A Day's Time!

    I have a few questions for you to ponder on.  The first one is how many times in a day do you think about something that needs to be done or taken care of and then a few days later you remember it again and are definitely going to take care of it that day? Until, a few weeks later you remember it still hasn't been done! To me, that is the most aggravating thing ever! Second question. Don't you think it is so annoying to walk in the grocery store - more than likely with less time on your hands and more children on your sides than is humanly possible to actually get it done with - and instantly become so overwhelmed that you make it home with less than half of what you need and five grocery bags full of things that just looked yummy at the time.  My last question is - Doesn't it seem like there are always cute things that the kids say or do or things that you just can not live without telling your hubby about? However, it NEVER fails that by the time he gets home you have forgotten at least 3 out of the 4 things that I couldn't live without telling him. Apparently, I really could survive without telling him....but, I still for some reason think that his life would not go on the same without this little tid bit of info that I just have to tell him! Not to mention it leaves me thinking about what it was I needed to tell him for hours - and then finally at 2 AM when I've been up with the baby and I'm just laying in the bed patiently waiting for my mind to stop wondering so I can go back to sleep - I remember!!...and by the time the alarm clock goes off - I've forgotten again! Ahhhhh!!!!  For these things I have found an answer. Okay - maybe it's not a "cure all", but I have to say it sure has helped a ton. Want in on my secret? Wanna know what it is? Yep - a list. Not just one list. Three. Separate. Lists.

       My answer to remember all of the things that you need to get done in a day - on top of take a shower, brush your teeth, change the baby's diaper more than one time every 12 hours, clean green beans off the floor and milk off of the carpet, wash, dry and fold the 3 loads of laundry that have somehow accumulated since yesterday when the laundry was "all caught up", vacuum and sweep at least five times, pay the bills, do homework with the kids, remember to make breakfast, snack, lunch, snack again and dinner for all six family members living in our home.....REALLY? There are more things to do on top of this!?!?!  And, I'm supposed to remember all of this!!! I  have a column on the right side of my daily list sheet that is blank for me to jot down any notes or reminders that I may need for that day. If for some reason I don't get them crossed off that day - which does happen - then I transfer it to the next day's list. Works like a charm!  Things on my typical to do list look kinda like this:

First Things First:

• Take Shower and get dressed
• Make bed and tidy room
• Get a load of laundry started

Things to complete this morning:

• Unload dishwasher
• Clean up kitchen after breakfast
• Set out anything that needs to thaw for dinner
• 10 minutes to pick-up
• Snack Time
• Switch laundry
• 30 minutes outside time/free time with kids
• Prep for lunch

Things to finish after lunch today:

• Clean up kitchen after lunch
• 10 minutes to pick up
• "Today's Chore"
• 30 minutes of "me" time
• Pre-prepare anything possible for dinner
• Fold and put away all laundry
• Prepare snack

After 3:30 

• Pack Bella's bag to go home
• Look over Dylan and Madi's daily work/behavior charts and homework
• Work with Madi on homework for 30 minutes
• Work with Dylan on homework for 30 mintues
• Prepare dinner
• Clean up kitchen after dinner
• Baths, Stories, Prayers and put kids in bed
• Load all dishes in dishwasher and run

    Wow - seems like a ton doesn't it? I would be willing to bet that it is no more than what you do in a day - except, you don't get to check all of your things off of a list so you don't always give yourself credit for things that really do count!  Did you notice that in my after 3:30 list I don't have any house work related things to do except for cleaning the kitchen after dinner? I try to make sure that my "housework" day ends when my big kids get home from school. They haven't been home all day and they need (and deserve) all of my attention in the afternoons. What do you say? Give it a shot! Make the list work for you - rearrange it, take some things out, add some things....but, just try it - what can it hurt?

    Ah, the grocery store. Isn't it your favorite place to go? Yea, it's not mine either! However, I'm pretty sure there is no way around it. I hate figuring out what to buy and I hate spending lots of money on things that we end up throwing away because we didn't eat them in time. So, every Friday I make our weekly menu. (I guess you could consider this a "list", too...) My menu is Monday through Friday and has every single thing that we will need for the week on it. Breakfast, snack, lunch, snack and dinner. After I have made our menu for the week I can go through and determine which items I already have for the meals I have chosen for the upcoming week and what I need to buy. These items go on my grocery list. I have my grocery list split up in sections. (ex. Drinks, Produce, Meats, Dairy, Frozen Items, Breads, etc.) Once I get to the grocery store my rule is that I can buy no more than 3 items that are not on my list - and I can't cheat. Do you know that since I have started doing this I have cut my grocery bill down more than $50.00 each week!?!? Also, I can be in and out of the grocery store in no time because I know exactly what I need!!

