Humble Pie

Okay, remember how proud I was about my new simple living? My boasts of my new found experience of freedom as I gave things away and continued to empty our home of all the stuff? Well I think I need to tone those thoughts down and eat some humble pie.

I am sitting here on a flattened box for a couch in what used to be my living room and typing on my what literally is my LAP top. My butt is sore, and my shoulders have, I believe a permanent hunch from my posturing. Last night I slept on the oldest, lumpiest mattress ever, now my whole body is stiff and sore. So before I go on, I accept and eat heartily my slice of humble pie while conceding that I unfortunately need stuff in my life. I have enjoyed the more simple stuff of life for these past few weeks but my once found freedom from things now feels a bit more like a prison in an eternal abyss of empty space.

I still however want to go on record that I never want to accumulate the amount of stuff I did these past 15 years, if there is a word that means gluttonous in respect to stuff, that was me. (perhaps you can let me know what that word is) I do believe that stuff is truly not needed in life but I humbly admit that if I can keep my simply way of life while maintaining a few things of comfort I will.

I have at this point 2 days left until we leave for Bahamas, keep us in your prayers as we continue to leave well and say goodbye to friends and family. I am excited and scared all at the same time. I am pleased that throughout all of this process I have been able to see God's hand at work and that even while eating, nay, especially while eating humble pie I continue to be drawn closer to Him through this process.

Shine on my friends
Allie

And then they were gone..

Today was a liberating day. For the past 5 weeks we had 4 massive tables full of things that at some point had accumulated into our overstuffed home. First they were for purchase during our house content sale, then they were free to anyone who could carry it, then we shoved things into the bags, purses or cars of our unsuspecting guests just to start getting rid of stuff. And now they are gone!!! Last night I packed all the leftovers in to 5 huge boxes, and three bags. This morning I left them on the curb for a charity to pick them up. I did some errands and voila, when I arrived home. They were gone. Such a good feeling. Such a great feeling!




I had been overwhelmed for 5 + weeks with the amount of things we have accumulated over the years.These were all things that had been forgotten, ignored or not used. The sheer amount was humiliating and I am so pleased to be rid of it. I feel cleansed, free and simple (no comments on my intellect please) It feels so good that Bryn and I have sworn to each other to live from here on in, a relatively simple life by not accumulating a lot of things. Right now that seems easy to do, in a year, I will need a reminder, please mark your calendar to do that for me.



I was wondered if, once this stuff is gone will I miss it? Will I regret giving it away? I am sure there will be one or two things that I remember and miss but the reality is,I could not tell you the exact contents of those boxes I packed merely 24 hours ago so I think I am safe. I believe that is a good sign.



The other thing I am noticing as we shed our belongings is that my life is more free, less weighed down which allows me to enjoy the more important things in my life. I was sitting in my almost empty living room on a couch surrounded by bare walls and floors and was able to truly reflect on where God is in my life right now. I am sure that someone without my ADD could do that in a full room, but that moment for me was awesome. Also, last night I tucked my daughter into bed in a bedroom that has only furniture and packed boxes right now. She is down to 4 of her favourite bears and 3 books until we get to Nassau. We were so content, I needed nothing else but that simple moment to cherish.



I like being simple, it fits me and I just wanted to share that with you today.
Shine on my friends.

Lessons from an Egg

Today I successfully poached my first egg. After years of trying then giving up I thought I would never achieve such an elusive goal. I figured I was doomed to enjoy these delicate buttery beauties only within the confines of diners and greasy spoons. How is it you wonder that I have achieved his amazing goal. I was told a secret, a secret so special that only the best greasy spoon chefs know and now I count myself among the elite!!
Is that wrong? Is it wrong to be so amazed at an accomplishment that in the end really does not count for much? Maybe, eggs no matter how well done they are, are just eggs. In the end of all things will my ability to poach eggs make a difference in the world? I am fairly safe answering that ponder with a big old NO. So why blog about this.. really Allie why?
I will tell you, I had given up, I had resigned myself that nothing will change with my egg poaching ability and I will never achieve success so I choose to forget it. But then a secret came my way via a friend, who knew of my long standing but dusty desire of wanting to poach the perfect egg. He told me, I tried it and it worked.
I was amazed at the simplicity the secret contained. There was not a huge long list of steps, the hardest part of this process was the addition of the ingredients, humility and patience. Then it hit me, I am kind of treating my move to Nassau and my role on that Island like I did with elusive goal of the perfectly poached egg. I kept trying to figure out what else I could be doing, how else to achieve it and how hard to go after things.. then as I stared into the pot of my poaching egg. "Be patient" screamed the little egg. I realized..wait.. this is being perfectly planned, but with time I will not know right now. I will be able to see the desired outcome, in time.
I also heard as the egg cooked slowly, the words "Be humble." I did not force that egg to cook, it was cooking because it was in the right environment. It really was not my amazing chef abilities which cooked that egg it was my humility to let the water reach the right temperature, the entry of the egg into the said water and the added secret ingredient which poached that egg so wonderfully. I really had very little to do with it. As the words Be Humble came at me I realized that it is not really what I can do or add to this process, God has it prepared and I simply need to be a willing vessel in order to see it to complete (this incidentally is where my egg analogy breaks down for what egg in their right mind desires to be poached). So from now on I will stop fearing the nothing that seems to be waiting in Nassau for I know that is simply not true, I will try to be humble and know that I am simply part of a really amazing plan. I will try to be patient enough recognize the God's timing of this recipe And I will pray that I be able to hear when the Master Chef is announcing "order is up!"