So What Is S.I.M.P.L.E.?

Well, I'm glad you asked.  I had this great post planned about our "SIMPLE" Christmas, even had most of it written but that wasn't what was on my heart.  Guess I'll have to save that one for later this week... I'm sure you can't wait...LOL!

The dear husband and I have had many talks over the past two years or so about developing a "simple" lifestyle.  We live almost in the center of a city that whole-heartedly endorses a "More Is Better" philosophy (the more activities your kids are in the better, the more rooms in your house the better, the more toys you have the better... you get the idea).  Well, we've been down that road and it is just not OUR philosophy any more.  So what do we do??? We work on making things S.I.M.P.L.E.

Somewhere along the path, I began to see that "simple" was more than a lifestyle I wanted, S.I.M.P.L.E. stood for the areas of my life that I want to focus on.  And amazingly enough they line up in order of importance.  So let's take a look...

S - Spiritual... this would include my prayer time, bible reading, learning more about my faith, spending time with God, time at church.

I - "I" (well, that would be me...LOL!)... this includes hygiene, health, hobbies, activities that I enjoy.

M - Marriage... these are goals that I have for my marriage, improving my relationship with my husband, activities with him.

P - Parent... these are the goals I have as a parent, ways to improve my communication with my children, activities I want to do with them, discipline, and habits I think they should have regarding hygiene, health and hobbies.

L - Living arrangements... this is the one that includes cleaning, paying bills, menu planning (if I ever did that), laundry, vehicle maintenance.

E - Education... this is important to me because I educate my children at home, but as they grow older, it will probably evolve to my own education or to a career of some sort.  If you do have children, but don't school them at home, then this would be for the "Extras" like sports, homework, and things like that.

I've already begun working on these this year but am just now beginning to give this idea a voice.  If you read this blog, I hope you will follow me over on S.I.M.P.L.E., as well.  And I'd love for you to give it a try and comment on your S.I.M.P.L.E. plans.  My hope is to have some planning sessions before the new year and then begin with a more formal S.I.M.P.L.E. plan in January.  Hope to see you there!

In love and recovery,

ThereO

This is my brain... on overdrive!

The good news... my online time has decreased.  The bad news... it still needs to decrease a lot more.

The good news... without being online so much, my brain has had time to think about things.  The bad news... now my brain is on overdrive thinking about too many things... LOL!

So since this is MY blog, I'm going to use a little piece of it to share what is now clogging up my brain cells (those who are squeamish may want to look away NOW...LOL!)

Thankful Project - This is a project I started because I desire a family focused on Thanksgiving (the act not the holiday).  It's a nifty little idea and I can see a big difference after only a week.  My thoughts are here wondering if I'm going to be able to do this another 358 days!  I know, I know one day at a time.

S.I.M.P.L.E. - Another blog???  I know... why have 2 when I can have 3???  Actually, I've had this brain child spinning around in my head for about a year now.  I just decided to get it out there and see what happens.  It's hiding out in my brain right now because even though I've started it, I can't quite decide what I want to do with it now... LOL!

The Homeschool - I've got so many plans but that seems as far as they get.  Putting it into action has just not been my strength.  So how do I move from the great plans I have to activity?  Hmmm, that's what I've been wondering too!

The House - There is a phrase in Overeater's Anonymous... "ACTING AS IF."  Friday after I posted about my depression, I decided to try it and "act as if" I was in a cleaning mood.  Surprisingly, it worked!!!  Okay, I'm not done, but this weekend was amazingly productive.  In fact, I'm really stunned at how wonderful the kitchen looks... one of my major trouble spots.  Of course, I still have much to do and hence, more brain clog.

The Kids - Well, I'm a mom, they are always on my mind.  Four kids, four times the brain traffic... need I say more???

The Husband - My dear husband has many things on his mind, therefore, I do too.

