SA 1/4

THIS ISN'T A DRESS REHEARSAL

Look no one likes pajama's more than me.

It is a little known fact that if bad weather is forcasted,

I go shopping for a new pajama.

All kidding aside though,

when you wake up each morning and take

the time to dress, fix your hair, apply make-up

it does something for your day.

Even these days, right now, when I have really

no where to go, I still make it a point to

take that shower, dress, fix the hair.

It shows that I care about myself.

It shows that today I will accomplish something.

Yes, there are those days that I do stay in my PJ's

but if I did that every day I would not enjoy it

on those special days of bad weather.

Saving things so they don't get ruined is another

thing I am not a fan of.

Yes, I have my 4 sets of china that I never use

but it is not for the reason that I am saving it.

I just don't like fancy dishes.

I have blogged before about my happy plates.

I am proud to say that if you eat here,

none of my "china" matches and very few pieces

will break if dropped.

I buy dishes for the simple fact that they either

make me happy or bring me back to a time

in my life that life was simple.

For instance, I bought a coffee mug the other day.

I didn't need one.

I love giraffes when I looked at the giraffe pattern

on the outside of the cup, I intrigued me to pick it up.

On the inside was this little ceramic giraffe

just looking right up at me in the middle of the cup.

BG just bought me a new fancy Keurig coffee maker

and the cup is the perfect size for fancy coffee and

hot chocolate. My little giraffe head sticks right out

of the coffee like he is swimming in mud.

He makes me smile every time I look in there

for a sip.

So in my simple abundance way.

I want to keep my life simple.

I am not the owner of fine clothing, jewelry or

china.

I tend to wear my favorite clothes all the time

but it is presentable and comfortable.

My jewelry that I wear all has meaning to it.

Same for my dishes.

This is not a dress rehearsal,

I choose not to sweat the small things.

SIMPLE ABUNDANCE 1/3

S/A= AN INNER JOURNEY;

A SPIRITUAL AND PRACTICAL COURSE IN

CREATIVE LIVING, A TAPESTRY OF CONTENTMENT

I believe that we all already have, stored in us,

contentment.

It is my goal this year to bring my contentment

to the forefront once again.

Sometimes I live in the positive ways of my life

and some days I slip.

Most days I do believe that it is not material

possessions that give me happiness

but some days a new piece of scrapbook equipment

is enticing.

We are all human, living in a very materialistic world.

So of course there are days I may fall.

In SA today we begin to see the 6 principles

that will guide us this year on our journey.

Take this journey one day at a time,

the way we should live our lives.

Soon you will be getting "projects' that SA asks of us.

If you went to the end of January and read those things

that we are to be focusing on this month,

you will see hints to some of these projects.

JOYFUL SIMPLICITIES FOR JANUARY

I have my gratitude journal,

this is not new for me, I have journaled for years.

However, last time I worked this book I never

did the illustrated discovery journal.

This time I have bought myself a sketch book for this.

I have ordered my seed catalogs and plan to cut

those up after ordering, of course, and placing

them in my discovery journal.

I know this may sound childish, even silly but

believe me there is something about cutting and pasting

in the old sense, not in the computer world,

that makes me happy.

It is why I love scrapbooking, it's like becoming

a child again.

Three days into the journey.

Please leave comments if you feel comfortable doing that

to give feedback through this year,

tell others what you are doing or have done

in reference to SA

More tomorrow and we continue to walk the

SIMPLE LIFE

WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN

In the first few years of HOBL and I's marriage

I would sometimes complain that he wasn't romantic

enough. I used to come home to tell him

stories of women I worked with and the things

their husbands would do for them like

rose petals leading to a bathtub full of bubbles.

HOBL, in his thick (tic) cajun accent would say

"May Lil if dem people have to brag about what

dey do to oter people, well dey have problems

in dere marriage"

After many years I grew to believe like HOBL did.

Probably because the majority of those who bragged

about those "romantics" are divorced today.

I came to believe that true love was not in those

things but in the simple things HOBL did for me

like maintaining my car, cleaning my house,

cooking for me after a long days work,

that was love, well at least for us.

This story leads me to the picture above.

