Feelin' Like a Fake!!

                                         Welcome to our newest follower, Steve Finnell!
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This is a picture of me with hubby Mike during better times when I was feeling more real and less fake. These days unfortunately I'm feeling like a big fake! My general health is at a really low point and I am trying to do what...? Okay, so I have discovered this really great product! Let's call it a health supplement in the form of whole food nutrition! I've been on this product now for three weeks and it is doing some really good things for me! So now without remembering about my energy tank being empty I sign hubby up to be a distributor with the company and promise to help. Now with normal health and energy levels this would be great, but this is me we're talking about! Me--the same woman who promised to keep up with this blog and hasn't posted since November. To be fair to me though, I have been very ill since June 2012 with both Sinus and Lung infections. (Pretty serious problems!) Then in November, a couple of weeks after my last post, the whole family came down with a pretty bad case of the flu. It literally almost wiped me out! There was one point when I was so sick that I had nothing left to fight with and just knew I was a goner! That morning as my husband helped me back in bed I felt God picking up the pieces and fighting for me. That is an amazing feeling! Thank you Lord! Going through the Winter and into the Spring I have not yet bounced back totally. After 3 weeks of this whole food nutrition supplement, I can tell I am making progress but at the same time I am in the middle of a Healing Crisis. It's hard not to give up, but I want to know what's around the corner for me. So here I am, trying to pitch this product while I am so sick from this Healing Crisis. Before, I felt as though I was on a bottom rung of the ladder, but this Healing Crisis has thrown me off of the ladder and upside down on the ground, panting for breath! Everyone involved with this company seems to be holding pep rallies and they are the cheerleaders, while I am sitting in the corner nursing my wounds. Guess I was overwhelmingly depleated! God, please give me the energy and courage to come out the other side and feel real! By the way, I will let you in on the product information very soon!

Moving Down The Simple Path,
Robin

Our vision of community!!

 First, let me welcome our newest follower! Derek Wood of A Life Made Simple has recently joined our blog as it's newest follower. Thank you and welcome!

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Hubby and I have been making great progress in the decision making process toward a path for a simple life. We envision this path involving other like-minded people. We are now making plans to purchase a tract of land in a country setting in south Georgia, within 25 miles of Georgia Southern University. With prayerful consideration, we are going full speed ahead with our plans for a Christian-based Intentional Community. Below is a picture taken from the land we are looking at. It is already zoned Agricultural, so growing our own food won't be a problem.

The definition of Intentional Community by Wikipedia-- An intentional community is a planned residential community designed to have a much higher degree of teamwork than other communities. The members of an intentional community typically hold a common social, political, religious, or spiritual vision and often follow an alternative lifestyle. They typically share responsibilities and resources. Intentional communities include collective households, cohousing communities, ecovillages, communes, survivalist retreats, kibbutzim, ashrams, and housing cooperatives.

Most Christian-Based Intentional Communities that we have found seem to be very expensive places to live. We want to marry Christian Values and principals in a community that is very affordable, green, and simple. This is our dream!

We see this community of people working together to grow our own food organically. After a time, our goal will be to not only feed ourselves in the community, but to grow enough food for a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Program.

We plan to include a pond on the property. This pond will be used for fishing and non-motorized boating (Jon Boats, Paddle Boats, Canoes, and Kayaks). I see this as a very relaxing place in the country.  Of course swimming would be an option! :)

What can be more relaxing than a group of friends roasting marshmallows over a campfire! Turn off the TV, and enjoy some home grown entertainment! There will be lots of recreational opportunities available right in the community! We plan to include Swimming Pools, Basketball Court, and Tennis Courts--just to name a few.

Housing options have not totally been decided upon. We are thinking about lots of possibilities and trying to decide which will make the best usage of the land. We do plan small private spaces (Homes) with lots of green spaces where children can play freely. Common spaces that we share together as a community will include Large Dining Rooms, Play Rooms for the children, Workout centers, and a library.

The definition of Co-housing from Wikipedia--A cohousing^[1] community is a type of intentional community composed of private homes supplemented by shared facilities. The community is planned, owned and managed by the residents – who also share activities which may include cooking, dining, child care, gardening, and governance of the community. Common facilities may include a kitchen, dining room, laundry, child care facilities, offices, Internet access, guest rooms, and recreational features.

Each person in the community will have an opportunity to volunteer for a community position of interest to them. Cooking teams will be rotated for the nightly meal so that no one has to cook every night. We will share communal meals in the evening in the large dining hall. Of course, if you're not feeling particularly social one night, just drop by the dining hall and pick up your meal and take it home. The really great thing about this plan is that if one member of our community is sick, their meal can simply be dropped off at their home. Neighbors helping neighbors!

This is just a partial list of some of our ideas. Please feel free to leave a comment if you have any suggestions. Interested in joining us? Let's start a conversation!

