My Space

So, I'm off for Christmas Break, about two weeks, without having to go to work every day. I spent the first few days hustling around, stressing over making Christmas memorable for the kids. Then, I was able to relax and enjoy a few days with little to do. Nice. I did decide that it was time for one project in my home. My Space needed help. It has been overtaken with Stuff dropped there in an effort to get it out of the way. Instead, it created chaos in my little corner of the world. 

Piles of stuff: School Uniforms that don't fit yet, yarn for projects started, not yet started, finished, waiting for a home, papers to save, clothes missing buttons, toys with rips, discarded blankets, stuff, stuff, and more stuff. Not to mention, dust. 

So, I took it a piece at a time. I grabbed a couple of empty boxes and sorted out the school uniforms. Some to be kept for the kids for next year, some to be sold at a local re-sale place, some to be donated to charity. 

Next, I sorted out my yarn projects. I stored away my unused yarn, stashed away some unfinished projects that I don't think I'll get to any time soon, neatly organized projects that I would like to finish soon, and decided what to do with finished projects. Some will just go to charity, some nicer pieces will be given to a person who will make sure they go to people who really need them, and one or two pieces I will keep. I enjoy crocheting, but I enjoy being able to bless others with my projects even more. 

With the rest of the stuff, very little of it was kept. some things were thrown away, some put in other rooms where it belonged, some donated. I then took a few minutes while the family was watching a movie, to sit with them and sew some buttons back on. Three buttons and a repaired stuffed monkey later, and less stuff remained in My Space. You can't see it in the picture, but even my dresser is covered with stuff. I gave myself time, and gradually, throughout one day, My Space is My Space once again. I even hung some pictures on the wall. Nice and tidy: 

No, it's not magazine-cover perfect, but then, I don't know of anyone coming for a photo shoot any time soon. The point is, I am more at peace when My Space is pleasing. I still have stuff, materials for future projects, etc, but I also have a Space that I can look at and not feel guilty about the clutter. I think the part I like best is the pictures of my family over my sewing cabinet. After all, they are what matters. 

What one project can you do in Your Space to feel more comfortable? Get Busy!

Thankful

"Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks. And God's peace, which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7).
I'm reading a book that I bought a long time ago, but my sister-in-law is currently reading it, and encouraged me to read it again. Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World has turned out to be an encouraging book. Right now the author is talking about worry. She points out that this verse was written by Paul when he was in prison, and yet he is focusing on being joyful and not worrying. If anyone had "licence" to worry, it would have been Paul! Instead, he give us tips for not worrying. One of them is asking God for what you need, the other is being thankful for what you already have.
I'm not much of a conformist. During November lots of my Facebook friends posted 30 days of thankfulness. I thought it was an interesting idea, but I didn't do it simply because everyone else did. I am, however, thankful for many things. So, here's my short list (there are so many more!)

• My Firstborn daughter, who is growing into an interesting teen. She is thoughtful, compassionate, and still loves her mom!
• My second born son. He is incredibly smart, loves to have fun, and gives great hugs!
• My oldest, came to the family last, daughter. She loves to listen to music, clean her room, and is learning so quickly from this strange land called America. 
• My youngest son. He is full of life, is not slowed down by much of anything, but LOVES to snuggle. 
• My incredible hubby. He is so very patient with me! He enjoys cooking, helps out around the house, and loves to make me happy. He's a great daddy and spouse!
• My job. God has given me the opportunity to teach where I can set an example for students and peers. I learn from them as much as I teach them! While the pay isn't good, the benefits are so very worth it!!
• My family. I'm blessed to live close to my parents, and just a text or phone call away from my sister. They are an awesome support group!
• My church family. Through all the ups and downs of the past 10 years, I have loved being a part of that group of people. They are challenging, supportive, and loving. 

There are so many more things I'm thankful for. Listing some of them out really does take my mind off my worries and puts them on the wonderful blessings that I've been given. Thinking about them, not one was material. I am blessed in many ways!!

How have you been blessed this year?

True Confessions...