    While my husband doesn't necessarily have a job that I can't call him when I need him I don't like to bug him all day long with things that can wait until he gets home. If I don't write these things down though it never fails that I will forget it. I typically remember what it was I was going to say around 2:30 in the morning and I doubt he wants me to wake him up at 2:30 in the morning to tell him that I suddenly remembered that I wanted him to fix a latch on a storage room door that we haven't used in 8 months! Plus, it gives us things to talk about in the evenings. So, I have another little list that I can just jot things down on when I think of something that I want to ask him to do or that I just want to tell him. He can check it in the evenings when he gets home and sometimes it's self explanatory and sometimes he can ask me what it means when it says, "tell Daddy about new baby news!" No, no....we have no new baby news...but, some friends of ours do! It's also a fun place to write I love you's and I miss you's and I can't wait for you to get homes! 

    Now do you see why I love making lists? They help me save money! They help me keep my home picked up and organized! They help me feel like I've actually accomplished something in....A Day's Time!

But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way. - 1 Corinthians 14:40
    

Whoa....Bob!

   Things have been so busy this week - I say that and then I prepare to write about what's been going on at our house and I can't seem to come up with much from the last week. I guess life just always seems so busy with four little ones! Sometimes I think that God has an amazing way of making me forget. I know that sounds odd - but, really if I could remember every little thing that filled my busy week last week I would probably wake up every Monday morning completely dreading the week ahead of me. So, even though I thought I'd never say this, thank you Lord for making me forget! 

    We did find out at the beginning of the week last week that Tucker's ciliary biopsy is scheduled for this coming Thursday, September 1st. I am feeling a little discouraged about every thing right now and am hoping that things will go much better than I am preparing myself for. They have decided to go the less invasive route - which seems like a good idea, right? Ugh. I was told we would be putting him to sleep and doing a biopsy of his lung. Apparently, instead we are doing only a ciliary biopsy which can be done from his nose. Still wondering what the problem is? First off I'm a little nervous because he is starting to seem to remember some of the tests that he is going through. He has become very clingy and has stranger anxiety like you couldn't believe. For the biopsy in his nose they do not give him any type of sedatives. They strap him to a table and hold his head still while they perform the biopsy in his left nostril and then again in his right nostril. He will also have to be held down to give a fairly large amount of blood. My second reason is because this test will only test for PCD (primary ciliary dyskinesia) - if we were doing the lung biopsy they could use the tissue to test for several different things. So, if it turns out that he doesn't have PCD - we will more than likely end up doing the lung biopsy anyways. Very. Frustrating. Scotty and I will also be giving blood because we are going through UNC's research team and if he does end up having PCD they will use our blood (because PCD is genetic) to help figure out exactly which gene combination it is that is causing PCD. As if all of this isn't overwhelming and frustrating enough - want to know when we will get the results from this test back?  Hopefully, we will have them by Christmas. Yep. No need to re-read it. You read it right. Christmas! Jesus' Birthday! December, 25, 2011. Four months away! Are. You. Kidding. Me? That's all I could come up with to say after the sweet nurse told me that. How rude, huh? I didn't mean to sound rude - it just completely surprised me. 

    On a lighter note Madi and I got new hair cuts this week and, Whoa...Bob! Between the two of us we cut off 15 inches of hair!!!  I like Madi's hair long, but, I have to say that I forgot how stinkin' cute she looks with a cute little bob! Not to mention it is so much easier to wash, dry and style! As for me, it is definitely going to take some getting use to, but, I think I'm going to like it. The first day that I had to style it on my own I was a little nervous because I didn't feel like I was going to be able to get it cute like the hair dresser could. Doesn't it seem like that is always the case? I did better today though - so, hopefully it will be okay! 

     This week I am determined to buckle down and get a few last closets and cabinets worked on and get prepared for company this weekend! I'll let you know how that goes when the time gets closer...


Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. - Deuteronomy 31:6

What an Amazing Feeling

    Lists, lists and more lists. That's what helps my house run smoothly. There are so many times that I have a great idea, or remember that I need to email this person or call that person. Sometimes I forget that I need to make an appointment for one of the kids or switch the laundry from the washer to the dryer. Often I forget that the beds need to be made or the bathroom that rarely gets used still has to be cleaned...oh yea, and that I need a shower a little more often than once a week! Eeeek!  Okay, so maybe I don't forget, but, I do - or did - have this mind set that there was always something more important that needed to be done. 

    Before lists here is what my typical day always ended up looking like - even on the days that I had great intentions. I would begin working in any given room and find a teeny tiny hairbow in one room that belonged in another and so it began. I went to take the hairbow to Madi's room and found dirty clothes on the floor so I would pick those up and that led me to the dirty clothes basket in the upstairs bathroom. There I would find that there was toothpaste on the sink so I had to wipe the counter top and sink down with Clorox wipes. Really?!?!? There is the tube of tooth paste that belongs in my bathroom that I spent 25 minutes searching for this morning. Now guess where I'm headed? Yep! You've got it - back downstairs to put the tube of toothpaste back in my bathroom where it belongs. Now that the tube of toothpaste is back in it's place I see that somehow waffles from breakfast this morning were lucky enough to make it to my bathroom floor. So, I begin picking up trash when I run across a bill that somehow got knocked off of my desk onto the floor which lands me at my desk. My desk, ah, my desk. Now is a great time to sit down and just check Facebook real quick....or apparently real quick doesn't exist when you are checking Facebook. So, now that my morning that was going to be so productive has turned into bouncing from room to room and a "little" time on Facebook and now...WHAT?!?!?! It's time to make lunch for the kids already!!! 

    I always felt defeated. No matter how hard I tried or how determined I was there was nothing to show for it. That is a feeling that gets really old really quick. It's also a feeling that brings out the yuck in me! My husband and my kids had to deal with my bad attitude all because I felt defeated every day. The yuck in me...why should my husband who has worked hard all day to provide for our family have to come home to a wife that is feeling defeated and not being very enjoyable to be around? Why should my big kids have to come home from a long day at school to a mommy who has no patience left all because my day got the best of me? Why should my two little ones have to spend the whole day at home with a mommy who only has time to constantly pick up and clean up? Being a wife and a mommy is a way of serving others and showing our love. Should I not be serving others just the same as Jesus served?  Humbly. Lovingly. As the wife of my husband that humbly and lovingly provides for our family and the mother of our four children I would be lying if I didn't admit that a lot of times I just did things because they needed to be done - and I can safely say that I didn't always do them with the best attitude. When it comes down to it its almost like I heard it myself. Almost like I heard Him saying, "In order to serve your family the way I have commanded you have to simplify. You have to make me first, your husband second and your kids next. You can't be worried about what cool vacation your neighbors are going on and how many adorable outfits your daughter has. It doesn't matter how nice your pots are...do they cook the food I've provided for you? Does it really matter how much stuff you have?" I mean when it comes down to it - our God is a God of great order...and if I'm striving to be like Him I was definitely struggling. 

     All of that to say that as crazy as it sounds you would not believe the change that just a few different lists can make. I created a list of things that I want to accomplish daily. I broke my day down into sections.

1.Things that I want to get done first thing (before breakfast). 

2.Things that I want to get done after breakfast.

3.Things that I want to get done after lunch.

