Happy Independence Day

On this date, the 4th of July, we celebrate the day our country declared its independence from Great Britain. On that date the 4th of July became more than the fourth day of July, it became our Independence Day. 

Pic via Kidz World

On this very important date for our country, I would like to share two very important parts of our constitution ~ the preamble and the 1st amendment. The first words of the preamble is easy mistaken for the beginning of the Declaration of Independence. The first amendment is believed by a lot of people to have the words "separation of church and state" in it, which it doesn't. Very few people really know what the 1st amendment says. 

The Preamble of the Constitution

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

The 1st Amendment to the Constitution

"Prohibits Congress from making any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances." 

The term "separation of church and state" came from a letter Thomas Jefferson pinned to the "Danbury Baptist Association in 1802. He was reassuring them that they had the right to follow their tenants of faith and that the state of Connecticut could not infringe upon their right because the 1st amendment thus building a wall of separation of church and state. His letter does not deny that religion had no part to play in the running of our country. It also doesn't say that religion should not play a role in a politician's life. He says it isn't up the the government to determine what or how a person chooses to believe and live out that belief in their lives. 

An excerpt from the letter: 

"Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between church and State. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.

I reciprocate your kind prayers for the protection and blessing of the common Father and Creator of man, and tender you for yourselves and your religious association, assurances of my high respect and esteem."

For our country to continue having our liberty and for our republic form of government to survive, it is important for us to know and learn our history, especially the history of our founding documents. I feel is is our duty, our obligation as citizens to do so. Do you feel the same?

Happy Independence Day, my fellow citizens! Long may freedom and liberty reign! 

Boom, Crash, Bang

Well, Father's Day weekend didn't turn out like I thought it would. Something happened Thursday afternoon that caused all my plans to be thrown out the window. I was involved in a car accident. 

Thursday was going to be a busy day for us anyway. DD wanted to visit her friends she had made while working at our local library. She hadn't seen them in a week since her temporary job ended. So, I dropped her off while I went to Walmart in our small town to get groceries. When I finished, I picked up DD then we went home to unload the groceries. 

We had about a 30 minutes to wait before we headed out to DD's dentist appointment in a neighboring town about 20 minutes away. When we finished up at the dentist, we went by MacDonald's to get some lunch to go. We took our lunch to my in-laws house to eat. We were there to pick up something and to visit with them for a while. After I finished eating, I headed back to our small town to stop by the vet's office to pick up Miss Oakley's pain meds, which I had forgotten on our first trip that morning. DD decided she would stay at her grandparents house while I was gone and I am so glad she did. 

As I got back to my in-laws house and was getting to turn into their driveway, I had to stop in the road to wait on 3 cars to go by. As I was getting ready to turn; I saw a flash in my rear view mirror, felt a jolt, and heard a noise. The next thing I remember was a young girl and boy at my door asking me if I was okay. All of the details we a bit hazy, but I remembered I didn't want to get upset in front of them, because the young lady was so upset. I asked them if the were alright and told them I was going to pull of the road, then go in to my in-laws house for help. I pulled off the road on to a side road that is beside my in-laws property. As I was moving my car, I figured out what the noise was ~ it was my car! 

As I walked to my in-laws house, I was so shaky. I opened the door and hollered for my MIL. She came into the kitchen and I told her what happened. I sent DD for my FIL and then I lost it standing in the middle of the kitchen. When I calmed down, I went back outside. Someone had stopped to help. He called 911 and was directing traffic. While I was digging through my pocketbook looking for DH's work phone numbers, a sheriff's vehicle pulled up. I was so relieved to see it was one of my cousin's husband. Some how his presence calmed me even more. He called to see how long it would be before the trooper would show up. He also called the EMT's to come check me out, after my in-laws convinced me I needed to be checked out. 

The next hour or two was spent trying to contact DH, retelling what happened as other family members arrived. Getting checked out by the EMT's. Reassuring the young lady, her brother, and her father (who arrived a short time later), that although I was getting stiff and sore, I was okay and things like that happened. Everyone's heart went out to the young lady. She was so distraught and cried the whole time. To make matters worse, she had just graduated the weekend before. When trooper showed up, he took all of our information and wrote up the report. By then, we had finally got a hold of DH and he had shown up. As the minutes ticked by, my lower back began to get stiffer and stiffer. By the time everything was said and done; I was hot, exhausted, stiff, sore, and heart sick to have added another burden on to DH's plate.  

