About Dana

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I'm a dichotomy of blue jeans, pretty jewelry, frugalista, and Southern girl living the simple rural life. I want to live my life holistically, thoughtfully, economically, and most of all gratefully, and encourage other women to do the same.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Gracias. Merci. Grazie. Thank you.

My son brought home a list of "thank you's" from his church-school class this past Sunday.

Gracias (Spanish)
Merci (French)
Grazie (Italian)
Asante (Swahili)
Anku (Dutch)
Obrigado (Portuguese)
Klitos (Finnish)
Salamat tagalog (Filipino)
Thank you.

On this Thanksgiving week (my favorite holiday, by the way - devoid of gifty commercialism or continuous parties just delicious food, fun, family and friends), I am thankful for:

A nice, sturdy, house with a non-leaky roof

Plenty of food

Every single family member under my roof and under other roofs

Good health

A church to call my own with lots of friends there

My friends who live in other states and just down the road

My cell phone to call all those in other states (and those just down the road)

A reliable car

Enough money for gas for that reliable car

Rain

A job

My husband's job

A Savior who gives me hope.

Don't think this is the full list. It's just the beginning. When I sit and write it all down, I realize I don't have one reason to complain. If something is not right, I need to sit and read this list and realize that enough is just as perfect as it can be this side of heaven.

Happy Thanksgiving.
Love,
TCB

Monday, November 21, 2011

Adaptability

We ought to value adaptability as one of the character traits we aspire to have. If you think about it, adaptability usually breeds joyfulness. Adaptability is about flexibility and making the most of every situation. If you're able to do that, then you're able to feel joy in the moment and in your circumstances.

My weekend was all about adaptability.

First, my son had to participate in a swim meet Saturday. I was determined I was going to be the parent who sat in the stands cheering on my son, while Mr. Country Belle participated as the requisite parent volunteer. I thought after homeschooling all week, working, cooking, and generally schlepping my son all around town, I deserved to sit on my tushy and just watch.

Then the meet organizer climbed the bleacher steps, looked at me with puppy dog eyes, and said, "I need ONE MORE timer [to time the swimmers' races].

So I stood at the side of the pool for three hours and timed races. Adaptability.

My next plan of action on Sunday was to once again sit on my tushy, read the newspaper, and generally surround myself with nature on the backyard deck. After all, it isn't often we get the 76 degree sunny day in November the weather forecaster predicted for Sunday afternoon.

Then we returned from church and I was all ready for the backyard. And then it started to drizzle. And then it turned into a drizzly, slushy mess. And the clouds never lifted and it was 15 degrees below the forecasted temperature.

So I watched "I Love Lucy" with my son and cleaned out an entire kitchen cabinet and reorganized it. Then I prepared my table with Thanksgiving linens and decorations. Then I wrote an article for a client. Adaptability.

It's something I have to work on, as I love my big, deep rut of a life. But I think I did pretty well this weekend.

Happy week,
TCB