4. Things that I want to get done before dinner.

5. Things that I want to get done after dinner.

     Now here is the trick. NOTHING is too ridiculous to put on your list. At the top of my list I have take a shower and get dressed. Now while this seems quite obvious this is something that I skipped on a regular basis. I would think, oh, I'm not going anywhere today - I don't have time for that. I have realized that I feel better and get so much more done if I'm showered and dressed. Now, I don't mean I do my hair and put on my make up and church clothes. I shower and put on gym shorts and t-shirt, but, I'm clean and I'm awake and I'm motivated. Not to mention - my 10 minute shower gives me just enough time to say good morning to my Creator! I have my printed list that I use daily. I change it each morning when I wake up. At the top of my list I write the date and on the side I have a space for anything additional that needs to be done that day. If you will stick to this list for one week you will be amazed at how great it makes you feel to check things off of your list. It becomes something that you just train yourself to follow. It also creates consistency which is a great plus! 
    On top of this list I also have a "Weekly Chores List", a "Things Daddy Needs to Know" list, a "Monthly Chore List", a "Semi-Annual/Annual Chore" list, a "Chore List for the Kids", a "Weekly Menu" that includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and 2 snacks each day, a "Grocery List" and a "People I Need to Call or Email This Week" list. So, when I say I have lots of lists....I really mean I have LOTS of lists. Each list has it's own function and purpose and plays a big role into our house running smoothly. While most of these lists are pretty self explanatory I will touch on them a little more tomorrow..... 
     Don't forget that "Rome wasn't built in a day"! All of this isn't going to happen over night. It has taken me months to get everything in place and working to my family's benefit. I think one of the keys to getting started was to mentally decide I am going to do this and I'm not going to let it get the best of me - I'm not going to be overwhelmed and I am going to feel great when it's all said and done. I think one of the most important keys for me was to pick a room and start. No other room mattered that day. You know the saying, "It's gonna get worse before it gets better"? Yea. Expect it. I started in my laundry room. I cleaned out the cabinet under the sink, the shelf above the washer and dryer and just made sure everything was tidy and put away exactly where I wanted it to be. Here were the two biggest keys for me. 1. Don't be afraid to get rid of things. Don't let your mind wonder - "hmmm....I might use this one day - I mean I haven't used it in the past year, but, I might really need it in 2021!". No! If you haven't used it - chances are you aren't going to, and, if you do for some reason need it later on I'm sure there are ways to get another one! 2. Have a laundry basket at the door to the room you are working in - when you come across something that doesn't belong in that room it goes in the laundry basket - do not take it to the room it belongs in....this, my friend, is how the vicious cycle begins (and you end up back on Facebook)! wink. When you are completely done in your first room you take your basket with you to the next room - sort through it and take out anything that belongs in your new room and place the basket at the door. Repeat cycle.  
    I'm not going to pretend like it hasn't been lots of work, or, like there haven't been days that I feel like it's never going to work. However, now that I'm so much closer to a clutter free and organized home I can't tell you how freeing it feels. I used to feel like nap time was the few hours that I had to accomplish everything that needed to be done that day - do you know that since I have gotten rid of Facebook and started using my lists diligently - most days I get to rest and watch a TV show or spend time reading God's word for almost an hour of their three hour nap! Do you know What an Amazing Feeling that is!?!?!?
 
Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.- Acts 20:28

A Fresh Start

    I've had lots of questions lately! "Do you miss Facebook?" "How do you stay so organized?" "I don't even know where to begin - how do I get started on the whole organization process?" "How do you keep laundry caught up"....and, the list goes on.  So, here are a few answers!

    If I said I don't miss Facebook I wouldn't be telling the truth. I do miss it. Somedays I miss it more than others. One of the things that makes me miss it the most is when I say, "Oh, I didn't know that!" and that person responds with, "Oh, yea, I put it on Facebook!" Ahhh! Oh well. It was easier to keep up with all of my friends in today's busy life when I did have it. However, my grandma and my great grandma and my great great grandma managed to live perfectly productive and normal lives without Facebook, so, I'm sure that I can do the same!

   I've been thinking about how I can blog about all of my "new ideas" that have helped my house run so much more smoothly. There are so many things that I want to share. It such a great feeling to have things cleaned out and organized. It's such A Fresh Start. I decided last night that I would just touch the basic things that help me the most. As I'm sitting down to complete this task (which is on my list of "to-do's" today, by the way) I think I've decided that all of the little things are probably what actually make it work. So, maybe I will write about one particular organizational idea each day! So, here goes....

