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Sunday Skiing and Simple Suppers
March 19, 2012
Sunday is our sabbath. Our one day a week to have a break from regular life responsibilities. A day to play and rest.
We do this is in the great outdoors. Although last week the girls and I stayed in pj's and watched a movie - we need those days too now and again.
Yesterday we headed to the local ski hill where the boys had telemark lessons in the morning (while the girls and I played games). We shared lunch and conversation with our friends/telemark instructors at their chalet close to the hill. Then I spent the afternoon spring skiing with my boy while the girls got time with their dad. We didn't budget for downhill skiing this season (you can bet we are for next winter though!) so we tag team.
I didn't touch my computer till after supper clean up, when I finally finished the launch page for Nurturing Creativity. Who knew these things would take so long!
I woke up this morning before 6 am rested and ready to go. Like the weight and dreariness of March had lifted. Maybe this feeling will stay all week! Wouldn't that be fantastic.
Yesterday's rest and the freshness I felt this morning reminded me, once again, why we do this. Why we make such an effort to have the gear (living small and budgeting carefully), get out the door and spend this time together. An effort and process that has been years in the making but that we still have to discipline ourselves to do each week - because we need it. I need it.
I have this little e-book I'm birthing and it's stretched and grown me in unexpected ways. Hence the feelings of losing control and unraveling a bit at the edges that I talked about in my last post.
It's so tempting when we feel that way to throw in the towel on our disciplines and practices.
And sometimes we do, temporarily. But those things are a priority in the first place because they are important. I'm not living with integrity if I neglect my life priorities, the things that keep me grounded and healthy, just so I can launch projects - that are supposed to be about creative and intentional living!
Take cooking for example. Part of my mission is to nourish my family. I also feel called to nourish others and do "food work" in my community. (A couple weeks ago I said I was going to write about my mission. Well I did and it's about 5 posts long so I'm still figuring out how and when to publish that.)
I know what my mission is.
The challenge then is to stay grounded in the things that really matter. To not just know my mission, but live it - in the midst of messy living. And I'm not just talking about how the floor gets messy after a day of crafting but the mess of life - family illness, budget shortfalls, and trying situations.
One of my saving graces this winter, and these past couple weeks especially as I've been finishing this e-book, has been simple suppers. I highly recommend them.
To eat this way involves a bit of teaching and training so your children really appreciate simple foods. This works best if you still have young ones but I recommend Hungry Planet if your kids are older. I have no advice for bringing reluctant husbands and partners on board to simple meals (smile). We have the attitude that if someone cooks for you, you're grateful. Period.
I'm thankful my family truly appreciates a bowl of roasted veggies.
Veggies that were farmed close to home (it seriously does add more meaning to your meals), prepared with intention and served with love.
This is what it's all about. The simple living gig. The family togetherness thing. It's about living our mission in the context of real life.
Creating a life of beauty and meaning. Serving each other. Growing relationships.
This morning I will be busy on my computer getting ready for tomorrow's launch. No homeschool today. I will cook lunch for my family. Loving on them in one of the most intimate ways I know.
I have a meeting this afternoon with someone to get the ball rolling on starting a food buying club in my community. Turns out there's a local group of people trying to get a buying club started and they need someone experienced and organized with this kind of thing to get it going.
Living my mission. It's what I choose to do this beautiful March day. And in the Sunday skiing and the simple suppers.
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Kika@embracingimperfection on March 19, 2012, 4:41 p.m.
I ordered Hungry Planet from the library to check it out.
"The challenge then is to stay grounded in the things that really matter. To not just know my mission, but live it - in the midst of messy living" - I am learning and growing in this!
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Anonymous on March 19, 2012, 4:53 p.m.
my husband watched "forks over knives" with me and instantly wanted to switch to a vegan diet. he rarely eats meat now. i just placed a hold on the book you recommended for older children. thanks for the wonderful post, renee!
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Catherine Forest on March 19, 2012, 5:04 p.m.
Renee, reading your posts often give me goosebumps! This is my way to express how what you say resonate with me on a deep, deep level. Keep writing. It is beautiful and soul food for me!
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Jacinda on March 19, 2012, 6:33 p.m.
I'm with you on this post Renee. Keeping the vision while living with the realities - it's the true joy because really it's the only way that living with integrity is possible. And down in our little home in the bottom of the Pacific Ocean we too have the same rule...if there is food on the table, we are grateful. full stop.
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Renee A. on March 19, 2012, 8:27 p.m.
Just put Hungry Planet on hold at the library... i always find such great joy in discovering new books usually recommended from blogs like yours, it's being transferred from another library, so hopefully we will get it in two days. My oldest has been reading America's Wasteland, which talks about all the food people waste, so you may want to see that one,too, if you haven't already. We have also watched Forks Over Knives recently and thought it was another great show and also I believe it was called The Truth about Monsanto, another interesting video. I can't wait till the launch of your ebook, if it's anything like your blog, it will be a good read for sure.Your blog is such an encouragement for me to do more with my family and make more homemade things and just enjoy being a mother, a role I have always wanted and always enjoy. Thanks for sharing your days and thoughts with us and it makes my days so much happier.
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Jill Foley on March 19, 2012, 4:03 p.m.
"living my mission" - these are words I need to hear today. We've been rained out of our weekly jaunts into nature, but have continued to go to rock climbing gym and somehow, being active as a family, even if it's indoors is satisfying.