That night saw little sleep for me. I was sore and stiff. It was hard to get comfortable, even with muscle relaxers and pain pills in me. It also didn't help that for about the first hour, I kept getting hit over and over again. Finally, sleep came and I slept good for about 2 hours. 

When DH got home from work on Friday, he took me to the ER to get checked out again. Since I was so sore and stiff, he wanted to make sure I was okay and to document I had been seen in case anything happens in the future as a result of the hit I took. The ER doc said she didn't see any evidence or symptoms of anything being broken. She thought I was just suffering from the jolt I took. She told me to keep doing what I had been doing and to take an easy for a few days.  

When DH put pictures on FB of my car, someone commented that God had been right there with me. Although God is with us all of the time, there are times when you can really see Him working in your life. I know He was there through the whole ordeal with all of us involved. First of all, none of us were seriously hurt. The wreck happened right in front of my in-laws house. The first officer on the scene just happened upon it and was a relative of mine. The father of the young lady that hit me went to school with DH. We knew the tow driver that came to get her car. The trooper was the nicest trooper I have meet, which made me happy for the terrified young lady. God was definitely there and making things happen. 

The young lady that hit me has learned a valuable lesson from all of this. She freely admitted that she was distracted and didn't see me in the road. The evidence of that she hit me dead center in the back. She didn't have time to swerve one way or the other. She had to be going the speed limit or just under because she pushed me 50 some feet down the road. I didn't see her in my rear view which I always check before I stop to turn. I hate she had to learn a life lesson like that, but she will be better off for it. 

That whole afternoon was a blur. I am sure I will remember more details in the next few days. However, the thing that is in the forefront of my mind is I am so thankful DD wasn't with me and no one was seriously hurt. God was indeed with us that day and He is good! 

The Purpose Of "A Life Lived Simply"

As a follower of Christ, I try my best to live by the truths, principles, and wisdom found in the word of God. So when God laid it upon my heart to start blogging again, a few verses of scripture came to mind ~ Titus 2: 3-5. It is a scripture very near to my heart and one I have tried to live. I have tried to share what little knowledge I have learned over the years as a wife and a housekeeper with my daughter, girls in a Keepers Of The Home group we were involved in, and young women in our former small group. Yet, the desire to share with more women was there and God gave me a clear vision of how to do that by blogging. So, I am stepping out in faith with this blog and letting God take care about reaching those who may benefit from it.

I felt that part of the purpose of this blog was to show younger women just how fulfilling a simple life could be. With all the shows and voices out there giving so many mixed messages about what it means to be a woman, a wife, or a mother; I wanted them to know there was nothing wrong with being a submissive wife. There is nothing wrong with wanting to care for your home and stay at home with your children. I wanted them to know joy can come from doing simple things like working a garden or spending time enjoying a meal outside with your family. I wanted them to know it is okay not to be on the go all of the time or busy with some sort of activity. I wanted them to know that some of the best pleasures in life are often the simplest ones; like going for a walk, taking a ride in the mountains, or snuggling in the bed with your spouse and a fur baby to watch a movie.

So it is here through this little blog where I will write down and share all the things I have learned about being a wife, mother, and home keeper over the years. I will share cleaning tips, organizational ideas, and recipes. I will give the readers little glimpses into our simple life through pictures and stories. It is here I will share a little bit of my heart and my faith. So join me as I continue my blogging journey! 

If you know someone that may benefit from this simple blog, please let them know. Let me know to, if you have found this blog helpful. I would love to hear suggestions for posts you would like to see and what types of posts are your favorite.

Simply Me

A little over a year and a half ago, I started this little blog. I did so out of a calling I felt from God to pass on what I have learned over the years about being a wife and a mother. I also felt an urging to show that a life lived simply can be a life lived well. I have followed the calling and continue to feel that calling. So, I thought today I would start a relaunch of sorts and introduce myself again. 

I am a 40 year old (getting closer to 50) living in the South, which is more than a region it is a way of life centered around God, family, and food. I am a child of God and  have accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I am trying to live my life in such a way that the love and glory of my heavenly Father will shine through. 

I have been happily married to my high school sweetheart for almost 30 years now. He is my rock and the other half of my heart. I believe he was appointed as the head of our household by God. I believe it is my duty as a follower of Christ to submit to his authority, an authority that he doesn't abuse in anyway. I couldn't ask for a more patient, giving, understanding, and loving man.  

