The Simple Chic

Bible Verse Memorization!

2010-05-11T12:46:00.000-07:00

This is possibly the cutest little girl! I wish I had her perserverance!

http://vimeo.com/6874186

Spring Has Sprung!

2010-03-31T16:40:00.000-07:00

... and this lent season is drawing to a close as we await the precious Easter morning. Rather than giving something up, I've devoted myself to growing closer with my Father. In doing so he placed in my path a few very meaningful resources that I would like to share with you.

http://www.ylcf.org/

http://www.feelinfeminine.com/

and finally a book shwap for us that like to turn pages :) I've just recieved my first book actually!

http://www.paperbackswap.com/

I hope these will prove as valuable to you as they have been for me.

God Bless,
Anna

REST. Sweet sweet REST.

2010-02-21T13:10:00.000-08:00

Happy Sabbath. :) I've felt this nudging "rest.rest.rest". God has really been speaking to me since last Wednesday, but you know, I think it's more that I've really been listening. Anywho.. He placed it in my heart to share this today. Something that I think has been watered down.

"Rememember the Sabbath"

"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. " Exodus 20:8-11

What does the word "sabbath" actually mean anyways?

I did a little e-search, and was delighted to find that our "sabbath" comes from the hebrew word "shabbāt" , meaning rest.

So today, I HAVE rested my body and my mind. After church, Dad and I looked at trees in the pretty weather (I let him teach me- it makes him feel good when I'm intrested in his kind of things), cuddled with kids (goat babies, that is), napped, read a little online, and then it was off to church again. It's been a great day,

AND I'm actually ready for Monday, instead of being on brink of tears on my way out the door every morning. He has really refreshed me and brought my spirits up for the upcoming week.

PRAISE BE TO GOD!

It's the season of Lent again. Going deeper than ever before!

2010-02-18T17:59:00.000-08:00

I've been raised in a somewhat lent observing church/ family, but I have to admit that I have honestly never understood nor seen it's importance in my faith until now. Lent observances are one of those traditions that I so admire the Catholics for, and I feel like it's importance has been smothered out in most protestant churches if even observed at all.

So what is is Lent?

It's not what you find in the pockets of your jeans. It's a Christian season, beginning on Ash Wednesday (Feb. 17) and going until Easter Sunday. It is a time of prayer and fasting so as to be closer and more humbled to the Father. I think of it as a spiritual retreat- an early spring cleaning of the heart to prepare for the ultimate spiritual high we Christians ride come Easter morning.

Lent should be a humbling season, a quite season, a season for reflection. Some people do not observe lent because it "depresses" them. So you fail your fast, don't be discouraged and miss the point... fasting's purpose is to humble yourself before the Lord, to clear your mind. Seems like in our church, it's a thing to boast about. "I'm giving up sweet tea", "Well, I'm giving up ANYTHING sweet". Don't they realize how intimate a time this is?

And if it's reflecting on the suffering of Jesus that depresses, then I say grow up. You cant omit this. Jesus DID suffer, it was real hurt that he felt, and more than we could ever imagine. Until we've felt the weight of the cross, we will not be able to truly feel the awe and splendor of the resurrection.

SOOOOOOO.....................

I'm going deeper this Lent. Care to join me?

School Clothes Shopping- Modestly Feminine

2009-07-21T19:35:00.000-07:00

So it's time to go shopping. I've actully given away a lot of my nicer clothes leaving the bulk of my wardrobe to t-shirts and other not always wearable items. I also am down to a pair of nicer jeans and my favorite old warn out farm jeans as far as pants go.

For school shopping this year, I really want to focus on frugal, modest, and undoubtedly feminine clothing. I'm thinking I may just have to reintroduce "the skirt" to my closet and my highschool. If I wear jeans, I want to pair it with feminine top. I don't want to wear anything a man could consider wearing if sizes werent an issue. God made men and women different.

I'm a lady, I want to be treated as one, not equal to man and not a garden tool. And above all, I want God to be honored by my apperance.

I'm so excited as I havent really been shopping with my Mom in a couple of years. Good Mommy/Baby time. I think we'll checking out a couple of the thrift type stores too. You never know the steals you'll find, plus I need a Graco Play Pen to keep new kids in when the time arrives.

My nose has been in the books and it's not even school time yet!

2009-07-20T13:43:00.000-07:00

Well, I'll start by saying it's been a little while since I last posted. I'm so sorry, I haven't been super busy... in fact I've spent most my free time on the computer, I've just felt the need and calling to be researching a possible career path.... Midwifery. I am completely fascinated with the ends and outs of it. With every article or study I read I have an even more intense burning desire to learn a little more.... I'm praying and praying, becuase I know people around me are not going understand this, they will not all see this as a higher calling and will question my logic, my faith, and maybe even my sanity for it, but I'm going to trust God on it. I know he wouldn't spark this passion inside me for no reason, and I intend to persue it be it as a career or just as an activist, this is a part of me now.

Women are amazing. The last two weeks has completely transformed my view of the whole female and has shown me how birth should be much more than just bringing a new baby into the world, it's a spirtually empowering journey rather than a life threatening disease. Doctors are trained for when things are NOT normal, and pregnancy and labor ARE normal. God designed women for this,and he doesnt make mistakes. I trust the body he gave all of us. A 35% c-section rate is WAY to high... especially as compared to other countries. It really doesnt make any sense. Imagine the mission opportunities I could have as midwife too. I could go on and on but I'll save it for later... I dont have to justify this to anyone right now.

I have HUNDREDS of different options regarding schooling and training to go through should that be what I decide to do. I just thought I would share what's been on my heart and mind lately.

