Wednesday, January 28, 2009
/sadface
My sign language class has been cancelled "until further notice." It seems only 2 of us signed up for it. I hope they send my money back. Maybe, I will look into the class at the local community college. I was so looking forward to this class, too!!
The Heart Family
Back in the 80s Mattel made some 11.5 inch dolls known as the Heart Family.
http://www.kattisdolls.net/faces/heartf.htm
The link will have to do until I get a digi camera.
These dolls had a mommy, daddy, baby boy and girl. There were neighbor children and grandma and grandpa. I really did not want to encourage my girls to play with Barbies, but when this family came out, I thought it was too precious and perfect for my little Andrea. Mommy had long hair and wore those 80s style "Pentecostal Patty" dresses with the high collars and long sleeves. There was also the Heart Family Schoolhouse, which we gave Andrea since we homeschooled, and the Heart Family Nursery.
In our cleaning and downsizing and decluttering, we discovered a box in the attic with Andrea's Heart Family of 4 dolls...Mom, Dad, toddler girl, baby boy, and most of the accessories she had, including the school house. I emailed her to make sure it was hers since we had 3 daughters, and I was concerned maybe Tiffany had a set and it was hers. That maybe Andrea had given hers away, and I had forgotten. She was so excited to inform me that they were hers!
With our "Buy Nothing Family Christmas," this will be my gift to Miss Vivi. I think she will love having her Mommy's dolls to play with. I am looking to sew some more outfits for them, and Uncle Jon Jon is strongly considering building them a house of their own, leaving it for Vivi and Andrea to choose the decor and paint colors.
http://www.kattisdolls.net/faces/heartf.htm
The link will have to do until I get a digi camera.
These dolls had a mommy, daddy, baby boy and girl. There were neighbor children and grandma and grandpa. I really did not want to encourage my girls to play with Barbies, but when this family came out, I thought it was too precious and perfect for my little Andrea. Mommy had long hair and wore those 80s style "Pentecostal Patty" dresses with the high collars and long sleeves. There was also the Heart Family Schoolhouse, which we gave Andrea since we homeschooled, and the Heart Family Nursery.
In our cleaning and downsizing and decluttering, we discovered a box in the attic with Andrea's Heart Family of 4 dolls...Mom, Dad, toddler girl, baby boy, and most of the accessories she had, including the school house. I emailed her to make sure it was hers since we had 3 daughters, and I was concerned maybe Tiffany had a set and it was hers. That maybe Andrea had given hers away, and I had forgotten. She was so excited to inform me that they were hers!
With our "Buy Nothing Family Christmas," this will be my gift to Miss Vivi. I think she will love having her Mommy's dolls to play with. I am looking to sew some more outfits for them, and Uncle Jon Jon is strongly considering building them a house of their own, leaving it for Vivi and Andrea to choose the decor and paint colors.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Inspired by Ashley (Mommy) Fowler
I was inspired by Ashley's blog on her husband to do one myself the day after my 31st anniversary.
Here are the things I love about my husband:
1) He loves God and serves Him willingly.
2) He always took me and my babies to church.
3) When I was in the hospital with difficult pregnancies, he was taking care of the other babies.
4) I never had to worry if he would go to work on any given day. He always worked hard to provide for us.
5) He supported my efforts to be a stay at home mom and to home school our children.
6) I have never ever had to clean vomit up after any one. He always did it.
7) He took time and effort to take us on vacations that were geared to the kids.
8) When Andrea and Douglas were 3 and 1, Douglas still nursed at night, and I helped out at the church school. We had a conference in Baton Rouge on a Friday and Saturday. My dear husband drove up to Baton Rouge after work and brought the babies so I could nurse my little fellow.
9) He is handsome and always dresses nice. He is also never loud or brash with other people. Manners and class are important to him in that he walk as a child of God with dignity.