We have 2 daughters; one an angel in heaven and a blessing here on earth. She has an hearing impairment that requires the use of hearing aides. She also has Asperger's Syndrome, which is a high-functioning form of Autism. Needless to say, life can be very interesting around our house. We have fur babies; 2 dogs (Oakley & Snowflake), 2 cats (Copper and Bashful), and 8 egg laying hens. 

I am an individual that does NOT go along with the crowd. I am definitely more of a donkey than a sheep. I find my own path and take the road less traveled. I am not a people person and find it hard to let people in. I have been burned too many times by very close family members which has made it hard for me to trust. All of this makes me somewhat shy until I get to know you, then watch out, I can talk your ear off.

Political speaking, I am NEITHER republican or democrat. If I had to define my views, I would say I am a Constitutional Conservative. I believe the Constitution is a document of negative powers that is meant to keep the federal government from interfering in our lives. I also believe in the rights of the states. I believe it is up to individuals, churches, and charities to care for those in need. I believe the government welfare system created another system of slavery that is hard to get out from underneath. I believe our system needs to go back to a system that is for the people and by the people, not a system for the sycophants and by the sycophants. I know everyone has their own ideas and opinions. I will gladly listen to your views with great respect and will think over points you have brought up, if you will give me the same consideration. 

Socially, I am conservative and adhere to my Biblical principles and truths. However, I will NOT interfere or belittle your beliefs, as long as you don't try to impose your beliefs on me. Although I am a follower of Christ and will share my beliefs with you if asked, I will NOT impose my beliefs on you.  Live the way you want, but don't expect me to condone it. I will respect your rights if you will do the same for me. We can agree to disagree. 

Well, that is a little bit of who I am and what I believe ~ the good, the bad, and the ugly. I am a simply complicated person who loves fiercely and believes what I believe. I am simply me!

A Update On Miss Oakley, Part 2

The 3 1/2 weeks since Oakley's vet appointment has been interesting and full of the 3 P's ( pee, puke, and poop.) It also has been a time of growth for me. I am learning more about having patience, more about not worrying, and more about letting things go. 

When it is hard to find something that a sick fur baby wants to eat, you go with what she will eat. Even if it has a brand name, is organic, and/or expensive. That is just how we roll.

On our way down the mountain returning home after "Our Weekend Get Away", Oakley got car sick and threw up. She did it again when we got home. After that, we had a little difficulty getting her to eat, but we chalked it up to her getting car sick and weren't that worried about it. She still was throwing up some, but that wasn't unusual for her in the Spring when her allergies were bothering her. We discussed all of this with Doc Hannah at Oakley's appointment. She agreed with us and wasn't to worried about it. 

However almost a week later, she was barely eating and was turning down some of her favorite foods. It was starting to get worrisome. It was then I noticed something in her mouth. When I inspected further, her gums on one side was puffed. She had a sore on them and a tooth loose. We knew her gums and teeth were bad, because little dogs are notorious for having bad teeth. Since her vet knew about her teeth, I stopped by to talk to them about it and asked for an antibiotic. They agreed and sent me home with the meds. 

Oakley took the antibiotic the first two days just fine in her peanut butter, but on the third day, she knew something was up and spit it out. She was also having a hard time keeping the food she did eat down. We tried to get the antibiotic down on the 3rd day by forcing it, traumatizing her and us, then she refused her pain pills in her peanut butter. We didn't know what to do. She wasn't eating much. She was throwing up and we couldn't get her pain meds in her. 

The next day I went to buy her some broth, which would get nutrients in her and be easy on her stomach. I stopped by the vet's office and told them what was going on. They told us to stop the antibiotic and see how she did. If she was still throwing up, they could run blood work to see if the cancer had spread to her liver. After trying to force pain meds in her, we finally got her to take her Pericox in some food, but would spit out her Tramadol. We tried force it for a day or two and then decided if she was getting the Pericox in that we wouldn't risk the trauma anymore. 

Over the next week, we saw improvement. We found part of the loose tooth in the bed and on the floor.  She quit throwing up and was eating better, but all the broth was making her urinate a lot often times in the house. However, a new problem came up. She wasn't making a poo. We knew the lack of solid food and the pain meds could be working against her, but also knew that it was part of the signs the cancer could be in her liver. We were once again looking at having blood work done, but we are happy to report that is no longer an issue. She has pooed and pooed a lot. I thought we would never be excited about poo, but we were, even if it was on our bedroom carpet. 

