Got Stuff?

I got a call from a friend. They were bringing some stuff to a shelter where a lot of children had been showing up after the flood in middle Tennessee. She said she'd be happy to bring any stuff that I had, if I wanted.

Oh yeah...

The kids and I went through some of their toys, to find some to send to the kids who had lost everything. I went through closets, pulling out children's clothes and sheets and towels and cleaning supplies.

My entry was filled by the time they arrived. We loaded up the remaining space in their minivan, and they headed off.

I have since found more stuff to send, and a new pile is forming in my entry.

I am blessed. Very, very blessed.

Tackling the Little Annoyances

It was a day - a wonderful, glorious day! Outside was beautiful and it was all I could do to focus on the INside of my house. But I so needed to do that.

The "little annoyances" were starting to pile up. So, I spent the day, tackling them, one by one.

The conglomeration of wires under the kids computer - fixed.

The broken leg on the TV stand - fixed (well - it's now wheel-less, but not annoying!)

The miscellaneous things that get put away in awkward or difficult places - done.

The collection of "trinkets" and outgrown toys - gone through and sorted for consignment or kindergarten "treasure box"es (shhhhhh... don't tell my kids!)

The top of the fridge is clean, and the playroom furniture has been re-arranged.

It was a busy, exhausting and WONDERFUL day!

Thank you, God!

(now... I just need about a dozen more of those!)

The Art of Self-Care

This past week has been really interesting for me. Going back further, I am aware of the subtle changes that have been occurring... Decluttering. Letting go of the past. Decompressing the schedule.

I have also been finding myself being exposed to the topic: Attracted to books on Self-Care, on disconnecting from the insane pace of the modern world, and of course, the sermon last week that spoke of living intentionally.

I have KNOWN these things for a long time. But this past week, something shifted. I became willing to participate in my own self-care more than ever before.

I'm not talking self-indulgence, here. I'm talking self-CARE. Taking the time and making the effort to sleep well, eat well, exercise well. Balancing time between work and play. Establishing a routine of quiet time - of prayer and meditation. Allotting time and energy for the things that are most important in my life.

Specifically, this week, my food preferences have changed. Seriously. I walked into the grocery store, and HAD to buy asparagus. It's FABULOUS! I am taking the time to prepare myself real meals. Making the effort to bring something if I am going to be away at mealtime (so I avoid the drive-thru).

Last night, after mowing the grass, I turned on the grill, and pulled out the piece of fish I had bought. When I purchased it, I thought it was salmon. But, as I opened the package to put it on the grill, I read "Rainbow Trout"... wow! kewl!! As I turned, having put it on the grill, a little voice inside me said "You're doing this for ME?" It was as if deep down, I was surprised that I was making the effort to care for myself so well.

It's not perfect... I'm still working on adequate sleep... And the schedule. Being a single mom to two active kids is going to push that envelope. But, you know.... I've woken up earlier this week than I did during the school year - I've had more energy and feel well. And, I'm getting things DONE....

I am amazed.... absolutely amazed. I don't know which switch flipped, but I am loving this.

Thank You, God, for not giving up on me!! You have been telling me this for years, I know.... Be with me now, and help me continue!

Little Bits of Progress

There are days where I feel like I am going nowhere. Running as fast as I can on an never ending gerbil-wheel called motherhood. Then, there are other days - like the past few - where I feel like I have actually made some progress. I couldn't tell you what is different except the outcome.

The deck is stained, the mulch is spread. Best of all, I can see the top of my desk and my kitchen counter-tops! Even despite my best attempts at going "paperless", there seems to be a non-stop influx of paper into my house. Piles here and there - some to be sorted and filed, some require an action before they can be thrown away. It just seems to collect here.

Granted, I have a pair of first graders who tote reams of worksheets home every month. I get duplicate newsletters and announcements - but at least I have a better shot than most of actually GETTING the information! I am constantly perusing it, pulling out the "really good stuff" and dumping the rest in the recycling.

The church yard sale is coming up, so I have also been sorting through cabinets and closets. We're inundated with "stuff", and I'm breaking free! Bags of stuff we don't need and don't use will turn into cash for the youth. Win-win in my book!

My CD's are selling on Half.com, some books are listed. I even put some of my photographs - mostly of Chaco Canyon, NM - up on eBay. I had framed them to bring to a local coffee shop to display - though I won't tell you how long ago.... I've done nothing but dust them.

I am making progress. It feels so freeing!! As I find space in my closets, in my kitchen and in my garage, I am amazed at how much more deeply I can breathe. Just wait til I tackle the play room!

It's not fast-going, but it's going... Thank You, God!

Selling the Past...

I love itunes. I am the person who buys an entire CD for a single song. The fact that I now have the ability to download that single song to my ipod (read: No CD storage required!), I am over the moon!

