Am I the Only One?

     I love to read blogs and Facebook posts written by people who have tips for being frugal or by Homesteading/Survivalism.  They always have so many great ideas.  There are those who can their fruits and vegetables and those who make homemade bread.  They never buy processed food, and their family always eats healthy food.

     Am I the only one who wishes I was like these people?  I have moments of inspiration when I will buy a large block of yeast thinking I will forever more make my own bread and end up only making one thing with the yeast.  The rest of it goes bad before I gather up enough motivation to use it again.  For Christmas one year, I asked for and received The Encyclopedia of Country Living by Carla Emery.  I look through it and think, "Oh, if only I were that practical and knowledgeable."  I've thought of selling it, but I just can't bring myself to do it.  I live vicariously through the book and daydream what it would be like to be a homesteader.

     I want to eat organic, but it costs too much.  I want to garden, but I don't have the motivation to plant, weed, or wait.  I often think about what life was like for those who lived in colonial times or even in the middle of the 19th century.  Granted, life was probably harder without all of the conveniences we have like running water and refrigeration, but in some aspects I'm sure it was better.  There was no worrying about processed food or plastics or how much gasoline cost.

     I know God had a plan for putting me on earth when he did, so I'm not going to say I was born in the wrong era; but I want to taste a bit more of a simple life.  I want to save money.  I want to spend more time with my kids.  I want to raise them to be respectful and godly adults.  There's got to be a way to get to where I want to be in my role as a homemaker.  I need to take it one step at a time.  Maybe I'll take some baby steps and blog about it.  Maybe there will be a noticeable difference after I give myself a year.  Hmm, that gives me an idea.  I will try to come up with a list of frugal or homesteader-type ideas and put them into practice and come back with updates.

     If you have suggestions for the steps I could take, please pass them on.