Back to basics. What is a good day?

Earlier today I was at Chloe's.  She had three children sleeping and was baking.   Today is a glorious sunny Autumn day.  It really is just lovely.  The boys had been out with Dad doing farm work which is basically all they want to do!  Dinner was planned.   When the girls were little this is what I considered a good day. 

Now that I am trying to find a new routine I am thinking about what a good day is for me.  I think I am beginning to find it.  Yesterday was mostly restful and I had my diary out and planned the week. This Monday morning I got the house vacuumed and the floors mopped.  Then I did some deep cleaning in the bedroom and got the sheets in the washing machine.   While they were washing I watered my herbs and veggies then I fed chickens, watered goats, fed dogs and so on.  I soaked in the beautiful sunshine.  

I went on to get the linen back on the bed then mid afternoon as my energy is running low I sat and did some Bible study.    Now I have some chicken cooking to make a good sized pasta sauce I call (after my friend)  Hilde's pasta.   Chicken, garlic, onion, cream cheese, spinach and cream.   It is really good!  While my chicken is cooking I got some other cleaning done in the kitchen.   

My floors look and smell clean which is so nice.  So this is where I jump in and say I am so happy with this gorgeous day and clean floors.  I am so happy with fresh linen.   😊

When someone asks you "what have you been doing?" do you feel pressure to come up with something more magnificent than "I washed my linen and floors and made pasta for dinner"....  I know much of my life I have felt that my happiness with things like well fed children, lunch boxes packed,  my veggie garden going well...  are not the stuff of a thrilling story and I should be able to come up with something like "I just returned from Paris."    This makes me laugh as Black Cockatoos just flew past the window... which is to me much more exciting than a trip.   Seriously if I can finish off the day with a soak in the bath I will say this was a very good day. 

Philippians 4 says whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, what ever is admirable... to think on these things.   Because of what I have been reading, what I have been watching and because of prayer and good plans... my mind has been absolutely filled with good things.   My photos of Andy in good and healthy times make me feel happy.  I feel quite at peace.   The friend I mentioned, who lost her husband in similar circumstances, ... she also said to me she feels at peace.   And it is visible in her.  She has a peace that is beyond normal understanding.   After weeks of shock,  grief, mental torture, nightmares... this place is really heavenly.    

Because of Andy I watched The Chosen and now I have run out of episodes to watch (until more is released.)  I have some sermons he was watching and as I think of the names of the preachers he liked the most I have written them down.   At one stage I remember telling him that although they are old to try watching Billy Graham sermons.   He did and he loved them!   I have been watching testimonies of some of the actors and crew of The Chosen who have given their lives to God as a result of being involved.  These have been beautiful too.   I really like Phil Robinson... so I might watch The Blind.  If you have any good Bible studies,  Christian movies, series... please share.  I know my mind works in such a way that it needs to be fully occupied on goodness.   If you don't care for Billy Graham or Phil Robinson that is ok... just don't watch them! 

I have a friend who has lost her eyesight.  She can see but not much.  None the less she has the most sparkly happy eyes I have ever seen.  She is just joyful.  And it seems like she is always joyful!  I want to be like her.    

If you feel happiness and contentment because you added to the pantry,  grew something,  preserved something, made something.... or because your babies ate dinner and are tucked up in bed or the soup turned out well...  these are wonderful things.   With gratitude we do appreciate them so much.

There is a lot to be said about basics.  Like buying basic ingredients for the pantry.  Ingredients give you many options, as Cath says.    Simple meals are honestly just as good as fancy ones.  Basic ingredients do not have a list of crazy chemicals and numbers... a tomato is just a tomato.  Hopefully.     A tray of brownies is just as good (if not better) than an expensive basket of store bough Easter chocolates.    Or a chocolate cake...  or anything that you are good with baking.    I even love my basic dogs.  They are not an expensive breed or anything they are just mutts that needed a home.  I am happy with my old kitchen and fifty year old stove.   Actually more than happy I love them! 

Do you know people who just suck the joy right out of you?  Don't let anyone steal your joy!  Determine they cannot.  This is not to say we don't give company to the lonely,  sympathy to the grieving etc...  it is about the people that are always glum no matter what.  They would complain if they won the lottery.  They complain it is a nice day.  They complain about everything.   Do you sometimes come away from somewhere or someone and you think "why am I feeling so bad?" because you actually don't have anything in particular to feel bad about. You just caught it from someone lol.

We can't be content and joyful all the time (I am grateful I feel it at all)  but keeping a gratitude journal and keeping my mind on good things and learning is helping me heaps.   I have many things to add to my grateful list tonight.

I promise next week to have a basics post on something money saving that we can make. xxx