    This idea isn't exactly a "new idea" - I've been doing it since Dylan went to kindergarten. However, it is one thing that makes our mornings so much easier! You couldn't believe the difference it makes. Ready for it?!?! I set out their clothes for the whole week ahead of time. Simple, right? Here is how it works best for our family. I bought each child 5 plastic rubbermaid shoe boxes and labeled them Monday through Friday. (Dylan has his own, Madi has her own and Dustin and Tucker share theirs due to lack of space) I clean the nursery on Sundays so I set out Dustin and Tucker's clothes for the week on Sundays, but, I do Dylan and Madi's on Mondays. Each Monday I set out their clothes for the whole week. (For Dylan and Madi their "clothes week" is Tuesday thru Monday. So, on Monday morning I don't have to think about it and their clothes are already out from when I set them out last week!) Now, while Dylan couldn't care less about what he wears, Madi is quite the opposite. Easy fix! I don't require for them to wear "today's clothes". I don't care if Madi wears Friday's clothes on Tuesday and Wednesday's clothes on Monday, however, I do tell her, "Here are your five outfits for the next five days and you can pick whichever you like, just remember on day five there is only one outfit left that must be worn." Seems to work well for all involved. Now, Madi likes to "un-organize" her fairly organized closet and drawers which drives me crazy!!! So, for now, Madi's underwear, socks, jammies and after school play clothes all go in her boxes and she is for no reason allowed in her closet or drawers - at least not until she can prove that she can get one thing out without making a huge mess out of everything. How does that happen anyways? If I ask her to get a pair of socks out it never fails that in the process her tights get thrown in with her jammies and her panties end up in her jean drawer!?!?!? Again, I can't even tell you how much time this saves at our house. It is helpful that I don't have to pick something each day, but, it is also helpful because it cuts down on the whining and the "I don't wanna wear that today"!

This is what Madi's week looks like after I have finished on Mondays!

For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people. 1 Corinthians 14:33

Madi's Big Day!

     Wow. Growing up I always remember hearing adults say, "It sure is hard to believe how fast time goes by."  I don't think that any person can truly understand this saying until they are a parent. As cliche as it sounds - it is truly hard to believe that it has been six years since God blessed us with our Madi. Since Scotty and I both grew up in this area we both have lots of family and friends around here. In our book, if you grew up with them then they basically are your family. So - point being we have lots of "family" and it's nearly impossible to pick and choose who gets to come celebrate our babies birthdays with us. Madi had 75 guests at her first birthday party! Each year her parties have become increasingly smaller, but, even with just our closest friends and family we usually end up with at least 20 people. Scotty and I decided this year that instead of spending tons of money on decorations and food and party supplies that we were going to take Madi and a friend to do whatever Madi wanted to do. Dinner, a movie, bowling, get her nails done, go shopping - anything she wanted to do - just her, a friend and her Mama and Daddy. No brothers! However, we still decided to have cake and ice cream and open presents with grandparents and aunts and uncles! This, too, somehow turned into quite a big deal!

     I asked Madi what she wanted me to make her for dinner on her birthday. She knew immediately - without batting an eye or taking two seconds to think about it - she knew for sure it was going to be the best birthday dinner ever! Are you ready for this?! Chicken nuggets, mac and cheese (the kind out of the blue box - not homemade!) and applesauce! "Are you sure, Madi?", Scotty asked. "I'm sure, Daddy, it's going to be delicious!" Let me tell you, I slaved in the kitchen all day long making her that special birthday dinner!! Ok, ok...maybe not all day - but at least 30 minutes! Wink! Madi was so excited about having company over for cake, ice cream and presents after dinner that she didn't even eat that birthday dinner that I worked so hard on!

Waiting to blow out candles!

     This year Madi decided she wanted a cake with Barbie on it! So, Madi and I went to the store and picked her out the perfect cake! She was so excited when we all sang happy birthday to her!

Her pretty new pillow case!

After cake and ice cream it was time for Madi to open all of her gifts! She was very excited to get a new American Girl doll, a desk and lots of accessories to play teacher with, a pretty pillow case, a gift card to Target, finger nail polish and lip gloss, doll clothes, a Tervis Tumbler, a new bookbag, a new lunch box and a real changing table to change her baby dolls on!

When Madi was all done opening her presents - or when she thought she was all done - Daddy and I told her that she had one gift left that Mommy and Daddy got her, but, she would have to go outside to see it! She was super excited to see what in the world it could be! We took her outside and....

Yay! A Pink 4-Wheeler!

Wow! What a day Madi had! I'd say her sixth birthday was a hit! We had lots of good friends, good food and good presents! Here are just a few fun pictures from Madi's Big Day! 

Gigi (my grandma) and Tucker

Madi's pink helmet from her brothers!

Doll Clothes my grandma made her!

