Decluttering As A Spiritual Practice

"Those are all in excellent condition." He indicates the box of assorted computer wires I had pulled out of a closet and brought down to donate. "There's no reason to get rid of them."

"Yes, but we haven't touched them in at least 6 years. Are we ever going to use them again?"

He admitted it. "Probably not. No."

If you've been on social media before or during Lent for the past 5 or so years, you've probably seen "40 bags in 40 days" linked to by friends and family. Even those with little if any connection to the church and possibly no idea about what Lent is really all about link to it and resolve to embrace the challenge. 40 bags of donations in the 40 days of Lent.

I've dabbled in it for the past few years, never committed enough to actually keep track but knowing that it doesn't take much for me to get 40 bags of stuff out of the house even when it's not Lent. I'm an avid declutterer at all times, so Lent just gives me a little extra push. Still, I've been thinking on the motivations and wondering if there is really any spiritual benefit to this practice.

It's not an unfounded consideration. When giving up (or embracing) new practices during Lent, I make sure to look at my motives. Giving up certain foods can be a great way to fast, but is the motivation really drawing closer to Jesus or more about that 5-10 lbs I want to lose? Making the commitment to be more intentional about exercise is certainly a good and healthy thing to embrace during Lent, but again - where is my heart on this?

Similarly, when thinking about decluttering for Lent, I wonder - am I really just "Spring Cleaning" my house? Or can there be a deeper spiritual benefit to this? As with giving up certain foods or taking on a healthier lifestyle, it comes down to the heart of the matter.

I found this graphic to be very helpful in showcasing the non-spiritual need for decluttering, but also for considering how the simple act of decluttering has the potential to change our lives and the lives of those around us for the better.

If you choose to do 40 bags in 40 days or something similar, here are a few things to meditate on as you work.

Decluttering embraces God's provision.

Philippians 4:19 

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

There is a strong temptation to feel like we are our own saviors when it comes to our material needs. When I look back across the life we've lived, I know how untrue that is. God's provision is a real thing. It's truth. While it is not a call to be careless and wasteful, it is a nudge to set aside worries of self preservation and have the trust that generosity will never cost us more than we can afford.  This is a tough one and took me a very long time to embrace, especially in a home with many growing children. Embracing God's provision is an exercise in trusting Him better.

Decluttering frees up time for other pursuits.

Colossions 3:2

Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.

Excess stuff doesn't just clutter up our homes. It clutters up our lives. It eats our time as we shuffle it from one space to another, spend time caring for it, repairing it, thinking about it, dealing with it. Making intentional decisions on what you own based on what you actually need can free up space in your life for other things. Ever notice how if you have one cell phone charger, you make sure you know where it is - but if you have four, at any given time you are spending time looking for one because the excess has made you careless? Perhaps not the best example, but I've found it to be true. Less time spent on stuff means more time to intentionally live the life you've been called to.

Decluttering yields Generosity

Hebrews 13:16

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

This one comes with a bit of a caution. Generosity is not just giving away the things that aren't "good enough" for you. Generosity can sometimes pinch a bit. That's a good thing. I used to try to hold onto all the clothes for my kids that were in great condition - and found myself overwhelmed with much more than we need. Decluttering isn't about only getting rid of the stuff no one wants. Being thoughtful about giving good things to others instead of storing them all up for yourself is a heart - stretcher and opens you up to loving others better.

Focusing on these aspects of decluttering helps to examine our intentions on the matter. As with any fast, it all comes down to the heart.


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Why Mending Matters

It hung in my closet for years, that dress Mom and I found on the clearance rack at JCrew for a song when I was 17. I wore it all the time that summer - to church and out with friends, picnics and parties. It was breezy, pretty and everything you want in a sun dress.

Years passed and pregnancies came and went and I wore it a few more times in between. One day I noticed a small pull between the main fabric and the lining along the zipper. I wore it again and it got worse. So I stuck it in my closet and left it alone. Sometimes I'd grab it before remembering - that's right, it needs to be fixed. Never mind then. Summer after summer it waited, untouched.

Last weekend, I pulled it out and sat cross legged on the bed with a needle and thread. 5 minutes later it was fixed. Wearable. Useful again.

In my pursuit of clutter-free, simple living, I often forget about mending. That or it just doesn't seem to be worth my time. In our American life, we have so much. Often I get rid of clothes for the kids that might need a little fixing because the time/benefit equation doesn't balance out. I tend to err more on the side of getting rid of things that are no longer useful as opposed to fixing them.

