Give me the simple life

I don't believe in frettin' and grievin'
Why mess around with strife
I never was cut out to step and strut out
Give me the simple life

Some find it pleasant dining on pheasant
Those things roll off my knife
Just serve me tomatoes
and mashed potatoes
Give me the simple life
Give me the Simple Life by Steve Tyrell

That song is from one of my favorite movies of all time, Father of the Bride 2, and lately that is exactly what I've been learning... to stop and enjoy the little things in life. For me personally, I hide behing how busy I am. Going to college full time and working 2 jobs get extremely crazy and stressfull and I definately have my meltdowns :-). Over Easter weekend, I went with my youth group to Camp Ghormely for a retreat and what God did in my heart there will forever shape my life. While I was there I was completely disconnected from the world... no internet, no cell phone service, no job to worry about, or homework assignments to stress over; I was completely stripped of my busy schedule, the one I hide behind. I went on hikes through the forest in the pouring rain, played soccer, swung on the swingset, colored... things I hadn't done in ages. Those things brought me back to the pleasure I used to get out of the simpleness of life and that is where God spoke to me. He told me that the reason I was so unhappy was because I had lost the simplicity of life. I had become to focused on my 4 year plan for my life that I had forgotten to stop and smell the roses, to go on long walks and enjoy nature. Eventhough I'm still a fulltime college student and work 2 jobs, I now stop and enjoy the small, simple things. Whether it's standing in the sunshine for the 10 minutes I have between classes or smelling the fresh air as I'm driving to work... I've learned to enjoy it all.

I encourage you all to enjoy the simple things in life. Go swing, climb monkey bars, color, dance, or simply sit in the sunshine. And you too will enjoy the simple life :-)

-Tiffany-