Madi's personal Barbie Cake!

"Gold there is, and rubies in adundance, but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel."- Proverbs 20:15

Wow! What a Week!

    Wow! What a long and busy week we've had! This week we've had our 18 month old niece because her mommy is having a new baby! We've welcomed a new niece into the world, we've been to UNC for more appointments with Tucker, a parent teacher conference with all of Madi's teachers, Scotty was inducted into the Masons and my mom spent the night with us one night! And on top of all of this Tucker has chose this week to sleep no later than 1:30 AM! I feel like I could use about 48 hours in the bed! 

Madi loving on sweet baby Emily!

      We have an adorable new niece named Emily Hope who was born on August 10, 2011 at 12:28 pm. She weighed in at 7lb 11oz and was 19 inches long. I took Madi and Sarah Grace (our niece) to the hospital on Thursday to visit her and Madi fell in love. She so reminds me of myself when I was a little girl. She was such a natural holding Emily and I had to beg her for a few minutes to get to hold her myself! Sarah Grace didn't pay too much attention to Emily - but, she sure loved having some time with her mommy!!

Madi, Sarah Grace and Emily!

Tucker had an appointment with an immunologist and a test called an Upper GI on Wednesday. The Upper GI was not a hit and he screamed the whole 40 minutes. Scotty said he could hear him screaming in the waiting room - 3 rooms over. They strapped him to this contraption and made him drink barium with Strawberry flavoring while they had an x-ray machine over him so they could watch the barium go down his esophagus, into his stomach and then into his small intestine. This basically is to make sure that his anatomy is correct. We still haven't got the results yet - which is kind of aggravating - but, we should have them by today. The doctor that did the test did say that he refluxed several times in the short amount of time we were in there and that it took him a little longer than normal for the barium to exit his stomach and go into his small intestine. What this means? Your guess is as good as mine. Wink! Again, hopefully, I will find out today! We also saw an immunologist who was very nice, but, had no answers for us. He did tell us that a subcategory of his IgG (a category in your immune system) was very low, but, it usually corrects itself by the age of two and it wouldn't cause any of the symptoms that he has anyways. He also let Scotty and I listen to Tucker's lungs through his stethoscope and WOW I had NO idea. The pulmonary doctor told us last time we saw her that she couldn't hear his heart beat over his wheezing, but, I had no idea that she really meant it! I knew he was wheezing because I could hear it if I put my ear to his back, but, I had no idea how bad it really was. His oxygen level on Wednesday - which was a good day for him...no fever, minimal runny nose and cough - was still only 95. 

Our sweet Tucker

The immunologist left us with this...."I'm very sorry I can not do more for you, but, his lungs are not right, something is wrong....there is a doctor that will figure it out....please don't give up or let someone tell you that he's fine or he will outgrow it....something isn't right." While those aren't exactly what most people would call encouraging words - it was nice to hear....to know a doctor feels the same way I do....to know that something isn't right and I'm not just a crazy paranoid momma! He told us that we should definitely do the lung biopsy and the lung function test that the pulmonary doctor had mentioned. We should find out the dates for those today, too. So, again....no answers, but, looking on the bright side we do know that he doesn't have cancer, he doesn't have CF and he doesn't have an immune disorder and God is so good!!!

   Scotty has had a long time dream of being a part of the masons and this week - his dream came true! He is so excited to be a part of this group! Madi is being Madi and giving the teachers a run for their money! She does her work when she wants to and guess what?!?! When she doesn't want to - she doesn't do it! When they told me this the only response I had was, "Welcome to our world!" We told her that if you give Madi and inch she takes the mile so they have to just let her know who is boss and that she has to do what she is told! She'll come around when she realizes that now they have her ticket! I'm sure of it! Dylan is doing great in school and seems to be really whizzing through his math and reading which was such a struggle at the beginning of 1st grade! So far, Dylan and 2nd grade seem to be getting along just fine! We were fortunate enough for my mom to offer to spend the night on Tuesday night and Dustin got to spend some quality time alone with Mimi on Wednesday while Scotty and I were gone to UNC with Tucker! I guess him and Mimi really had a blast because on Thursday I noticed Dustin had gotten quiet so I went to check on him and found this.....

