The Secret to Living Life... Clutter-Free

Ever since our house was listed last Thursday, we've had a steady stream of visitors coming through.  That's a good thing when you're trying to sell your house, right?!?  But we're beginning to miss being at home! I have found that the best way to get a clutter-free house is to get ready to sell your home.  Having just gone through this personally, I can speak with new found authority on this subject matter.  Why?  Because suddenly, you're forced to look at your home through your realtor and prospective buyer's eyes... and shudder! It's time to de-clutter!!! The Salvation Army quickly becomes your best friend as you scour through your house de-cluttering.  Friends who don't mind second-hand stuff also become your best go-to source for de-cluttering :o)  Once the house is empty of all the things you haven't used in eight years, barely used in 3 years or whatever, you'll find that the square footage in your house has increased and multiplied nearly overnight (or in our case, two weeks!)! And you might find that you like your spacious house again and want to stay there forever...! Just kidding!

Friends are wondering how we manage to keep our house clutter-free with a five-year-old and a fourteen-year-old.  It's very simple---leave early in the morning and return home late.  And somehow, in between things, we manage to find errands to run, friends to visit and things to do (right now, school in the car has been quite popular for us)! In the morning, the kids and I make a mad dash around the house making sure all toilets are flushed (five-year-old boys have a tendency to forget that important task) with the lids down.  Any towels and extra laundry gets thrown back in the washing machine and we keep all the counter tops clear.  Done.  Then we leave for the day and by the time we come home, it's about 7pm---time for Michael's bedtime routine.

I just finished reading Robin Jones Gunn's Finally & Forever (the finale in the Katie Weldon's series) and loved it!!! Now I've started The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club by Wanda E. Brunstetter (which I'm enjoying very much!).  Finding time to read is very tricky when most of your time is spent trying to juggle life, Krista's schedule and doing school with Michael.  Thankfully, he's a fast learner in most things, so doing school with him is pretty enjoyable.  Except when I assign him several pages of work to do and I find him doing a totally different set of pages because he just liked these pages better.  Sigh.  We have to work on following directions---an important skill set for the future when your employer has the power to fire you if you don't do what he/she wants!

I need a weekend to recover from this past weekend! On Friday afternoon, we got to hang out briefly with my friend Marcy and her two children.  Michael had such a nice time playing with Josh and Jayden! Then, later on Friday evening, we went to support LOMSAA's (Krista's middle school program) talent show and fundraiser.  It was so much fun!!! The kids are incredibly talented, entertaining and so full of life!!! Krista will miss her 8th graders when we move, but I know she will stay in touch with them.  The dessert auction was a blast and bidding for special time with the teachers was extra memorable!!! We got home way past Michael's bedtime and having to get up early the next morning was very painful.

Krista had her final skating competition on Saturday in El Segundo at the Toyota Sports Center (home of the LA Kings).  Her first event was in the morning and her math tutor and friend from 7th grade came to see her! We love Sasha and miss her dearly, but thanks to FB, we can stay in touch easier :o) It was a total GOD thing that Sasha made it just in time to see Krista's program since, for the first time ever, in our experience, the competition was running early! That's normally unheard of!!!

Corporal Sasha J. & Krista

In between Krista's next event (after 6pm), we headed to Arcadia to visit my friend Mark (from our Family Conference days at Tuscarora Inn, Mt. Bethel, PA) and Lisa and their super photogenic son & daughter.  Michael had a great time playing with Matthew & Samantha and it was great seeing their beautiful remodeled home (Lisa has exquisite taste!!!) and spending time with them!!! Now why didn't I remember to get some pictures taken with them?!?  Hello?!?  I hate that when I forget something so important like that!!!

Thanks to Hurd Video Productions, you can see Krista's programs here:
  
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FkTM3bPFu4&feature=youtu.be

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV5Hd9aHmjY&feature=youtu.be

Today after church, we had an impromptu lunch with Steese and her two sweet daughters (Michael always has the best time with Annabeth and Eva!).  The kids played at the fountain and I know Michael had so much fun since he loves any kind of fountain! Again, why didn't I have the camera to capture these precious moments?!?  It's the story of my life...!

