In The Spirit of Auld Lang Syne :: My Letter to You

 Dear friends,

As I sit and write this letter to you in long-hand, (something you can add to the lamenting list of things slowly falling from the table of life's goodness), I am reminiscing and listening to my wood-wick candle melting to it's near end. I am reminded of things now past and pondering over things yet to come. 

My last post was in June of this year and I stood at the starting gate ready for the bell to sound. I had planned to start down the track to keeping my blog going once again, but no sooner did I begin again that my burning flame quickly began to wax cold. 

Over the past 20 years, I've found myself with the same old familiar love/hate feelings towards the internet, "social" media and all the rest surfacing again and again. Turns out those feelings may have been warranted, as I began putting together a long two-part post of my own personal findings.

They are linked in two parts HERE and HERE with the title, The Riptide of Technology. 

But, truly at the end of the day, I have simply lost the desire that once had found a permanent place in my life. Now, I am slowly, but surely returning to the mind-set I had before opening the big box in 2001 and listening for the sound of dial-up. 

No, we can not return to everything that has been lost, but living a small, quiet and simple life full and brimming with contentment and joy fades the present culture that we are currently living.

So, with that...this will be my last blog post (with instagram and facebook very soon to go as well) and I will end it as only the simple woman can, with a daybook entry, shared in the spirit of Auld Lang Syne.

For Today

Looking out my window

smoke curling from our chimney against the back drop of the clear night's sky

I am thinking

how freeing to finally be sure of clicking "send" on this post

I am thankful

for all of you who have followed, commented or been touched by something I've written here over the years. 

(not all of my posts from the past are here, but they are all in notebooks for safe-keeping)

One of my favorite things 

my lilacs from last years bush

I am creating

a new sewing/craft space

I am listening to

Joy in the Morning

I am wearing

for the treadmill-black leggings, white tee, and my favorite black Skechers 

I am reading

and studying the Prophets in depth along with my daily devotional from Crossway by Paul David Tripp, entitled Everyday Gospel.

And these beauties are all waiting in the wings just ready for a hot cup of tea and time to sit. I have been gathering for awhile :-)

~Into His Presence

~Turning of Days

~A Year of Living Simply

~Reclaiming Quiet

~Unrushed Living

~5 Puritan Women

I am learning

aging is just the beginning of life

In my kitchen

the smell of steamed shrimp to celebrate a fresh new year

In the school room

still creating homeschool packets and gathering books for my Sammy

In my garden

as always after a good growing season the garden rests waiting for the plow and seed packets come April.

 Quote

this quote is very dear to me written by Puritan John Owen

"If you have any regard to the constancy of your faith, to the comfort or your life the honor of God, or the salvation of your own soul, labor immediately to get your belief of the Word better founded. Read the Scripture constantly, study it seriously, search it diligently, hear it explained and applied by others, meditate on it yourself, and beg of God an understanding of it and a right faith in it."

A moment from my day

I took this as I came home from running errands yesterday. I was praying over my word for the new year, rounded the bend and had to stop and capture the moment.

Closing Thoughts

I thought I would share a few photos from the past.

Take care!

May God richly bless you!

Peggy

the simple woman

xo

2024

The RIP tide of Technology :: Part Two

Thank you for returning to read Part 2 of my writing entitled, The Rip tide of Technology. I know Part One was heavy, but there isn't a way to sugar-coat truth even when we try. 

As a Christian woman who is deeply committed to her faith in Christ Jesus, I try to view life through a Biblical lens. I don't always get it right, but I've gotten better at it with age and a strong dedication to the Word. With that being said, I never set out to become so entrenched in a subject that was totally unexpected and yet totally connected. I don't think it is a coincidence either. 

Personally, I believe that I am standing at an intersection where the light has now turned yellow. Not a blinking yellow light that allows me to proceed with caution, rather a yellow light that will turn red very, very soon signaling me to stop. Actually, I am not alone and I see more like me gathering on the curb waiting as well.

I know I live in a very different time now than I did even twenty-years ago. I remember the excitement of that big square desk top computer that was pulled from the box, set up and the strange sound it made when finally getting connected to the internet. 

It was where I learned that I could write, where I could find other women who lived simply, who homeschooled and who had values similar to mine. I have never regretted one post I've written, the communities of women I helped bring together or the friendships that were made.

 But, those days are long gone now and it doesn't feel like anything that was and for the most part our family is now raising and homeschooling their own family. 

Along with the passing years, the changes that have come were quick and in the name of progress, but many are beyond belief. Surely, I do know that there is good left threaded through this sticky web. 

The deception and pollution embedded in our current culture is toxic, but I can't help but wonder how long it has been coming. Slowly, but surely we have been lulled into a dream state. It is time to wake up!! 

We are in a battle for our minds, as well as for our children and grandchildren's minds. We are called to "renew our minds", be of "a sound mind", "take every thought captive", but instead we live confused, harried, disjointed and scattered on a nearly daily basis. 

This sounds like the enemy of our souls has us pretty much where he wants us. If he can get us in this current zombie state idolizing a phone, Dear God! a phone!! Imagine what is coming down the road and do not be deceived, it is coming and it is coming for our young as well. No doubt it is already here and once in awhile (if you are rested, alert and on your guard) you will catch a glimpse of it's tail slithering around internet corners.

So, in closing, it has been nearly 2 months since this journey began and I will continue to process all of my findings, by laying it alongside scripture. I will be asking myself some hard questions, what remains out of necessity and what is to be thrown out and forgotten. 

For now, I will look back, remember and lament with the Lord for a time before making changes and moving forward. 

While I finished typing up this post, one last book on this subject came by mail.

100 Things We've Lost to the Internet by Pamela Paul. 

I stopped on #69 when sadness once again gripped my heart and tears flowed. 

I have more that I could say, but this post has become long enough and I've said enough. 

Dear Friends, this is not my typical type of writing and I doubt with it's topic and length it will be read in its entirety. But, it will live here at The Simple Woman blog until blogs fade in the light of the next big thing. 

I'll end by asking you a question to ponder in your quiet time.

   I have asked myself the same one and I share it with love and concern for you. 

Are you distracted, deceived or knowingly being disobedient? 

Like Gollum in Lord of the Rings, has your phone become your "My Precious". 

"Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Matthew 6:21