August 17, 2017

Greetings My Friend,

There I was sitting on the porch with some green beans, snapping them preparing them to be frozen, while I was doing this Junior was working on a couple of projects on the porch. We chatted as we worked and life was sweet. When Junior finished his work, he put wood in the fire pit and got a fire going. I had taken the beans in, packaged them to be frozen then made a cup of chamomile tea. Junior came in to make a cup of coffee and then we went to watch the fire. I don't know why but as the evening played out I felt connected to God and His awesome creation of us and the beauty that also sustains us with food. We were winding down with our days labors enjoying the work of our hands, enjoying a depth to our relationship and drawing close to God. I am still working out how to have a years supply of food on hand. Our plan that night was to to the meat packing plant  the following day to buy pork for the next several months along with some ground beef. I have been drying and freezing food throughout the summer, now I am working on canned goods, like meat, fruit and vegetables. I have it worked out in my mind that we buy these things when they are on sale, when we use one can we can always buy one more to rotate into the yearly supply or we wait until they go on sale next year, I am not sure which one I will do. With food on hand, we are prepared for any disaster throughout the year to have enough food in the house to last us for sometime. I have called all of this living the simple life, which takes us back to the basics. I find that as we cut down to the basic needs level, it is there life seems to have the most meaning. I sense we are drawing closer to Jesus, learning to rely on Him and "it is well with my soul." The more I pull back from wanting stuff, the more I understand the beauty of less stuff. Stuff means I need to find a way to store it, guard it and in a sense become a slave to it. The simple life provides for my immediate needs, allows me to be productive as I fill my days and in the end I can give out of my abundance or of being. I have always given of myself and it has blessed me. Some give out of their abundance for me giving of myself is the highest gift I am able to give. I am grateful to be learning this way of life and to love God. May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you. Love Janet