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  I got rid of 10+ containers of outdated food, a bag of clothes pins, 7+ bottles of almost empty cleaning products, a part to my old washing machine, disposable bibs, a clothing steamer, 3 old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

Trusting

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

This verse has run through my mind a lot in the past few days.  As I reflect on the fact that 2013 is coming to an end, I realize that I cannot understand much of what I have experienced in the past year.  My prayer journal is filled with more questions than answers as I have tried to process why God has allowed me to go through so many tests of my faith.  In all honesty I am not sure if I am ready for 2014.  How will I survive if 2014 brings more challenges like 2013?  I have asked God to use my life for His glory, but in my quiet moments with Him I find myself asking "How much more are You going to put me through?"  I am very aware of my human weakness and possibly more aware than any other time in my life that I can't look too far ahead.  I find myself asking Him every morning to give me whatever I need to survive another day. At the end of each day I thank Him for getting me through and praise Him for the people He has placed in my life to listen to my fears, speak encouraging words, and show me that they care.  I am so grateful that God's patience with me is far greater than my patience with other people.  He never tells me to be quiet even when I have told him about the same struggles over and over again.  He reminds me that His compassion for me is great and that He knows me better than I know myself.  

A friend sent me this verse yesterday and I plan to post it in a place a can read it often.  "And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To Him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen" (I Peter 5:10-11) I place a lot of hope in the fact that Christ will restore, confirm, strengthen and establish me in His perfect time.  

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow

Ira F.Stanphill

I don't know about tomorrow;
I just live from day to day.
I don't borrow from its sunshine
For its skies may turn to grey.

I don't worry o'er the future,
For I know what Jesus said.
And today I'll walk beside Him,
For He knows what is ahead.

Many things about tomorrow
I don't seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand.

Every step is getting brighter
As the golden stairs I climb;
Every burden's getting lighter,
Every cloud is silver-lined.

There the sun is always shining,
There no tear will dim the eye;
At the ending of the rainbow
Where the mountains touch the sky.

Many things about tomorrow
I don't seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand.

I don't know about tomorrow;
It may bring me poverty.
But the one who feeds the sparrow,
Is the one who stands by me.

And the path that is my portion
May be through the flame or flood;
But His presence goes before me
And I'm covered with His blood.

Many things about tomorrow
I don't seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand...

Moriah

Not sure what I feed her today, but she was a little wild at bedtime.  I guess I  shouldn't be surprised since she tends to be dramatic about her emotions.    It is not uncommon for her to tell me "this is the worst day of my life" if she is upset about something.  I normally have to talk to her for five or ten minutes to convince her to stay at pre-school or YMCA child watch.  Once she finally decides to stay she often pushes me out the door so she can play or work on a craft.  At times she insists on exercising me at the YMCA and amuses my entire strength training class by copying our movements using her one pound weights.  She is really into art right now and has made at lot of books.  She draws the pictures and then tells me what to write on each page.  She also loves to make gifts for people and normally sends everyone who comes to our house away with some picture or gift.  Her bears "Pinky" and Bluey" are her constant companions and she rarely goes anywhere with out one of them.  She tells me that some day she will be brave enough to go to Grandma's house without her bear.  She has a love/hate relationship with Zion.  Just last week when Zion was hitting her with pillows I heard her say the following: "That's it I am allergic to Zion." Right now I am thankful my little bundle of energy is sleeping in her bed. 

She decided to pose for one nice picture.  

One of the Songs that Touched my Heart Today