This week has bought even more improvement. She has more energy and seems to feel better. The one pain med seems to be enough to deal with the pain she is having.  She is hungry and is wanting to want more. She is eating a little meat in broth. She is also eating a yogurt with a little sugar, vanilla flavoring, and strawberry syrup mixed in.  She is enjoying some of her favorite foods again. She is wanting to walk around outside more and is running again. 

Our sweet fur baby asleep on the pile of blankets.

This whole process is teaching me a lot. It is making me realize that there are times I need to set aside the chore I am doing and just enjoy being with my fur baby. It is teaching me to be more flexible that everything can't run according to my plans and time table. It is teaching me to be patient. It is teaching me to not worry and to let go. 

I know our time together is growing short. I know I will eventually have to say good-bye and that makes me terribly sad.  I am going to use that time we have left to love on her and be there for this little creature God gave me to take care of. She is simply my fur baby!

An Update On Miss Oakley

If you have been following along at "A Life Lived Simply's" FB page, then you know the concerns we have for one of our fur babies, Miss Oakley. She has been having health problems since before Christmas. We had thought we had successfully overcome the problems she was having with the help of an emergency vet, but she still was limping on her right hind leg. So back to the vet we went. This time we went to her regular vet, Doc Hannah, for  a look see. Doc Hannah soon discovered a lump on her leg and diagnosed her with bone cancer. That was on March 31st. 

Miss Oakley giving us her shy pose while we were camping two weekends ago.

Doc Hannah talked over our options for treatment at that time. We all agreed that since Miss Oakley was 15 years old, that is wasn't wise to try to amputate the leg or put her through treatments. We decided to go with pain meds and let her tell us when she was ready for us to do something else. 

Doc Hannah prescribed 3 doses of tramadol a day and one of Previcox a day. We decided to try a dose of tramadol in the morning and then Previcox in the evening. That combo has worked well. We have given her a dose of tramadol at lunchtime, when she seemed to be limping a little more from exertion the day before. Just the two pain meds have helped tremendously. She feels better than she has since before Christmas.

This past Friday, we took her back to see Doc Hannah. She was due for her yearly vaccinations. We also wanted Doc Hannah to do a recheck and  we wanted to discuss her continued course of treatment. With Doc Hannah's advice, we decided to forego the vaccines. They are rather moot at this point. 

Overall, Doc Hannah was encouraged by how well Miss Oakley was doing. She did agree with us that the tumor was now on the outside of the right hind too, but the one on the inside hadn't got any better. She advised us to continue doing the pain meds the way we were and to let how Miss Oakley felt dictate when to increase them. We discussed the concern we had of Miss Oakley breaking her leg which wouldn't heal right and may lead us to making a decision. Since she was feeling better there are times when she takes off running. We were concerned that might up her chances of her breaking that leg. Doc Hannah said she didn't see that happening and let Miss Oakley do what she feels like doing. We were still advised to take precautions because there was a slight chance it could. 

Doc Hannah was pleased to see that Miss Oakley had gained weight back. She gave us the go ahead to continue to feed Miss Oakley people food if that was what Miss Oakley would eat. At this point in Miss Oakley's life, it wasn't going to hurt her. Miss Oakley was thrilled by that bit of news, because she LOVES people food.

We finally discussed the hardest part. How long are we looking at? Doc Hannah said that from the onset of the cancer, it was usually 8 to 10 months before the end comes. She gave us more signs to look for and that Miss Oakley would let us know when she had had enough. 

Our spoiled fur baby, Miss Oakley!

Knowing we still have a few months to love on Miss Oakley was good news. However, we know there are some rough days ahead of us. We will face them when they come and do what is best for our spoiled fur baby. I just ask that you continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers, because it will be hard on us to say good-bye, but we will do so knowing Miss Oakley was well loved and loved us back. 

Happy Resurrection Sunday

He is risen! 

He is risen, indeed! 

Easter Sunday is a very important day for me as a follower of Christ. It is the day my Lord and Saviour arose from the dead after give His life as a sacrifice so that my sins and the sins of all people could be forgiven. 

His resurrection is also a promise of the eternal life all mankind will have when we confess our sins, ask for forgiveness for them, pledge to live life differently according to His Holy Word, and accept Him as our Lord and Saviour. 

If you feel like something is missing in your life and you need unburden yourself, will you please consider accepting the promise of eternal life by accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. All it requires is a little humbleness, confession, belief, and acceptance. Will you accept Him today? 