My daddy was not a "romantic"

I can't remember a time that he showed outside

affection for my mom except by bringing her

coffee in bed every morning.

So it was a shock, when going through Mumsie's

things stored in my attic, that I cam across

this old box that held that broach and the

letter above written by my daddy to Mumsie.

I shed tears right there in my attic as I read

my Daddy's words written with one of her

10 pregnancies. None of my siblings remembered ever

seeing it either and we were all so touched by it

that it became part of the decorations on

the 90th birthday cake table.

None of us could figure out which child he

was referring to and when we showed it

to Mumsie she smiled and remembered the broach

but also could not remember which one of us

caused him to show this sort of affection.

It's these little shows that are never spoken about

by the couple that really shows

a true, undying love.

I will say in HOBL words what he would say

if suddenly you come home to rose petals on the floor:

"Huh, well you better watch out because dat man

done did someting wrong"

Really though, all kidding aside,

it is the small things

that show

WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN

HOW WILL I DO THIS?

I have been thinking about how I will coordinate the

journey of Simple Abundance as I also write

the older part of the blog that I love so much.

Right now the book is simply understood

but get ready because soon it will challenge us

to do more than just a daily reading each day.

I have decided that I will first write

my normal blog when and if I feel a topic arise.

After I will simply put SA:

In red caps such as that

and then will adds something that I have understood

while on the journey.

The book is separated into days of the month

but at the end of each month there is

a place called "JOYFUL SIMPLICITIES"

Go to that list for January today.

Read each challenge and keep those in mind

while following through the month.

These are things we should be accomplishing through

this month.

Last night I began the organization part.

Got out my journals, dusted off the prayer books,

organized drawers, etc.

There is something about organizing that I have always loved.

Cleaning drawers last night had me energized,

puts me in the best mood.

Begin those now but with no pressure.

This will jump start our month.

Don't forget to get a journal or a composition,

whichever you are least intimidated by.

Remember journaling is not like a diary where you write

what you did that day. Journaling is about writing

your deepest, innermost thoughts and feelings.

It is hard at first, awkward.

Put no rules on your writing, just put the pen to the paper

and write without thought.

It will get easier every day and the daily readings

will get you started.

I have my hot chocolate ready....

Baby girl bought me a Keurig coffee maker so have

hot chocolate for that also.

These Simplicities are not made to tackle all in one

day, it is for the month. To get our creative juices flowing.

On days that I have a larger blog or more to blog about SA

I will have two blog entries.

The title will be listed as SA

I am thankful to have a scrapbook room where I can place

myself in a quiet place to journal or work.

My recliner, however is just as good.

Lets get this party started.....

oh , and Go Saints!!!!!

Happy New Year darlings...

A new year, 2011!!!!

I have no pictures yet to download, but

had an awesome new years evening

with special people who I adore.

Yet this afternoon I lay here in the sanctity of

my bedroom and reflect on the year behind

and the one ahead.

I have always been a journaler

but have been lax about it....

But because I am going to take the year

for the Simple Abundance journey

I will become, once again, a daily journaler.

It is what Simple Abundance speaks of.

So find yourself a beautiful journal, a fancy inkpen

or get yourself a composition and a pencil.

Whatever least intimidates you and write.

Write not what you want to make a resolution,

I have never been good about resolutions.

I do know that tomorrow I will treat my body

to some healthy eating and just as soon as the

doctor okays some exercising I will put these

feet to the blacktop with Ipod in ear.

It is where I get much inspiration for writing

as well as blogging.

For today I take it easy and reflect.

My company has all just left and today I lay

here and spend some quiet time with myself.

Knowing that I am about to have some life-changing

things happen to me.

I am soon to become a grandmother,

I want to be the best grandmother I can be.

I want to once again give my family the 100% of

me that they deserve.

Today I begin by treating myself to quiet time,

here with my books, blog and journal in hand.

JANUARY:

AND NOW LET US WELCOME THE NEW YEAR

FULL OF THINGS THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN SEEN.

-rainer maria rilke

This is the month to dream, to look forward to the year ahead

and the journey within.....Sarah Breathnach.