10) Many families break up when a child has special health needs. Ours weathered the storms. On our wedding day, our pastor when praying the blessing on us, had a spirit of prophecy come on him. He said strong winds would blow against our marriage and when others would divorce, we would not divorce. That the trials would drive us not further apart but closer together and closer to God. Andrea as a child had a low stress threshold and did not tolerate certain chemicals in the air or her food or clothes well. Noises and colors were painful to her. She cried a lot and hated having clothes next to her skin as it hurt her. Daddy walked the floor after work and school with her singing, "Daddy's girl! daddy's girl! Daddy's little baby girl!" Douglas was diagnosed with childhood onset schizophrenia at 13, but when he was 15, we discovered he had XXY/XY mosaicism (Klinefelter Syndrome) and an atypical mental disorder. There were nights we could not sleep for watching over him, trips an hour away to the hospital to pick him up for Christmas or weekend leave, and the time dad had to have stitches in his head when he slipped and fell into the dresser while trying to stop Doug from hurting himself. Tiffany was born after I spent 6 weeks in the hospital in premature labor away from my family. She had a heart problem and then at 16 months developed a seizure disorder. God miraculously healed her of both when she was 3 and one day when Daddy got her out of the nursery at church and took her to the front for prayer. Pastor Michael Sartin said as they walked down the aisle that God had told him he was going to heal the Wilson baby, and He did! Jonathan had recurring ear infections and had to have tubes put in his ears at 2. Melanie has ADHD. Daddy was a strong and comforting force in all their lives through all the trials.
Now I am old and gray and sick, he is still here. I confess that I find myself looking forward to the empty nest stage of our life together.
Here are the things I love about my husband:
1) He loves God and serves Him willingly.
2) He always took me and my babies to church.
3) When I was in the hospital with difficult pregnancies, he was taking care of the other babies.
4) I never had to worry if he would go to work on any given day. He always worked hard to provide for us.
5) He supported my efforts to be a stay at home mom and to home school our children.
6) I have never ever had to clean vomit up after any one. He always did it.
7) He took time and effort to take us on vacations that were geared to the kids.
8) When Andrea and Douglas were 3 and 1, Douglas still nursed at night, and I helped out at the church school. We had a conference in Baton Rouge on a Friday and Saturday. My dear husband drove up to Baton Rouge after work and brought the babies so I could nurse my little fellow.
9) He is handsome and always dresses nice. He is also never loud or brash with other people. Manners and class are important to him in that he walk as a child of God with dignity.
10) Many families break up when a child has special health needs. Ours weathered the storms. On our wedding day, our pastor when praying the blessing on us, had a spirit of prophecy come on him. He said strong winds would blow against our marriage and when others would divorce, we would not divorce. That the trials would drive us not further apart but closer together and closer to God. Andrea as a child had a low stress threshold and did not tolerate certain chemicals in the air or her food or clothes well. Noises and colors were painful to her. She cried a lot and hated having clothes next to her skin as it hurt her. Daddy walked the floor after work and school with her singing, "Daddy's girl! daddy's girl! Daddy's little baby girl!" Douglas was diagnosed with childhood onset schizophrenia at 13, but when he was 15, we discovered he had XXY/XY mosaicism (Klinefelter Syndrome) and an atypical mental disorder. There were nights we could not sleep for watching over him, trips an hour away to the hospital to pick him up for Christmas or weekend leave, and the time dad had to have stitches in his head when he slipped and fell into the dresser while trying to stop Doug from hurting himself. Tiffany was born after I spent 6 weeks in the hospital in premature labor away from my family. She had a heart problem and then at 16 months developed a seizure disorder. God miraculously healed her of both when she was 3 and one day when Daddy got her out of the nursery at church and took her to the front for prayer. Pastor Michael Sartin said as they walked down the aisle that God had told him he was going to heal the Wilson baby, and He did! Jonathan had recurring ear infections and had to have tubes put in his ears at 2. Melanie has ADHD. Daddy was a strong and comforting force in all their lives through all the trials.
