Why Declutter?

Laura, over at I'm an Organizing Junkie had a great post about purging. She is getting ready to move and has decided to get rid of as much stuff as possible.

I love the 3 questions she raised:

1. Do I really need/love this that I want to PAY to move it? (moving is expensive!)

2. Would I rather deal with all of this stuff now or on the other side of our move where chances are good we’ll be living in a much smaller house?

3. How easy would this be to replace on the other side of our move if I really need to?

This was so good for me since we WILL be moving after Michael graduates. At this point we don't know where we will be heading, but that matters less at this point than the very plain fact that all our stuff will be in boxes and either in storage or moved to our new location.

So for me, I have been pondering question #1 alot. As I declutter, stopping to ask myself if I really want to pay for this to be moved has made it much easier to toss that item. And question #3 has shown me that alot of what I hold onto isn't worth the cost to move since it would be so easy to replace. This is esp helpful in case we have a cross the country move or have to put our stuff in storage for 4-6 months.

So how bout you? Have you moved recently? Planning on moving in the next year? What has helped you in deciding what to keep and what to toss?

Til next time ...


PS: I had another fantastic week of getting rid of stuff. Threw out the broken dvd/vcr and the rest of the vhs tapes, a few old mags and a couple other misc items.

My Heart was Broken Yesterday

Last Sunday we visited a church that some friends have started going to. Its a lovely church. The people were friendly, the sermon was inspirational and encouraging to our souls. The music was familiar and we were able to enter into worship with our hearts and souls. But having a child with special needs is always a challenge when going to a new church. Do they have teachers who will accept our boy? Do they have helpers? Do they do enough fun stuff that he won't be bored and act out?

Our friend offered to sit with him until he got comfortable and I took her up on her kind gesture. When she joined us half way thru service, it sounded like he was doing well.

When I picked him up, the teacher asked me some questions about his disability and told me they had a couple issues, but said she would be looking for a helper to sit with him.

So it was with great suprise that I got a call from the teacher yesterday. She was practically in tears as she told me that her church could not accomadate our son and his special needs.

After I got off the phone, I felt my heart shatter as the rejection of our son and of our family dropped full force on my spirit. My soul wanted to cry, but the tears would not come. Tho I had heard much worse horror stories from other families, this was the first time we had experienced such rejection from the body of Christ.

But I hold in my heart that the Lord God Almighty has not rejected my son, nor our family. And he has a church home for us both here in Boise and when we move after graduation.

Til next time ....

Decluttering Update: Week 2

This has been so fun for me. Challenging myself to find one thing a day to put into the box or the garbage is easy enough and painless enough that I find myself suceeding.

This week I tossed the french coffee press in the thrift store box, a couple sets of twin sheets we don't need anymore, a pair of mom jeans that I don't think flatter me, and a couple other misc pieces of old clothing. I also threw away a kind size sheet that developed a huge rip, but on the flip side, I went to the store to replace it. So that doesn't really count on my decluttering side.

So how did you do at your home? Is this fun for you or painful?

Super Chick Challenge Update

I've been easing into the Super Chick Challenge. I forgot how my life doesn't really return to normal until hubby is back in school. So I haven't been able to do all that I wanted to do. But I am on track with my eating for b'fast and lunches. And I have worked out once. Not great, but not terrible either. But I am still struggling with dinners.

So what do you eat for dinner? Do you feed a husband, some kids? If you're like me and trying to lose weight,do you prepare them a dinner that is different from what you eat, or do you all eat the same things?

B;fast and lunch I've got a handle on. Which is victory in and of itself. I used to be a fast food junkie at lunch. 3 or more times a week I would go thru the drive thru at MickyD's or some such establishment. But now hubby and I have lunch together between his classes. We usually have sandwiches and or soup, sometimes a salad or leftovers. Its working for me.

But dinners I still struggle with. My man is a meat and spuds kind of guy and doesn't have a weight problem. He likes veggies, but salad, not so much. Me, I'm the opposite. I'd rather have salad any day. I tend to bake chicken thighs, or broil some sort of beef, or put it in the crockpot. I'll make pasta or meatloaf or even occasionaly hamburgers. I'm in a rut with my cooking too which doesn't help.

