Decluttering Week 2

Last week I worked on the 4 hallway closets.  On their way out of the house are 40 items including: 7 games, 3 sets of curtains, 1 pillow, 1 set of shower curtain holders, 8 pairs of shoes, 2 bridesmaids dresses, 3 dresses, 2 skirts, 10 coats/sweatshirts, a humidifier, a blender, and a candle.  I haven't decided what to focus on this week yet as I am still unpacking from our weekend in Illinois.  A big thanks to Derek/Leann and Matt/Jennifer for hosting the kids and I.  It was nice to be at the Roanoke Church on Sunday and we are looking forward going back in early March for Danny and Sarah's Wedding. 

Now for a few pictures:
Before:

 The Out the Door Pile:

After: 

A couple pictures from the weekend:

Zion

Zion is currently into I-pad Games and Legos.  He also has a great imagination.  I asked him to explain one of his creations on video and after trying to get it right several times He approved this one.

Decluttering Week 1

I decided over the last few weeks that I am tired of organizing and cleaning stuff that we really don’t need.  Our house has 10 closets and a huge storage room filled with things, many of which I am guessing we don’t really need.  Starting this week my goal is to go through every room and closet in our house to get rid of at least 21 items each week.  My plan is to have sorted through the entire house by June 1^st.  While this might make for some boring blog posts, I decided that I need some accountability to stick with my plan, so I am going to try to post pictures and a quick update every week.  This week I started in my Laundry Room which has a closet I use for a pantry.  I got rid of 10+ containers of outdated food, a bag of clothes pins, 7+ bottles of almost empty cleaning products, a part to my old washing machine, disposable bibs, a clothing steamer, 3 old calendars, 2 glass candle holders, 2 baskets, a package of bar soap, a broken flashlight, and a candle (over 30 items).  One thing I learned during my time in the Laundry Room is that I should have a spotless house because I own a ton of cleaning supplies.  Maybe I can motivate myself to use them more often in order to get rid of another empty bottle.  Here are Before/After pictures  

Before:

After:

Vulnerable Strength

The phrase “Vulnerable Strength” was the title of devotion I read this week. The author had some good thoughts, but my mind went a completely different direction. I looked up the word Vulnerable and the Merriam Webster dictionary defined it as “easily hurt or harmed physically, mentally, or emotionally.” The same dictionary defines Strength as “the quality or state of being physically strong; the ability to resist being moved or broken by a force; the quality that allows someone to deal with problems in a determined and effective way.” Vulnerable Strength is a good way to describe God and I together. I am the Vulnerable and He is the Strength.

We often use the word vulnerable to describe orphans, young children, widows, people who are poor, people who are handicapped, and people who are sick, but in reality compared to our Great God we are all vulnerable. We all live inside human bodies that are subject to the attacks of Satan. We all deal with pride, selfishness, sin, sickness, weakness, and the attacks of other people even if we don’t admit it to ourselves or others. Only through Christ can we live an overcoming life at allows us to deal with our problems and glorify Him.

Today instead of hiding our vulnerably lets give it to God and trust in His strength to provide for all our needs.

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distress for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song I will praise Him. Psalm 28:7

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary: and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

I will love Thee, O, Lord, my strength. Psalm 18:1