But, as I have been decluttering my life, I have come upon the stack of old CD's. At first, I discounted the pile, knowing that I'd been through it before. Those I didn't want, I had taken to the "get cash for your old CD's" store.

Then, the internal dialogue started:

"But, you haven't listened to most of them in more then a year - or TWO even!"

"Yes, but those songs all have meaning to me...."

"Get it at itunes if you decide you want to listen to it again...."

"But, I already HAVE it...."

I thought briefly of downloading the one song from all those CD's onto my computer, ... (one day, of course - it's a low-priority item in the schedule)

But, then the voice of reality hit - I know how strongly I attach to, and am moved by music and lyrics and all. The (not-so) Gentle Voice Within said, "Do you really want to go back there? REALLY? REALLY??!!"

Of course the answer was "No, I don't."

So, through the pile I sorted. A few, where I enjoy the entire disc, or the memories are of sweet, tender, peaceful times, I saved. The rest, I transferred to another stack: Half.com

Now, I get busy. Hoping the old saying that "One (wo)man's trash is another (wo)man's treasure" rings true.

I've got a really cute silk dress going on ebay as well... : )

Cleaning House

There is no denying it. I have TOO MUCH STUFF.... and it's pretty darn close to driving me completely out of my tree.

My kitchen is cluttered, my bedroom in cluttered, my garage is cluttered, my shed is cluttered, my inboxes (yes, pleural) are stuffed with messages that can be deleted. My schedule is improving... YES!

Fortunately, the POD has arrived at church and I can begin the process of moving the boxes I've packed for the yard sale OUT of my house!

YES! There is hope.... now all I need is for the "throw it out" mood to continue and about three days of uninterrupted time.

Look out closets, here I come!!

Bring on the Clarity

It is becoming increasingly clear where lines are needing to be drawn. The calendar is clearing itself, there is less waffling about "do I really want to get rid of this, or should I just keep it?", and there are some clearer boundaries within a few relationships here and there. All of these are needing to happen!

Bring on the clarity, Lord... I am listening.

Where You lead, I will follow...

What are you pretending not to know....?

Saturday was a dream day. It was the first official day of Spring Break. The first day on the calendar with nothing written on it. It was a "no alarm clock" kinda day! Ahhhh....YES!

I took full advantage of the ability to sleep in! When I awoke, the kids had situated themselves in front of the TV and computer and were ever so proud of obeying the "don't wake up mom" rule! I took time to make them french toast for breakfast, and set some eggs in to hard-boil. As I was cooking, I was very aware of the feeling growing inside me. "Clean. Sort. Discard."

Oh yes - it would be one of THOSE days! THAT was good, I really needed one! On and around my desk are typically stacks of papers - mostly needing filing, or having something that I need to refer back to, or transcribe elsewhere. There are scattered, partially completed, "to do" lists (written on index cards), and other miscellaneous things that either need a home, or need to be returned to their home ("when I get time").

I sat with the first pile. Toss. Toss. Save. File. Toss. Shred. Toss. Oh yes! LOVING it. I was nearly dancing inside! There is hope - my ever-running brain will feel a little less scattered! Files were created, papers were filed. WOW. Looks good! Feels wonderful!! Order. Peace.

And then my eye caught some words on a group of papers tucked into the organizer at the back of my desk. They've been there for a while (like months). As I go through life, and find a quote that I like, or "gets me", or I have an idea for a blog topic, I write it down. In a "free moment", I transcribe the quotes into a notebook that I have for exactly that purpose. I've sat, looking at these papers frequently - multiple times a day - for months. Today, my brain connects the letters into a complete thought.

"What are you pretending not to know?" Oh boy. I look away. I try to get back to the papers I'm going through, but this phrase becomes an object at which I don't want to look, but I can't help but stare! "What are you pretending not to know?" (look away! look away!)

I think for a minute... I don't know....

....I have the feeling I'm going to be shown...

God, be with me...

A Day for Five Minute Jobs

I have been in need of a Day for Five Minute Jobs. You know, the little tasks that get set aside for when there's a minute or two to complete them. They seem to pile up for me - especially after weeks like I've just completed. When they do, life seems 'cluttered' and unsettled.

I've got a whole list... change a couple of light-bulbs, filing, bring boxes of stuff sorted for the church yard sale into the garage... just to name a few! (and then, there are the 15 minute jobs! Another list unto itself!)

I was hoping to get to them on our sick day on Sunday, but, instead, I chose to disinfect all the doorknobs and bleach-wash all the linens. It seemed like a prudent thing to do with the germs floating around here. I also chose to spend some time with my children - watching movies, playing the wii, snuggling... and coercing them into taking their Tamiflu!

Perhaps today will include a few of the five minute jobs. At least one or two... amid the snuggling and coercing...