The simple things are most precious

Well today was the big 5th grade field trip to City Museum which is a really cool place.  Very Earth friendly and full of natural beauty.  The natural beauty of children having fun, giggling, playing, and the adults letting their inner child out to play for even a moment.  Every single thing there, every piece of art, is all done from recycle items.  And I will tell you that I never dreamed that gears and nuts, bolts, chains, pvc pipes, and a myriad of other items I can not identify, could ever make something of beauty or usefulness.  The kids and adults had an absolute blast.  We had approx. 200 kids and 48 adults with our group and we were not the only group there.  It's an incredible place of fun and imagination.  It's the Arts at their best as far as a kid is concerned anyway.  Our group was 6 5th grade boys who were fabulous.  We gave them the responsibility of monitoring each other.  Two had watches who were told how long they had at each station.  They set their alarms and were responsible for getting each other back to our meeting point on time or they'd have to sitout the amount of time they were late.  They were early every time.  Never argued with us, they were just great.  I'm very proud of them.
I'm tired but it's a very good tired.  A happy one.  It's been a good day.
I'm off to nap, maybe I'll get up later, maybe not.  Have a wonder-full Friday evening and a really great weekend.

living simple and for Him
~~sherri


On the outside my body is weary.
On the inside my spirit soars as
the mist of the crashing waves.

It would be to some advantage to live a primitive and frontier life, though in the midst of an outward civilization, if only to learn what are the gross necessaries of life and what methods have been taken to obtain them.  The improvements of ages have had little influence on the essential laws of mans existence......

To be a philosopher is not merely to have subtle thoughts or to found a school but to love wisdom, as to live according to its dictates, a life of simplicity and independence.



One thing that I have noticed, as God has been taking me thru the journey of simplicity, is that my stress levels are much, much lower.  I'm experiencing more contentment, happiness and inner peace in being thankful for the common things, the simple things, all of which I took for granted when I lived caught up in the hustle bustle treadmill of life.   Now, as I pause to reflect throughout the day, I find my breathing is calm, breaths evenly spaced apart, no heart palpitations or heartburn.  I can hear the whisper of God's creation.  Like today for instance.  The snow began falling, softly, around 4 am.  It was so quiet outside that I could literally hear it snowing.  Have you ever heard it?  WOW.  As I sit here, warm and toasty, drinking my cup of coffee and hotcocoa mix, Hunter wrapped around my feet, I'm watching the snowflakes drift down, settling on the church roof across the street, and on the hedges and trees in our yard.  Everything is resting under a blanket of white, and its beautiful.

West Coast Beach Florida
I'm longing for the ocean

Walden

first published 1854

I am convinced, both by faith and experience, that to maintain one's self on this earth is not a hardship but a pastime, if we will live simply and wisely.

 

1 tablespoon grated beeswax
1 teaspoon vitamin E oil
1/4 cup light sesame oil
1/4 cup orange flfower water
pinch of borax powder
Mix together the beeswax, vitamin E oil and sesame oil.  Heat gently until the beeswax is melted.  Combine the orange flower water and borax powder, heat until very warm.  Pour the warm water into the oil mixture and stir well.  Continue to stir, or pur the whole mixture into an electric blender.  Blend for 1 minute.  pur the finished cream into a clean dry container and allow to cool completely.  Store in a cool, dry place.  Yields 4 ounces

Orange Flower Water

Is a fragrant water made from the blossoms of the bitter orange tree.  The oil from this flower is called neroli, and it's scent is believe to reduce stress and induce sleep.  This fragrant water makes a gentle skin freshener.  You may find the oil and/or fragrant water in the liquor stores in the mixer section or in your local health food stores.  You may also order it online.