Making Changes

Over the past few weeks, we (the kids and I) have been decluttering and rearranging rooms.  The big boys cleaned their room really well and rearranged as my friend had suggested.  They choose to get rid of the old computer they had in the room and the pet snake died the same week, so that made finding a place for everything easier.

The little boys room also got a bit of a makeover.  We moved the bed and dressers around, then took the doors off of the closet, so there would be room for the crib in their room.  While I was taking the doors down, Kaycee took a nose dive off of the bunk bed and cut his forehead open.  It really scared me, and I almost rushed him to the clinic, but he was bleeding everywhere!  So, I got the bleeding stopped, cut a butterfly band aid out of a regular band aid, and put his head back together.  By this time, he was calm, so I hesitated to take him anywhere.  I had just rationalized that it would be better to be safe than sorry, and was looking up the clinic's phone number, when a friend called.  He asked what was up, and I told him, hoping he would get off the phone right away, without making me ask.  Instead, he interrogated me as to how I had handled the situation, then pronounced everything to be fine.  I was getting pretty upset with him, until I realized that he was an Army Sargent with first aid training -- in the extreme!  If he said my little boy would be okay, then he would be fine.  Last week the band aid came off, and Kaycee will only have a little line of a scare, if any marks at all. 

That same day, our new dog, Sage, decided to rip his toenail off, and bled all over the carpet.  So, the carpet got a thorough cleaning, again!

Within two days of moving the crib into the little boys room, Kaycee began using the toilet, of his own accord.  He has only had a few accidents in the past two weeks, and most of those happened when he was being chased by his brothers or tickled.  *snickers softly, with fond memories*  It is all part of learning. 

I followed my friend's feng shui suggestions concerning my living room, and rearranged the furniture there.  It feels much better and has stayed much cleaner than it use to.  In fact, most of the messes to be found in it are mine.  *hmmm*  Yep.  The creative bug hit, and I have some stuff out that could be returned to it's appropriate spot. 

With all of these changes in the home, I have been considering other areas of my life and what needs to change there.  I have so many ideas, things I want to do, and not enough time in ten years to accomplish them all.  I am sure you struggle with this too, so don't think that I am complaining.  I am simply trying to prioritise.  Every day, I remind myself that  God, Family, Home, and Writing are the big rocks.  Get them in first, then find time for the rest -- like trips to the post office, to mail out books people have requested!

Getting Advice

During the past few weeks it seemed like I was doing the same thing day after day, and not getting ahead.  Sure, more stuff was being thrown out.  Things were being put away on a regular basis, but to me the house did not feel any better.  So, I did the only thing I knew to do:  call for help!

I called a friend of mine who is good at organization and tends to see things very differently than I do, for some advice.  She came over, and brought a lot of stuff with her!  She came to look at the house with feng shui eyes, take readings of the chi and made some drawings.  Pointed out the same problem areas that I have been attempting to deal with and went home.  I figured it was time to keep cleaning, and went back to doing the same old things.

A few days later my friend called with some more advice:  "You've got to re-paint your hallway.  It is the wrong color, and the boys bedrooms need some rearranging.  I've got more information for you, but we will have to look it over later, and I am still waiting for some more answers."

What was she up to?

It took until today, for me to get the full story.  She had taken home the drawings and looked at them more careful, but couldn't make sense of everything.  So, she contacted a friend or two for further advice.  One of them put her in contact with a feng shui master in China.  He was able to give some advice that actually makes sense.  I feel very at peace with the ideas presented, and have begun to make some changes.

The first change was to hang up a curtain by the kitchen counter, where it connects to the dining room.  They all said that it was a problem because the chi from my sink was washing out through the corner in the dining room, and that is why everyone is so prone to cluttering the counter.  I like the affect of the curtain, because it makes my kitchen feel like a room, not just an open space in the center of my house; but then, I like rooms with door -- not open floor plans.

The next change was to move the piano over a bit, so that I do not have a 'stale corner' in the living room.  By moving the piano about 8", I was able to put my Norfolk Pine in that corner of the living room, and now it is safer from all the little people.

To be continued...

Cha-Ching!

I am in the middle of cleaning the tops of the cupboards and my oldest son, James, just came in, looked at what I was doing, and said, "Mom, I am so glad that you have the time today to clean the kitchen like you really want to. It makes it so much nicer. Thank you, and I will try to keep my stuff picked up, so I don't make extra work for you."

He is ten, and this attitude is such a blessing to me.

I would have never thought to say such a thing to my mom, and she was always cleaning something! As a child, I figured cleaning was her hobby.

A Clear Dinning Table

Several weeks ago I took the boys out for a drive in the forest. We stopped near the river to gather some of the first leaves to turn red. When we got home I arranged them on a small silver platter with a candle in the center and have been using it as a center piece ever since.

Today, I realized with astonishment, that after every meal and any other time possible, I have the table clear, enjoying the center piece! Another habit has been formed, and this one based on the whim of Autumn's beauty.

No Wasted Trips

Today I realized something for the first time:

I have developed habits over the passed few years that are still with me.

Previously, I have seen little fruit of the habits I have tried desperately to instill in my life. However, today as I was clearing the counter, I realized that every trip up and down the stairs was utilized to it's fullest potential, within reason.

After gathering everything from the counter that belonged outside, I took them out and put them away. On my way back in, I picked up toys that didn't belong outside and put them away -- without being sidetracked from the job at hand.

Returning to the kitchen counter, I realized that I have not always utilized my trips, often walking past things that need to be done, because it wasn't the task at hand. This habit was formed while pregnant and unable to use the stairs more than two times a day without going into labor. It is good to know that I am not the same girl I was in high school!

Welcome!

"Do what you know and the rest will be easy!"

This is the phrase that rings in my brain every time I feel overwhelmed by the mess around me. I have decided to take it to heart, and get moving.

I have tried many 'programs' to get my house in order, but they always call for something so different from how I live, that I forget to do what I know and after a week or two, find the house more of a mess than ever!

The one thing I have always lacked it accountability. That is the main reason I am writing all of this down. I want accountability! So, you, the Internet world, are going to be my accountability. I will not know whether or not anyone is reading, unless they leave a comment.