Now I am old and gray and sick, he is still here. I confess that I find myself looking forward to the empty nest stage of our life together.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
31 years ago today
About this time, 31 years ago today, I stood in front of God, my pastor, my friends, and family and made a vow "til death do us part."
Hard to believe it has been so long. Though there are times I think about what if I had made different choices in my life, like remained single, travelled, gotten my PhD, bought a house in Due West, SC, and taught English at Erskine College, where I got my AB in Elementary and Special Education, I do not think I would change my choices if I could. I cannot imagine a world without my 5 delightful children in it, not to mention one with out my precious Sugar Bean (Vivian).
There are some mistakes I regret making, but in the words of Aaron Neville, "It took who I was, and where I've been to make me what I am." Now, there are those who would say that what I am is no prize, and I would probably agree with you. There is so much I wanted to do with my life that is still undone.
So long as my heavenly Father will one day say, "This is my child in whom I am well pleased. Enter ye into the rest and joys of the Lord" then I shall feel I ran the race and finished at His feet.
Hard to believe it has been so long. Though there are times I think about what if I had made different choices in my life, like remained single, travelled, gotten my PhD, bought a house in Due West, SC, and taught English at Erskine College, where I got my AB in Elementary and Special Education, I do not think I would change my choices if I could. I cannot imagine a world without my 5 delightful children in it, not to mention one with out my precious Sugar Bean (Vivian).
There are some mistakes I regret making, but in the words of Aaron Neville, "It took who I was, and where I've been to make me what I am." Now, there are those who would say that what I am is no prize, and I would probably agree with you. There is so much I wanted to do with my life that is still undone.
So long as my heavenly Father will one day say, "This is my child in whom I am well pleased. Enter ye into the rest and joys of the Lord" then I shall feel I ran the race and finished at His feet.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Class Postponed a week
My first sign language class was scheduled for last night. Evidently, the instructor had to go out of town, so it will not start until next week and add a week on to the end.
I was a bit disappointed as I have been looking forward to taking this class. Oh well, there is always next week!
I was a bit disappointed as I have been looking forward to taking this class. Oh well, there is always next week!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Mom In Chief
Major Kudos to First Lady Michelle Obama! Here is a woman with a Harvard Law degree who has publicly stated she plans to be Mom in Chief, first of all. Settling her girls and caring for them is her main objective.
Feminists have criticized her as living beneath her possibilities. I think she is living up to them. It takes a lot of dignity, courage, and intelligence to be a mom in this day and age. To make the choice to put your family first may cost something in the short term, but pays great dividends in the long term.
There are those who say it will be easy for her with all the"hired help," but they must have missed the memo where she has stated her girls will continue to clean their rooms and make their own beds. I think Mrs. Obama knows not everyone has the means and opportunity to juggle a professional and home life as well as she has. She has said as difficult as it was for her at times, she thinks how much harder it must be for some others without family, money, support available.
As her husband said, "I believe in the general theory that if Mom is happy, everybody's happy." I hope that translates into good national policy, which will improve the lives of countless Americans.
In a time when America needs strong family role models, Michelle Obama has a chance to lead the way to a stronger nation through stronger families. I wish her well.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/heather-cabot/what-the-mom-in-chief-mea_b_158220.html
Feminists have criticized her as living beneath her possibilities. I think she is living up to them. It takes a lot of dignity, courage, and intelligence to be a mom in this day and age. To make the choice to put your family first may cost something in the short term, but pays great dividends in the long term.
There are those who say it will be easy for her with all the"hired help," but they must have missed the memo where she has stated her girls will continue to clean their rooms and make their own beds. I think Mrs. Obama knows not everyone has the means and opportunity to juggle a professional and home life as well as she has. She has said as difficult as it was for her at times, she thinks how much harder it must be for some others without family, money, support available.
As her husband said, "I believe in the general theory that if Mom is happy, everybody's happy." I hope that translates into good national policy, which will improve the lives of countless Americans.
