A Quiet Simple Life | Sallie Borrink

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23

A Quiet Simple Life

You are here: Home / Archives for Family Culture

Family Culture

Curate Your Home | Cozy Life Reset – Day 12


One of my cozy life reset projects has been on-going the past several months. I’ve been slowly and methodically going through every part of our home. I have done it one drawer at a time, one shelf at a time, etc. My goal is to remove approximately 25% of what is in our home. 

I saw someone else discuss the idea of curating your home and I thought that was an interesting perspective. A curator of a history museum or art museum makes sure that the institution has the best and most meaningful items in their possession. But he also rotates items so things that are held in storage are also made available. The curator knows what the museum owns, where it is stored, and when to bring it out to share. 

I’m not a minimalist so I have things in my home that I rotate through. Sometimes they are seasonal changes. Other times a need will arise for a particular item that I have held back in storage. I make a point of hanging on to things that I truly like and want to use again even if I’m not certain when that will occur. Over the years I’ve learned the difference between hanging onto things because “it might come in handy someday” and “I know I will use this again someday.” Our home is full of things that have been used multiple ways over the years.

As homemakers, we are the curators of our home. We should know what it holds, where everything is, and how to make the most of what we have been blessed with. Everything else that doesn’t meet a specific need should either be thrown out, donated, or sold.

As we remove possessions that no longer meet a specific need, we can then purchase new items that will add to our home life just as a museum will acquire new pieces when appropriate. It’s not a sin to enjoy pretty things or spend money on household items, clothing, etc. in order to create a more beautiful life. Not everything must be practical and cheap. And surrounding our loved ones with ugliness is not a virtue.

Are there some aspects of your home and life that you need to curate more effectively and thoughtfully?

In My Shop

Category:  | 2 Comments

Cleaning Before Christmas Decorating


I have a list of cleaning tasks I’ve moved forward over and over again this fall. It includes things like deep cleaning all the bedding, cleaning all the light fixtures, and cleaning above the kitchen cabinets.

We decided that before we would decorate for Christmas we would take care of these things. I don’t want them hanging over my head any longer, including over the holidays. I don’t want them on my to do list in January when we’re trying to get back into the rhythm of homeschooling and life.

So today is a deep cleaning day. It will probably run over into tomorrow simply because I don’t think the washer and dryer can get all of it done quickly enough to get through all of the bedding (mattress encasements, dust ruffles, blankets, sheets, duvets, etc.) for two beds in one day.

The good thing is I can still accomplish other things while the laundry is going. It won’t be a full-time, hands-on all day cleaning event.

I will gladly take one day without Christmas decorations in exchange for knowing these tasks are behind me!

Category:  | 2 Comments

Is Social Security an Investment or Insurance?


I’ve read so many articles and watched so many videos about Social Security over the past five or six years. But the other night one YouTuber explained something in a way no one ever had before. 

He explained that people generally fall into one of two camps when it comes to starting to draw their Social Security. They either see it as an investment or insurance. All other things being equal, the way you view it will largely determine when you decide to begin taking your funds.

Social Security Investment

People who view Social Security as an investment are eager to get their money back. They view it as money they have invested into the scheme and they want it now. They are more apt to start drawing as soon as they hit 62.

Their greatest fear is that they will die before they get their fair share. They would rather get less, but make sure they get back what they’ve paid in all these decades.

Social Security Insurance

People who view Social Security as insurance tend to wait as long as possible before starting. Their goal is to get the monthly amount as high as possible. These people will wait until their full retirement age of 67 or even 70 to get the maximum amount possible. 

Their greatest fear is that they will need more money as they get older so they want as much of a financial cushion as possible. They are far more interested in getting a larger amount each month than getting it sooner. Their concern regarding not being able to pay their bills when they are too old and feeble to work makes them delay as long as possible.

This makes so much sense to me. Based on what I’ve observed in videos and comments, I think this is an accurate breakdown of the two broad camps. 

If you are receiving you Social Security, which camp best represents you? If you are planning for retirement, which mindset reflects where you are at the moment? 

Category: Tag: Be The First To Comment

An Early Fall This Year?


Most things in creation have been running two to four weeks ahead around here. Our daisies were a few weeks early in June as were the Brown-Eyed Susans and lilies in July. The corn we drive past on our way various places looks much further along than normal. The orchard we pass regularly and where we go to pick apples as a family has apples that appear much larger than they normally would be at this point of the summer. 

Numerous bloggers and YouTubers I follow have regularly mentioned over the summer that garden vegetables, fruits, and fruit tress are ripe two to four weeks early. This includes people in different parts of the country so it isn’t just a Michigan or even Midwest thing.

And then this past week while out on a drive we saw leaves already turning! We normally see a few scattered leaves turning the first week of August, but ten days before August is perhaps the earliest I’ve ever seen them around here. 

What are you seeing where you are? Are your flowers and gardens running far ahead? Are you seeing leaves turn? Do you think it signifies an early fall? Harsh winter? Is it pushing you to make hay while the sun shines? Or do you think it doesn’t really indicate anything significant? 

Photo credit

Category:  | 6 Comments