But this disposable mentality can sneak it's way into other areas of my life as well. A relationship becomes difficult, more work than I want to put in? It's tempting to step away as opposed to working out the problems. When issues crop up in my parenting, my knee jerk reaction is to throw out whatever discipline I had previously espoused instead of examining what works and what really doesn't.

I relate a lot to the idea of creativity being a spiritual discipline, something we were all made for in various ways, a reflection of the Image we were all made in - but what about mending? Repair? Salvation itself is about repair. Repairing relationship. Restoring us to where we were meant to be, all along.

We are made to create, but we are also made to mend. To fix broken things, to constantly move toward repair. There's hope in that, after all. Hope that, even when everything in life seems to be unraveling, or a collection of sharp and painful shards - the possibility for wholeness remains.

{Bear with me this week? My CF card reader met a sad end and I'm waiting on a replacement. Instagram photos are all I have to offer!}

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Frosty Goodness Smoothie Pop Recipe

So it's summer - real, hot, humid, sweaty summer.  Out in the garden, those tomato plants are waist high.  Kids are growing, too, though just a bit more slowly.  And, as happens every year, I'm getting downright disenchanted with most meal options.  In the heat of the summer, it's not just cooking that sounds about as appealing as diving into a volcano, but eating, too, seems to be on the proverbial back burner.  My kids are less and less interested in big meals and more inclined to snack dinners, lighter fare, less filling but more frequent.  So while it is great to substitute wraps and salads for dinners, coming up with several smaller meals during the day keeps me returning to the kitchen more and more frequently.

My husband bought the Nutri-Bullet back in May as a birthday present to himself, although I think I've gotten much more use out of it.  As skeptical as I was when he brought it home, I very quickly became accustomed to replacing a meal with a smoothie, or making smoothies for the kids' for breakfast.  Quick, easy and nutritionally sound, smoothies became our new go-to...that is, until we spied this 6 pop popsicle mould at IKEA the other night.  And now...smoothie pops!  Below is my basic recipe, easily customizable to whatever fruit you have on hand.  Of course you can make popsicle with just fruit juice, or fruit juice and blended fruit, but I like sneaking a bit of protein into this snack, using creamy delicious greek yogurt.

Basic Smoothie Pops:

• 1/2 C yogurt (we prefer unsweetened organic greek)
• 
  
• 1/2 C berries 
• 
  
• 1 whole banana
• 
  
• Honey to taste (we like the raw stuff - so delicious!)
• 
  
• Blend it up, pour it in the moulds, add sticks and freeze for at least 5 hours.  Makes 6 pops.

Now why on earth did I only buy 1 set of moulds?  Live and learn.

(For a tropical twist, try substituting berries for pineapple and adding some coconut!)



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After a long week of working from sun up to sun down (and feeling lousy besides), I needed to recharge.  When my husband came home for the day and the little ones were settled down for naps, I refreshed myself in one of my favorite ways - pulling out the old sewing machine and letting my creative juices flow.

I had no real plan or really any supplies, so I grabbed my rag bag to see what I could come up with.  After making a much needed quilted potholder (all of ours are in rags and in desperate need of recycling) for the kitchen, I came across some leftover strips from various quilting projects.

Initially I thought this would become another potholder, but it kept growing and I didn't much feel like stopping.  I went ahead, thinking maybe it could be a cushion for my rocker, but then my husband reminded me that we had just bought one at Ikea.  Right.  Forgot about that.  Ok, well maybe it can be a wall hanging, or a hotpad/centerpiece for the dinner table, or maybe a dolly quilt.

To be honest, I don't really care what it becomes.  For me, it has already fulfilled its purpose: relaxing me, recharging me, giving me an outlet for creativity and the pleasure of piecing together something beautiful.

 

In other crafty news, the linen I ordered on Tuesday came in record time!  I just need to head to the craft store for some knit/lycra for the waistband.  Stay tuned for my linen maternity skirts! 

Why "Living Simply" Isn't Simple At All

She eyes me as I diaper my son in the Parent Room at church one Sunday morning. “It’s really not a big deal” I tell her, depositing the soiled diaper in my wetbag and stashing it in the diaper bag. “Just an extra two loads of laundry a week.” She nods, but still looks dubious. I know why.