In a time when America needs strong family role models, Michelle Obama has a chance to lead the way to a stronger nation through stronger families. I wish her well.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/heather-cabot/what-the-mom-in-chief-mea_b_158220.html
Monday, January 19, 2009
Forty Pounds lost and still FLYing
Yay! I am now down 40 pounds thanks to Nutrisystem. Eating better, my liver is less swollen and painful and my IBS has really cleared up a lot. I can put my own socks and shoes on now without difficulty or pain. I am also braving my first sign language class tomorrow without fear of pain or accidents.
Melanie did my nails over the weekend and they look very nice. She gave me tips(first time ever for me!) She wants to go to Beauty School, but is taking a year off to earn money and get out on her own so she can qualify for a grant. Saturday past she had an interview at the H2) salon and spa in Metairie ( http://www.h2osalon-spa.com/location.html ). They are looking for a receptionist and think it would be a great place for her to get her start. They said they would call her this week to come in for a second interview to spend 30 minutes at each of their 4 "stations" so she and they can get a feel for which would be best for her. A Beauty salon with valet parking, dahlin'!!
On the Home front, we are still Flying! I love the Fly lady system! One baby step at a time, things are changing!!
Melanie did my nails over the weekend and they look very nice. She gave me tips(first time ever for me!) She wants to go to Beauty School, but is taking a year off to earn money and get out on her own so she can qualify for a grant. Saturday past she had an interview at the H2) salon and spa in Metairie ( http://www.h2osalon-spa.com/location.html ). They are looking for a receptionist and think it would be a great place for her to get her start. They said they would call her this week to come in for a second interview to spend 30 minutes at each of their 4 "stations" so she and they can get a feel for which would be best for her. A Beauty salon with valet parking, dahlin'!!
On the Home front, we are still Flying! I love the Fly lady system! One baby step at a time, things are changing!!
Friday, January 16, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
Bragging on the Cave People
I am so proud of them!
The other night, Melanie made herself a late dinner. I dreaded walking into the kitchen because I just knew I would find dirty pans with food caked on them on the dirty stove, dirty dishes in the sink, and the dirty George Foreman grill on the dirty countertops. Imagine my delight to discover clean countertops, stove, grill, and sink with clean pots and pans and dishes in the dishwasher ready to be put away!!!! She had even made a gallon of fresh tea and refrigerated it!!
Saturday, after the groceries were in the house, they were all put away into their designated places. The pantry, fridge, and freezer all stayed organized!! I plopped a nice chuck roast into the crock pot with a cup of unsweetened tea and some seasonings for Sunday dinner.
Sunday, after church, the roast was taken from the crock pot;Jonathan made veggies and a macaroni and cheese; Melanie set the table and folded pretty paper napkins in a pretty design around the silverware; I heated my NS chicken breast; and we enjoyed a nice family dinner. Afterward, the trash was carried out, the leftovers stored properly,the dishwasher was humming along cleaning the dishes, the floor and counters all cleaned!
Andrea will understand this one. LoL. When I used to travel a lot for advocacy work, I would come home to the counter with the coffee pot caked in old cofffee spills with spilled creamer and sugar from every day I had been gone. Training the head cave man to use a paper towel and to clean up his morning coffee messes as he makes them has been a stuggle of 30 some years.
I started after I clean the kitchen each night after dinner, to put a fresh paper towel down in front of the coffee maker with a clean spoon and cup, thus taking away his common argument he was in a hurry and did not have the time to clean up his messes before leaving for work. Now, mind you, the paper towel is now dirty and waiting to be thrown away each morning, but it is a lot easier to do that than have to clean up a major mess. I also repurposed an old microwave glass carousel dish to hold the creamers, sugar, splenda, honey, etc. and added some candles for interest. No more morning coffee messes!
