Going Deeper into the Woods - 1/3 Living

I feel like it's been coming for a while now, like a storm brewing on the horizon.

The need to quiet my life.

Some may think it is quiet enough already, as I rarely have any desire to leave our "40".

In addition, we have no TV to spoon feed our thoughts. 
Radio, set to our local Christian station, is utilized, albeit selectively.

So what does that leave, you say? 
It's the delicate balance of using the Internet.

Until we had our first on-site event in 2008, we did not have Internet on our property.  I always said we never would.  I didn't want it on location to distract me.  I would travel to libraries in a five-county area.  However, once we realized we needed the Internet to communicate for our business, we broke down and made the change.  The library wasn't the answer any longer...we had a computer on site.  In my Wee House.

But now...I'm struggling. 

The problem is, I love the worlds it takes me to. 
My very first computer, in the late 1990's was so I could see the Iditarod unfold. 
It's always been a wonderful journey for me,
to follow the race and the lives of those running. 
But now, at least this year, I will be cutting back. 
Stepping back. 
The reality is, it takes me away from my own life, my own dogs,
and all the joys of our homestead we have struggled to achieve over the years.

There is so much to do at our place,
and I need every spare minute I have to make it work -
to be a helpmate to my hard-working husband.

Spring is a good time to make the change. 
All things new. 
And so much to accomplish and enjoy.
Such as...

Decisions and planning.

Mustang training.

New piglets.

Planting.

Storing up for next winter.

Trail work.

And just time with our beloved animals.

So, if you don't see me "in the land of all things Internet", find me here. 

I would love to hear from you...

Truth known, I'm always ready to sit a spell and have a chat.

Dear Lord - Thank you for the people you have put into my life. 
I treasure each and every one like the Lily of the Valley. 
Please give me wisdom to be there for them, as they are for me. 
As you are for me Lord. 
I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Amen.

Until tomorrow, God willing.

Wi-Fi at Waldon Pond? What if?

This is a question I've been pondering (no pun intended) for the last couple days.

Earlier in the week, I made a decision to move even further away from civilization.
Quite frankly, what I was seeing in society wasn't too civilized.

Since we no longer have any TV viewing of any kind,
I assumed the next step would be Internet.
So...
I made a Pro/Con list,
seeing if "deactivating" my Facebook account might be the proper route.

The list read something like this:

Pro:
More time with nature.

Con:
Will miss connecting with family and friends.

Pro:

See less negative information/gossip.

Con:

Will miss connecting with family and friends.

And so on...

Bottom line, I felt I needed solitude.

My thoughts wandered to Henry David Thoreau as he began his 2-year journey at
Walden Pond back in early July of 1845.
Young Thoreau felt he needed solitude when he built his 10 x 15 cabin,
to write and live rent free on his buddy, Ralph Waldo's, land.
However, Thoreau liked visitors.
Ralph W. Emerson visited almost daily that first year.
(Word has it, he was also checking on his land and pond...)

Thoreau liked visiting.
He even wrote a chapter in his book about "Visitors".
As he said: 
I had three chairs in my house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society.

So, you ask...would Henry David Thoreau have plugged in?

Would he have kept his social network of the day going?

You bet.

This past week, with urgings from friends and relatives,

and even husband,

I prayed about my decision to get off Facebook.

And in doing so, received some very interesting insights from God.

I realize now that Facebook takes me to a new level.

I'm not afraid to use it as my ministry.

To lift up.

To spread the word of God.

I was willing to give it up.

But in turning away from Facebook, I would lose that connection.

I would lose, perhaps the chance to witness to someone.

I like the written word. I love the written word.
I always have, and will to the day I die.

I need to be connected.

"Secluded" does not equal solitude.

We must be here for each other, especially in these troubled times. 

Like family should…FB family.

And... I have the BEST Facebook friends in the world.
Hands down.
Some are relatives, some are old friends, some new friends. 
But all have a face.
Facebook is just that…putting a face, to a book.
The book of life.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Thank you Lord ~ for giving me the clarity in this decision.

Until tomorrow...God willing,