May is here!

I've been busy purging and decluttering finding things for a garage sale. A friend called asking if I'd like to add some things to her sale, and it was just the motivation I needed.

I've always felt that God wants our homes to be ordered and reflect Him and not the chaos that we sometimes allow to come in, so it's been nice to bring some peace to our home by reducing piles and things of the world. The process never seems to end, but I feel myself relax as order is restored.

I've started a new Beth Moore study on Daniel. Instead of working through it on my own like I did with Esther, my mom, sister, cousin, and Miss Daisy are joining me. We did Session 2 today.

Piles

You didn't think I'd do it, huh? I'm one of those odd people who files AND piles, so I'm not sure what the experts do with that. I'll be the first to admit that some of my filing is actually just vertical piling, but let's not go there.

I had a friend in college who had this spot on the floor of her room affectionately called "The Pile." That was the first place to look for something missing...or even just something. Ah, the memories. So, not to let go of that, I've continued the tradition in my own home.

Most of my piles are revolving piles. The most visible pile really just depends on where you are standing at any given time. There is the kitchen counter/desk pile (very small after yesterday's sorting), the schoolwork to grade pile that often camouflage's my paper project pile (it's actually smaller than usual, too), the list pile (see previous post), the cookbooks to go through pile, the books to read pile, the pile of things for Mr. Tech to go through, and I think it's safe to say that Miss Rose has several piles of who knows what in her room. Laundry piles could count since they are definitely revolving, but they are contained and maintained.

My veritcal piles er..files are a topic for another post...another decade...

Now I've got the purging bug again. I might have to continue to post about my eye sores, because they are always better in a day or two afterward. Hmmm...in that case, the next topic is The Rose Room...enter if you dare!

Chaos Leads Us To Toiling, Escaping Rest

Three Rules of Work:
Out of clutter find simplicity;
From discord find harmony;
In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.
-Albert Einstein

Are you having trouble finding that place of quiet rest? I recently read a book by Nancy Leigh DeMoss by that title, and was enlightened by her scriptural insights and how important it is to have that daily devotions.

Do you ever find your mind wandering to other things though and can't seem to focus on what is most important? I do. Too many times. Where does your mind wander? For me, it is often to incompleted tasks, things to do, places to go, and could I have done that better or made a better decision?

I have found that clutter robs us of joy and rest. I still fight this almost daily, and decided to bring in some more help in the form of Emilie Barnes. She has many books on the topic of decluttering your Home and your Life. I found several at the library (and don't everyone go out and request them right away, because I might need to renew them. haha). I'm finding many little treasures in her little book entitled, "101 Ways to Clean Out the Clutter," and I will follow it with "The Quick-Fix Home Organizer: Making Your Home Beautiful and Your Life Clutter Free." Sounds peaceful doesn't it?

Imagine a time when you have simplified your life and your belongings so much that you don't feel guilty (or maybe I'm the only one) cozying up in a chair with your Bible, devotional, or just resting and praying. Oh, I have a long way to go, but don't you think it would be worth it?

So far I have a box ready for City Missions, I've sent a few inches of paper and magazines to the trash or recycling, I have another bagful of linens I'm no longer using ready for the Handmaidens garage sale, and I have a milk crate half full of homeschooling items to take and share with some moms at church.

What are you doing to declutter your life and home?