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
3 comments:
Love it, Meghan! I am going on a cleaning binge when the girls start school too. You have inspired me that I can do it! Thanks for being so open with us!
Love your transparency and honesty! ☺
Great, now I have to go clean out a closet, THANKS! ;)
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