Living With Intentionality

For the last seven or eight years I have been spending some time periodically thinking through why I do things and what my aims and aspirations are for what I do. I've extended this to consider what I desire to accomplish in many area of my life. When I know what my goals are then I can extend that knowledge to living more intentionally.

I've done this from everything to parenting (my goal is to raise kids with a heart for God and others, who are adventuresome and who will spend their whole lives growing intellectually, emotionally and spiritually) to feeding my family. Since my goal in feeding my family is to use food to nourish them physically and emotionally I am careful about the food I buy and make and also about eating dinner together without distractions. Looking at what I intend helps me to resist distractions and make quicker decisions.

By thinking through what I want to achieve before I attempt a task I'm not blown back and forth and can use my energy more intentionally. This even works for things like decorating a house. My over arching goal in decorating my house is to create a home that is comfortable and visually inviting. I want people who come into my home to feel welcome and relaxed. I also want my husband to like the colors and style even if it means not getting exactly what I would pick out just for myself. Because I've articulated to myself what is most important to me I can continually work at making my home better without the pressure of feeling it must be perfect.

Here's my list of intentions for my home. Some I work at all the time, some I have down pretty well, a few are not attainable in my present home, but I'm hopeful that someday they will be.
1. I want to create and atmosphere of peace and care.
2. I want my home to smell good - not with cover up scents but clean and inviting.
3. I want my home to be orderly and clutter free (still working on this!)
4. I want my home to be kid friendly (I keep boxes of toys for grandchildren and visitors and make sure small objects and cleaners are put away).
5. I want things in my home that remind us of our heritage from our families.
6. I want my home to communicate that I enjoy nature.
7. I want my home to have a large vegetable garden.
8. I'd like to have chickens.
9. I'd like to have a dedicated guest room that is as beautiful and comfortable as the best hotel.

To Green or Not to Green?

I thought I'd better start posting with some posts that explain where I'm coming from and what to expect from this blog. To be green or not to be is a question I have had to ask myself in the last few years and my answer has a lot to do with what you will find in this blog.

I would count myself among those who consider themselves trying to live green. I believe that God created this world and placed us in as stewards of it, to enjoy it within the context of that stewardship. I also believe that we must work together to leave our children a cleaner world - one with less pollution and dependence on fossil fuels. That's why pretty much everything you see here will be free of petroleum based chemicals and if it's food the ingredients will for the most part be whole grain, natural foods without excess processing.

Living green does not mean spending more money. In fact it has meant the opposite for me in many ways. Granted there are a few things that are more expensive (soy vs. Paraffin candles comes to mind), but I've discovered some ways to compensate. Below is one of my favorite formulas for cleaning stove tops, pans with burned on food and sinks that need a deep cleaning. Use it anywhere you'd use a soft scrub type cleaner. I've never done a cost analysis on the recipe but I know it costs only a small fraction of what a scrub like it would cost in the store.

Soft Scrubbing Cleaner

measure about 1/2 cup of baking soda into a small bowl. Add enough liquid dishwashing soap or Citra Solv* to make a paste. Store in a small jar with a lid. Rub onto stove top or pan. Allow to sit for a few minutes if there is burned food present.

*Citra Solv is available in grocery or healthfood stores

Creatively Keeping a Home is Very Different from Keeping a House Clean

Creatively keeping a home is vastly different from just keeping a house clean, laundry done and food on the table. We all know the difference instinctively between a home where someone cares to create a warm, welcoming place to recharge and the house that is not a home but just a place to sleep, eat and get out of the rain. This blog is all about recognizing that we can and should exercise creativity in the keeping of our homes and that to do less is not good for the soul of the keeper nor for those who may reside with her.

Here I hope to share the ideas and resources I come across along with all the info I've been collecting for my own use over the years as well as good tidbits gathered from you - if you're willing to share.