Lastly, one of the things about putting dishes away that was tough for me was sorting the silverware. This is because my arthritis makes bending and standing and grasping painful. Standing there sorting silverware was just a painful way to end putting away clean dishes. My dear head cave man unwittingly hit on a solution!! Now that he has to rinse and load his own dishes after use, he said we should put the silverware in the basket in the dishwasher all organized. LIGHTBULB!!! BRILLIANT!!!
I was ready to toss the divider in the silverware drawer so I could just dump the basket in there without sorting! Now everyone puts the forks together, the spoons together, the knives together, the utensils together. What a breeze it is to take the basket out of the dishwasher to the silverware drawer and merely grab 3 or four handfuls of silverware and place in the correct divider.
And, Andrea, remember my utensil drawer by the stover? How it looked like the Tupperware cabinet? No more! I put an extra silverware divider in there and organized that drawer. With the new dishwashing system, every thing quickly gets put away in the proper place.
On yea, by the way, remember that "space age" plastic cereal spoon one of you got out of a cereal box? It is gone now. In my decluttering, I came across it in the utensil drawer along with one of Vivi's baby spoons. I saved the baby spoon, but tossed that cereal spoon. It was kind of hard with that voice yelling "MEMORIES," but I told that voice throwing that junky spoon away was not the same as throwing away the memories...I still have those! :-)
With Flylady, one of the principles is to get dressed each morning, including lace up shoes, and fix your face and hair. Because of health issues, this is not always practical or comfortable for me. I do not even own any lace up shoes. However, instead of excusing myself with why I could not do it, I thought to find a way to do it that suits my situation. Andrea's mother in law gave me a box of "mumus" or "patio dresses" or whatever you want to call them, which were her late mother's. These are comfortable, modest, and attractive. I now get up and put a fresh one on after my shower. I do not sleep in them;they are my house "dresses." Melanie bought me some new house shoes for Christmas, and I make sure I put those on each day.
So it is possible to civilize cave people. really, it is!!!!!!!!!!!
The other night, Melanie made herself a late dinner. I dreaded walking into the kitchen because I just knew I would find dirty pans with food caked on them on the dirty stove, dirty dishes in the sink, and the dirty George Foreman grill on the dirty countertops. Imagine my delight to discover clean countertops, stove, grill, and sink with clean pots and pans and dishes in the dishwasher ready to be put away!!!! She had even made a gallon of fresh tea and refrigerated it!!
Saturday, after the groceries were in the house, they were all put away into their designated places. The pantry, fridge, and freezer all stayed organized!! I plopped a nice chuck roast into the crock pot with a cup of unsweetened tea and some seasonings for Sunday dinner.
Sunday, after church, the roast was taken from the crock pot;Jonathan made veggies and a macaroni and cheese; Melanie set the table and folded pretty paper napkins in a pretty design around the silverware; I heated my NS chicken breast; and we enjoyed a nice family dinner. Afterward, the trash was carried out, the leftovers stored properly,the dishwasher was humming along cleaning the dishes, the floor and counters all cleaned!
Andrea will understand this one. LoL. When I used to travel a lot for advocacy work, I would come home to the counter with the coffee pot caked in old cofffee spills with spilled creamer and sugar from every day I had been gone. Training the head cave man to use a paper towel and to clean up his morning coffee messes as he makes them has been a stuggle of 30 some years.
I started after I clean the kitchen each night after dinner, to put a fresh paper towel down in front of the coffee maker with a clean spoon and cup, thus taking away his common argument he was in a hurry and did not have the time to clean up his messes before leaving for work. Now, mind you, the paper towel is now dirty and waiting to be thrown away each morning, but it is a lot easier to do that than have to clean up a major mess. I also repurposed an old microwave glass carousel dish to hold the creamers, sugar, splenda, honey, etc. and added some candles for interest. No more morning coffee messes!
Lastly, one of the things about putting dishes away that was tough for me was sorting the silverware. This is because my arthritis makes bending and standing and grasping painful. Standing there sorting silverware was just a painful way to end putting away clean dishes. My dear head cave man unwittingly hit on a solution!! Now that he has to rinse and load his own dishes after use, he said we should put the silverware in the basket in the dishwasher all organized. LIGHTBULB!!! BRILLIANT!!!