Will You please keep me in your prayers. For those that dont know me, I'm a planner, I'm stressed when I dont know my path, and as it getting time for me to start looking to my future I can feel the crunch. Pray that I find and fufill my calling and that other be accepting to it be it vet, couselor, nurse, midwife...or whatever. I need some prayer warriors behind me here!!

___________________________________________________________________

On a more farm oriented note.

Myrtle Lee, one of my beautiful nubians is due to kid in just 4 weeks now. She is looking so cute and pregnant. The babies are VERY active at the moment and I've been able to feel them kicking several times now. I'm so excited for these kids. As the weeks are narrowing down, keep us in your prayers as well for a healthy delivery and kids. I'll keep ya posted.
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Eggs at last!

2009-07-11T19:26:00.000-07:00

I just arrived home Thursday night from a wonderful vacation with my best friend, and guess what?! One of my hens had started laying! Woo hoo!! Having animals has to be one of the most rewarding experiences. Honestly my chickens give me so much joy in just being chickens that I probably wouldn't care if they layed eggs or not, but what a special treat it is to receive this little gift to sum up my love and dedication to their well being... I love being a chicken's mom :) I think the same principle applies to my dairy goats. I love those gals to death. The milk is an added bonus that I'm so very thankful for. Milk means my does are healthy, happy, and truly trust me. Work paid off in the pail. in the carton, and in the heart, what a great feeling....

Thank you God, for giving me the knowledge and the perseverance to care for a few of your amazing creations. They have blessed with all they are and all they could possibly offer, so humble and honest. Help me parallel this in my walk with you. Amen.

*Anna

Spiritual Highs Baby!

2009-07-02T10:35:00.000-07:00

Wow, for the last few days I've been on such a wonderful high. I can feel the Holy Spirit moving in me. I feel so very alive and full of love for God and his many blessings. I want EVERYONE to have this feeling....

even as christians we go through cycles in our faith, but it has been my prayer that my high points in this journey be more sustained, to gain momentum, so I can be stronger, longer for my Lord.

Where are you in your faith cycle?

At our church camp, a few years ago, our speaker for the week said something that really spoke to me and has stuck with me. He said to be close to God; who is living and breathing, we have to keep moving. We have to keep growing closer to Him. It makes perfect sense. So even when we're not in high of the cycle, it is our responsibility to keep pushing on in faith that God will soon restore us.

True Beauty

2009-06-28T19:18:00.000-07:00

I stumbled across this today.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised." Proverbs 31:30

This video shows so clearly the lies fed to us via the modern world. The sad truth is that many women see these fake people as the standard of "beauty". Let this be a lesson. God's spirit with in us can transform us through grace and mercy into the beautiful women he called us to be, Only through our faith in Him. God sees us all as the finished product of this model in the clip... we are all worthy of billboards and magazine covers.

Fear the Lord, and be greatly praised my sisters in Christ.
- Anna

Laundry Day!

2009-06-28T11:00:00.000-07:00

So I've finally got a small clothes line up! The perfect size for me to wash a small load and I can get buy with just a couple of loads a week. I'm so excited. I'm about to wash my sheets so I can start the week with fresh sun dried sheets. It just sounds so wonderful.....

GOAL 1: Routines!

2009-06-27T20:58:00.000-07:00

This has been my lifelong struggle thus far. As you know, a teens life is constantly changing with growth and season. We finally get into the swing of things and suddenly it's disrupted. Teenage routines must be flexible enough to accomodate those changes with out a breakdown, but they also must be stable enough to provide a sense of normalcy and aid productivity. As humans we are creatures of habit; routine and habit are freaky step sisters- imagine that.

BUILD THE HABIT OF ROUTINE.

When schedules get crammed down our throats constantly, it's only logical to avoid any thing of the sort. Trust me living "free" sounds so amazing sometimes, but it's next to impossible. Well, here's some news, a great deal of the daily routine is on on our shoulders alone and no one elses... Be free to discover what works for you. This thought of independence and personal choice helps me see that even at 16, I can be in control of myself. It's comforting to this Simple Chic.

So this is one of the largest goals I have for myself, simply becuase it holds so many subtitles.
Routine= organized habit. For example:

Set up morning "order". Dont plan it to the clock, it will set you up for failure. For me it's stretch, sit praying/thinking for a few min. as I wake up, review my verse of the day, heat up bottle for baby goat, as that's warming I wash the milk pail and grab me a sip of something to drink, then it's out side for feeding/milking/tending chores of my 5 dairy goats, 1 jersery cow, 1 TW horse, and 7 lovely laying hens, which really is a routine in itself. Once inside again, I change into my day clothes, wash my face, brush my teeth, brush my hair and then I'm headed out the door to school or work.

I really want to try to incoporate a few extras into this.

I NEED to start eating a better breakfast, I'm hypoglycemic....and I feel the "dizzies" coming before I make it to a morning snack.

I also want to spend more alone time in prayer and reading my bible.

Having just 10 min. to straighten up in the morning would be wonderful.

So if it doesnt cut into any major sleep, I'm hoping to begin getting up an hour earlier. So 5:30 am instead of 6:30. If this doesnt work out I'll try just 30 min earlier, that's the beauty of YOUR routines, YOU have the power to mold them to YOU.

Simple Teen

2009-06-27T20:46:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm taking the first few plundges to living radically apart from my fellow teens. I'm going to strive to live more simply, more sustainable, more enviromentally friendly, more frugal, and ultimately a more Godly lifestyle. I've felt such a strong conviction to this lately, and I know God is calling me to make some radical changes so I can truely focus on him.

Over the next several posts, I'll be discussing some the major areas of life and my goals with in each. So stick around and stay tuned. Always feel free to E-Mail me or leave a comment.