Decluttering – It is a Journey

If you know me well, you know I am always trying to fit in cleaning, picking up, organizing, and the like.  Now, I am not saying that I accomplish all of these or do so in a timely manner (yes, I feel my mother-in-law cringe…hang in there, Maureen), but I do my best at the attempt and the process.  That is all a long way of saying, ‘I try’.  I don’t know if I am left or right-brained and if that has anything to do with it.  I do know I have some ADHD without the hyperactivity so that puts a whole new spin on it.

In recent months, I am working on giving myself some slack in this area when needed.  I am human.  I have some gifts.  Being uber organized is not my gift.  I want to be organized, but so many things get in my way.  I won’t go into all of that here.  I also need to give myself a hard time so I can get things done.  It is a balance and I am still working on it.

 

I love this verse, but I really like this translation:

“I will give you praise, for I am strangely and delicately formed; your works are great wonders, and of this my soul is fully conscious.” –Psalm 139:14 BBE

Oh yes, I love the ‘strangely’ part!  I keep on trying to remember that God does things for a reason and I am the way I am because HE did that with intent!

I enjoy looking at all things home décor and design on the internet.  One of my favorite sites is Houzz.  I was drawn to an article last night called, ‘Decluttering—Don’t Let Fear Hold You Back’.  You can guess why I clicked on it.  I really enjoyed the article; the author seemed to struggle with letting go of her kids’ artwork.  I too, struggle with that.  The article goes on with her struggles of regret of giving stuff away (yes, I have been there), and keeping and what not to keep.  Then you find her family survives a house fire.  She loses many possessions.  What her young daughter said as the author mourns the loss of sentimental artwork was amazing:  we still have each other to remind us we are loved.  Not the stuff.

Of course I was very choked up.  I will say this article was helpful.  I may not let go of all of my kids’ crafts, drawings, notes.  I will keep this all in mind when I go through it.  I will let go of some….ok, more.  One small step for man.  One giant leap for the decluttered-kind.

With Joy,

Tracey

(see the article from Houzz on my blog…)

Insanity

We have been visiting a new church now for a while and this past Sunday really had a great sermon that hit home.  I just wanted to share some notes from the service because it is fall, school had started and we are seemingly living in “Insanity”.

Lately, my personal prayer requests have included a plea for help organizing.  Organizing my life, time, house, kids, closets—and all ‘things to do’.  It is really about priorities.  The last six months or so (who  am I kidding, it is really like the last 2 to 3 years!), this subject has been in the forefront of my mind.  I struggle daily with what comes first, keeping on track, and …oh…what did I forget now?  As a parent, we all struggle with this in some way.  We are balancing life with kids.  We are in charge of these little beings and they bring a whole set of items to the table we must address and organize.

Last Spring, I finally admitted to myself I have been doing too much in all of these places outside the home.  Now, most of my volunteer work is good stuff and contributes to the family, etc.  BUT when you take on too many of these things, you leave very little room for your core-your family, and possibly your spiritual life.  I vowed last spring it was time to back off here and there and re-focus.

This brings me back to last Sunday.  The sermon was a part of a series called, “Insanity”.  The title for Sunday was called, Help!  Not just help, but HELP ME!!!  The interesting thing Rev. Rufus Smith said that really GRABBED me was this:  Do you have enough margin-or space- for crisis? If you do not, you are too busy!  We all will face crisis.  We just will.  If you do not allow margin for this, you are setting yourself up for insanity.  So I sat there with my mouth open.  I might as well have been sitting on the front row with a giant spotlight on me.   Rufus could have just said, “And Tracey Simpson, yes you…I am talking to you.”

I have not been giving myself space.  Space for error and recovery.  Space for quiet time to catch up.  Space for organizing my life in little bits.  MORE space for my spiritual walk.  You know how when you are very active for a long time…  When you are exercising for over an hour, or you have a long day with your kids walking around, going to sports events, etc.?  If you do this over and over without recovery you set yourself up for feeling bad.  Your body is fatigued?  You may become ill.  This is what I am seeing with my busyness.

I need to take some hints from my dog - take a break...

 

I won’t go over the whole session of notes but I want to highlight a verse. 

Romans 8:26 says, “In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”  Where I am weak, He is strong.  Thank goodness I am not left to deal with all of my problems by myself, nor am I alone when I pray.  Even when I don’t know what to say, He is there to help me along.  What a blessing.  It is like a second-chance when you pray.  “I don’t know what to say Lord,” or “I can’t put it into words, Lord,”—these thoughts are helped along. 

I have attached the notes from the service.  Pardon my handwriting, please!  One really neat thing to also focus on is the section on Enjoying Peace.  Love that.

Have a great week.  I hope to blog a little more frequently as I get re-focused.  I have some projects I want to put up soon!

With Joy! --Tracey

These ARE Days...

Today is the last day of 5^th grade for my Walker.  I am not sure he really understands this is a big step and it has some finality to it.  I wrote him a letter last night and gave it to him!  I just wrote about what it means and why I get so weepy.  Part of it goes like this..

“I seem to cry a lot about it because it is very emotional for me.  I just can’t believe you are so grown up!  You were such a small dude just a few years back and needed me for everything.  As much as I want you to learn to do things for yourself, it is hard as a mom when I look up and I am not needed anymore—especially for hugs and lunches and visits!”

I also told him to enjoy every minute of today and look around and take it in.  I explained in the Bible God tells us our job is to “train up a child the way he should go…” and part of that job is to let go a little every year.  Kids are on loan to us from above!  I gave him the letter and tucked him in with tears and hugs.

In my prayer time earlier, I did pray prayers of praise.  “Praise for endings and new beginnings!  Thank you Thank you!!!”  I am trying to be so grateful and take in these moments.

So before I just weep and weep til there is nothing left I will wrap this up for today.  I will sign off with words from a song that hit me like a Mack truck last week.  I just think of all my kids and how they change.  I really think of Walker as he will be such a big kid next fall.  The song is ‘These Are Days’ by 10,000 Maniacs.  If you have not listened to it, or listened to it lately, do (you can go to Spotify and listen to the whole song free).  It is great and moving and lovely…

These are the days
These are days you’ll remember
Never before and never since, I promise
Will the whole world be warm as this
And as you feel it,
You’ll know it’s true
That you are blessed and lucky
It’s true that you
Are touched by something
That will grow and bloom in you

These are days that you’ll remember
When May is rushing over you
With desire to be part of the miracles
You see in every hour
You’ll know it’s true
That you are blessed and lucky
It’s true that you are touched
By something that will grow and bloom in you

These are days
These are the days you might fill
With laughter until you break
These days you might feel
A shaft of light
Make its way across your face
And when you do
Then you’ll know how it was meant to be
See the signs and know their meaning
It's true
Then you’ll know how it was meant to be
Hear the signs and know they’re speaking
To you, to you

Have a blessed day and enjoy those kids you have!  You are blessed and lucky!

-Tracey