As events get checked off my planner, the countdown to our move date is accelerating.  My heart is full :o) Have you noticed how life can change in the blink of an eye?  Sometimes these changes catches us by surprise and sometimes, we can foresee it.  In the midst of all the craziness in life, I'm thankful we can depend on a faithful God in Heaven who never changes.  As the seasons of our life change, He remains the same!!! He's always there---never leaving us or abandoning us (Heb 13:5b).  His love is constant and unconditional (John 3:16), His mercies are new every morning (Lam. 3:22-23) and He is with us (Psalm 139:5-10).  I love the NLT's version of these verses...

⁵ You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.

⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!
 

⁷ I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!

⁸ If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to Sheol (the place of the dead),you are there.

⁹ If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans,

¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.

I'm blessed and thankful to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the Son of God!!! Isn't it amazing how He's on the right hand of the Father interceding for us... even now (Rom. 8:34)?!?

 

"Look at my tent, Mommy! It's the first time I built one all by myself!"

After school, we dropped by one of our favorite stores and picked up something new... Fruit Pearls! What a novelty!!! They were very refreshing and perfect for a hot day... except today, we were shivering from the damp and misty weather!!!

The weekend was sweltering and today's temps were in the 60's.  Go figure! Speaking of weekend, I had the best one ever spending it with one of my favorite group of women:  the MOMSnext steering team!!! We ate, laughed, played Apples to Apples (thanks, Missi for introducing it and now I have to get the game for myself!!!), shopped and had meaningful conversation.  The perfect girls' bonding getaway even though we all missed Jenn terribly.

I just finished Beverly Lewis' The Fiddler, a delightful story where two worlds collide between an Englisher and a young Amishman.  Now I'm working on Wildflowers from Winter by Katie Ganshert.  She's a new author for me and I'm really enjoying her story so far!

Ever since the house went on the market on Thursday afternoon, we've had a lot of traffic coming through.  That's a great thing, right?!? But the challenge is keeping everything pristine and perfect and ready to show.  I asked Michael not to take all the pancake pillows off the couches when we knew someone was coming.  While I was researching schools and houses and then was on the phone with my new friend, Grace (thank you, Aunty Rita!!!), he decided to get creative.  Of course.


Right before we had to jam out of the house, Michael proudly showed me his tent that involved every single pancake pillow off the couches, blankets from the baskets (that had previously been nicely rolled up and organized) and food clips from the kitchen!!! He was so proud of himself and I was so proud of how he managed to occupy himself, too :o) I would have loved to take a picture except I don't know where we packed away the camera!

And I discovered a new talent.  I can get everything back in place in :60!!! So now we need to pray that some offers come in (bidding wars, anyone?!?)!!! But seriously, I believe in God's perfect timing so I'm content to wait on Him since He's in control anyway!

This is why I love Jeremiah 29:11!!! Although I usually quote the NASB's version of that verse, I also like how The Amplified Bible puts it... "For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome."

Thank you, God!!! :o)

"Don't Call Me Mikey... Don't Call Me My Little Man... Call Me... Snail," Said the Little Boy to His Father.

SNAIL?!?  I guess it's better than "slug" or "stink bug", but seriously?!?  I refuse to call him that! The funny thing is that he answers to that moniker when Jacob uses it!  Jacob and Michael have a little tradition where Jacob hums, "dee dee deedeedeedeedee dee deedee..."What?!?  Don't you recognize that tune?!?  It's the tune to Barney's "If all the raindrops were lemon drops and gum drops..." And when he hums that tune, both boys put their pointer fingers by the side of their heads and wiggle them like the little antennas of a snail.  Apparently, Michael identifies with snails, I guess.  Probably because he likes to take his time---especially when it comes to eating green veggies.

