365 Ways to Simplify Your Life

Published with Permission
An Interview with Patrice Lewis
Written by Amy Nicholson
www.TOSMagazine.com

“And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing” (1 Thessalonians 4:11–12).

These verses guided Patrice Lewis’s family as they moved from a hectic life in the city to a simpler life on a farm. In her book, The Simplicity Primer, Patrice suggests 365 ways to simplify our lives. I had the pleasure of interviewing Patrice.

AMY: When did you leave your hectic city life?

PATRICE: My husband and I were working as professionals in the city. One day there was an accident on the highway. It took me two hours to get to the office. That night my husband and I looked at each other and asked, “Is this really the way we want to live?” After a great deal of thought and research, we left it all behind and moved to Oregon. The house was in rough shape, but we fell in love with it.

AMY: What did you learn? (more…)

A Day in the Life of a Young Amish Mom

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Written by Liz Lane
www.TOSMagazine.com

As I came to the end of the half-hour drive to Rachel’s home, it became easy to understand why many generations ago settlers had named this area “Paradise.” The hills, fields, woods, and spectacular views of the mountains in the distance enable this town to live up to its name.

When I arrived, Rachel’s home radiated peace. Her gentle way with her children, the absence of television noise and electronic chatter, the smiles from her children, and the breezes that greeted us on the deck (overlooking that beautiful view of Paradise) as we settled down to visit, all contributed to the peace of her home. However, none contributed to the peace of her home as much as her warm hospitality and the peace that shone from her countenance. (more…)

The Importance of Early Language Learning for Baby

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Written by Marsha Peterson
www.TOSMagazine.com
www.TalkingWithBaby.com

Babies enter this world with great curiosity and a willingness to learn. The first three years of life, and some may say the first eight years of life, will be the most important learning time for your baby. During this time baby pathway connections in his brain are being developed as he makes sense of things in his world. Reading to your baby and teaching him sign language are two ways to boost your baby’s language development.

In a July 2006 issue of WebMD, Jennifer Warner states that it is never too early to read to your children. Researchers from the study found children in low-income families had better language comprehension and cognitive development if their mothers read to them at an early age.1 ReadToYourBaby.com is a website dedicated to helping families with reading. In their experience, “Children who have had books in their lives between birth and five will become the future highest achievers with a lifelong love of learning.”2 (more…)