Okay, so I have to confess here. I do have one space in my house that is so dirty and messy I'm embarrassed to let people in. My bedroom and bathroom connected to it are not clean. The cat box is there, and my general mess is there. That is the one space that I can stash stuff when company's coming. It's also the one space mostly off limits to the kids. So, I have piles of kids clothes that I'm saving for the future, but haven't put in storage, boxes of yarn and material for future, unknown projects and long-ago abandoned projects, stuff I've taken away from the kids, that they've long forgotten about, and stuff I just don't want them to have access to. In addition, hair clogs my side of the sink, resulting in a never ending ring of toothpaste and soap scum, the cat (and dog!) track litter across the floor, and the soap scum builds in the shower. Not to mention the ring around the toilet and clothes dropped in the closet floor at the end of a long day. Sound familiar to any of you? Once in  a while, when I have a few minutes and a lot of energy, I go through and clean stuff out. In fact, I might put a dent in one pile now that I've written this blog. But, I must confess, sometimes I need to have a space that I don't have to keep clean. After all, I don't have to invite guests into my bedroom and bathroom. The main bathroom is down the hall, and is relatively clean. It does feel nice to clean it  up sometimes, but not enough to stress over.
So, what space do you have in your house, that you claim as your own, and neglect to clean? Confession is good for the soul! 

Checking In

So, it's been a very busy couple of weeks! After the Thanksgiving rush, we jumped back in to the swing of the Christmas season, with 3 crazy weeks of school. The hallways are a buzz with excited children, frantic teachers, and administrators trying to hold everything together. Those of you in the teaching profession know how it gets this time of year in schools! Add to that, 4 kids, each with Christmas (we can call it that here, no pretenses, or trying to make everyone happy, with "Winter" performances, etc) parties, middle school Christmas program, work parties, stuff going on with church, etc, etc, etc....
So, I have a minute to sit down and catch my breath. I'm currently working on crocheting hats for those with very little. My mom met a woman who had lost her hair due to breast cancer treatments, and only had one hat. We were in the middle of a cold spell that day, so I got the call. I had already made one cap from super soft yarn, that fit the bill perfectly. Then I got busy creating others. I wish now that I had taken pictures, but I never think of that at the right moment. So anyway, now, when I have a few minutes, or need to take a few minutes to slow down, I pull out my crochet bag. I can make a "comfort cap" for someone in just a day or so. It's a small project that I can carry around with me, and the act of crocheting is very soothing. A little bit of peace.
What do you do to slow yourself down when things get crazy? If you don't have something, you need to find it, before you go crazy along with the rest of the world around you!

Checking In...

So, with this crazy time of year, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, it is hard to keep up. Not to mention getting ahead. So, keep things simple. Remember the 4 steps to clean: take out the trash, collect clothing around the house, do a load of laundry, and put the dishes away. Every little bit you can do, keep at it, but always remember, you are not perfect. Take things one step at a time, don't procrastinate, but give yourself a break too. Find balance, take time to spend with God, and take time to enjoy the blessings that you already have. How do you find peace?

Peace

Greetings! I pray the Christmas season is peaceful for you.
It takes some effort to keep it peaceful, to not get sucked in to the hustle and bustle, and especially the "Keeping Up With the Joneses" thoughts. It is so very easy to look at all those around us and want to be like them, to have the stuff that they have, to think that's what will bring happiness. But, as this working mom on a VERY tight budget knows, stuff is not what brings happiness! My mom once gave me a plaque that still has a place in my kitchen, where I see it several times each day. "It's not how much we have, but how much we enjoy that makes happiness." I don't need more stuff. Yes, there are a few things I'd like to have, but really, when I'm asked, my list is VERY short. What I really want is time with my family. I want to remember to set my stuff to the side, and play a game with my family. A deck of cards of package of dice goes far with my kids. And, what I'm learning is, that while they sometimes say they want every little toy they see on TV or in the annoying catalogs that come in the mail, what they really want from me is my time. They want to play games with me, shop with me, or even sit beside me and watch a movie. While I love my quiet "Mom Time" grocery shopping by myself each week, I really do enjoy taking just one of the kids with me, for some one-on-one time. The conversations that take place are priceless.
So, now I find myself rambling, and this doesn't seem to have much to do with what I sat down to write about. But here's my point: Don't look at everyone else and want what they have. Make peace in your own home by enjoying what you already have. Spend time with your family and friends. They are priceless!!!