Do you know what's significant about me blogging at this moment?!?  It's the fact that the house is finally completely de-cluttered and ready to be listed!!! It's looking nice and sterile for the MLS.  It's a lovely change of pace instead of packing, cleaning and reorganizing things to be sitting and having the luxury to blog again! And read! Oh, how I've missed reading regularly!!! Today I finished Tracey Bates The Widow of Saunders Creek (a creepy tale about spiritual darkness) and started on The Fiddler by Beverly Lewis (book one of a new series called Home to Hickory Hollow).

For the past two weeks, packing away personal things, clearing counter tops and floors have been the priority.  In between those two weeks, we had good friends stay over several different times.  Then we went on a cavity inducing mini trip to the JellyBelly Factory (love those BellyFlops!!!) and stayed with our close friends in noCal.  Jacob finished 30 lectures and three exams; we drove back and forth to school and skating for Krista and I tri-hosted a baby shower with my two favorite mentor moms for one of my moms at MOMSnext! God was faithful! He gave us the strength to do what was needed.  And we survived with His help!!!

And now the rest is in God's hands :o) It's a great feeling!!! The future is still unknown like when our house is going to sell, where we're going to live, what we're going to do for school, etc.  But God is in control and I can rest in His peace knowing that an all-knowing God holds our unknown future in His hands.  Besides, housing and all the things that go with a move are so insignificant compared to our future!!!  There's a bigger picture and a better place ahead for those of us who have accepted God's free gift of salvation in His Son, Jesus!!!

I love the words Jesus said in John 14:1-3.  Here's how the Amplified Bible phrases it....
"¹DO NOT let your hearts be troubled (distressed, agitated). You believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely on God; believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely also on Me.
    ²In My Father's house there are many dwelling places (homes). If it were not so, I would have told you; for I am going away to prepare a place for you.
    ³And when (if) I go and make ready a place for you, I will come back again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also."

And I'm absolutely confident that there won't be any clutter to de-clutter in Heaven!!! Hallelujah!!!

Cleaning, De-Cluttering & Organizing Mode

Oh my! I have been going non-stop crazy with a deadline that came much too soon (today is my "D" day!)...  My two week project?!?  I've been busy trying to make 8 years of clutter magically disappear as we prepare to get our house listed and look as if no one resides here.  Ha! I've looked at the other houses on the market and I see immaculate staged houses with no signs of life.  How in the world do other people do it?!?  

I've managed to read Frank Peretti's Illusion these past 2 weeks and speaking of... yep, I missed my deadline for this month's newsletter.  Oops! Oh well!!! Reading means getting nothing done and I don't have that luxury at the moment...!!! Meanwhile, poor Jacob had 3 exams (30 lectures) to prepare for and take in those 2 weeks.  And tax stuff to gather.   Krista has been up to her eyeballs with homework.  And Michael... we still have to do school because work samples are due... yesterday!!! When it rains, it pours, right?!?  Oh why, oh why did I ever start Kindergarten with him?!?  I need this right now like I need a hole in my head!!!

But, the silver lining in my cloud is that I love to organize and this type of project ergizes me as I go around tossing things out :o)  Mostly Jacob's and Krista's things...!!! Just kidding :oP And I do love bubble wrap!!!

So, I choose joy in the midst of de-cluttering in a short time frame :o) I love the NLT's version of Psalm 118:24...
"This is the day the Lord has made.  We will rejoice and be glad in it."

Did you notice how there isn't a clause about rejoicing and being glad as long as everything is going hunky dory?!?  Exactly! And this is how I choose to live my life before God, my family and friends :o)

"I'm Not Kicking You. I'm Demonstrating What A Kick Is!" said the Little Brother...

It was hard to sit through the Easter service dry-eyed knowing it was our last Easter here! Our choir sang two original songs this morning and when the music started on the second one, Michael whispered to me that it sounded like music for pirates! And I have to agree that the music would be great for a pirate movie!

