First things first - The reports are that looks like my Auntie and Uncles house has survived Adelaide hills bush fires pretty well intact!! They are hoping to get back in tomorrow. I am SO relieved for them. Our firefighters have done an amazing job at saving property considering the ground this fire has covered and the towns that it has threatened. They are in my mind, heart and prayers that they will have the strength, courage and wisdom to keep fighting these fires safely like they have been. Its not over yet and we have some bad weather expected on Wednesday.
Sometimes simple living seems a long way away. There are so many people doing it in a huge way which is so inspiring but can also be daunting. Sometimes I look at my life and think we are so far off where we want to be. But you don't get to the end in the beginning. Its lots of little changes and there are some seasons in life where these changes are easy to make because we have energy and things are going well, the children are sleeping and I have the time to take doing these extra things. On the flip side there are some seasons in life where convenience over takes and we get knocked a few steps back. Where the necessity of sleep overrides the ability to do everything 'from scratch'. There is no denying it simple living is slower, and more time consuming. For us it is incredibly rewarding but there are times it is difficult. During these times I sometimes choose to embrace the convenience available and pay the extra. We still look for good brands, Australian made, good quality but we are grateful for this luxury of modern day living. And say during a bout of gastro there is nothing more luxurious then being able to grab a packet of disposable nappies! Simple living is always our goal though and we are careful not to let these bumps knock us yet we accept they are a part of life.
Recently my stove top kettle developed some rust around the top, it was only a cheap camping one we got and I have cleaned it up and will put it in the van for occasional use. It is not suited for the heavy everyday use. So for christmas I asked for a new kettle form Mum and Dad. It as a beautiful big 2L enamel stove top kettle with a whistle and I know it will last us for many, many years. I deliberately chose a stove top kettle for many reasons. Firstly it is simple. There are few things that can go wrong with it, the electrics will never wear out, it is a solid and excellent quality, it is big which is great for when we have visitors or have small church groups here. And I love the routine of it. I like the 'click' and the 'whoosh' of the gas stove top in the morning, listening to it come to a slow boil and the whistle call out. The kids cheerfully yell "Kettles boiling Mum!" Life is too often rushed. But this kettle helps me to prepare and have my morning coffee in a manner which is purposeful. This one purchase helps put me in the right mindset for the day. There is power in the small changes we make to our lives. It is not just in the initial purchase but in a way in which that item helps us to live a simpler life.
Also the way I have my coffee....I deliberately chose not to get an expensive pod machine. The machine is expensive to buy, there are bits that can break, and the pods create ALOT of waste for landfill. Instead I choose to use a stainless steel plunger. It has no bells and whistles but makes a perfectly good cuppa. I'm no coffee connoisseur! I'm happy with a nice, hot, simple brew in the morning.
So as we try to move towards a more simple life we are conscious to take this mindset with us in all the small choices. All these little steps add up and before we know it we have come a really long way!
xx
