The More of Less Report (September)

This was not a month of less (or was it)? Well, let's just say it was not a month of less when it comes to minimalism. We bought a new fridge, a new dishwasher, a new fridge/freezer, and a ceiling fan. And a suitcase. And a raincoat. And a rolling desk. And... Let's just say our savings budget was not sitting pretty.

Did we need the fridge and dishwasher and ceiling fan? Yes. All of those items broke. Did we need the other things? Yes, and no. We could have made do without, but we decided they would enhance our lives. And so we bought more.

I also bought shower poufs, and soap bags (things we only buy periodically, but happen to be needed now). I bought nail wraps (just because I wanted to try them). I bought, bought, bought....

And then we went on vacation, and we bought, bought, bought....

But my LESS word wasn't just about minimalism. It was about finding MORE life. And a lot of these purchases were about life, and enjoying life. I've heard it said that balance is elusive, but there are seasons. This latter half of the year seems to be turning into a MORE season, which praise the Lord, is what I hoped for in the first place.

January-LESS scrolling: I have been on social media MORE, but in part to watch new content from my friend. She is doing a lot of work about biblical apologetics and living by the word. You can follow her @NuNuChand_Perspective and @DailyHis_.

February-LESS picking: Maybe this is better? I have been MORE busy with life, so at least noticing it less.

March-LESS hunger (judgment): I did kind of go through a few weeks where I was concerned about how much I was eating and trying to cut back a little, but then I got to running MORE and was MORE hungry, so increased my intake again. I am still not confident in how much I am eating, or in my body, but I am trying to focus MORE on other things.

April-LESS goals: I did have MORE goals for this month, but by God's grace, they were kind of manageable? Completing my pumpkin baking bucket list before we left for vacation resulted in some stress, but again, by God's grace, I got it done!

May-LESS no: I did say, "No," a little MORE. Sometimes, I think I should have said, "Yes," but other times, "No" felt right. I need the Spirit's help to say, "Yes" and "No" to the right things. I am so fallen and fickle and yes, I want to tune in MORE to my intuition, but if not guided by the Spirit, I am going to fall more prey to the sinful nature.

June-LESS lying to myself: I started a new habit this month of making a priority list for the day. While I have my daily to-do lists, they are long, and sometimes I forget things. So, I started making a priority list and making sure to get it done. That I did MORE days than not, but it also caused stress and a sprint to the finish before bed on some nights, not the best.

July-LESS fear: Several things sparked fear this month, specifically in regards to running-seeing others injured, small pricks of pain, soreness, etc. I don't want to stop running just because I am afraid, though, so with the help of my physical therapist, I slowly kept moving through my return to run program. Twice, I got to run for 40 minutes-not near what I used to do, but definitely far MORE than I was doing!

August-LESS scarcity: The crazy-amazing part of this LESS journey is how much the mindset challenges have worked. That is totally a work of the Lord! I went through so much scarcity mindset for most of this year, and then when we needed (and wanted) to buy all this stuff, I was like, "Okay." Maybe it was partly due to being close to our trip and seeing that we might have what we needed saved for it. Maybe it was the daily practice of gratitude that started getting engrained in my brain. I don't know. But praise the Lord for MORE freedom in this area.

--

Three more months to go. What will the Lord do? Praise Him for whatever MORE He has in store!

What We Cooked and Ate (Week 37)

This Week's Eats:

Artisan pumpkin sourdough bread (The Pantry Mama)

Baked fries (Jennifer's Kitchen)

Dill and sour cream chicken salad (Live Simply)

Fluffy sourdough pumpkin pancakes with chocolate chips (Chasing Our Simple)

Instant Pot assassin's spaghetti (365 Days of Crockpot)

Lemon orzo with chickpeas, cottage cheese, and pickled red onions (inspired by Dr. Pippa)

My take on Budget Bytes' mushroom patty melt

Soft pumpkin sourdough bread (Drive Me Hungry)

Sourdough pumpkin snickerdoodle cookies (The Pantry Mama)

Noteworthy Repeats:

Cottage cheese egg bake (The Real Food Dietitians)

Freezer Pull-Outs:

Chocolate sourdough brownie bites (The Pantry Mama)

Pumpkin brownie cookie balls (Once Upon a Pumpkin)

Sourdough pumpkin pie baked oatmeal (The Pantry Mama)

Sourdough bread

Sourdough lemon muffins (The Pantry Mama)

Sweet potato skillet (Budget Bytes) with sourdough meatballs (The Pantry Mama)

Sourdough pumpkin banana bread (The Pantry Mama)

Test the Spirits

We live in the age of information. It comes at us from left and right, top and bottom. Family, friends, news, and social media all deliver information to us. It is important to filter this information. For believers, I think it is important to not only filter, but to "test the spirits" to see if they come from God (New International Version, 2011, 1 John 4:1). Here are a few questions to consider-

When filtering information, ask:

Is this true? (If it is not true, why are we even entertaining it?)

If it is true, what is the evidence? (Not just anecdotal evidence, but real, empirical, documented evidence)

Is this helpful? (It might be true, but if it is not helpful, can we put it aside? We could save the information for later, or just decide the information is not for us.)

When testing the spirits, ask:

Does this align with the truth of the Bible? (Some truth is values neutral, neither aligning with truth, or with untruth. This takes us back to the question, "Is it helpful?")

Is this worth thinking about? [Philippians 4:8 says to think about "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things (New International Version, 2011).]

