"Just To Keep It Simple"

I can't believe I have neglected my blog for so long.  Another victim of our too busy lives with cell phones chasing us everywhere we go.  Whatever happened to our real lives, spending time with friends and family, and just relaxing.
Maybe it's time to remember the old sayings;  'take a step back', 'slow down a little', or 'stop and smell the roses'.  We laugh sometimes when we hear people quoting the old sayings, but they are so true.  Our lifestyles seem to have crowded out things like sitting down and drinking a glass of iced tea in the shade or watching the birds in the trees...the simple things.  
Thinking about this made me think about the little cabin I built.  It started out as a tool shed, and well, the little lady of the house liked it so much she can hardly wait to decorate it, primitive and simple, of course.

We actually slowed down for a few minutes the other day and just sat on the porch and enjoyed the birds and the breeze.  After doing this, I believe more than ever that it's best "Just To Keep It Simple."

Hope you have a great week!

On to something...

My little wife and I have been looking at ways to reduce the stress that always seems to be jumping out in front of us. It seems like no matter what you do...something else is always there to deal with.  Well, while looking through some old photos, I found this one of my grandpa sitting in one of his old rocking chairs. 

I have a lot of memories of him sitting in these old rockers.  The more I thought about all the time he spent relaxing in those chairs, I believe he might have been on to something we have all forgotten.  I think I will have to find me one of those old rockers and start spending some quality time there.  I think it sounds like a pretty good idea to just sit back and rock and listen to the creak of the old floor boards. 
Way better than listening to the news...
Hope you all have a great week.....!

The little things...

Recently I had an opportunity to help my brother locate parts and fix a computer that contained a lot of information very important to him.  I didn't get to see this brother very often since he lived in South Carolina and I live in Indiana.  I work for a computer company so locating parts and getting repairs handled is not a big issue.  It is something I do all of the time, a "little thing"!
Working through this process was such fun and brought back such good memories of my brother from earlier years and growing up. 

He happened to be a Vietnam Vet and someone I looked at as a hero. 

A person who had been a wonderful father to his son and husband to his wife.  He taught me to drive in his white Dodge pickup.
                                    
He and his wife actually took me on vacation with them to Canada and New England when I was in my teens.  What a great memory!
Working through the computer repair was a chance for us to reconnect a little bit and I enjoyed it so much as we shared moments of faith and stories of growing up.  Little did I know at the time that less than a month later I would be sitting at his funeral.  It has made me realize very deeply that we should never take for granted the "little things".

Cherish each day that you live and live it like it were your last...

Love you Darrell...you will be missed til I see you again!

...the New Year should give everyone a fresh start...don't ya think...???

Decided it was time to be online and do more blogging!  It seems like there is always plenty of things to do that keep us way too busy.  This first weekend of 2011 was no different.  We took down all of the Christmas stuff and packed it away in the shop and the house, we started working on a new area in the shop with things that women will enjoy buying and men will enjoy looking at...well maybe they will buy some things too!  :0)   Then I did some work for the office and started going through some things that needed sorting out. 
Ya know, it's just tiring sometimes to keep up with all of the stuff there is to do. 

OK..so here is what I'm thinking...  I think this picture has a plan for the New Year. 

Get done what you need to, but take time out to relax and enjoy yourself.  Forget about 2010 and whatever it was that, well, didn't quite work.  Make time for things which are important to YOU.  Whatever makes you smile! 

After all, the New Year should give everyone a fresh start...don't ya think...???

Not much to say...Simplify!

You know I was thinking about something to write about today and have come to the conclusion...I just don't have much to say today.  I am looking forward to our shop open house and the holidays.  I am happy to be able to relax and enjoy good friends.  This also includes some family members...hahaha! 
Anyway, I hope that each of you will take some time during the holidays and just enjoy those you love!  Don't get caught up in all of the activity. 
After all...isn't that what the season should be about? 
Simplify...!

Another Day...

I am continually amazed at how much simpler things could be if we would only follow good Biblical advice and look at each day one day at a time. "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." You can't change yesterday and you can't do anything about tomorrow because you don't know what tomorrow will bring. We try to solve the problems that haven't even arrived yet and figure everything out today. I have been through a few things in my life and I have found that no matter how big or small the problem, if we just deal with the issues in front of us today, somehow tomorrow seems to take care of itself and we amazingly survive to deal with things "Another Day!"

Don't Worry...! Be Happy...!
...and Have a Really Great Day!

...just say a little prayer for the rest!

As I was thinking about what to write, I began to think about how greatly blessed I have been with the simple pleasures of life.
Simple pleasures of faith, family, and friends. You know, when it gets down to basics we seem to have lost sight of those 3 simple pleasures and taken them for granted. Seems like many people have filled their lives with things you can buy and base happiness on what they have. I guess I have seen enough in my life to know that what we have bought can be quickly gone, but the love we share is always there.
So, with that thought, I guess we just need to take the time to appreciate those around us who really care and, well, ...just say a little prayer for the rest!
Have a great day!