RhythmRoutine
Rest
This is how to begin a new week after an especially hard week.
I love Mondays.
And that beautiful and hopeful feeling that surrounds a fresh start.
I am so looking forward to this week and the list of things I would like to accomplish.
Spring fever is beginning to pulse through my soul.
I have been de-cluttering, organizing and cleaning our bedroom and it feels so good.
I even created a little book nook just for me. Which makes me sigh with happiness everytime I see it.
Do you want to see it too? I could post about it.....
I want to go through cabinets, drawers, and closets.
I want to purge.
I need to purge this house of all the accumulated "stuff" that gathers dust and takes up space in my mind.
Anyone else feel like that?
Anyone else want to join me?
Just pick an area or 5, that you know would make you feel so.much.better. if it were to be cleaned, organized and decluttered. And then leave me a comment. I will check back with you at the end of the week and see how you did. I'll be your cheerleader! Does that sound good?
Better yet. If there is an interest, and you let me know. I'll take photos of "before and afters" of what I am working on and share them with you.
Yikes.
I know for me. It's always fun to get a glimpse into someone's life and home.
In all of it's real but imperfect glory.
That's why we blog, right?
To share our lives?
Speaking of blogging.
It is an amazing community this bloggy world of ours.
The heartfelt words, the sharing of concerns and encouragement. The sweet and intimate moments of seeing one's thoughts, feelings, and photos come alive on the screen.
Very moving.
Inspiring.
Nurturing.
And just.....
Amazing.
I'm so lucky for such a wonderful group of readers, commenters and friends.
Thank you all for this past week of.....your time.
I know it's precious.
And finally~
If you are looking for a book. An inspiring and peaceful book to encourage you and feed your soul as a mama. To appreciate and enjoy each month as it comes. To share this love of simple appreciation with your children, nurture your soul and create that warm comfort of home that we all desire so. Then, I highly recommend this book.
"The Rhythm Of Family" by Amanda Blake Soule.
I can't even begin to tell you how soothing I have found this book to be.
In fact....
I will even be ordering this book for my daughter. Who is not a mama, yet. But is....an appreciator of all things simple, beautiful, nurturing and nourishing.
And if nothing else. Go read her blog. I must have been living under a rock to not have heard of Amanda until just recently.
I love her style. And she has that beautiful, peaceful way with words and pictures that so many of you love, too.
And that my friends is all for this Monday morning.
My wish for you.....
Is to take a deep breath.
Enjoy a delicious hot tea or coffee.
Step outside.
For just a moment before your day really gets moving.
Take it all in. And give thanks for this day and your life.
I know I do.
Happy Monday~
Love, Kristin
13 comments:
Oh Kristin, I am right there with you on the whole decluttering thing! I sometimes joke (seriously) on my blog that I need a hoarding intervention. It's amazing how quickly stuff piles up!
I have even given thought of doing those before and after shots to post so the whole world can see what my house REALLY looks like! :)
If anyone needs a cheerleader, it is I! :)
~ Kirsji ~
I'll do it with you, I will pick just one area. I will clean out my kitchen junk drawer by Friday.
Missed seeing you and your family. Hope God blesses you guys with peace and a lot of happiness and blessings!
As I was reading about your book nook I was wishing I could see what you did to create it. So, yes, I would love to see a post about it.
One of my goals this year is to declutter my entire house. I have WAY more things than I will ever need. The first room I am going to tackle is our office space. It's horrible. It's where things end up that we have no idea what to do with yet. Sigh! It's going to take some doing but I'm hoping to have it decluttered and organized by the end of next month.
Ok, I'm in. Do I have to pick a spot?
I awoke with my head strategizing about where I would start and what needed to be done.
And, quite typically as of late, I became side-tracked (after all, if I had not been thrown off course, I wouldn't be reading your blog :)), and I got absolutely nowhere!
So, here I am, hoping that your cheery blog will be enough to motivate me to actually manage to accomplish some much needing organizing!
Barbara
Yes, yes, yes!
I'm thankful to hear that you are catching your breath and regrouping, relaxing.
De-cluttering, I am with you all the way. We literally just got back form dropping of a large box and to medium bags worth of stuff to Goodwill. I even resisted going inside to look for more so called "treasures". :-) It felt so good to get it out of the house and I have a lot more to go!
Yes, I would be interested in all of your before and after projects and I promise I will do the same!
I am doing the same!! Down to the basement I go!!! And then I need to clean out my pantry and go through the children's closets to get ready for Spring!