I was ready to toss the divider in the silverware drawer so I could just dump the basket in there without sorting! Now everyone puts the forks together, the spoons together, the knives together, the utensils together. What a breeze it is to take the basket out of the dishwasher to the silverware drawer and merely grab 3 or four handfuls of silverware and place in the correct divider.
And, Andrea, remember my utensil drawer by the stover? How it looked like the Tupperware cabinet? No more! I put an extra silverware divider in there and organized that drawer. With the new dishwashing system, every thing quickly gets put away in the proper place.
On yea, by the way, remember that "space age" plastic cereal spoon one of you got out of a cereal box? It is gone now. In my decluttering, I came across it in the utensil drawer along with one of Vivi's baby spoons. I saved the baby spoon, but tossed that cereal spoon. It was kind of hard with that voice yelling "MEMORIES," but I told that voice throwing that junky spoon away was not the same as throwing away the memories...I still have those! :-)
With Flylady, one of the principles is to get dressed each morning, including lace up shoes, and fix your face and hair. Because of health issues, this is not always practical or comfortable for me. I do not even own any lace up shoes. However, instead of excusing myself with why I could not do it, I thought to find a way to do it that suits my situation. Andrea's mother in law gave me a box of "mumus" or "patio dresses" or whatever you want to call them, which were her late mother's. These are comfortable, modest, and attractive. I now get up and put a fresh one on after my shower. I do not sleep in them;they are my house "dresses." Melanie bought me some new house shoes for Christmas, and I make sure I put those on each day.
So it is possible to civilize cave people. really, it is!!!!!!!!!!!
My Meditation for Today
Today, I rediscovered the following quotation by Helen Keller. I made it my thought to meditate on and "chew" on for today.
I have four things to learn in life: To think clearly without hurry or confusion; To love everybody sincerely; To act in everything with the highest motives; To trust God unhesitatingly. --Helen Keller | |
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Thursday, January 8, 2009
I did it!
I have signed up to take a beginner Sign Language class at the parks and recreation department on Tuesdays, starting Jan. 20. The class will be one hour for 8 Tuesdays. Brave new world to get out there again, but I am determined to do it.
Oh I forgot to mention!
Another few wonderful side effects:
My son commented last night that it was the first time in a long time when he could reach in the glass cabinet and find a clean glass waiting. Usually it is empty or someone put dirty ones away without checking them. I take the blame for the latter. I would get so frustrated that everyone left all their nasty dishes in the sink for me to do alone that I did them haphazard. That, plus my health issues made standing there so long with hands in hot soapy water, bending and stretching, a total torment of pain. Now that everyone chips in and my standing there is limited, things are a lot more organized and cleaner. I know I have no excuses for my inner brat acting up, but I am happy to have a way to soothe her.
Another bonus I forgot to mention is that we use glass dishes instead of paper plates. Clean up is the same really and we like the feeling of using them. It is true that there is a totally different feel to using dishes over paper goods. Next step is cloth napkins when I tame the laundry dragon so I do not have to iron them.
Baby steps. baby steps. baby steps.
My son commented last night that it was the first time in a long time when he could reach in the glass cabinet and find a clean glass waiting. Usually it is empty or someone put dirty ones away without checking them. I take the blame for the latter. I would get so frustrated that everyone left all their nasty dishes in the sink for me to do alone that I did them haphazard. That, plus my health issues made standing there so long with hands in hot soapy water, bending and stretching, a total torment of pain. Now that everyone chips in and my standing there is limited, things are a lot more organized and cleaner. I know I have no excuses for my inner brat acting up, but I am happy to have a way to soothe her.