Low in the grave he lay, Jesus my Savior,
waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!
Up from the grave he arose;
with a mighty triumph o'er his foes;
he arose a victor from the dark domain,
and he lives forever, with his saints to reign.
He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!  

Death cannot keep its prey, Jesus my Savior;
he tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord! 

Up from the grave he arose;
with a mighty triumph o'er his foes;
he arose a victor from the dark domain,
and he lives forever, with his saints to reign.
He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!  

Have a Happy Easter and a blessed Resurrection Sunday!  

How To Make A Cross Cake

If you are like me, holidays mean family gatherings and food. These gatherings give me a chance to try out new recipes or come up with creative dishes or desserts. However, creative can often mean time consuming. So, if you are looking for something easy yet creative to take to a family gathering this coming Easter weekend, then this cross cake may be right for you. 

You will need to bake a cake in a 9" X 13" cake pan. I used my favorite white cake recipe. It makes a very thin cake which works really well for the construction of the cross. Let the cake cool completely before cutting it up and decorating it.

When the cake is cool, cut in half lengthwise. Next cut of the halves into 2 pieces; making one 2 inch piece and one 11 inch piece.

On a big piece of cake board, place the uncut piece vertically near the bottom. Next take the 11 inch piece and place at the top end of the vertical piece perpendicular so it is evenly spaced on either side.  Take the 2 inch piece on top of the perpendicular piece so it is in line with the vertical piece.

Now that the cross is assembled, it can be iced and decorated. I use icing on all the ends where the pieces meet, so it will help them stick together to help the cake maintain its shape. 

A cross cake is simple to make but still pretty and appropriate for this upcoming Easter holiday! 

A Philosophy To Live By

DH found the following somewhere on the internet a few years ago. We have it posted on the cork board in the office at eye level so it catches our attention every time we sit down. It is a good philosophy to try to live by and one we try to live by each year that passes.

"Choose to live by choice, not by chance. To make changes, not excuses. To be motivated, not manipulated. To be useful, not used. To excel and not to compete. Choose self esteem, not self pity. Choose to listen to your inner voice that comes from the heart and not the random opinions of others. Speak what you want to say with confidence and dream knowing that the smaller dreams always lead to the bigger ones. God is before you to light your way, beside you to befriend you, and inside of your to give you His peace." 

A simple philosophy to live by and one that will simply speak volumes in your life! 

Living a simple life and simply loving every second of it! 

Intentional: A Word To Live By In 2017

Intentional is defined as something being done with a purpose. Being intentional is putting forth some thought into what you are doing or planning. It is taking the time to purposefully think about your actions. Intentional is making those things the most important in your life feel important. Intentional is my second word to live by this year. 

Most of the time, I am a dreamer and a thinker. I daydream about grandiose ideas of have to make an event a little extra special, but never take the time to see those ideas out. I think about all these extra special things I would like to do for DH, DD, or our fur babies, but never do them. Most of my time is consumed with trying to keep our home clean, which is an never ending task. I spend more time and put more purpose behind taking care of our home, than I do my loved ones. That needs to change. 

I also don't take the time to do little things to help me take of myself. So intentional ties in really well with my other word for the year - healthy. I have to put purpose behind trying to get healthy and take the time to do so. 

Intentional also carries over in to my desire to let the light of Jesus shine through my life. I have to be intentional about strengthening my faith and my walk with the Lord. I have to make my prayer time a priority and get in the habit of reading the Bible more.

As I began to look for scripture to focus on for the word, I was surprised about how many I found. Here are some of my favorites:

James 1:22 "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."

Deuteronomy 6:5 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."

Philippians 2: 14-15 "Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky."

Ephesians 5: 15-16 "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."

1st Corinthians 4: 2 "Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful."

So as the new year continues on, I want to take more time with my family and fur babies. I want to spend more time with them. I want to put purpose behind the ideas I have to let them know how special they are. I want to make that time planned and deliberate. I want to take those ideas and extend it to every aspect of my life. I want to let go of my perfect clean home ideal and just take life as it comes when it applies to our home. I want to be intentional about living my life and learning to enjoy life more. Being intentional is simply a good thing! 

Living a simply blessed life and learning to simply be intentional about how I live it!   

