time/minimalism/simplicity

I couldn't think of a title for this post because I wasn't really sure what I was going to write about. I "blogged" a lot during my teen years (Click Here)  and some of my favorite post to go back and read are the ones where I simply rambled. As a twenty-three-year-old mama it is fun to read the thoughts of my fifteen year-old, ambitious, slightly opinionated self. :) :)

Pregnancy is going well so far...almost half-way!!! Whaaaattt???!!!! I can't believe how fast it is flying by.

With the craziness of Daniel's work schedule, growing side businesses, working on our land, preparing for baby # 2, etc. we have had to make some changes.
Productivity, organization, and creativity are very important to Daniel and I and we recently discussed how we could do better in those areas. For me I find that I do better in almost every area when I feel like my life is in order. Obviously, much of life is unexpected and perfect order is not going to be attained all the time. I'm sure when I have a newborn and a thirteen month old my home will not be stellar 24-7. :) However, the more mama's I talk to, the more minimalist writings I read, the more I blunder through this homemaking thing,  I am learning that it is much easier to be successful when I have LESS!
 So...I am now a self proclaimed addict to selling my belongings on on-line yard sales. :)
Seriously though, it is a wonderful feeling to empty your life of unnecessary stuff. When I look back over my children's childhood, I don't want to see all of the time I spent shuffling our things.
I have meaningful belongings that I will always treasure and hope to pass along to my family one day, i.e. handmade quilts, old pictures,  hand-crafted furniture from family members or close friends, and a few special gifts...

Someone recently told me to go through my house and not to look for things to get rid of but decide what I absolutely couldn't live without. That was a bit eye-opening. I think a lot of people (myself included) hold on to things that we really don't care anything about.

Here is a list of things I have let go of:

old clothing items
* I am huge fan of creating a capsule wardrobe!
If you don't love it...sell or donate it. 
 http://www.today.com/style/how-create-capsule-wardrobe-t34931

useless kitchen gadgets and matchless tupperware
There is nothing more annoying than opening a cabinet and a bunch of useless crap falling everywhere!

furniture
If you don't have room for it pass it along to someone who can use it!

baby items
If it is worn out or not being used, let it go!

household items
old lamps, rugs, and out of date clutter!

old magazines
:/ :/ :/  

teenage treasures and college junk
All those "treasures" that just sit in the storage room or attic...pitch it!
I understand keeping a few sentimental things but we had a so much stuff in storage that neither one of us cared anything about.
I was amazed at what I unearthed while clearing out closets and junk drawers. :/ :/ :/

After we went through all of the physical clutter that was slowing us down we took a hard look at time management. That can get super convicting.
 Daniel and I purpose to have "thick skin" in our marriage and to receive constructive criticism well. The longer we are married the more we see how beneficial it is to our marriage and our personal well-being. We've slowly gotten to the place where we ask each other to point out weak spots. Sometimes I will have an idea about what he is going to point out and other times I have been blind-sided. BUT...it is good...sooo good to have someone who loves you enough to be willing to point out your shortcomings, all the while braving the fact that you have evil, preggo hormones raging through your body! :)
 Y'all my husband is a brave man. ;)

I have posted before about some of our thoughts on social media. We love it and we hate it...well, we hate it mostly.
I enjoy the fact that I can connect with people far away but I hate how it has replaced so much of face-to-face interaction.  I really hate how it has started defining relationships, controlling how people view themselves, and watching people abuse it.
 If I'm honest, one of the biggest time wasters for me was having the FB app on my phone. Inspired by one of my favorite lifestyle, mommy bloggers, I deleted the app from my phone. I would have called myself productive before, but it was insane how free and accomplished I felt just one day being completely disconnected from it. Our account is still open because of business purposes but it will be quiet for a while...
So, for the friends that don't see us posting much, we're good! Just taking a break from the daily "feed" to learn how to live life a little bit better.

-mckenize gentry

Oh, one more thing!!! If you blog, I would encourage you to occasionally print out what you write and tuck it in a notebook. Another writer encouraged me to do that and it is such a neat way to preserve your thoughts for the future.

Thoughts

Today I am battling a nasty cold and freezing weather. Such a lovely mix, is it not? :P
There are some days that it would be so wonderful to crawl deep beneath my covers not show my head again until S.P.R.I.N.G. We may not have had layer upon layer of snow like my northern friends, but we definitely have had our fair share of bitter cold temps. Daniel and I live in a garage apartment and while I love our little home it is missing insulation.... Y'all, insulation is sooo important. haha We have had to run space heaters almost nonstop and I cringed as I paid our power bill this month. Did I mention I am ready for spring? 

I suppose one of the good things about today is that it has given me an opportunity to sit down and write. :) :)
I lay in bed at night thinking of so many things I want to share on here, but during the day I stay busy and never take the time to post. 

"The fear of punishment, the desire for reward, the sense of duty, are all useful arguments in their own way, to persuade people to holiness.  But they are all weak and powerless until a person loves Christ."  J.C. Ryle

Found this quote today and thought it was worth sharing on here. I have witnessed a lot of bantering back and forth on social media the last few weeks and it has caused me to ponder how we as Christians are always looking for the perfect argument... Everyone is passionate about something and they are doing their best to convince others that their way of thinking is correct. I love the quote above because it is a reminder that nothing but the gospel of Jesus Christ will convince sinners of their need for a Savior.

At our community outreach group last night we talked about reaching our lost friends and being intentional to share the gospel through our conversations with others. Someone pointed out that we often wait for a golden opportunity to share the gospel instead of just interweaving it into everyday conversations. We discussed some of the reasons why we don't proclaim the gospel with boldness and I was convicted that I often don't take advantage of the opportunities God gives me. 

In our country we don't have to fear being killed for our faith but it is becoming less and less "popular" to call yourself a Christian. We allow fear of losing friends, not being as well liked by others and many other fears to keep us silent on proclaiming truth. 

~*~**~*~**~*~**~*~**~*~**~*~**~*~**~*~

For a while now I have been grieved by the hate-filled articles that have been filling my Face Book feed. Ever since the Vision Forum scandal and the allegations of Bill Gothard's sexual misconduct became more public, I have seen numerous articles shared. Like many people, I was/am very disturbed, even angered by the actions of these two men. I had heard negative things about Bill Gothard for years and I and my family never attended any conferences. Even though we never were an "ATI" family we knew many families that used the ministry's resources.
I didn't intend to write anything about either ministry...As I stated before there has already been quite a bit shared. 
However, there a couple of things I would like to share from the perspective of someone who is familiar with the teachings of both ministries but specifically Vision Forum... AND as someone who indeed sat under the teachings of Doug Phillips, himself. (gasp) ;)

I am witnessing families turn their back on Biblical truths simply because some men who taught those truths failed to live up to what they taught. 
 I have read so many hate-filled articles by people who took truths and principles to severe extremes and now blame others for their own choice to be out of balance. 
I have heard people rip to shreds books that contain so much truth from God's word. They are writing epic length post about literature that they bought "hook-line-and-sinker" and how they themselves struggled with oppression and bondage from the books and the authors. They have discarded and scoffed at them because they wanted the book to be their perfect "formula" instead of using them as a tool to dig deeper into the word of God. 

 If your world shattered because a human being fell, then my friend, you should ask yourself whom you were following. Quit seeking an earthly leader, quit seeking a formula, quit blaming others for your lack of wisdom and discernment....Start seeking and following HIM.

During these times of dealing with the scorn of family and friends for some of my convictions I find comfort in this verse...
 "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." Galations 6:9

-McKenzie