Many of these ideas complement topics in a message I gave to a MOPS group a few weeks ago about getting kids out in God's creation and encouraging creativity. I offered this for their newsletter, and now I offer it to you.Inspiring creativity and a love of God's creation in kids doesn’t mean you have to move to a ten-acre farm in the country and raise goats. This summer … [Read more...]
Simplicity & Slowing: Decluttering
[Update: Books offered at bottom of post are no longer available]A friend said the other day, "I don't know how you do all that you do, Ann.""The only way I do all that I do," I replied, "is by not doing it all."What I meant was—and I expanded on this with her—is that I cannot do it all. I don't do it all. I have limits and make choices accordingly.But writing and speaking … [Read more...]
Quick Tips for Slowing Down
Check out It's All About Love for her motivating slow-down post, "Quick Tips for Slowing Down."She's compiled a list of everyday ways to slow down your pace and combat our fast-paced culture.A personalized explanation accompanies each tip. Here's an example:Never run to answer the phone. If it’s that important, they will call you back. We also don’t own a cell phone, so … [Read more...]
Mother's Day: Takin' It Slow
It's evening of Mother's Day here in the midwest United States, and I just want to share with you how my day began:And although I shared with the Belgian Wonder and kids a few crazy moments during food preparation, the meal itself was relaxing.Late afternoon, I even enjoyed this moment:Before heading into the work week, it's nice to take it slow.As I wrote over at … [Read more...]
Rainy Days and Wednesdays
On Thursday morning I'm speaking at a local MOPS group about getting kids outdoors in nature, enjoying God's creation.When I awoke this morning, the gloomy skies were dribbling down rain on our already drenched lawn. I wasn't particularly motivated to work on my talk and stated as much on Facebook.Immediately two friends responded. One pointed me to photos of her daughter … [Read more...]
Tea Time
In July 2007, I posted this video I found that contrasts a calm, tranquil tea with the bustling world all around.The team of students who created it wrote this in the YouTube notes:In 1982 Larry Dossey, an American physician, coined the term "time-sickness" to describe the obsessive belief that "time is getting away, that there isn't enough of it, and that you must pedal … [Read more...]
Sneak Peek
I've been working on my forthcoming book, Not So Fast: Slow-Down Solutions for Frenzied Families, for years. Much of that time, I wasn't sure what I could say about it here on the blog.In fact, for quite some time, I was evasive. I didn't know how long it would be before the book's release, so I didn't want to post searchable text that described what it was … [Read more...]
A Watch That Beeps
My sister-in-law Marj was instrumental in connecting me with a retreat-planning committee that organized a "Day of Reflection." I was one of the breakout session speakers, presenting The Contemplative Mom: Restoring Rich Relationship with God in the Midst of Motherhood.She attended my session and described it from her perspective in a post entitled "Ann, God, and a watch … [Read more...]
Monday Afternoon: Light on Water and a Heavy Tool
The fountain, where we found a quarter on the road and tossed a penny in the water.My daughter noticed the delicate dance of light on water, while I stood staring, distracted, at the blue sky.Feathery patterns, shimmering in the spring sun.Lingering near this spot where the water cascades down, we could hardly hear each other for the noise. On the path home, so peaceful, … [Read more...]
Bike Lock Debacle
As you now know from the title of my forthcoming book, we seek to live a slower life—a "not so fast" life. Plenty of people are living far simpler and slower lives than we are, but we're making choices that do set us apart in our suburban area. One simple choice is to use our bikes as often as possible.When my four kids and I head out through the neighborhood on bikes, we … [Read more...]
Make-Do Mondays: Imperfect Closet
At Make-Do Mondays, we discuss how we’re simplifying, downsizing, repurposing, buying used, and using what we’ve got.It’s a carnival you can visit to celebrate creative problem-solving, contentment, patience and ingenuity. If you want to participate, you can share your own make-do solution in the comments or write up a Make-Do Mondays post at your blog, then return here to … [Read more...]
Not So Fast
For two years, I've been working on a book.I've mentioned it occasionally. In fact, you may recall the following photo I posted of the manuscript. I submitted this ream of paper to my publisher last year:As you can see, I was, well, a little wordy.I had to cut it way down. Susan, my editor at David C. Cook, and I tossed out entire chapters in hopes of getting it to a … [Read more...]
Make-Do Mondays: A Deck of Cards
Make-Do Mondays is a carnival dedicated to sharing the creative, frugal or even humble ways we’re making-do.To participate in Make-Do Mondays, simply join in the discussion via the comments or Mr. Linky.The Mr. Linky for WordPress.com isn’t as robust as the version that Typepad and Blogger can use, but I'm making do in all kinds of ways. Even with blog technology.Here’s … [Read more...]
Make-Do Mondays: Make-Do Heritage
Make-Do Mondays is a carnival dedicated to sharing the creative, frugal or even humble ways we’re making-do.To participate in Make-Do Mondays, simply explain some way that you’re making do. Join in the discussion via the comments or Mr. Linky.The Mr. Linky for WordPress.com isn't as slick as what Typepad and Blogger can use, but I figure I should make-do with that, as … [Read more...]
Make-Do Mondays: Remember Video Cassettes?
Make-Do Mondays is a carnival dedicated to sharing the creative, frugal or even humble ways we’re making-do.And please forgive me for running late today.To participate, simply explain some way that you're making do. Join in the discussion via the comments or Mr. Linky. The Mr. Linky for WordPress.com is pretty lame, but I'm using it anyway. Here's how it works:Click on the … [Read more...]
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