I should be cleaning, but...

Today is a snow day.  An unexpected slot of time that I should devote to the desperately needed task of cleaning my house.  Instead, I've spent too much time trying to find this blog and its missing posts while watching old X-File episodes.

I feel guilt.  I am giving myself pep talks.  Still I sit here....

Things I'm doing to try and motivate myself:

1.  Looking at pictures of very messy houses, telling myself, "Don't let your house get this bad..."

    

 

2.  Thinking of the things I have accomplished:

• Scrubbed our bedroom shower, sink, toilet, and floor.
• Folded or hung up all the clothes in our bedroom and put them away.
• Washed 4 loads of clothes and put them away.
• Put clean sheets and blankets on our bed.
• Swept floor.
• De-cluttered the living room.
• Dusted, swept, and cleaned the living room carpet.
• swept carpeted hallway

3.  Made a To Do list:

 

Regular Cleaning-

• unload and reload dishwasher
• wash all pots and pans by hand
• clean out frig, wash inside and out
• wipe down counter tops, stove, woodwork
• take out trash
• take recycling to jeep
• sweep and mop
• de-clutter dining room
• water plants
• wash table, chairs, walls
• sweep
• wipe down wood floors with cleaner
• kids R.R.  clean toilet, tub, sink, walls, floor, scoop cat box
• de-clutter hall, wipe down walls & woodwork, sweep and wipe down floor

The Scary Basement, Part I-

• de-clutter by water cooler, sweep, mop w/ bleach
• put small frig there
• de-clutter bar top, cupboards, & chairs
• put Christmas tree away
• de-clutter pool table, sweep it, wipe down cover
• sort through mystery bags from Dad
• sort shoes & coats
• clean out wooden box, wipe with bleach
• sweep and clean floors with bleach

Scary Basement, Part II: 

• Organize art shelves
• Organize all book shelves
• de-clutter air hockey table, counter top, etc.
• sort, recycle, file papers
• sort bins
• sweep, clean carpets

4.  As soon as I include this step, I'm getting my butt up to clean or it will be sinful, since I'm now praying for motivation.

 

• Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10)
• Don't you know? Haven't you heard? The Lord is the everlasting God; he created all the world. He never grows tired or weary. No one understands his thoughts. He strengthens those who are weak and tired. – Isaiah 40:28-29 

 

Prayer for Strength, Energy & Motivation

 

My Lord and my Strength,

I pray that I may possess the energy and motivation I need in order to stop procrastinating.  Please  help me accomplish the cleaning tasks that need done.  Erase the doubt and confusion I feel when I have to decide what to throw/give away and what to keep.  Grant me the ability to be more concerned about my family and their enjoyment of our home rather than holding onto old memories by keeping possessions.  Remind me that keeping childish things will not make my adult children little again.   That keeping unknown items will not reveal their purpose.  Squash that voice that says, "I might need this some day..."  and help me know what to do with all of the piles of paper in my possession.

I want to be less concerned about my living and more anxious for what I make of my life.

Amen



Worry is Praying to the Wrong God

I put this situation (my job) in the hands of Infinite Love and Wisdom; if this situation is the Divine Plan, I bless it and no longer resist it, but if it is not divinely planned, I give thanks that it is now dissolved and dissipated.

Random Acts of Kindness

     My family is experiencing a financial hardship.  Things I used to buy and take for granted are now major expenditures.  Bills that used to be paid on time and without effort, are now late, partial, or unpaid.

    This weekend, my daughter's dance studio was in a competition.  I couldn't afford the entry fees.  The Dance Company, Tremaine, gave my daughter an honorary scholarship, so that she could go.  This meant so much to us.  My daughter was feeling pretty badly since she was the only one from the studio not able to go.  Then a family at the studio, invited Katie and me to stay with them.  They understood that we couldn't afford to pay anything....and they let us stay anyway!  These are good people!

     Grandma and Papa gave us the food money we needed.  This too was so appreciated!

     I'm also thankful that the bulk of dance was paid for before we experienced the financial difficulties.  My daughter lives for dance.  She'd have been miserable if she had to quit now!

     These acts of kindness really mean so much, especially since so many people in today's world just seem to think about themselves.  I hope to someday be in a position to pass this kindness forward!

Embrace your Inner Wild Chick

I read it's a Chick Thing.  Now I'm working on reading all of the suggested readings, watching the suggested movies, and listening to the suggested songs.  Now if only I could actually do some of these activities ....but due to my job, not a good idea!

I miss the old times when you could be a person and not just a job.
I miss the old me, who didn't give a damn and did it all anyway!

Addictive Personality!

I recognized, at a very early age, that I have an addictive personality.  That's why I've never tried smoking, don't do drugs, and rarely drink.  However, I own more books than a library and I've read them all multiple times.  I also visit the library a lot.  I truly read at least one book a day.  Even when that inner voice is shouting, 'put the book down and clean your house or put the book down and pay attention to your family' I can't seem to stop.  Now it's 6:30 a.m. and I'm supposed to be getting ready for work, but I'm sooo tired.  Why did I stay up most of the night reading?  Why can't I recognize that the book will still be there tomorrow?  Why do I keep doing this?

My Favorite Body Part

I read a magazine article today about appreciating your own body.  You were supposed to think of a body part that you really liked and tell why.  I really appreciate the functionality of my body.....but I would like my body parts to be more attractive.  If I had to pick one part, I guess I'd say my lips.  They've got good color, I don't ever need lipstick.  They're shaped well too...although I enjoy seeing them on my daughter's young face more (she inheirited them).  I guess a good goal for me is to get in shape enough to actually like an additional part.  Now if only I could get motivated...

Playing Basketball in the Rain!

Don't you hate it when old friends aren't friends anymore, and you really don't know why?  How come the memories you share of growing up together aren't enough to make whatever problem there is between you fade away? 

Whenever it rains that warm kind of rain that makes you want to go outside, I remember being sixteen and playing basketball in the rain with my sister, my friend, and of course, a bunch of hot guys. I remember the intoxicating freedom of going places in her car even though she didn't have a license.  Dancing at the Red Caboose, listening to Neil Young at the Cortland Street Fair.....the tight jeans we passed around and had to use pliers to zip!

Today, it's snowing and not raining, so why am I thinking about this?  I guess because everyone needs the "I've seen you with braces and bell-bottoms" friend...and I miss her.  I miss knowing the kind of friend she'd be as an adult....since somewhere in college and in our twenties it faded away. 

Old friend, if you read this....