Saying "No": How It All Begins

So, remember that new exciting series I was going to start? like last week? Yeah...didn't happen. But I'm OK with that because I am learning how to continually embrace and cultivate a low-stress life. For me to get my series out last week would have required me to stress out and potentially neglect my household duties.

So, I didn't write. I said no.

I'm learning :)

Saying "No" is often where we need to start when our life feels nothing short of a crazy Willy Wonka ride. When you feel yourself trying to keep up with just your daily activities, then maybe you need to start saying "No". This could mean saying no to responsibilities you've committed to, to expectations you have on yourself (ouch!), to piling on more activities, to keeping a house 100% clean, to finishing an unattainable project, etc...

If you are unsure where to start in this whole, "Say No and Release thing", I would suggest you first find out what your main stresses are. What triggers your stress? What causes you to feel an unrest in your home? 

As I have mentioned before, anxiety and stress have unfortunately been a constant companion in my life. I know all too well how to live in survival mode without really being able to enjoy my life. I never want to go back to the unhealthy pattern I was in. I had to sit down and think through what is actually making me the most stressed.

I get stressed when I don't plan ahead. This includes meal-planning, socially, keeping the house somewhat clean, and keeping up with the needs of my children. Basically every part of my life. So if I am not planning ahead and ordering my hours in the day, I'm doomed.

I also get stressed when I have a busy schedule to maintain. I am definitely an extrovert so naturally I like to fill my calendar with getting together with people, fun activities with my kids, you name it! but at the ages that my kids are ( 3 1/2 and 2 1/2) this doesn't work very well. It is often me who hauls the kids around, while hauling my own growing pregnant belly. It just doesn't end well. So many of our days are spent at home with simple outings like the park. This summer we will probably become members of an indoor pool and that will be it! It's simple...it's easy...and I like it.

So I invite you all, my dear friends, to start with examining your own life. If you are feeling stressed and overwhelmed, why? What needs to change?

Our Lord tells us to, "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matt. 11:28). We all can live a life of rest and peace. It's what Jesus meant for us :)

I'm happy to have you along for the ride!

In the upcoming days I will be exploring the topics of:
Simplicity in Meal-Planning
Simplicity in Schedule
Simplicity in Housework
The Rhythm of Rest

Christina

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An Exciting New Series!

Hello Friends and Happy Friday!

On Monday I will be starting a week-long series on "Creating Peace and Simplicity In the Home" as it is a journey God has (and is) been taking me on over the course of the past year. I feel very strongly about living lives of peace and anxiety-free. Anxiety and stress have long plagued my life even before I had kids and you know what? I don't ever want to go back there.

I will continue to post this disclosure: I am not by any means an expert on this topic, but have learned some helpful ways that I have eliminated stress in my own life, which has made my family happier as well as myself. I am loving life right now!

In preparation for this series, please share with me what your biggest obstacle is in pursuing your own peaceful and stress-free life. You can go into as much detail as you would like. I also posed this question on Facebook and Twitter so feel free to interact there as well. I'm already getting such great feedback!

Have a peace-filled, stress-free weekend!

Many Blessings,

Christina

2 comments

Thankful Thursday

It has been a rich couple of weeks, friends... God has been pouring into my life and in the life of my family. There have been many laughs, smiles, and an aura of peace. I can't pinpoint what exactly caused this welcome change only that it comes from God.

I find myself bending low, picking up the gifts that He gives, and holding them close to my heart...savoring them...thanking Him...and just enjoying life.

Here are some recent gifts from above:

1. Free milk from a church family. This helped us get to another pay check a little easier then we normally would.

2. A surprise phone call from another family from church with 4 bags worth of good-quality hand-me-downs for my girls. The clothes are just in the right season of what I didn't have! So thankful...

3. Having the energy to do the Freezer Cooking that helped stretch the grocery dollar even more.

4. A growing baby inside my womb. I've gained about 3 pounds in the last 2 1/2 weeks and am still going!

5. Happy girls who laugh and play side by side. Oh that this would continue forever...

6. A husband having a more freed up schedule after church commitments are done.

7. Finishing projects around the house.

8. Finding a way to keep the house clean without exerting too much energy.

9. Having a clear mind and organized thoughts.

10. Growing friendships with a few friends.

11. A flourishing mom's group at church.

12. The TLC show, "Cake Boss"

13. Nourishing truths from "Jesus Calling" and the Bible itself

14. Glimpses of spring with two days in a row of warm weather

15. An empty schedule bringing a slow, non-hurried pace of life

What are you thankful for today?

Christina

8 comments

Becoming A Mom That I Like

Happy May, friends!

I have several posts brewing but for now I want to encourage you to stop by Sisters In Bloom. I'm writing today about a breaking point I hit with my oldest daughter and how that was a wake-up call for me as a mother. Ever been there? Then let's talk!

Blessings :)

Christina

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Freezer Cooking!

I have been on an almost obsessive quest these days to find ways to simplify life. I find that the more simple life is, the more peaceful I feel, the better my days are, etc... so one of the biggest stresses I am trying to simplify is meal planning. With a small grocery budget it is even more stressful because I can't buy whatever I want whenever I want (who can?) So my meal planning usually involves the sale fliers, several recipe books or internet sites, and lots of planning. In the end, it is worth it but not something I look forward to.

My kids have recently transitioned to sleeping in the same room which means there hasn't always been a lot of sleeping going on either during the day or at night. This means my productive time goes down to almost nothing. Meal planning? Ha! That is so last year. So the past week has been me running around, entertaining the kids while pulling a meal out of thin air, oh and did I mention that half the time the kids don't even eat what I cook? Yeah. That. That's the worst.

I knew something needed to change.

The answer? Freezer cooking!

I have done freezer cooking several times before. I documented one such occasion here. I loved the end result of preparing two weeks' worth of dinners, snacks, and lunch items. There was such a feeling of accomplishment at the end as I stared at a freezer full of food. I will say that initially there is an upfront cost but not more then 50-75 dollars on top of a normal grocery budget. I have always saved money as a result so overall it is a win for me!

My main resource is Once A Month Mom because all the work is done for you. I would suggest starting there and looking through the various menus, picking and choosing what you think your family will eat. It's all about using up the food and not having a lot left over, right?

Here's what I will be making throughout the weekend:

Breakfast:
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
Chocolate Granola Bars
Vegan Pumpkin Bread (for me)

Lunch:
Whole Wheat Pizza Puffs (may use this as a dinner item too)
Bacon and Egg Uncrustables (I will be substituting ham for the bacon)
Beef Enchiladas (for my husband's lunch)

Dinner:
Sweet potato and black bean burger (mainly I will eat this...more for me!)
Tuna Melt (no recipe link for this one as it comes out of a cookbook)
Baked Chicken Fingers

Christina

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