ME - Oh gosh, where do I begin???  I'm really wanting to get into digital photography and digital scrapbooking.  I want to learn languages.  I want to read.  I want to play hockey (okay, that one even throws me for a loop... might actually be a good blog topic).  I want to play the piano.  I want to travel.  I want to write.  I want to start cooking nutritious meals for my family (I really do, dear husband).  I need to make use of the tools of Overeater's Anonymous and get rid of the weight that is keeping me unhealthy.  I want to spend time on the hobbies I already enjoy... knitting, crochet, quilting, sewing, smocking, scrapbooking, cross-stitch, music and singing, crafting, painting, I guess the list goes on and on.  And some new hobbies... the digital photography and scrapbooking, play station games, bread baking, green products, Russian history, lots of computer stuff (programming and blogging and design, oh my!), and it seems that list is ever-growing as well.  And the two biggies on my list (for those of you that didn't doze off by now), I desperately want to start a business of some sort that I can do while I continue to homeschool yet raise enough money to put us in a position so we can do missionary work.  Whew!

The Church (God) - This one is pretty much covered in the mission work...LOL!  I want to hold those babies in the orphanages in Romania.  I can't think about it too much because it just breaks my heart but every time I see a baby, I think of those sweet, unheld babies in orphanages around the world.  I want to hold them.  I want to let them know that they are not alone, that God loves them and will always be there for them even when we humans fail them.  I want to teach our children the blessing of loving those that others have abandoned.  I am very fortunate to be part of the community of saints known as the Orthodox Church... I want to not only teach my children the blessing of being an Orthodox Christian but to share that blessing with others.

Oh, did I also mention that I've got Christmas and travel plans and gifts on the brain.  Wait, it may have exploded!!!  Nope, I think it's just EMPTY now that I've gotten it all out on the blog  

:-)

In love and recovery,

ThereO

Rhythm Song - Week 3

It has not escaped my noticing that the third week of moving towards a rhythm has begun.  I've been occupied with the NEW project but I'm still plugging away at this one.  This week's focus is some parenting issues that I need to get in place. 

I have definitely not succeeded this past two weeks as I had hoped.  I still have some things to do before the homeschool list is complete.  And, let's just say, in regards to the house stuff... ewww, not enough time in a year to get that one done...lol!  So I will keep moving on with my weeks but still try to wrap those up as well.

I know many things have not been accomplished because, well, there are just too many things to be done... LOL!!!!  But I've really been struggling these past few weeks with depression as well, and let's face it, who wants to do something(or anything, for that matter) when it takes every ounce of energy to get a diet dr. pepper?  I have realized however, that I have the desire to get things done, just not the physical initiative to get going.  My OA program is lacking, my spiritual fire has fizzled, my joy and peace are non-existent.  So now what?  So now I pray and I ask God to show me how to find that joy and peace.  I hear Him already but do I want to obey? And what if disobedience just leads to more depression... probably shouldn't go that route.

Oh, I just hate it when God wants me to spend less time on the computer...LOL!  But, yep, that's what I hear.  Darn!  And improve my emotional connections with the kids... geez, how convenient... on parent week  :-)  And of course, God wouldn't forget HBD - perhaps I should listen more and talk less?  And I definitely know he wants me to find some quiet time.... HELLO?  Do you know what time of year this is, God?  Do you know what my to do list looks like???  Hmmm, yep, You probably do... on all accounts.

If I honestly listen, it really sounds like God wants me to listen to the music before I try to set a rhythm.  May the songs of your life bring you joy this week.

In love and recovery,

ThereO

Thanksgiving-Inspired

I've been busy working on my "Thanksgiving" project. It's not exactly as I want it yet but I'm almost there.

But first I want to share my plans for helping my children to keep "Thanksgiving" in Christmas. I've been busy finding ornaments for the kids to make. In fact, I've got one ornament planned every day from now until Christmas. 24 ornaments...yikes!... but before you head for the anti-anxiety medicine (or perhaps guess that maybe I've had too many of mine...LOL) let me share that most of these are very SIMPLE. Most need only a few items that I found at the dollar store. So where does "Thanksgiving" come in? As we create our ornaments, each of the kids will have to pick one thing to give thanks over and then explain why they are thankful for that particular person or thing. I want them to dig deeper than "I'm thankful for the trees." Then each ornament will be hung on a tree in their room. SIMPLE (some of you may not know that is one of my very favorite words).