Froggy Farm--Moving Down The Simple Path,
                           Robin

We are going to go see The Lorax friday!

:) Welcome to our new follower, Melissa (MamaBear09)! She is my daughter, and mother to the D-man (Grandma's Boy!)!! I think she followed me just to see what I've been saying about her!! ;)

I entered to win a The Lorax Movie Prize Pack from Blessings Abound Mommy! It includes a $25 Limited Edition THE LORAX Fandango Gift Card, Seedling, Re-usable Tote, Water Bottle, T-shirt, Pencil, Re-usable Lunch Bag, Activity Card, and Mustache! To enter to win, go to:http://www.akblessingsabound.com/2012/02/giveaway-universal-pictures-dr-suess-the-lorax-prize-pack-25-fandango-gift-card.html There are only five more days to enter to enter!!

Moving Down The Simple Path,

                                                                          Robin

Febuary Meanderings...

Snow angel from a friend

:) Welcome to our new follower, Christie from At Sixes & Sevens! It is so great to meet another person dedicated to animal rescue!

The above picture of a snow angel was sent to me by my dear friend David who is living in the snow covered mountains. We have had a mild winter here up until the last week. The last few nights have found the temperatures dropping down to the 20's, which is too chilly for this Georgia Peach!!

Happy Valentines Day! My February is filled with Birthdays, Sweet Days, and one very special Anniversary!

9th-Happy Birthday to my dear friend Jack!

10th-Happy Birthday to my Mom! (Her 82nd)

12th-Happy Birthday to my Daughter Melissa! This is also the one year anniversary of getting my Basset Hound puppy, Charlie.

14th-Happy Valentines Day! Tomorrow is the real Sweet Day, when I buy candy at 1/2 price! :)

15th-Happy Anniversary to my wonderful Husband Mike!! Thank you for being my sweetheart!

I am still not feeling quite myself these days! Feeling pretty weak and not sure when or if I will bounce back. Still looking into the possibility of launching into a non -profit status for our animal rescue. We are still involved in personal animal rescue as we have been for the past 5-6 years, but not sure what the future holds. It is taking alot of money and time when I am at a place where my health is deteriorating. We must make some tough choices!

Moving Down The Simple Path,

Robin

New Year and...

:) Welcome to our new Follower, Claire123!  It is so wonderful to read about a teenager who has dedicated her life to God.

Well, Hubby coughed through Christmas and into New Year with Bronchitis. Then he passed it to Alexis, and then finally me. We are just now getting to the place where we feel better. Yesterday was the first day Alexis and I had gotten outside in awhile. We spent about an hour and a half sitting outside with my Mother on the porch. It was a beautiful "Fall" day in the middle of Winter. The tempature was pleasent with a cool breeze. Someone was also burning leaves, so that Fall smell was in the air also.

In contrast,  today was a rather rough day for me. I have been feeling rather weak and it is increasingly difficult to walk. Due to the Sarcoidosis and Diabetes, I have nerve damage in my feet and legs (and hands) and will be getting a wheelchair soon. As I am only 50, this is sometimes hard to take.  It will mean that I get to participate more in life, such as going to the Grocery store. My bout with depression today goes to the deeper thought of potential amputation, if my leg condition worsens. I pray alot and really try to stay upbeat, but somedays it gets the best of me anyway. Today was just one of those days!

On a lighter note--I am very excited about our nutrition plan! Due to all the illness since Christmas,  we've had to put things on hold. We plan to get geared up very soon, and I plan to write a post about it.

Would welcome any comments, and prayer requests.


                                                           Moving Down The Simple Path,
                                                                            Robin

Gearing up for the New Year!!

:) Welcome to our new follower Ansley1905! Thanks for taking the time to read our blog!

WOW! Time really does fly! The whole month of December was so busy with my Daughter's Birthday, eating out, and Christmas shopping! I had determined to do things slowly (my only speed) but was still wornout and completely exhausted by Christmas Eve. I must admit to dropping a couple more rungs down the health ladder. I will be getting into a wheelchair very soon, but still must admit my limitations. I have a very limited amout of energy and need to save that for the most important activities.

We are gearing up for the New Year in the hopes of being as healthy as we can be! I am planning to primarily eat fresh whole foods and stay away from the procesed and sugary alternatives. We have a Champion juicer and plan to put it to good use. Hubby and I are also getting our health supplements lined up. Yes, I certainly could stand to lose more weight (I am 60 pounds down from my top weight) however, the main reason to follow this new nutrition plan is to try to defeat the Sarcoidosis disease that is destroying my body. It makes sense to me that if this disease is inflammatory, and I am eating a non-inflammatory diet, that this nutrition plan could slow or possibly even stop the Sarcoidosis flares. That is my Prayer!! If anyone is interested, I will go into more detail later about our nutrition plan.


                                                    Moving Down The Simple Path,
                                                                           Robin