By Nettie H. Francis
We recently downsized everything…(except children). One less car, one less payment, less television, one less phone contract, one less hobby, less shopping, one less school, one less weekly commitment, less media. In short, we simplified every aspect of our lives that we could. Not because of the struggling economy (although that is a great motivator), but because my husband just read “Little House on the Prairie,” by Laura Ingalls Wilder. He was inspired by the fact that the Ingalls family had fewer things and more time, less money and more land, fewer distractions and more quiet moments. In other words, theirs was a House of a Little Less.

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It was time to celebrate. After a difficult time with my health, my family, and other issues, I felt spiritually famished and had a difficult time feeling grateful for much. Then I faced a major project that took every ounce of strength to finish.

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By Ken Craig
When I’m at work I spend a good amount of time networking. Meaning that I am constantly trying to meet new people, even if it is only over lunch or chatting a few minutes at a social gathering. And inevitably, the subject of family will come up.

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By Tammy Schneider
Completely submerged and frantically trying to swim my way through the regular ocean of laundry the other day, I began rehearsing my usual “this family can’t possibly go through this many clothes in two days” lecture. I felt helpless, harassed and more than a little put out. With a house full of boys, the myriad of assorted sports clothing, from soccer shorts and baseball socks to swim trunks and football jerseys come custom designed each day with chlorine scented, grass stained, dirt grimed patterns. These along with Dad’s dress shirts and baby’s milk stained rompers, the task seemed endless and I seemed doomed to the dark dredges of washroom depression for the remainder of my harried life!

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By Sherrie Mackelprang
Christmas is like magic. The unexpected can brighten and beautify a heart.

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