simplify

I’ve been thinking a lot about simplifying my life. 

Like most people, I have too much stuff.  Too much stuff literally and too much stuff on my mind.

Too many things. I hate clutter. I am NOT a pack rat. I also don’t get sentimentally attached to things very easily. So this means that I am quick to get rid of things that we no longer use. Despite this, I still find I have too many things. And frankly, not only do I not need it all. I don’t even really want  it. I think the more I have the less satisfied I am. It makes me more focused on things. And I do not want to be that kind of a person. That is not what I was created for.

And too many things on my mind. This has always and forever will be a problem for me. The severity of this comes and goes, but I am always thinking of about 42 things at once and usually anywhere from 1 to 100 steps ahead of where I’m at now. And I am such a planner that my natural state is always focused on the future. Either what’s for dinner tonight, what do I have to get done at work tomorrow, and the longer term…what I want for my life in 1 year, 5 years, 10 years…always planning. But never just being. It makes it very hard to enjoy the present. There was a quote from the series finale of The Office that I liked, “I wish there was some way to know you were in the good ol’ days before you left them”. Someday, I’m going to look back on this time in my life, and feel nostalgic and wish I had just been able to enjoy it more.

At church this past weekend, the our pastor read the famous passage out of Ecclesiastes that has really struck a chord for me over this past year, and continues to kind of reemerge in my life periodically:

“There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.”

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

This to me is a gentle reminder that there is a time for everything, and right now, at this time in my life, this is what God has for me. I need to be satisfied with that. 

So back to my point of simplifying.  Moving to Iowa was a really good way to do that. We downsized from a decently sized house into a small apartment, which meant getting rid of stuff and really thinking about what stuff we need and what we don’t.  It also was a good way to go from having lots of activities to well, no activities (now that we’ve gotten pretty established here and made good friends, we do have more going on, but it’s not overwhelming). And I really do feel so blessed with where I am. I really am at peace with it. I am enjoying my friends and my husband and my family (and my dog!). I am. I am starting to think this move is like a reset button on my life in a lot of ways. So while this move forced me to simplify in a lot of ways, unless I really work on my heart and tendencies and character, “stuff” slowly creeps back in.

I’ve been mulling over ways to make this a reality for me, but this post seems to have gotten long and rambling enough for one day, so I’ll share more a different day.

We made it through the winter

It has been a few months since I wrote here…blog fail. Ah well. I thought to write something a few times but I just felt like there wasn’t too much going on that was interesting enough to write about. And please don’t get your hopes up, there still isn’t really. I sort of feel like we hibernated for the winter. But I'm okay with low-key.

I started a new job!  And though I’m only 3 weeks into it, I really like it. It’s with a subsidiary of General Dynamics, which is an information technology company that works on a variety of government contracts. I’m working on a Medicare contract that runs a program for physicians to report “quality measures”, or basically, how well they care for their patients. I’ve worked in a variety of healthcare jobs in the past, and now I’m on a team that administers some of the programs I used to work on the other end of, so it’s really interesting to me. So far I really like the work—I think it suits me well, and I also am really liking the team I’m on. 

Andy and I had a really fun date night last weekend at Valley Junction Gallery Night. Valley Junction is this really cute neighborhood near us with fun stores and antique shops and restaurants, and of course, galleries. So on Gallery Night the shops stay open late and serve snacks or appetizers or wine or hot chocolate. It was such a fun night! My favorite shop was called “Hinge,” –I had to restrain myself because I wanted to get everything there {I asked the cashier if I could just move in}.

[stole these photos from the internet]

 

 

 

But I managed to narrow it down, and we walked away with 2 fun purchases—a giant letter “B” and a little white owl. So then when we got home I needed something to hang on the wall with the B, so I made a couple of wall hangings with burlap and upholstery nails (thank you Pinterest!). Love it. {Though since we live on the third floor and this project involved nailing into the wood frame, I do not believe our downstairs neighbors were nearly as thrilled…}

And then the next night we finally tried Casey’s Pizza. We have been hearing about Casey’s Pizza ever since we moved here. Casey’s General Store is the big gas station chain here…so we were not super excited to try the gas station pizza. But everyone…literally EVERYONE here said it was pretty great, so we finally ordered one, and it was really good! So friends, be enticed to come visit us, because we may just treat you to some Casey's Pizza :) And that was our true Iowa experience for the week.

