Simple Living - The Year's End

Near the beginning of the year, I wrote about my frustration with my attachment with stuff. I wanted to live more simply and feel more fulfilled by life and not things. In July, I started reading about how our consumer-driven lifestyle is affecting people and and planet, and I became convinced that I wanted to change even more in my life. When I talked with Matthew about what I was reading and thinking, he supported me and began helping me to make all of these changes. This post is an attempt to compile a list of changes that we made just since this July.

Attitude

We:

• Have decided to change!
• Spend time reading and researching about what's happening in our world and to our world
• Became committed to supporting local farmers and fair trade supporters

Food

We:

• Budgeted more for food so that we could buy as much local, organic, fair-trade, etc. food as possible
• Buy all organic produce
• Buy most other products organic
• Pay attention to where products are created, and buy as locally as possible
• Eat only about a pound of meat a month - chicken or turkey products
• Make even more food from scratch - bread, bagels, crackers, etc
• Grow a little bit of food - sprouts and basil for now...
• Make our own yogurt

Consumerism

We:

• Buy even less than we did before
• Buy anything possible used
• Do research about companies before buying their products
• Try to buy quality, ethically made goods that will last
• Started buying almost all used clothing

Household

We:

• Make sure to unplug cords when things are in use
• Turn off power strips for our computers and their accessories at night
• Cut the top off of a milk jug and now use it for a garbage pail which saves lots of garbage bags
• Started to make many of our soaps, shampoos, lotions, etc out of simple ingredients to cut down on chemicals and packaging
• Sorted through possessions that weren't being used and gave many things away
• Wash laundry with cold water and line dry it when the weather allows
• Use environmentally friendly detergent and cleaning supplies
• I also sewed and started using cloth pads. (Sorry if this is TMI!)
• Started using something close to the "if it's yellow, let it mellow" philosophy (Again, TMI?!)
• Made cloth bulk/produce bags to start replacing plastic ones as they wear out
• Try to find reusable solutions to as many disposable products as possible
• Saved glass jars to use as food storage containers

Transportation

We:

• Avoid using our personal car. It generally gets used to drive out of town.
• Use our bikes and feet a lot!
• Use the public bus

Other

We:

• Try our best to give gifts that people need and will use
• Joined the First Alternative Co-op in Corvallis
• Made a recycling box for my office since there was no recycling option in place
• Learned about danger of plastic and began to try to reduce plastic use and waste

I am sure that I have forgotten some things that we have done to change, but this is a pretty good list! I want to close by saying that making these changes has honestly not brought hardship to us. It has really been an exciting, fun, and rewarding year. I feel like I understand my world better as a result, and I feel like I am living more purposefully and loving more thoroughly. I look forward to making more changes as life continues.

I hope that you can look back on 2010 with satisfaction and that, regardless, 2011 is a wonderful year for you!

God is in the Everyday: The Kitchen

I like to make food. It started in high school when I set out on the noble journey of creating "the best chocolate chip cookie." No more flat, greasy cookies that were the result of following the recipe on the chocolate chip bag for me, thanks. In case you're curious, I have settled into a variation that is my own. Are they the best? Well, that just depends on who you ask. :)

God made us into incredible food eaters. It is something most of us typically do at least three times a day. Food is something that satisfies and nourishes, and I think that God made us with the capacity to enjoy eating.

I like making food because it is downright important. What we eat affects how healthy we are. It also affects our mood and our energy level. Our food is what makes us the physical being that we are. This is why I like to make our food from scratch as much as possible. I like to know what we are eating, and I like the ingredients to be fresh and simple.

I also like making food because homemade food tastes amazing. I dabbled with bread making a couple years ago, and there came a point when there was no turning back: I really didn't want to buy bread anymore. There's something to be said about the flavor and substance of home-cooked food made with fresh ingredients.

It is when kneading bread dough that I am most reminded of the magic in making food. I hold in my hands that which will provide us sustenance that week, and as I push it and stretch it, it turns into a healthy dough.

My kitchen is small, and once a week it gets sticky with honey and streaked with flour as we make our food. It is an exciting time to see all of the different creations formed and baked. There is blessing in it.

I cook to provide good, healthy food for my family and anyone else who happens to visit us during a meal. I am thankful that God has given us what we need to eat, and I believe that He is blessed by each lovingly made loaf of bread that comes out of the oven.

Karen's Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Ingredients:

3/4 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup white sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar (not packed)

2 eggs

1 tsp of vanilla

3/4 cup white flour

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 dash salt

1 1/2 cups quick cooking oats

1 3/4 cups chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Cream the butter and sugar. Add the eggs and vanilla. (Feel free to add a smidgen of extra vanilla here!)

2. On top of the wet ingredient, pile the flours, baking soda, and salt. Mix it all together.

3. Next stir in the oats and the chocolate chips.

4. Bake at 375°F for 8-10 minutes. (Try the shorter time first. If you bake these too long, they will be dry!)

I often estimate when I add ingredients, so it is difficult to write down a recipe! If you like these at all, feel free to change them and make them to your taste. :)

God is in the Everyday

"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands..."

In the past, someone associated this verse from the Bible with Matthew. Anyone who knows my husband very well probably understands how this suits his personality! When we discussed the verse the first time, I thought it was very refreshing. I had spent years feeling pressure to be something BIG. I wasn't sure what that meant, but I felt that everyday that I was simply living without participating in big events, I was wasting time and failing at something. This verse reminded me that the very act of living life is big and that God is in the normal.

Over the last year or so, I have found spaces in my life that have brought me a lot of joy and have helped me to feel connected to God. I am envisioning this post as an introduction to a few different upcoming posts describing my experiences. I am looking forward to creating even more understanding in myself regarding my feelings, but I am also hoping that this is encouraging to those who have been made to feel guilty for not "doing something big for God."

He Knew

He knew there’d be quarrels, struggles and fights
As humans bicker about who’s wrong and who’s right,
But He came down at Christmas to be with us here,
So be still in spirit and remember He’s near.

Was He born to a family wealthy and proud?
Did He cause a procession and draw a crowd?
Was He born in a palace large and pristine?
Did He get placed in a cradle, warm and clean?

He knew there’d be divisions and daily strife
As humans make messes while living out life,
But He came down at Christmas to be with us here,
So be still in spirit and remember He’s near.

He was born in small home, not too far from dirt,
And was placed in a manger after His birth.
There was love from his mother, and Joseph too,
But no great crowds celebrated, just quiet few.

He knew we’d grow greedy as we sought for more,
That we’d forget God’s love for the simple and poor,
But He came down at Christmas to be with us here,
So be still in spirit and remember He’s near.

Was it the rich and powerful who came first?
Was it the morally righteous who witnessed the birth?
It was shepherds who came after angels were seen,
Though disdained by society for being unclean.

He knew we’d confuse God’s great love for all.
Loving those we deem worthy, we stumble and fall.
But He came down at Christmas to be with us here,
So be still in spirit and remember He’s near.