Another bonus I forgot to mention is that we use glass dishes instead of paper plates. Clean up is the same really and we like the feeling of using them. It is true that there is a totally different feel to using dishes over paper goods. Next step is cloth napkins when I tame the laundry dragon so I do not have to iron them.
Baby steps. baby steps. baby steps.
Warnings to all Cave People!
The yellow sticky notes have "mysteriously" appeared in my kitchen!
"Keep me organized! Love, your Pantry"
"Wipe down inside and out after each use!" (on the new microwave and the stove top)
"Store and refrigerate leftovers properly"
"After using dishes, rinse thoroughly and load in the dishwasher!"
When Flylady said make these type reminders and post them, I was not too keen on it as they just look "cluttery" to me. But then I live with the cave people, so maybe for a while I can leave them up to get them into good habits. Plus, I cannot argue with success. Yellow sticky notes are a small price to pay for a gleaming microwave, stovetop, and sink; a well ordered pantry and fridge; and clean dishes facing me in the morning instead of dirty ones.
So far the family has been very supportive and the cave people are becoming civilized. There is a different "feel" to the kitchen, and I find we are all more at peace in here. True story, Andrea: Your dad sat at the table last night and ate a Daniel meal (church is on the 7 day fast). Melanie asked him to,and since he was late and we had already eaten, we sat here and talked and laughed quietly. It was quite pleasant. Afterward, everone did the proper thing with the left overs and dishes. I did not have to do anything but swish and swipe the counters, run the dishwasher, and set out a fresh kitchen towel for today.
When Melanie and I were evacuated for Hurricane Katrina, we lived in an adorable cottage in the country in Hineston. We both felt such peace there. Even when Jonathan visited at Christmas, he commented on how peaceful it was. I am sure part of it was being away from the tremendous amount of spiritual warfare we have in New Orleans, but that is not the whole of it because the land I live on in New Orleans is Holy Ground, sanctified and covered in prayers and love. I am convinced that a huge part of it was the lack of clutter. We only had necessities with us. We also had our routines to keep things organized and clean.
My secret goal this week was could I change the cave man and achieve that feeling in my own home here and now. I did not have to nag or say a single word to any of the cave people. The peace carried over in the form of good habits. Now my kitchen is a warm, delightful place to be. I force myself to wear my hearing aids so we can all speak quietly and I can play jazz or classical music in the background.
Hearing aids are such a conundrum. After the years of silence, the amplification of every sound to a normal hearing world level is unsettling and hard to adjust to. Yet, I hate missing things that are said. I hate speaking loudly. Ah well, the adjustment is a small price to pay for peace in my home.
Maybe it is true: if Mama is happy, everyone is happy!
"Keep me organized! Love, your Pantry"
"Wipe down inside and out after each use!" (on the new microwave and the stove top)
"Store and refrigerate leftovers properly"
"After using dishes, rinse thoroughly and load in the dishwasher!"
When Flylady said make these type reminders and post them, I was not too keen on it as they just look "cluttery" to me. But then I live with the cave people, so maybe for a while I can leave them up to get them into good habits. Plus, I cannot argue with success. Yellow sticky notes are a small price to pay for a gleaming microwave, stovetop, and sink; a well ordered pantry and fridge; and clean dishes facing me in the morning instead of dirty ones.
So far the family has been very supportive and the cave people are becoming civilized. There is a different "feel" to the kitchen, and I find we are all more at peace in here. True story, Andrea: Your dad sat at the table last night and ate a Daniel meal (church is on the 7 day fast). Melanie asked him to,and since he was late and we had already eaten, we sat here and talked and laughed quietly. It was quite pleasant. Afterward, everone did the proper thing with the left overs and dishes. I did not have to do anything but swish and swipe the counters, run the dishwasher, and set out a fresh kitchen towel for today.