Healthy: A Word To Live By In 2017

Healthy is an important word for me. I inherited high blood pressure from my daddy's side of the family and have had it since I was 21. I have to take two medicines and keep an eye on it. I am also borderline diabetic. Although by today's standards I am not extremely overweight, I still have several, several pounds to lose. While I have lost quite a bit of weight my doctor assures me if I lose more, the diabetic threat will lessen. I also don't want to end up like my paternal grandmother, extremely overweight and unable to move around much. That is not how I want to spend my golden years. So for my health and so I can enjoy the life I have left, I want to get healthy and healthier. 

We have already taken several steps in improving our diet to healthier options, but we need to go further. For one, I need to reduce the amount of Cheerwine I drink and drink more water. I need to look closer at labels and reduce our amount of chemical intake even further. I need to continue to look for healthier alternatives to those prepackaged sugary and salty treats. That means buying more fruits, nuts, and seeds. It is a process and a journey, but it is worth it.

I also need to exercise more. I need to reduce the amount of time I sit on my rear and move every opportunity I get. I need to walk the dogs and walk with DH every chance we get, even if it is too cold, too hot, or too windy. Besides walking with DH as soon as he gets home is a great way for DH and I to reconnect and catch each other up on our day.

One thing I need to add to what we are already doing is to learn to take a little time for myself. I need to let go of my OCD tendencies and realize my house doesn't need to be spotless. I need let DD and DH do more things even if they don't do it the way I want to. I need to learn to take a few minutes to myself, take more time for prayer and meditation, time so I can destress and decompress.  I truly believe a healthy, peaceful soul and mind is the key to a healthier body. 

Part of taking care of myself, especially since I am getting older, is to take better care of my skin. I need to see those few minutes a day it takes to apply a little moisturizer and lip balm for what it is - a few minutes. A few minutes out of my day to do something for myself is NOT a waste of time.  

In the Bible, we are told that our bodies become a temple when we accept Jesus as our Saviour, because the Holy Spirit dwells within. We are admonish to take care of our temple not only physically, but mentally and spiritually. There are also other scriptures that give us great advice for our mind, body, and soul. 

These are the verses I have choose to focus on this year as I strive to become healthy/healthier:

1st Corinthians 6: 19-20 

"...do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s."

1st Corinthians 10: 31
"Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

Proverbs 17: 22

"A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones."

Proverbs 3: 7 - 8

"Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil.  It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones."

I have no promises to myself or resolved to become healthier. It is something I want to and willing to work for. Here is to a healthier version of me! 

Simply looking forward to what this new year has in store for me!  

Words To Live By In 2017

New Year Resolutions are not for me. Why say you are going to resolve to do something, when most likely you want keep your resolve. I see resolutions are unattainable ideas that we can never live up to. I do like the idea of setting goals. Goals are something you can work toward, but don't feel guilty is you don't make it all the way. Sometimes, the striving for a goal is as rewarding as reaching the goal. 

As I was thinking about goals to set for myself this year, I ran across a blog called Casey Leigh or The Wiegands. As I spent the better part of a month reading her blog, I came across her New Year's posts where she prays about a word for the upcoming year. The word God gives her each year is an area in her life she needs to work on. As she steps out in faith, she sees ways every day that God is helping her in that area. 

I liked her idea and began asking for guidance from God in the areas I need work on. As I reflected, two words kept coming to mind; healthy and intentional. When I tried to pick between the two, it became an impossible task. So I am claiming two words for the year; healthy and intentional. 

I picked healthy because I frankly need to take better care of myself. I need to take more time for myself. I need to make healthier decisions. I need to work on body, mind, and soul. 

I picked intentional because I need to be more deliberate and have more purpose behind the time I spend with my family. I need to take a little extra time to let them know in small ways they are special, loved, and very important to me. I also need to do this with the fur babies and egg laying ladies in my life. DH, DD, fur babies, and our egg laying ladies need to be more important than our house or chores. I need to be more purposeful behind FB and blog posts too. Most importantly, I need to be more intentional when it comes to my relationship with God and time I spend with Him. 

Healthy and Intentional are my words to claim for this new year. I hope to see progress in my life as I work on these areas in my life. It is going to be a good year and I am ready for the challenge. 

Join me tomorrow and Thursday, as I expand on these words and the scriptures I have found to use for inspiration. 

Here's to living an intentional, healthy, simple life in 2017!

Why Blog? Why This Blog?

"A Life Lived Simply" reaches a milestone this week. It is turning one year old. As of today, I have been blogging for a whole calendar year. Wednesday, Jan. 4th, is the official one year mark of this blog. It has a been a good year. 