Sound asleep on the floor in my room

Last Sunday we took Scotty's dad up to my parent's lake house with us to look at doing some tree work and Dylan and Madi talked him into riding on the boat to watch Dylan kneeboard....well, Madi was feeling a little brave (which is unusual in the water) and wanted to try kneeboarding! She popped right up the first try and was even holding on with just one hand! She was SO excited! 

     So, like I was saying we have had quite a busy week and I could use a few days of down time! This weekend we are watching How To Train Your Dragon with our Sunday School class on Saturday evening and the rest of the weekend we are just going to take it easy and enjoy each other! 

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever."- Psalm 136:1

The Simple Life

   Wow! I didn't realize it had been so long since I last posted anything! I guess the only excuse I have is that I've been busy living the simple life! Wink!

    A few months ago I was determined to have some kind of system to help me keep my house more clean and organized on a regular basis - it's amazing how much smoother my family runs when the house is somewhat clean and organized! So, I dove in on my new adventure....I made a list...and another list...and another list and then I made a few more lists! I have a daily list for the big kids. I have a daily cleaning/chore list for me. I have a weekly chore list for me. I have a monthly chore list for me. I have a semi-annual chore list for me. I have a list of things that we need Daddy to do or things that we need to tell Daddy when he gets home from work. I have a list of phone calls I need to make and emails that I need to send. Lists, lists and more lists! Now, while this all sounds a little crazy and over the top - it's been working - and it's been working good! 

    However, while I felt like things were more organized and "under control" -if you will- than they had been in a long time there was still just stuff everywhere! Stuff we didn't need - stuff we didn't use. So, it began. Two weeks and 8 trash bags later I feel so much better! I can open my kitchen cabinets and nothing falls out and the only thing in there is what belongs in there! I organized the kids toy bins and donated tons of old toys to Goodwill. I cleaned out closets and got out clothes that we don't need, don't use or can no longer wear. I got rid of baskets just sitting around collecting junk - I mean how many "catch alls" does one family need anyways? It felt so good to get so much done and feel so clutter free after all was said and done! 

     Getting rid of "stuff" was not the end of it. I still felt like God was in my face saying you still haven't done everything. He was tugging on my heart strings. Now I'm going to attempt to make a somewhat long story short and I'm going to have to just put myself out there on this one - if I don't you won't quite see the whole picture. Several years ago I opened a Facebook account. I didn't talk to Scotty about it first. I never even really asked him how he felt about it - I just did it one day while he was at work and I've been "hooked" ever since. I didn't do it to purposely make him angry - I guess I never really even thought about the fact that it may bother him. Oops! So, all this time I've had this Facebook account and I never even thought about the fact that it may be bothering him. Well, as I was saying earlier - the past few weeks the Lord has been laying on my heart that it's time to get things in order and back on track. It was becoming a problem in our house that things were unorganized and not how they were supposed to be. So, I decided that since we were cleaning up and tossing things out I would toss out Facebook and my personal email account along with it. I didn't do it out of spite or anger or because Scotty told me to. I did it out of honor and respect for my husband. The man who provides everything that our family has. The man that provides stability for my kids and I. He deserves all of the honor and respect that I know how to give him.  It was quite a sacrifice for me - I knew I used it a lot - but, I guess I didn't realize just how much I kept up with all of my amazing friends through Facebook. I have to admit I'm feeling a little out of the loop right now, but, I know that God has a plan for me and our family through this decision. I'm not saying that I will never join Facebook again - but, I am saying that I'm waiting for the right time and I'm waiting on it to be a decision that Scotty and I make together. While I make it sound like it's the biggest sacrifice I've ever made and it was a horrible thing that I had to give up let me just tell you this.....it too was freeing. You wouldn't believe how much spare time I have now. I had no clue how much of my day was consumed by "just checking Facebook real quick".

   While I'm not quite done cleaning out all of the cabinets and closets - I'm closer than I was a few weeks ago! Just a few more cabinets and 1 more closet to go! So, I say who needs all of that stuff anyways? It's just stuff. Stuff that teaches my kids that they can't live without the bigger four wheeler or the better Wii game. Stuff that makes my house look like I've never picked anything up off of the floor before. Stuff that keeps my family from sitting down together and spending quality time. Stuff that I'm gonna live without so that I can enjoy my husband and our kids!

"Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long."- Psalm 25:5