Does it align with hope? (Goff, 2019) If it's not hopeful information, is it from God? God certainly gives warnings, but are not even those to point us to Him?

I am sure there are more questions that could (and probably should be) asked, but the point is that I think we need to question the onslaught of information coming at us each day, not cynically, but wisely, and prayerfully. I don't want to be duped, and I also don't want to be "blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming" (Ephesians 4:14). Let's stand on (and in) truth, friends!

References: 

Goff, B. (2019). Live in grace. Walk in love. A 365 day journey. Nelson Books.

New International Version. (2011). BibleGateway.com. http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-International-Version-NIV-Bible/

Divine Design

Divine Design

By Sarah Earles

In others I see

a reflection 

of God’s divine design:

His work,

His handiwork,

details marvelous and fine.

But do I see 

in me that same

reflecting of glory?

Or do I see 

only my sin

its destruction so gory?

Yes, sin is real.

We all need to repent.

But even sin can’t steal 

God image 

and God-reflection.

It just mars and tarnishes.

So, God help me see

Your reflection 

in others and in me:

Not the sin,

but the glory,

Of what in you I can be.

Help me to reflect

not the ill

but the good,

to a world in need

of more God-image

and Christ-directed work.

References: 

Crabb, L. (2005). Connecting: Healing ourselves and our relationships. Thomas Nelson.

Tollet, S. (Host). (2025, February). When you feel insecure (faith-based & practical guide). [Audio podcast episode]. Fit to live. https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/sydneytollett/episodes/when-you-feel-insecure-faith-based--practical-guide-e2uph5i

A Different Take on the "Let Them" Theory

Mel Robbin's "Let Them" theory was really big for a while. She even wrote a 2024 book about it. I have a different take on the idea.

"Let them" for Mel Robbins is mostly about releasing control. Let other people have their opinions. Let them do things their own way. Stop trying to manage them and what they think of you (Robbins, 2023). Stay in your own lane. Do your own thing. This is probably a gross oversimplification, but having not read the book, this is my understanding of the theory.

So what is my take on the theory? I apply it to expectations and FOMO (fear of missing out). "Let them" do all the things. I release the expectation that I can, should, or have to do all the things. I personality don't even want to do all the things!

So "let them" go on that trip, spend all their money, work extra hours at the office, stay out late at night. I am not missing out. I am living within my values. (And maybe they are too, but that doesn't mean I need to compare myself to them.) I don't need to catch up or keep up. Rather, I want to live within my limits and be faithful in the small things (Comer, 2019). Maybe this area of personal responsibility is where I actually agree with Robbins. Let me do me and whatever God is calling me to do. For me, that is what counts, and for me, what counts is all that matters.

References:

Comer, J.M. (2019). The ruthless elimination of hurry: How to stay emotionally healthy and spiritually alive in the chaos of the modern world. WaterBrook.

Robbins, M. (Host). (2023, May 28). The “Let them theory”: A life changing mindset hack that 15 million people can’t stop talking about. (no. 70) [Audio podcast episode]. In The Mel Robbins show. https://www.melrobbins.com/episode/episode-70/

Robbins, M. (2024). The let them theory: A life-changing tool that millions of people can't stop talking about. Hay House.

What We Cooked and Ate (Week 36)

This Week's Eats:

Eggs Benedict with pumpkin hollandaise (Sumptuous Spoonfuls)

Mexican street corn pizza (Rabbit Hill Farm)

Pickled red onions without sugar (No Frills Kitchen)

Pumpkin brownie cookie balls (Once Upon a Pumpkin)

Sourdough pumpkin pie baked oatmeal (The Pantry Mama)

Noteworthy Repeats:

Cottage cheese egg bake (The Real Food Dietitians)

Freezer Pull-Outs:

Best sourdough banana muffins 

Sourdough bread

Sourdough gravy (The Pantry Mama)

Sourdough lemon muffins (The Pantry Mama)

Whole wheat sourdough pizza dough (The Pantry Mama)

Real Life Marriage: Behind Every Standing Woman

"Behind every good man is a good woman," or so the saying goes. Maybe, but I am here to say that I think behind every standing woman, there is someone propping them up. For me, that is my husband.

These past few months have been quite the roller coaster, physically, emotionally, relationally, and spiritually. Pain limited my capabilities and capacities. I grieved lost opportunities, as well as the (hopefully temporary) loss of my sport. I had many, many days, where I just wanted to throw in the towel, quit my physical therapy program, and either sit in a heap and cry, or just go out for a long, long, run knowing I'd break myself again.

Thankfully, my husband talked me out of all of my extreme ideas. I did cry, but he also took me to places like the rose garden and the Mogollon Rim to get my mind of what I couldn't do and onto what I could. He told me he still found me beautiful on days when my clothes didn't fit like they used to and I just felt awful in my body. He reminded me that I had hired experts to help them, and I needed to follow their advice.

It hasn't just been through this injury that my husband has supported me, though. I have an emotionally and mentally taxing job, and he's the one putting dinner on the table most nights. He's often getting our groceries when I feel too spent to retrieve them. He's the one telling me my value after I've been chewed out or berated by yet another person who is dsyregulated. He's the one giving me an out if/when I need to take a break from this line of work.

Women tend me to more emotional than men, and hi, I am that woman. I need my husband's steadiness to keep me grounded. I need his savings on days when the waves of life threaten to undo me. Behind this standing woman is one very strong man. I wouldn't be who I am today without him, and after this summer especially, I'm not sure I'd be standing without him.