When Melanie and I were evacuated for Hurricane Katrina, we lived in an adorable cottage in the country in Hineston. We both felt such peace there. Even when Jonathan visited at Christmas, he commented on how peaceful it was. I am sure part of it was being away from the tremendous amount of spiritual warfare we have in New Orleans, but that is not the whole of it because the land I live on in New Orleans is Holy Ground, sanctified and covered in prayers and love. I am convinced that a huge part of it was the lack of clutter. We only had necessities with us. We also had our routines to keep things organized and clean.
My secret goal this week was could I change the cave man and achieve that feeling in my own home here and now. I did not have to nag or say a single word to any of the cave people. The peace carried over in the form of good habits. Now my kitchen is a warm, delightful place to be. I force myself to wear my hearing aids so we can all speak quietly and I can play jazz or classical music in the background.
Hearing aids are such a conundrum. After the years of silence, the amplification of every sound to a normal hearing world level is unsettling and hard to adjust to. Yet, I hate missing things that are said. I hate speaking loudly. Ah well, the adjustment is a small price to pay for peace in my home.
Maybe it is true: if Mama is happy, everyone is happy!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Joy! Joy! Joy!
Joy! Joy! Joy!
Every area of my kitchen, every nook and cranny, every cabinet is now organized and clutter free except the pantry! That's right! Even the "Tupperware cabinet" and "pots and pans" cabinet are both neat as a pin and organized. You can now open them without being attacked by various lids and bowls flying out at you, attacking your feet! Now when you open the cupboards your eyes are no longer assaulted by disorder and haphazard stacking!
That last bastion of disorder in the kitchen now taunts me to tackle it. I have set aside 2 hours this afternoon to put it into "apple pie order." My Nutrisystem food arrives later in the week so it is a good time for me to organize and declutter the pantry. Armed with a few dollars, I plan to venture out to Walmart or Dollar General this morning and purchase a few more organizers. Time to get that NS food out of cardboard boxes and into something a little more attractive and practical.
Every area of my kitchen, every nook and cranny, every cabinet is now organized and clutter free except the pantry! That's right! Even the "Tupperware cabinet" and "pots and pans" cabinet are both neat as a pin and organized. You can now open them without being attacked by various lids and bowls flying out at you, attacking your feet! Now when you open the cupboards your eyes are no longer assaulted by disorder and haphazard stacking!
That last bastion of disorder in the kitchen now taunts me to tackle it. I have set aside 2 hours this afternoon to put it into "apple pie order." My Nutrisystem food arrives later in the week so it is a good time for me to organize and declutter the pantry. Armed with a few dollars, I plan to venture out to Walmart or Dollar General this morning and purchase a few more organizers. Time to get that NS food out of cardboard boxes and into something a little more attractive and practical.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Bonus of Clutter Purging!
YAY! I discovered a great bonus to purging clutter yesterday! Especially now that our extended family does Buy Nothing Christmas!
There it was, in a nice little box, some 20 years old, just waiting to be found!!!
I so want to say what it is but I can't! I have to wait until Christmas some 11 months from now. The hard part is deciding who will get it between 2 people. Hrmmmm......
Oh well gives me time to clean and spruce it up a bit...maybe add some things to it.
There it was, in a nice little box, some 20 years old, just waiting to be found!!!
I so want to say what it is but I can't! I have to wait until Christmas some 11 months from now. The hard part is deciding who will get it between 2 people. Hrmmmm......
Oh well gives me time to clean and spruce it up a bit...maybe add some things to it.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
FlyLady Resolution
This year I have resolved to begin to rid myself of clutter. (yes, I can hear Tiffany laughing in Alaska and Andrea in Alexandria!!) But, no, girls, I mean it! I did make a great start after Katrina. Ok so that was 3 years ago...and your point??
I am going to start with the Flylady system
http://www.flylady.net/
So right now my sink is shining! /beams proudly Day 1 accomplished!
My first problem will come with wearing lace up shoes since I no longer own any of those.
I am going to start with the Flylady system
http://www.flylady.net/
So right now my sink is shining! /beams proudly Day 1 accomplished!
My first problem will come with wearing lace up shoes since I no longer own any of those.
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