I love our pastor, the staff and our church family at LOCC.  One of the most challenging aspects of moving is finding another church where we'll feel at home, get challenged from the strong biblical teaching and find ministries to get plugged into.  I've already been researching churches in the area and I'm excited to begin checking them out!

After an amazing message about the Miracle That Changed Everything, we came home to our traditional Easter Egg hunt for the kids.  It was quite entertaining to watch them!  This year, I only hid 12 eggs.  Krista searched for blue eggs (with her favorite candy) while Michael searched for green eggs (with his favorite candy).  We only hid a few this year because we're in the process of de-cluttering our home and removing all the pictures and personal things to get the house on the market.  And de-cluttering means there are less places to hide all the eggs!

Jacob went to put a battery in Michael's jet engine when Michael grabbed a pillow and put it over his face.  I asked him why he was doing that and this is what he said...

Michael:  Yuck! I don't like the smell of foot!

Later while we were hanging out in the bedroom, Michael was trying to hop on top of Krista while she was trying to deflect his leaping body with her arm! It was really funny! They were piled on the bed when Krista complained that Michael was kicking her.

Michael:  I'm not kicking you.  I'm demonstrating what a kick is!

Obviously, he had to stop but I thought his answer was comical! Ahhhh... and even though his reply was entertaining, it made me think how often we try to justify our sinful thoughts, deeds and words.  I know I'm guilty!

It's why today is so pivotal to our faith.  Easter is about the hope we have in Jesus Christ, God's Son because of His resurrection! He arose from the tomb after three days and is now on the right hand of the Father interceding for us (Romans 8:34).

His faithfulness is seen in our lives everyday and I'm so grateful for His sacrifice on the cross.  I believe Jesus died on the cross, shed His blood so I can be forgiven for my sins. rose again after three days and is coming back for us someday!!!  And because I've accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior of my life, I know, without a shadow of doubt, that I will spend eternity with Him when I die!!! Death has no power over me because I know He lives!!!

Jesus said in John 14, "After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also."

Now that's the hope we have in Christ!!!

"Hey! My Foot Is Buzzing!" and "Female! Get Out Of My Body!" & Other Funny Comments From a Five-Year-Old Comedian

On the way home from church the other day, Jacob announced that it was time for all boys to take their nap.  Without missing a beat, Michael quipped in a squeaky high voice, "I'm a female! Now where's my purse?!?"

I'm grateful he's still a napper even though he's been fighting the whole nap thing recently... which doesn't surprise me! Krista stopped napping by 3.  He usually begs, "Oh please, oh please, can I skip a nap today?  It's been years since I skipped a nap!!!" Years?!?  Really?!? He's still napping but will eventually graduate to quiet time :o)


I can't believe I packed a 45 gallon tub of pictures.  And there's still more to go.  It's a good thing I love bubble wrap but I am highly annoyed at the inferior tape and dispenser!!! AAARRRRGGGHHHH!!!

Michael was sitting on his knees at the table playing with the iPad, when all of a sudden, he exclaimed, "Hey! My foot is buzzing!" It was Jacob's phone vibrating from the pocket of his jacket---which happened to be hanging on the back of Michael's chair!

I've noticed that whenever Krista comes and gives me a hug, Michael immediately runs over and manages to squeeze himself in between us while butting Krista out of the way! Of course this leads to some tight and pushy maneuvers on both of their parts.  Krista was able to hold Michael down and he yelled, "Female! Get Out Of My Body!" We were cracking up because we knew he meant to say, "Get off my body!" They're both very entertaining!!!

As we delight in our children and their entertaining antics (!), the Bible says the Lord takes delight in us, too.  I love the NLT's version of Zephaniah 3:17..."For the Lord your God is living among you.  He is a mighty savior.  He will take delight in you with gladness.  With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

Isn't this a great reminder of God's great, enduring and unconditional love for us?!?