Counting My Blessings

Clearing Out the Clutter

I just returned to my desk after spending about an hour and a half in the basement. I'm still working at clearing out the clutter.

My friend, Joan, who is also a fellow HG Openhouse blogger is my inspiration. My sanguine personality doesn't mind a bit of stuff laying around, and thought clutter - well, that's been my normal. However, my attitude on this issue is being transformed, as I  realize that clutter is stressful!! In my quest for minimal stress, I am clearing out the clutter! Stuff clutter and thought clutter!!

Clearing out the clutter brings peace - in the same way an organized home brings peace and order, clutter free thinking gives clarity and peace.  Dictionary.com defines "at peace" as: untroubled, tranquil, and content . . . that sounds good to me!!

Let me share a few examples for the clearing of thought clutter :

Beautiful Blessing

I am enjoying a blessing that God has made possible through the www. I have enjoyed Debbie Baker's artwork for a long time, even before I became a web-surfer. In fact the truth is I began by purchasing her mom's, Doris Morgan, art when decorating our previous home. They both create beautiful paintings which include written word. Now you know this girl is going to be all over beauty and sentiment! ;-)

In our current home I have two rooms lined gallery style with artwork. One room has my mom's paintings and the other is mostly Debbie's with a couple of her mom's in there as well.

Bits and Pieces of Life

I just have time for a quick update on life.

First of all, I cleaned the house!! I know! It wasn't terrible! It wasn't great either, but I am glad to have it done. Thanks to Laurie for helpful product hints! So, if you'd like to stop by for a visit - this is the moment. ;-)

I am caught up on all of the laundry! This is not a major event. I actually like to do laundry . . . as long as I don't have to iron. Wow, I definitely sound like I have the princess thing going on, don't I?

All household tasks complete because my Dad arrives tonight! Yeah!! I haven't seen him since his trip here last June. Somehow, the Winter slipped past without my annual trip to Fort Myers. I think it had something to do with a broken arm and surgery. Anyway, I am so excited to see him. I was inspired to clean. Maybe he should visit more often. LOL

Cleaning out the Clutter

It comes as no surprise to many of you that - I don't like to clean. I have also shared before that I was blessed to marry a man who is neat and clean, a gift he also passed on to our oldest child. So, after spending a couple of days with her last week helping her go through closets, I came home inspired!! Inspired to organize anyway, I'm hoping that will lead to a desire to clean. We'll see!

I began to pare down and move around accent pieces this morning.I enjoy a few different collectibles, Jim Shore Angels, Williraye Studio Folk Art, etc. I decided that my collections would view in more enjoyably if I grouped like items in one room. I began in the living room, great room, and kitchen. Each area had items to move, some to give away, and those it was time to toss. Everything sits in its new home this afternoon, and after I dust and vacuum when I finish here - I will have three rooms redecorated. Not too bad for my first day of effort. Yippee!

WIND!!

  I normally enjoy sitting on the top of our little hill. However, at the top of the hill we find ourselves exposed to every gust of wind. It would be an understatement to say that it has been windy for the past twenty four hours. The gusts have been so strong that it sounds like someone is stomping around in our attic.

Since we are approaching the end of the month, and I can't really recall what the weather was like at its beginning . . . I would guess that March may have come in like a lamb, because it is ROARING out like a lion!!

Five Favorites Friday - Christmas Carols

  How do you feel about Christmas music? My dd came home the middle of October and said that a StL radio station was playing Christmas songs and would continue until the end of the year. They definitely appeal to true Christmas carol passion. 

While out Christmas shopping today, I was thankful to find two radio stations that were playing only holiday music. It was great, if I didn't like the song on one station I could click over to the other. 

Ten Ways to Make Cleaning More Tolerable

My writer's group is coming over tonight for our monthly meeting. I decided it was time to give Mel a break - she has a fabulous meeting room, so it seems that her house has been designated, "Meeting Central!"

As many of you know, I hate to clean! Unlike my dh and dd who find the end result worth the effort, I am one of those people who when I'm finished can only think about how little time it is going to take for the dust bunnies to repopulate every nook and cranny!

To get myself in the correct frame of mind to get the job accomplished, I am establishing my list of ten ways to make cleaning more tolerable. Because I believe that a grown woman pouting is just plain obnoxious. 

1. Turn up the music - something fun and peppy and get moving.
2. Sing loud - I love to sing, but like some of the American Idol auditioners it is probably best done when completely alone.
3. Think about the calories I am burning - always a good thing.
4. Wear lotion and gloves to end up with soft hands rather than dirty hands that need a manicure.
5. Do it more often so it's not so gross - especially the bathrooms!
6. Move things around - then it feels like decorating rather than cleaning.
7. Use cleaning products that smell good - we are all somewhat sniffer motivated.
8. Treasure hunt - it is amazing the things I find when I clean ( I found cash when cleaning out a desk drawer the other day . . . woo hoo!)
9. Simplify - I am constantly trying to organize and simplify my life by getting rid of clutter.
10. PRAISE - Wow, I am blessed with a home I love and share it with my best friend, it just doesn't get any better than that!