I have been blogging off and on since 2006. I have had a home schooling blog, a homesteading blog, and another "Life Lived Simply" blog. I enjoyed doing those, but they soon became a burden to me and a chore. So, I quit. I never thought I would blog again, because I just couldn't find the time or a real desire to do it. I felt like it was just something I was trying because everyone else was doing it, too. 

Well, if you have been reading at all this past year, you know I am one that normally doesn't follow the crowd. So I why was I following the blogging trend. I just couldn't figure it out. So, I decided to step away from it for good. However, God had other plans for me. 

In the Summer and Fall of 2015, I started getting this nudge to blog again. I would be doing something and think this would be a good thing to blog about. Or, I would be fixing a meal and think this would be a good blog post. I honestly didn't know where those thoughts were coming from. I just didn't have time to blog. Yet, I kept getting that nudge. It finally hit me maybe it wasn't me having those thoughts maybe it was coming from someone else. 

All that Summer and Fall, I was also coming to terms with DD's Asperger's. A lot of stuff started coming to light and I realized that I would have to set aside some of the dreams I had as a momma. I had to face the fact that a marriage for my DD and grandchildren for me just may not be in our future for the time being. I also had to come to terms with the fact that DD would not be walking in my footsteps as a person who liked to clean, cook, and craft. So all the thoughts I had of passing on things I loved and had learned to DD had to be put aside. Yet, I had a desire to pass that stuff along to someone, but the question was how? 

So as the nudging became stronger to blog and I was trying to figure out how could I pass along what I had learned, these scripture verses kept coming to mind. Titus 2: 3 - 5 "The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;  That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." Why did these verses keep coming to mind? It was then, I realized the nudging could be coming from God. Could it be that blogging again could be a way for me to pass on what I had learned? It was time for God and I to have a little talk. 

In the quiet of the night, I asked God if it was His will for me to start a blog again to let me know in some way. And, if it was His will, He was going to have to give me a clear direction as to how to go about it. He was going to have to help me not make it a burden or a chore to do. He was going to have to give me some humility to help me from seeming pompous or holier than thou. He was going to have to help me to find a way to pass on what I have learned and my faith in a way as to not make others feel bad about themselves or compare their season of life to the season of life that I am in. So, I stepped out in faith and began blogging. 

Blogging has been easy this time around. I have had a clear direction on what to blog and when to blog. I haven't stressed when I didn't have time to get a planned post up. I haven't worried about how many people are reading. I haven't worried about turning it into a money making thing. I haven't worried about anything. I have shared my heart, my faith, and what I have learned on my journey through life. The best thing of all it has brought me joy. Joy is an important thing in making something success. 

This blog has not reached a lot of people, but that is okay. I have asked God to see that it reaches the people it needs to reach and that the people that need to learn something from it will find their way here. I am not after recognition or fame, but if I can help one person out there with something then I will feel like I have accomplished my mission. It really isn't my blog anyway. It is God's blog and that is the way it should be. 

Living a simple life and simply in love with blogging! 

The Christmas Story: Matthew 2: 1 - 12

There are many misconceptions about the magi's or wise men's visit to Jesus. The pictures of them being present with the shepherds at the birth of Jesus is more of tradition than a fact. No one really knows where they came from, but it is believed that they visited Jesus when he was a young toddler 2 or younger based on Biblical information. If you would like to read more follow the link to here. 

Matthew 2: 1 - 12

"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”  

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
    who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 

 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route."

Simply cherishing the story of the birth of Jesus found in the Word of God! 

The Christmas Story: Luke 2: 8 - 20

When it came time for the angels to share the birth of Jesus with those in the world, the first people they shared it with were the shepherds. The telling to the shepherds was symbolic gesture to show Jesus would be a caring shepherd that watch carefully over His flock of believers. 

Pic via The Antics Road Show Blog.

Luke 2: 8 - 20

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 

 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.  

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told."

Simply cherishing the story of the birth of Jesus found in the Word of God!

The Christmas Story: Luke 2: 1 - 7

The story of the birth of Jesus is a simple story, but one that impacted the whole world. 

Luke 2: 1 - 7

"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.

 

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.  

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them."

Simply cherishing the story of the birth of Jesus found in the Word of God!

The Christmas Story: Matthew 1: 18 - 25

The story about the birth of Jesus has many parts to it, that span over several years. It is also a story about stepping out in faith and a story of forgiveness. It is a story about listening to and putting your trust in God.

Matthew 1: 18 -25

"Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.  

But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”  

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).  

When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus."

