parents are both avid hunters so I thought that would be fitting.

                    a closer look at the texture!

Here is the link to the pattern  http://onelittlerayndrop.blogspot.com/2011/04/classic-baby-blanket.html

Mopping

      When did I get to the point that I find mopping the floors to be relaxing?  I suppose this is a good thing seeing that my 9 month old has a tendency to lick the tile and my other children are still learning to eat without spilling.  Tonight the floors were looking particularly sticky so I waited until the kids were in bed, turned on my favorite music and mopped.  It was so satisfying!  So satisfying that I thought I'd write about it apparently.  Oh well, if something as simple as having a sparkling clean floor can make my day I'm going to go with it!

Simplicity

Definition of SIMPLICITY

1

: the state of being simple, uncomplicated, or uncompounded

2

a: lack of subtlety or penetration : innocence, naiveté b: folly, silliness

3

: freedom from pretense or guile : candor

4

a: directness of expression : clarity b: restraint in ornamentation : austerity

 

1

the quality or state of having a form or structure of few parts or elements <the simplicity of this machine should ensure ease of use by almost anyone>

Synonyms plainness, unsophistication

Related Words homogeneity, homogeneousness, uniformity, unity

 

this is taken from:

 

 

http://www.merriam-webster.com/

 

 

      I have been on a quest to simplify our life style.  Being military we move a lot so this is a very practical thing to work towards.  It seemed fitting to research the definition of this word that I've been pursuing.  Out of the words used in this definition I particularly like the word uncomplicated.  There are so many complications in life, why not keep things as pure and basic as possible? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reasons and Beginnings

   I keep trying to decide where I should start with my blog.  I am  new to blogging and I find it rather intimidating.  I suppose the best place to start is with why I have chosen to create this blog in the first place.  So...  here it goes!
    I have two main reasons for my little blog.  The first is that I love to write.  I have always loved the written word.  Reading other peoples ideas and stories is fascinating to me but writing down my own thoughts and watching them take shape is even better.  Unfortunately I find myself thinking more then doing.  My ideas seldom make it to paper.  I always feel inadequate.  Instead of being passive about my dreams I have decided to work towards them.  I see this blog as a place to start.  Maybe my writing is inadequate but only practicing will improve it and this seems like an excellent place to begin.
   My second reason is that I love finding joy in the simple things in life. I love watching yarn take shape in my hands and turn into a blanket for my baby to snuggle.  I love hearing my oldest son say "yum" when I hand him a plate of something that I have cooked and I love teaching my children at home around our table.  I lead a quiet life. Quiet, but full of loved ones and meaningful work.  It is my desire to share it with you.