Back to when I could BE still

2018 brought some totally new, completely unexpected, absolutely amazing experiences.  I went on a sabbatical of sorts as I experienced pregnancy and the birth of our 3rd child.  My son was in public school for the first time, my daughter was still in public school and I chose not to work outside the home more than a couple days.

I chose to just BE in 2018.

BE present for my husband, BE rested to meet children's needs, BE pregnant and BE still and know that God is God.  

God is God who directs our paths.  God is God who listens to us.  God is God who protects us from evil.  God is God who gives us wisdom.  God is God who heals us.  God is God who gives us peace and who meets our needs before we even know them.

We sacrificed financially as I chose to BE but I would do it all over again.  Sometimes I think we move so quickly here and there and everywhere that we forget to BE.  I also don't think this is a new problem as God commanded us thousands of years ago to, "Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10

When I chose to BE still, I found peace, joy, love and recognizing God's hand in our lives became easier.  As I healed from the delivery of my first biological child, my sabbatical slowly ended.  In addition to caring for an infant, God directed me back to homeschooling my 11 year old son.  I love seeing the transforming God is doing in my sons heart toward Him and I praise God I can stay home with my baby as he quickly grows into a moving machine.  There are way less opportunities to just BE still now (for example, baby is currently standing on my lap bouncing while I type one-handed :D ) but the peace, joy and love are ours for the taking if we continue to trust in God and let him direct our paths!

To Hear an Angel Voice...

"I need a silent night, a holy night..."

To hear an angel voice 

through the chaos and the noise...

Keeping Christmas simple as I decorate my new home means seeing the peace without the chaos.  

I gave away container after container full of Christmas decorations when we moved out of large home.  I kept my ornaments with special meaning and my children's ornaments, my Itty Bitty Moosetivity, our stockings and a few other special items.  

All of those decorations were perfect for my tiny house but I LOVE decorating for Christmas.  

I was a little concerned my decorations would be "lost in the space" of our new home.

My decorations did not get lost in the space of our new home but instead became focal points for Christmas.  

We are able to see the peace without the chaos.  

My sons newly made Christmas nativity from his homeschool class became a point of interest instead of becoming lost in a display of multiple nativities (as before).

My daily developing card "tree" brings joy to my heart as I remember all the love that is showered upon us by friends and family throughout the year.

"...I need a midnight clear, 

a little peace right here
To end this crazy day with a silent night..."

-Amy Grant

" Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you..." - Jesus

1 1/2 Years Later...

It always amazes me how much can happen in just one year, or one and a half years in our case.

Our new place has been wonderful.  It is out in the country, small enough to not overwhelm, has barns for the animals and a garage for my husband to work in, a beautiful setting for our tiny house and lots of room to run, garden and grow.

Grow is what God continues to do with our hearts and lives.  He grew a beautiful baby inside of me.  He grew our neighborhood by two amazing people in our tiny house.  He grew our circle of friends by adding neighbors to the list of those we know and can love.  He grew our farm by providing more chickens (thanks to a good friend thinking of us!) and more goats (looking forward to baby goats in the spring!).

Despite the growth and housing changes, I decided to keep my blog name the same for several reasons.  First, though our current house has more square footage than a "Tiny House", it is still small for a family of 5, which has required me to use many of the skills I learned while "Tiny Housing".  Second, we still own our tiny house and would like someday to move back into it.  Third, I do want to Live Tiny, or in other words Live Simply, so that we might follow through on Big Plans for lots of adventures.

Some of those adventures happen in my heart as I trust God to direct my path and I see where He leads.  Some of those adventures will be because of my family and the paths we walk together.  I am hoping that some of those adventures will be on our little Farm and some will be travel to fun places.

I look forward to sharing these adventures with you as I can and I would love to hear from you as well!

It's the Simple Things