So, I am off to clean! I feel better about it already!

Psalm 66:1-2; Shout with joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of His name; make His praise glorious!

Clean

  Why do pictures and drawings of people cleaning house show them smiling, like they are having the best time of their lives? I hate to clean! I want to like the process, I even try to like it, but I just don't seem to find the joy in carrying around my duster, pushing my vacuum, or scrubbing the toilet.

I know that, "cleanliness is next to godliness." I do keep the things next to me clean. I bathe regularly and I enjoy doing the laundry. So, I am able to go out the door and appear that my world is spotless.

I also find symmetry important in my life, so I tend to keep things orderly. I have shared before that I don't like to clean for the same reason I don't like to garden. I don't like to get dirty, and I have yet to figure out how to clean my house without getting grimy.

So, why am I telling you this, you might ask? Well, my dh got up at the crack of dawn this morning so that he could complete his workout and cut the grass; before he left for the office. This was not good for my guilt level, not good at all. I knew the porcelain needed polishing, furniture cried out to be dusted, carpets vacuumed, and floors scrubbed. They could be ignored no longer!

I did not look like the gal above, but I did accomplish my goal. My daughter, who likes to clean by the way, she gets that from her father, asked, "Don't you love how everything smells when you're finished?"

I replied, "I can accomplish the same thing by leaving a bottle of Mr. Clean open on the counter!" But clean I did, and now I am going to count my blessings for my day spent cleaning.

1. I have a house to clean.

2. I'm finished for today, and tomorrow, too!

 2 Corinthians 7:1; Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

PC Blessings

Because this blog is entitled, Counting My Blessings, and for that reason only, I am going to count the blessings of the past couple of days . . . rather than expound on my crankiness!

You see we changed Internet providers this past week.  So, because I had my email address with our previous provider I had to change my address once again.  So, before I start complaining about the fact that the changeover has taken me five days.  AAAGH!  I promise I am going to count my blessings, really I am.

1)  I am up and running with a wireless connection!  Yeah! 

2)  I don't have to deal with our old system which seemed to become disabled every other day.  (That is a positive statement, really it is.)

3)  I am back with a Yahoo address, so I am able to do instant messaging and have a cute avatar to play with  . . . how fun is that!

4)  I have already chatted on line with my Dad and my sweet DIL.

5)  Did I mention that I am thankful to simply have Internet, since I kept losing my connection for a couple of days following the change.

All in all it is alllll good.

I could go on about how my behind is sore from sitting at my computer nonstop . . . but that is definitely not a blessing.

So, I am off to take a walk.  I will talk to you all tomorrow, when my smile is back and I am in a total counting my blessings kind of mood. 

True Confession

I don't often share this side of myself with anyone.  So, consider this your lucky day, or not so lucky. . . (Actually, I don't believe in luck at all, but the saying seemed to work there. LOL) 

I am one of those somewhat scatter-brained individuals who struggle with "out of sight, out of mind syndrome."  I mean really, it could be a diagnosis.  Think of all the other things we have labeled and declared emotional disorders.  However, that will have to be a topic for another day . . .

So, back to the point.  I have two places where I take the liberty of keeping the things I am working on at arms reach.  One is my desk and the other is this chair/love-seat.  I try not to let it get this out of control, but my dd took the opportunity to record this for posterity, or possibly blackmail, I'm not sure at the moment which is the case!  I love magazines and catalogs.  I guess decorating and fashion mags are my reads of choice.  I subscribe to quite a few and love the secure feeling I get knowing I have a stack to go through on a quiet afternoon.  Then, I tear pages . . . pages of recipes, decorating tips, makeup suggestions, websites to check out, new hair dos I want to discuss with my stylist, and on and on and on.  What do I do with those pages after I have them torn out, you ask?  I stack them!  It's true, I save them for another time to go through again, resort them, file them, and generally decide if at that point they are worth keeping.  You will also notice that my knitting is always at hand, and the remote controls as well.

I told you, I think it should be labeled a "syndrome."  What is it about the nature of the stacker?  One who is quite certain that if an item is not piled close by they will certainly never be able to find it.  And it's true, I can spend lots of time looking for something that has simply been put away.  LOL 

You know as a stacker, I can pile up all kinds of junk in my mind as well.  I can keep a list of my problems close at hand to be sorted at a moments notice.  I might be known to have a basket filled with hurt feelings, or a corner piled with guilt.  We stackers like to keep things handy, just in case . . .

The Holy Spirit has been gently and quietly speaking to my heart about the importance of a completely surrendered heart.  Giving up control of my stacks is not something that is coming easily to me.  However, I do believe that the blessed outcome will be freedom and joy.  So stay tuned, I am definitely a work in progress and I will let you know how things are going along the journey.  Look out stacks it is time to do some serious tossing!

Psalm 33:20-22; We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.  In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name.  May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in You. Amen