Now, on to the project. I have created a second blog. For the next 365 evenings, I am going to post what each member of our family is thankful for and why. I'm hoping I can get the "old folks" to participate as well. I'm hoping there will be a difference in my family next December 1st that I will be... well... THANKFUL to see. Please join me and the family as we make 2009 the Year of Thanksgiving. Hope to see you over at the Thankful Project.


In love and recovery,
ThereO

A Song of Thanksgiving

So while the rest of mainstream America celebrates Thanksgiving with the traditional turkey and ALL the trimmings, our family has opted out of the custom. Why you may ask? Several reasons... 1-my dear sweet husband is a vegetarian-wannabe vegan, 2-our family is orthodox and we are in a time of fasting, 3-I'm a compulsive overeater and this day FEEDS (pun intended) into that, 4- we are quickly moving away from being a "traditional" American family, 5-I'm wanting to create a family life that celebrates "thanksgiving" every day!

Soooo... I've already begun looking at ways to keep the family focused on thanksgiving on a daily basis. One of my ways to incorporate this will be to begin posting "A Song of Thanksgiving" on Thursdays... beginning today of course. And my hope is to post very soon on my plan to keep "thanksgiving" happening during the Christmas season.

My Song of Thanksgiving...
1. For my God, who loves me and has given me this beautiful life on a daily basis (whether I am thankful for it on a daily basis or not).
2. For my dear sweet husband, who challenges me and who wants to show me on a daily basis that the "road less travelled" is usually the one worth following.
3. For princess, who teaches me WAY more about myself than I really want to know.
4. For rosebud, who has shown me how to be enthusiastic.
5. For stinkbug, who STILL likes to hold my hand and sit by me, even though he is 8.
6. For sugarcake, who keeps me younger than I should be while making me feel REAL old!
7. For Overeaters Anonymous, who has taught me what this disease does to me AND has also shown me what true thanksgiving is.

And my bonus verse...
8. For the Dallas Stars, who won last night....YEA!!!!

In love and recovery,
ThereO

TIME to get real

Okay, I'm coming clean. The TIME for school post is just NOT me. Well, not what I'm wanting from this life, at least. Reading back over it (and thanks for your comment Pres. Kathy) I realize that it is just not realistic to get all of that done this week, nor does it lend itself to the rhythm that I'm seeking. It's basically a to do list. I'm always going to have a to do list but it is HOW I accomplish the to do list that I did not address and that is where I am wanting to find the rhythm.

So back to the drawing board. The time slots for school activities went well today and I definitely want to continue with that. It really seemed to give us a rhythm and although the kids really balked at first, by the end of the day, they did seem a bit more joyful knowing what to expect. I'm tossing the plan for the week in yesterday's post and instead I will focus on papers and finances until those are done... then I'll worry about what to tackle next on the HOME list. Just as with the SCHOOL week, I'm hoping that once that area is complete I'll be able to see where that component of my life fits into the rhythm.

So for now the rest of the house will just have to be as it is (sorry dear husband...LOL) until the papers are done. But I have a feeling this will all be worth it.

Blessings to you all!
In love and recovery,
Therese

TIME for School

One week down... five to go...LOL! So how did school week go? Let's just say the inside area is awesome. The outside area... not so much! But I feel organized going into Monday for the first time since beginning this journey. Schedules have been made for the children. Books are sorted and organized and papers for our history unit are in their notebooks. Our schooling lately could best be described as "unschooling" but I'm hoping this past week will move us more towards a happy-medium eclectic.

So as I embark upon the next week of tasks, I'm so wishing there were 12 weeks until 2009. This week finds me at the "HOME" area of my life. And probably the area that needs the most attention. This area consists of not only the actual house but also finances and papers. So the plan for this week...

Monday - finances, bedroom, bathroom, living area.
Tuesday - papers, bedroom, bathroom, living area.
Wednesday - finances, bedroom, bathroom, misc areas (washroom, hallway, etc)
Friday - papers, bedroom, kitchen
Weekend - garage and yard

This is where things already begin to get tricky. "Scheduling" the tasks of the coming week within the schedule developed from this past week. So with that thought, I should move on to bed and get a good night's sleep. It sounds like a busy week... LOL!

In love and recovery,
ThereO