Living the simple life really isn’t about making things “easy” at all. It is about choosing to focus on the complexities of things that matter to you, and making space in your life for those things.

Read the rest over at Frugal Granola today

In The Kitchen

This past week in our kitchen, I have been trying to be more open to including my kids in daily cooking - not just special items on special days.  D (5) is by far the most interested, although the little ones drift in and out constantly, always on the look out for a taste of this or that.  My oldest is following in his Father's footsteps, more consumed with crafting the perfect cup of tea than any actual food - which is just great, because who doesn't love being offered a cup of tea at various points during the day?

One recipe all of them want to be involved in (warning: it is messy!) is homemade pizza.  With endlessly customizable toppings and the ease of sprinkling cheese, this "anything goes" meal is perfect for toddlers on up.  Kids have the opportunity to be creative and experiment with different toppings and cheeses.   

I wanted to be able to come up with my own dough recipe - healthier and cheaper.  The pizzas turned out perfectly and were gobbled up so quickly, I didn't have a chance to snap a picture!

I used the bread machine.

3 1/2 C Bread flour (I only did 2.5 cups bread flour and 1 C whole wheat flour)
2 Tbsp. Honey
1/4 C Olive oil
1/2 t Kosher Salt
2.5 t Yeast
1 C Warm water

I also added some Italian seasoning - basil, oregano, pepper, red pepper flakes, parsley, and a little shake of flax seed meal.

Combine all in bread machine, select "dough" on menu.  Keep an eye on the dough to make sure it is moist enough, add more warm water as needed.

When dough is "done," take out of bread machine (will still be warm).  Knead on a floured surface for 2 minutes, divide as desired and cover to rise for an additional hour.  Then either use right away, or freeze for future use.

This recipe made enough dough for 2 M/L pizzas.

I am planning on making several more batches to have on hand in the freezer.  With pre-made dough, this pizza will take about as long as delivery - and is much more delicious!

WIP...Thursday....

I know it has been way too long since I have done a "WIP Wednesday" post, but I am somehow completely incapable of posting on Wednesdays...blame it on the weekend.

I'm currently working on this skirty for Sarah. I first knitted a pair of shorts with a purl row right under the waistband to attach the skirt to. then I picked up stitches at the purl row and Kfb into every stitch for my increases for a full skirt. I knit down a few inches before getting bored and starting a lace pattern. I think it will be cute to see the green shorts under the pink skirt! It reminds me of a little flower. I hope Sarah takes a picture of Miss Jemima in it! For those who don't know what a skirty is, here are the facts: Wool is naturally waterproof and has been used in covers for cloth diapers for years. This skirty is made out of a blend of wool and alpaca and can be lanolinized to use as a cover...but the skirt part is all just for the cute factor.



Next are some little dresses for D and F. F's is from an actual pattern and is mostly finished...I have to attach the ruffle at the bottom and make/attach the lining to the top. D's dress is actually made up. I knit the top from some leftover cotton ease I had and then sewed a long skirt that I am now in the process of attaching. I have some sweet little apple buttons coming in to attach to the front. I hope my girls enjoy them as much as I've enjoyed creating them! I do have leftover fabric from these projects and will probably make some skirts/dresses for the dolls to match.

I couldn't resist these buttons, found on etsy!

In the queue - There are a few projects I am dreaming of even as I am knitting these up. It is never too early to begin Holiday knitting (especially with a family my size!) so I plan to start a February Baby/Girl sweater for each of my daughters. Once those are done I am thinking of a Shalom sweater for my Mama's birthday in December and then finishing up with vests for the boys and possibly one for Daddy too! These are my bigger projects. In between you can bet I will be spending plenty of time knitting up little tiny baby things for little tiny babies and taking any customs that come my way as well. You may be able to tell that I like having several projects going at once, so rest assured there is always something going on over here!

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My biggest project in the next week is going to be cleaning and dejunking my kids' rooms.  I am terrified.  All kidding aside, I'm looking forward to creating a more organized and comprehensive system for them.

Today my cousin had a yard sale and I swung by to have a look...of course I returned home with clothes for my girls, how could I not?  I really tried to restrain myself and only buy what they actually need - a few pairs of jeans, a pair of shorts and a sundress for D, and a sundress and another sweet little summer set for F.  Because really, who can say "no" to a dress for a little girl when the price tag is only 75 cents?  Somehow I think I may have made her day....