So there, how's that for low-key? But we've been enjoying ourselves. Enjoying this city, each other, friends, and just this stage in our lives. Also enjoying this spring that has begun! (though I hear it's still winter back in WI. Sorry guys, people here are already mowing their very green lawns!) Things are good.

Welcome, 2013!

Ah…the holidays are over. I know most people, and I guess me included, really don’t like the upcoming few months of winter. But there is something a little peaceful about the holiday chaos being over and staying warm and cozy inside while the world is snow-covered and sparkly outside. I had a wonderful holiday season. With having moved recently we had fewer Christmas parties/functions/potlucks to attend/bring gifts/make dishes to pass, which decreased the busy-ness and stress that sometimes comes with this season. While I truly do love and enjoy all of those events and have a blast celebrating with others, it can be a lot and can take focus on the true meaning of Christmas. We got to go back to Wisconsin again and visit family, which was amazing. My family grew a lot this year, we added my sister’s new husband, my brother’s fiancé, my brother’s dog, and of course, Oscar. (More people for this girl to drag into playing games with!) The more the merrier! And of course Andy’s family and our extended families, so all was fun and refreshing and good for the soul. I love you all!

It has majorly been on my heart and mind (as I’m sure is true for many others as well) the last two years how far our focus can be from what Christmas is all about. So many wonderful things happen—time with family and friends, wonderful food, generous and thoughtful gifts…that these things can seem like THE POINT of the holidays, which is so far from the truth. Christ the Lord’s birth has changed the world for eternity, and that is what I feel I fail to truly celebrate and focus my heart and mind on year after year. I have been pondering being more intentional during the Advent season for the last few years, but have never quite gotten into it. Right now I am working on making an Advent calendar, which I’m hoping will help with our focus for next year. I will also be praying and contemplating on how to simplify Christmas so the important things become the focus. I think celebrating with family and friends and sharing meals and gifts are wonderful things, don’t get me wrong. But I just want my heart to first be focused on the miracle of my Lord’s birth.

So as Andy and I move into 2013 (does it take anyone else the whole month of January to get used to writing the new year for the date???), we join the rest of the world in reevaluating our lives and priorities and make goals towards some sort of improvement. For us, it's nothing big, and most are not even concrete goals, per say. Something about that calendar turning marks a time for us to be able to hit some sort of a reset button and try again. I know New Year’s resolutions are rarely kept up for very long, and I think that’s okay. Even if we keep a resolution for just a few weeks, but perhaps saw some sort of lasting (albeit small) change, then I think that’s worth it. And I think it’s always good to challenge ourselves, while at the same time, not expecting perfection out of our imperfect beings. And if I become even a tiny bit more healthy, patient, generous, kind, or respectful, or grow a little bit closer to God or take a small step in becoming who He created me to be, then it’s totally worth it.

So Happy New Year to you all! (And Go Pack Go! First playoff game tonight!!!!!!!!!!)

Now for your viewing pleasure, a few photos...(I am NOT very diligent about photo taking...perhaps another 2013 resolution?)

{Stole this photo from Facebook.  I would consider my family die-hard Packer fans}

{My brother and his lap dog Nona}

{Making our traditional Christmas breakfast for dinner}

{Oscar enjoying his Christmas gift from the Burtons}

{My crazy Vanevenhoven family playing a game we are much to old and big for}

 {Another Facebook steal. And I promise Oscar is a real dog, even if he looks like a stuffed animal in this photo...he gets tired in the evening and stops using his muscles}

{And of course, Oscar, who we grow more attached to each day. This is him while working on training him to lay down. He's doing so good!}

The holidays are upon us

The holiday season is in full swing! And so is all of the busyness and loveliness that it brings. We decorated our apartment yesterday (with 69 degree weather outside, if you can believe it!). We decided to forgo a Christmas tree this year, but you hardly notice with all the lights and glitter and stockings and such we put up. It makes it feel so cheerful and peaceful. I wish it was acceptable to keep these decorations up all year long...