How thankful I am that God has put you in my life as a friend.
Makes me HAPPY!
The book sounds wonderful!!! You know how I LOVE a good book!!! You are speaking my language!!
Love C
Kirsji~ So true! I have so much stuff that could be gone in a minute!
Good Luck!
Jennifer~ I'll be checking in with you at the end of the week! Get that drawer done. ;o)
Ginger~ Thank you! Would love to catch up with you and talk "house."
G.C.~ That's because we are picture girls! ;o)
Barbara~ I consider it in an honor that I could distract you so....
And. I'm glad, all things considering, that you still find my blog cheery!
Carissa~ I thought of you when I spoke of this book. ;o)
De-clutter girl!
And I know. I currently have boxes in the back of my car to take to the thrift store. But....I have a few things I am trying to find as well.
Must
Stay
Away.
You all made me smile over this topic.
XO
i will TRY to join you in the decluttering...i sure need to...and i have been in a slump. that might just be what i need! :)
YES, YES, YES! To all of this! I love to de-clutter. I actually did the basement yesterday, it felt so good! Now on to my bedroom!
And, you know I love all things simple!
Love to you!
Well, thanks to you and your motivational blog yesterday, I FINALLY feel lighter.
I was being dragged down....by something rather silly, in fact. But important to me, I suppose.
Near my front door stands a beautiful hope chest that was my grandmother's. Most of the year, the top holds my absolutely favorite photos of my children in younger days.
But, at Christmas time, that spot is cleared for the Nativity Set to adorn.
This year, I decorated early, due to the impending birth of my grandchild. I wanted to be ready to make the drive when the big moment came.
I carefully packed up those precious photos and put them somewhere where I wouldn't forget.
Then, the days got bleak, as I I took one old dog to the vet, only to have to say good-bye forever. You know what that is like. I was alone, as my husband was out of town. I busied myself by getting my house ready for the holiday.
Christmas came, and the baby didn't arrive until 5 days later. We were visiting children in one spot, and drove even further to see this newest grandson.
After a week, my husband urged me to tag along with him on business to Europe because he didn't want to be alone for 2 weeks. It seemed like the right thing to do, ,so I bought a ticket.
We made the long drive home (10 hours). While I was furiously removing the ornaments from the live tree, my husband removed the outside decor. But that was all that we had time for involving decorations.
We were packed and on a flight the next day. But, while there, my daughter had a relapse, and she asked me to come back upon my return.
So, I arrived home on a Saturday, and flew to her place on Sunday. My husband drove down later in the week, and, about 10 days later, we drove home again.
I walked into a house that looked like a movie from Christmas. By this time it was Jan. 31. It took me 3 days to un-decorate my house.
And, those photos that I packed away and put somewhere so that I would remember where they were? Well, I forgot where I put them.
And, since the 3rd of Feb., it has been bugging the heck out of me. Instead of accomplishing tasks that would have made me feel better, I was fretting over lost photos.
I mentioned this dilemma to my husband just last evening, and his first response was to ask me if I could have accidentally put them out with the recycling or in the garbage.
I managed, somehow, to keep my composure at such a ridiculous suggestion, but, I'll admit, that wasn't easy.
So, this morning, with your blog in mind, I decided to concentrate on things that would positively impact my day. By 6:30 a.m., I had purged the 2011 files, and had set up new 2012 files for monthly bills and expenditures.
Then, I came downstairs and went through some folders where I had stashed items for review. I filed them appropriately.
By this time, I was really feeling good about myself. I went into the basement to throw in a load of laundry. I decided to pull out some of the Christmas containers that are on shelves in the laundry room. I pulled out one that was suspect in the back, and was disappointed that my photos were not in there.
Then, I noticed another box on the shelf, in the dark background, that I thought held canning jars. I pulled it out, just to take a peek, and lo and behold....there were my precious photos....all wrapped carefully in bubble wrap.
And, to be quite honest with you, they were in a place where I never would have remembered. What in the world ever made me think that I would?
And now, my children are once again on my hope chest, bringing a smile to my face as I walk up and down the hall.
So, even if you accomplished nothing today, you can take heart that your blog motivated me and lifted my spirits considerably!
I hope there isn't a law about writing blog comments that go on too long.
Barbara
Darla~ Join us. You'll be so happy you did!
Jenn~ I am going to e-mail you!
Barbara~ That is the best comment length, ever! No laws what so ever!
XO
I have been a de-clutter/organizing kick lately!
funny.
i have that book sitting in my cart on amazon right now:)
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