So what do you do? What satisfies you without going over your calories? What satisfies your family without shipwrecking your diet?

Til next time ....

First Week Decluttering Update

My mom and I talked over Christmas about going thru our cd collections, so that's where I started with my decluttering. I was able to get rid of 20 cd's that we no longer listen to. What a sense of satisfaction.

I also threw out a few odds and ends from the makeup drawer and set aside a clock that has been bugging me. Unfortunately hubby saw the clock before it made it to the thrift store and snagged it. I guess that will happen from time to time.

Next up, I'm tackling my closet. I have clothes that havent' been worn in years that need to go.

So how did you do? Get any decluttering done around your home this week?

Til next time ....

2010 Word for the Year

7 years ago, I picked a word for the year that I wanted to instill into my life. I wanted to make it more a part of who I was. I thought alot about what word to choose. I think I had read a book or heard a guest on the afternoon talk show or something, and so the word I choose was gratitude. 2 days into that year, my husband had a potential life ending accident and that word helped me remember what was important. I was reminded of all the things I had to be grateful for during that crazy year of recovery.

Fast forward to this year. My sister asked me if I had a word for the year. As I thought about which word to pick, one kept coming to mind. Hope. Hope for today. Hope for tomorrow. Hope for this year and where it will lead.




After 3 years of classes, studying, finals, and grades, Michael is graduating in May. And will be looking for a job in his field. I am hopeful for this transition. I am ready to have a working husband and an income. I am ready to move to wherever the job is and settle down. I am hopeful for this next season in our lives. For me, the word hope is intertwined with my faith and trust in the Lord God. I know without Him in my life, I would not have much hope, but because of Him, my hope can shine. I'm looking forward to this year and what adventure it will bring.

So how 'bout you? Do you have a word for the year?

Til next time ....

Super Chick Challenge

One of my sisters and I have been talking about losing weight for eons. I have alot to lose and she has a little. Over the holidays we came up with a plan and have adopted the Super Chick Challenge as our name. We are following our own diet plan and exercise routine, but are checking in 2x weekly to encourage one another and report our progress. Our other sister and my sister's sons girlfriend are joining us in our challenge so we are a foursome now.

I am signing back up for my YMCA membership so that I can walk/run on the treadmill, use the elliptical, lift weights, and join in a water aerobics class once in awhile. I really enjoy getting out of the apt and working out around others.

I'm debating about whether to share on this blog about the challenge or whether to start another blog. Do you want to hear about my weight loss journey? I won't be offended if you dont!

Til next time ...

The 365 Days of Decluttering Challenge

I found this yesterday, but didn't have time to blog about it. But that's ok, cuz from the original website, you can start any day of the year. Which is good for those of us who have a bit of a trial starting anything on a holiday!

From the blog of my online friend, Trish, she says:
Simply put, the 365 Days of Decluttering Challenge is a commitment to “donate, sell or toss one unused item from your home every day for a year.” Isn't that great? And so doable.

I have been decluttering for a couple years now, but I have decades of clutter accumulated, so I can stand doing this for the next 365 days! And I love the concept of doing it daily, rather than in spurts like I have done before.

Like Trish I will be putting stuff daily in a box to take to the goodwill when the box fills up. Or things can go in the trash. And maybe a few items will go on craigslist to sell.

So any of you decluttering? Anyone want to join the challenge?


Til next time ...

Heading Home

We had a wonderful time in WA state with family. We have had time to be leisurely, to get our emotional tanks filled. We have traveled up and down the I-5 corridor more times than I'd like to admit, tho traffic was "Christmas lite".

We made the trek home today and now I get to sleep in my own bed---ahhhh! That is the sweet reward of driving 9 hours!

Laundry is underway, the bags have been unpacked, and refilling the pantry shelves is on the agenda for saturday. It's good to be home again. It's good to engage in the normal routine again. And its very good to sleep in my own bed.

Til next time ....