Andy and I were so blessed to be able to visit Wisconsin for 10 days over Thanksgiving, and what a blessing it was, especially in this season of thankfulness. I have such wonderful family and friends. We were able to spend time with both Andy's and my families, friends from high school, college, former coworkers, and many of our Neenah friends. Lots of good conversations and laughing so hard my stomach hurt! I love this quote:

 I’ve just been feeling so grateful for where God has brought us in life. We’ve had so many transitions in our lives in the last 5-10 years and have made lifelong friendships at each stage. I’m thankful that I can live in another state 400 miles away from “home” and still feel so loved and cared for.  It’s not always easy, that’s for sure. I do miss everyone dearly. Visiting home was so good but also a reminder that we had a wonderful life built in Wisconsin that we were uprooted from. 

But I’m learning that being forced out of my comfort zone is just about the only way I will ever leave it! And change can be good. It’s so true that we have a hard time realizing our dependency on God until circumstances occur that force us to rely on His provision. And God has been so faithful in providing us exactly what we need. We have really started to feel comfortable with our church and new friends here. And we know from experience that sometimes that can take a long time to happen, so praise God that He has allowed us to fit in so quickly. And it's been so fun to have time for just me and Andy too. We've been enjoying regular sushi or coffee dates, as well frequenting the farmers market for local foods and trying out new produce (including every variety of squash we can get our hands on, golden beets, and watermelon radishes--which I highly recommend!).

Oscar is doing well too, he’s come a long way from when we got him, he appears to like us and like living with us. He got to come with us to Wisconsin and got spoiled by being petted and snuggled by all sorts of people. We took him to the groomer yesterday for the first time, and he seems slightly traumatized by the experience (he'll bounce back, I'm sure! :) Also the Badgers are in the Rose Bowl and the Packers are doing well, so at this current time, all is well in the football world! (now my fantasy football team is another story…)

So we’re back in Des Moines for about 3 weeks before heading back to Wisconsin for Christmas!

My two cents on politics and the election

I typically refrain from any sort of political posts, but I’ll throw this in. I am so blessed to live in a two party democracy. I strongly support a particular political party. I believe in the direction this party wants the country to go. I believe this party’s values align most closely with mine. That being said, I think that members of my party sometimes say and do stupid things. And my political party holds views on certain issues that I strongly disagree with. But overall, this is the party that I support.

Even still, I do not think everyone should feel the same way as me. I think a two party system is healthy. It keeps any particular viewpoint from being too extreme. It keeps power in check, as the founding fathers hoped. Theoretically it should lead to compromise (although lately it seems politicians have lost this ability and instead settle for deadlock, but I digress). The very nature of a two party system is that there will be two opposing views. And that is good. That is the point of a democracy. I have my political views, but I’m so glad that that many people have different views. I’m so glad we were all created uniquely, with different views and experiences. Diversity in person and diversity in opinion is how God created us, and it’s beautiful.

We should welcome the opportunity to hear other people’s views, and be accepting, not judgmental. I’ll be the first to admit, when I hear comments or read Facebook statuses that I strongly disagree with, I can be the first to judge.  I admit I often need to keep an open mind and welcome other people’s opinions. I hope we all strive to be welcoming of people with different ideas, and not look down on those of the ”other” political party. Healthy discussion of opposing opinions, different ideas on issues, and friendly, open minded debate is healthy.  Being judgmental, close minded, or offensive is not. I’m so blessed to live in a country where we have a right to a vote. The right to vote represents so much more than just checking a box, and those all over the world would love to have the freedoms we do. This morning I am grateful that we all have the right to vote, both republicans and democrats.

I don’t think God is a democrat, I don’t think God is a republican. Before the election, I prayed for God to guide each American in voting as He wanted them too, believing that this would look different for every person. I have to remember that government is only our human way of dealing with an imperfect society.  I have to remember that American politics and government and laws are temporary. Our God is eternal. I need to remember what is important, and what is really worth my passion and energy. No matter who is president, Jesus is Lord.

My favorite image of the election:

 

Alright, thanks for hearing me out, friends, and that's all the public political discussion you'll hear from me! I think we can all unite on the fact that the election is over with, as are the political ads and phone calls :)  Have a good week!