Getting Back to Basics

As a child I spent many hours planting, harvesting, and canning vegetables with my parents. This was not my idea of a way a kid should have to spend their summer, but in my house if you did not work we may not eat. That is just the way it was...now in saying that, I have two of the most loving and devoted parents, and I am blessed to still be able to say they are still together today and they both still plant and can their own vegetables.
But.....as a teenager this is the last thing that I wanted to be doing. I can still hear myself saying, when I grow up  I will never can my own vegetables, WHY WOULD YOU WHEN THERE IS STORE BOUGHT IN THE CAN VEGETABLES!!!! Well, I stuck with this as an adult for many years. This year however, I feel God has been telling my family, it is time to get back to the basics. In the beginning, I did not even know what the basics were...after all we live in a microwave society and I liked it that way. The easier the better, after all I am a busy woman.
A few months ago, things in our lives took a drastic turn when I had to have back surgery and was no longer able to work to help supplement my husbands income...Let's just say, you will get back to the basics quick when you have to. In in effort to keep my family above water, I took cable television out of our home...what a blessing that turned out to be...we now have to communicate, we read our bible more, and we have complete control over what we see and hear on our t.v. (through dvd's). Next the dishwasher went (conserves water and electricity) in doing this I found I have alot of alone time to spend in prayer or just contemplating my next step in life...after all everyone scatters when it's dishwashing time. We no longer spend money eating out all the time...I really enjoy cooking so for me this was no big deal other than not always convienient... Now to the biggie...Canning my own vegetables. Well lets just say that is exactly what I am doing...not only is it cost effective, its healthy, and so rewarding. It gives you a great sense of accomplishment when you see the results of all of your hard work. I love to see all of those fresh vegetables on my families dinner table and know that came from the results of my hands. I am praising God daily for the back to basic life that my family is living. It has brought my husband and I closer together and through the hardships I have complete joy and peace.
Go get some fresh veggies and try canning some of your own...See if you may want to bring a little of the basics into your life. God Bless You And Your Family.