As I was outside harvesting blackberries recently, I was thinking how thankful I was for the bushes that were given to us. Then I quickly calculated how many summers we have lived at this home. This is our 10th summer. We’ve been able to live and do and add something each year. We didn’t have it all as soon as we moved in. In our first home, we had chickens. Then we added a garden. Followed by berries. And finally, fruit trees. Four years. And, then we moved.

At this home, we began again with our chickens. Sweet Husband bought a nice shed for them that we could also use for other things alongside the chickens. My in laws kept the garden for several years alone while I had babies toddling. We added some fruit bushes and trees. A clothesline. Perennials. And now, ten years later, we are where we are! It didn’t happen overnight. And I plan to keep adding, a bit each year.

It is all too easy to think we must do it all NOW and forget the time it takes to grow and develop and add to and extend. Our techy world seeks to have us compare our lives with everyone, what ever stage they are in, and wish we had ‘this or that’. Don’t fall prey to this, friend! I know I have and it is miserable. We begin to doubt our blessings and spend money we don’t have. Our minds go directly to things- desiring whatever our current thoughts are landing on. What some people have worked years for, we expect to have in a snap.

So, what can we do? Is it wrong to have dreams and ambitions? What is contentment, really? Here are 4 ways that you can do something NOW even if you aren’t exactly where you want to be. We don’t know what our futures hold, but we can be growing and doing and being every day… all the while being content and satisfied with what we do have.

BE PRESENT

Look around you. Being present is so important when we have the ability and the screens at our fingertips to be anywhere and, honestly, lots of places simultaneously. Be where you are and be all there. Limit time on technology. Spend time with your loved ones. Time! It’s something every single one of us gets in a limited amount. 24 hours. Whether we are rich or poor, young or old. Don’t lose it.

How can I be present? See things through the eyes of a child- maybe your child, your grandchild, your niece or neighbor. Wonder. Excitement. Simplicity. Make time for stopping on a walk. Listen to sounds. Think about the intricacy of creation.

How do you spend your evenings? If the answer always includes technology, I invite you to lay it aside. Pick up a book and read- to yourself or your loves ones. Sit outside on the porch and ask a family member how their day was, what beauty they saw, what they learned. Grab a ball and kick it around while singing someone’s favorite song with them. Use sidewalk chalk to write a message of greeting or joy to your neighbor. Take a walk and stop for a chat with an elderly person you know. Read the Bible and grow in your faith.

Being present does not include selfishness or self focus. It helps us give of ourselves and share.

LEARN

Learning new skills that you can use, either now or later, can be such a rewarding way to use your time. Some of my previous posts are written about baking bread, preserving various fruits and veggies, and gardening. Those skills have something to do with foods. But there are so many wonderful things out there to learn. Personally, I have hundreds of things I want to know how to do someday. Hand crafts. Making from-scratch. Sewing and mending. We don’t want to lose these precious arts. Someday we may need to know a lot more than we already do. Dive in! Here are a few that may get you on the right track to a new skill or hobby:

• preserving (many ways to do this!)
• sewing (sew on a button, mend a tear, cross stitch, embroider)
• knit or crochet
• woodworking
• using tools (power or hand tools, something as simple as a hammer and nail project)
• painting (a wall or canvas)
• try sourdough
• paper art
• penmanship
• animal husbandry
• gardening

Here’s an example… Start small with planting something. It’s good to know how to grow things. Have a pot? Plant herbs. Use them! Learn how to tend that plant. Grow yourself in the knowledge of how to use it. When winter comes, will it live inside? Can it stay outside? What do you need to know? These types of things take time! Begin learning them now! There is no need to wait.

COOK

It is always healthiest to cook real, whole foods. Processed foods, out to eat foods, pre-made frozen dinners…. As a pattern of life, these need to go. They’re unhealthy and much more expensive. I have already said many times that I’m no purist. I seek to eat mostly from-scratch and as many homegrown foods or locally sourced items as we can. I don’t always. But! It’s something everyone should know and should strive toward.

Begin small and cut some processed foods. Replace those with fresh or home cooked. A good place to begin: breakfast! Stop purchasing processed cold cereals, frozen waffles, and canned rolls. Make eggs. Cook pancakes. Soak oatmeal. Fry hash brown potatoes. I would argue that any of these foods are much cheaper than the processed, store-bought options. Sometimes this means planning ahead and making things the night before. Don’t forget those precious 24 hours were given- choose what to do with yours! Make healthy decisions. As we streamline things, it’s amazing how quickly we can throw things together with simple ingredients to make a delicious breakfast… any time of day!

Make this something you learn to do. And if you already know how, seek ways to improve your skills! Cut out another processed food; make a goal of baking all of your bread at home; begin using a slow cooker; menu plan; learn how to batch cook; make freezer meals; limit eating out… the list goes on!

KEEP THE HOME

Having a clean and well run home is not something that should sit on the back burner. We should make time daily for cleaning. There are many lists of ‘daily and weekly’ chores- lists that may help you run your household more efficiently. It used to be such a prized skill to be a good housekeeper. Why have we lost that? Why does our society see this as less-than? It seems to be a status symbol to give a list of things we can’t do or won’t do for our home. Let’s break that chain!

What an honor to have a space to live in and take care of! Home, apartment, room, or property. Cherish the place you call home. Make the bed; clean the counters; scrub the toilets. These jobs are beautiful and much needed.

Start by evaluating the way your home is run. Are you home most of the day? Gone a lot? Do you share household responsibilities? There are many age appropriate lists for including your kiddos in cleaning chores. Work is good! Including them is very important. And yes, it can also be very hard… but worth it.

If you view your home as a place of respite, a haven away from the world where you and your family can rest and be and live, you will find keeping the home much more enjoyable. Here are some examples:

• Sweeping the floor in the quiet of the evening- you’ll see the difference immediately.
• Scrubbing toilets with an essential oil spray (lemon, etc) can boost your brain activity and give you some much needed energy.
• Post a scripture verse near the sink to memorize as you wash dishes.
• Put on some lively music and fold laundry with the kids, each person putting their own stack away.
• Try to touch things once- example: mail! Put it right where it goes so that you don’t need to sort it again later. Your desk/counter area will look less cluttered as a bonus.
• Wipe down counter tops and appliances right before turning off the kitchen lights after each meal. Better yet, add some twinkle lights so that clean areas sparkle.
• Collect a vase of flowers from your garden or the grocery store (road side wildflowers, anyone?) and have a clean table with a centerpiece after every meal.

Some tasks need done daily (several times per day) and others can be done occasionally. Make a list, but don’t be afraid to move somethings to tomorrow. Find a chart you like and add stickers! Get a pretty notepad for the fridge. Keeping up with things helps us to not become overwhelmed. But, it can also mean seeing home and not just a house.

So, what will YOU begin NOW? Please leave a comment! I love hearing from you.