As I was cooking the Thanksgiving meal using recipes from my laptop computer, I got to thinking about my mom and grandma. I am certain they NEVER used a laptop to view their thanksgiving recipes! They probably had a card file, or a notebook filled with recipes cut from magazines, or handwritten from friends and relatives.
I then thought how my grandma’s life was probably much simpler, more difficult in many regards since she did not have many of the modern conveniences I have……like a dishwasher, self cleaning stove, washer and dryer, garbage disposal, and a microwave!
And those are just things in the kitchen that make life easier.
But despite the hardships of the depression, and the hard work needed to complete everyday mundane tasks, I find myself looking upon those days with a certain envy. I am certain she did not have ALL the distractions of my fast, crazed pace of life. No texting in the middle of the day, multi-tasking was not much of a priority, no taxi driving kids to all their activities, no remote to distract you with 500+ channels of TV and , no emails to return, and NO Facebook, blogs, Twitter, Skype, or Cyber Monday!
Tough, but simple! And as the Christmas season beckons us, I am reminded to slow things down, and enjoy the SIMPLE beauty of the season. Life with out so many distractions, life that can focus on the manger and the dear savior who laid in that SIMPLE box.
Jesus born in a simple manger, in a simple stable, that sounds like a good place to start my thinking of simpler days!
My Grandma is in the red and my mom is the 2nd one from the left, with the black hair. Can’t imagine my grandma ever thought she would appear on the internet! 🙂
Jesus and Dark Chocolate 
Oh to get back to the basics and a more simple life. Sounds so good. Beautiful picture. Those icicles on the tree sure bring back memories. Love those!
Life was so much simpler but I am sure they worried about things as we do today eg money, if they had enough food etc. They may not have had as many choices as we do these days.
Love your blog
Jo
Our church is doing a Year of Living Out-loud…anyway this month is themed Simplicity.. We started on Sunday and it promises many good ideas… We were given a gift box with a bow on top… It is a box that symbolizes PAUSE,,, You are to open it whenever you have the need to Pause and relax!
I love the photo…
My mind has been running along the same lines recently – how to simplify and to focus my life more on God and less on the confusions and chaos of everyday life in the 21st century. It won’t be easy, but I’m sensing, through prayer and other things, that it is really necessary now more than ever.
Great thoughts! And I love the pictures! 🙂 Simplifying has been on my mind, too. But sometimes it is so hard to do.
No, I bet she never thought she would be on the Internet 😉 Grandmothers are special people. I have been trying to figure out how to make life simpler too. Sometimes I think we make it way more complicated than it has to be. Thanks for giving us something to think about. Take care my friend!
Wonderful quote!!
Those were the good days! Am sure they had their worries as well….
The pictures bring back memories of happy times growing up. ( real trees and the icicles!)
Thanks!!!