Simply cherishing the story of the birth of Jesus found in the Word of God! 

The Christmas Story: Luke 1: 26 - 38

All this week, I want to share the story of my Saviour's birth. It is a special story for me and my family. All of us at various points in our life have performed in plays at church telling this story. Parts of it have been read from various family members at family gatherings over the years. It is one of those childhood memories that I will always have in my heart. 

Pic via Assumption Catholic Church.

Luke 1: 26 - 38

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.  

And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Simply cherishing the story of the birth of Jesus found in the Word of God! 

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Over at "A Life Lived Simply's" FB, I have an album up that is giving everyone a glimpse into life around our home during the holidays and how we are preparing for Christmas ~ "It's The Holiday Season". Go check it out! 

Our Story

"Oh, I can't stand that Matt Sills! He is such a jerk!" I uttered those words quite frequently my 9th grade year. That Matt Sills had a major crush on one of best friends and ended up being the boyfriend of another best friend and I couldn't stand him. Little did I know some 4 short years later I would be married to him. My, oh my, how quickly things can change. Life is funny like that!

That change was slow in coming, because he was a year behind me in school and we weren't around each other for a full year. For a while, he was forgotten. That all changed my 11th grade year when he came to the high school and I saw him every day in band. Slowly, we became friendly and then friends of a sort. By my 12th grade year, we gradually became even closer friends. 

The week before school was to be let out for Christmas, a bunch of us decided we would all go out to the movies that weekend. We began to make plans. I was hoping another boy would be going out with us, but I was torn between him and what I was feeling for Matt. It just so happen that God had different plans and His ways are mysterious. The weekend plans wound up being a double date with one of my best friends, the boy she liked, me, and Matt. The rest as you say was history. We were almost inseparable from that night forward. Two months later, we exchanged class rings and were going steady. Three months in, we were ready to get married and spend the rest of our lives together. However, my parents saw things a little differently and started limiting our time together.

As the school year was coming to an end, my parents insisted I get a job to start saving money for college. Though they had never insisted before, I looked at it as an attempt to limit more of our time together. I graduated and the time for me to go off to college was drawing near. We knew we were about to be separated and we really didn't like the idea. We wanted to get married, but knew our parents would object since I was going off to college and Matt was starting his senior year in high school. We knew of only one way to force their hand and let us get married ~ to get pregnant. 

A month into my freshmen year in college, I was pregnant. We waited until October to tell our parents and by November we were married. We had gotten what we wanted, but life wasn't going to be that easy for us. In January, I went into early labor and our little girl was born. She was born way too early and her little body just wasn't ready for life. She fought hard but her small body just couldn't make it. She died 3 days later on Matt's 18th birthday. 

Life smacked us in our face and it smacked us hard, but we believe God allowed our little one to die to draw Matt and I closer together. I know that may sound cruel to some people, but to us it wasn't. That doesn't mean we were angered, or resentful, because we were, but in order to survive we had to accept it and move on with life. I believe her death drew our hearts closer together and made the bond between us stronger. 

Over the years with a lot  of inward reflection, we have shared our story with others. We tell people we know God meant for us to be together. He had a plan for us and our life, but instead of waiting on His plan to come to fruition, we went with ours. We tell them we know we committed a sin by having premarital sex and by defying our parents. We now know that they are consequences to our sin. While we don't believe our daughter's death was a punishment, we do believe it was a consequence. If we had waited until the end of Matt's senior year to get married and get pregnant, there would have been a drug they could have given our little one that would have helped her little body fight better and increased the chance of her survival. 

God has been at the center of relationship working things according to His plan from the very beginning. We have veered off that path a time or two, but He was still working in our lives. With each passing year, we strive to grow closer to God and to let His light shine through us. We try at all times to keep Him at the center of our love. With His help, we have such a bond between us that we often finish each others sentences and have the same thoughts. We have learned to laugh during the hard times, to set aside the angry and forgive, to resist the urge the wring each others neck when we are at odds, and to face things together. Matt has become my best cheerleader and worst critic. He tells me like it is and can speak to harshly to me at times, but through all the ups and downs, I know I am loved. He is my heart song and my soulmate. I am complete when I am with him. He is me and I am him. 

This weekend, we will celebrate our 29th wedding anniversary. The 29 years have flown by, but they have been wonderful because we have spent them together. Happy Anniversary, Matt Sills! I can stand you now and can't imagine my life without you in it! 

Simply in love with my soulmate and simply the better for it!