Wednesday, September 28, 2011

the simple

When Kevin and I had our day together to celebrate his birthday, we cruised the downtown shops on Del Mar Street in our old stomping grounds of San Clemente.

As we casually strolled under the shade of trees and randomly popped through shops, we eyed this shirt.

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It describes my favorite dude perfectly.

1. He is a gifted musician. I still swoon like I did at 16 when I heard him sing and strum his guitar.
2. He has nailed the ability to live simply like it's nobody's business. In fact when we were 16 his plan sounded like this:

Me: Are you ever going to get your driver's license?

Kev: No. I don't see the need. I plan on living where everything is close enough to ride a bike.

Me: How are going to get your kids to soccer practice?

Kev: They'll ride their bikes.

Me: Silence.

I still married him 5 years later.

I've been thinking about the shirt all week. Okay, not really about the shirt, but the message.

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Live Simply has been echoing in my heart and head day after day and it has been the catalyst for me to capture the simple in our daily grind. So often I am caught up in the complicated. It weighs me down and evaporates the joy from my happy bucket.

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For it is the simple that fills our happy tank more than anything else. However, it is too easy to become blind to the simple. It hovers in corners instead of glaring in front of us.

I had to put on my simple seeker sensors and soak it in like I've never done before. And as this week is coming to a close, I can tell you that if you were to wring my heart at this precise moment that it would produce enough joy from the simple to overflow my happy bucket.

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*excuse the raw naked chicken

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Even when an urgent school call alarming me of a bloody head tried to rob my joy bank, a quick hug, kiss, a few stitches, and a scoop of mint chip handcuffed that joy stealing bandit just in time.

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What about you? Are you letting the simple knock your socks off? What is the simple in your life that is overflowing your happy bucket?

In honor of the hub's shirt's message and his amazing ability to live simply, I am having a give-away with his CD. Here are the rules:
1. Follow minivan diva and let me know in the comment section.
2. Encourage your blog friends to visit minivan diva and check out the give-away. Leave a comment if you've done this.
3. Grab my button and let me know. If you do, I'll add yours!

You have a total of 3 entries for winning the CD! I don't mess around. A winner will be announced on Tuesday.

If you want to check it out, click here.

Much love,
Katie

*There are going to be some up-coming changes to the blog. Stay tuned! Love you all.
*Linking up with sweet Casey.

23 comments:

Janna said...

Girl, we are SO on the same page. I'm having the same epiphany about simplifying. And I think I need to try your simple chicken dinner - it has been way to long since I've even bought a whole chicken.

Brooke said...

Love the motto. Simple is SOOO much better. And amazingly, the kiddos almost always agree ;D
HUGS!!!!

Karen said...

So glad there was so much joy, even with the stitches! I obviously follow :)

Karen said...

And I have your button on my blog :)

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh, the indecency! Cover up that chicken!!! LOL!!!

Poor little guy with his banged up head. Way to go for having such a great attitude about it. It's easy for us mama's to freak out over every little boo boo, but definitely not necessary.

I love this post. Have I told you lately that I love how you write?

Simple...let's see...lately, simple hugs and kisses from my little man fill my bucket to the top!

{cuppakim} said...

super fun. loving the new motto.
you are rocking it, stitches and all. :)

i'm a follower - DUH!

{cuppakim} said...

and i buttoned up :)

Alyss said...

I love this! I'm so happy your bucket is full. i live off of the simple things. Currently, my fave bucket filler is playing in the grass with Jude. I love watching him discover new things while we're outside. I need to do that more often.

And i follow you my dear. I would LOVE his CD! What a cool giveaway!

susan jakovina said...

Katie,
It's so true - it's all about the little simple things. I wish I could be more like your husband...I aspire to be. And working f/t (for now) really does make you appreciate the 2 hour window I get to spend with my baby girl in the evenings. I swear she never leaves my lap!
Did you get the t-shirt? :o
xo

Emily Weinzapfel said...

Your boys are too cute!! And the simple things are what makes life worth living every day... :) Great post! (And I'm loving the "found the remote" photo-- it's like finding GOLD!)

Wendy said...

Great post! You are so right, it really is about the little things! If we look around we can always find something good and beautiful.

The Olive Tree Blog said...

I laughed about the " mom said yes instead of no to fort building" ...uggghhh I don't like that I say no to thing simply b/c I don't want to hassle or clean up the mess...I am working on not being so uptight :) My hubs place music too and I still swoon over him like I am 16 :) and last yeah on finding ht remote...lol!

Bethany said...

Love the idea of living a simple life. I began a Bible Study by Cynthia Heald called "Becoming a Woman of Simplicity". It's amazing! And with 3 kids 4 years and under, I need all the "simplicity" I can come by! Thanks for the post!

Erin said...

Love it! And now can you come over and find our missing remote?!?

jane said...

oh man, I lOVE these pictures! plus...the one where you found the remote? Priceless...and funny :)

Mrs M said...

I try really hard to live this message and of course stray often, then when I'm feeling overwhelmed I realise and bring myself back on track. Ouch that eye looks nasty. Poor little man.

Kimberlee Haag @ Enough Faith for Today said...

Of course, I follow!

Kimberlee Haag @ Enough Faith for Today said...

And I got your button! Xo

kinze said...

first off i'd like to say woohoo on finding the remote ... hate a lost remote! and second of all i have the same couch as you :) have a great weekend my friend!

Anne Eurose said...

Ahh...the stitches bring me back to 3 years ago when my 2-year-old daughter then got similar stitches...on the forehead area right above the eyebrow and about 3 stitches, except hers is on her left side. Hope your son is doing ok. Thanks for stopping by as well :).

Rebecca said...

I search for simple! Somedays I still completely miss the boat...my life as it stands is far from simple!

I'll have you know I followed you publicly just before I read this post...I'm such a technical smarty pants (not!) let me tell ya! ;) And to think all it involved was unchecking a little green box! Ha!

Have a good day friend! :)

Nancy said...

I am so with you on the simplify thing. Simple is way better. It leaves your mind open to see. everything. to appreciate everything. simple is taking off the pressure and enjoying this gift called life. I love it!

Kelly said...

oh katie, i always say No. i say No before the question is all the way out. whats wrong with me? I need to live simply too. I want my happy bucket full even when i am busy.
great post friend!
xxO