The Organization Project Update... Do the Shuffle!

       You may be wondering what a picture of people dancing has to do with organizing a house. Well, technically, nothing! = )  However, I do think that I have found a great analogy for what goes on in my house when I try to organize... it's called the Shuffle!


       Although I cannot actually perform the dance well enough to link you to a personal YouTube video demonstration, I encourage you to go be entertained by those who can.  I saw some pretty cool videos on there and it looks like a lot fun. You move your feet as you scoot to the left, and then to the right, and then criss-cross, and then another little funky move... you get the idea. There doesn't seem to be any real script to how you put it all together, you simply move to the music.

       It's very similar to when I start working on just one room of my house. I shuffle some stuff to this room, and then to that room... and then I have to criss-cross the furniture to fit the new plan.  I can look very much like these folks dancing, moving in circles but not going anywhere. One move they do looks like a hip version of jumping jacks, and I certainly feel like I have been doing a few of those when I finish cleaning. = p  I certainly move to the beat of my own drum!


      Seriously though, I have figured out that one of the reasons my organization projects go "off course" is due to the need to constantly adjust for space.  It is hard to focus on just one room at a time, when in order to finish the first room you have to find space in another room to place the "extra" objects from the first.  So I shuffle, I work on one room until I am forced to work on another one or two. By that time I have recollected a pile of stuff to be organized/put away in the first room. The downside to this is that I never feel as though I have actually finished a project. Again, it is very much like doing  the dance, just going in circles with all my little fancy footsteps.  I guess all I can do is hope I look as cool as they do while I am cleaning! = )


       We have an adequate size home, but I realized the other day that every single one of the rooms in it are multi-purpose. (Which I know is a no-no according to some organization gurus!) The master bedroom is also the office, sewing room, and partially a new baby room.  The master closet is our family clothes storage (upcoming sizes for kids clothes, winter clothing, etc...), as well as our homeschooling supply and video storage. The playroom doubles as a baby changing, "up all night" staging area with changing table and rocker.  The two youngest will share a room with the closet that "stores all things", and our bookshelves (which my husband likes to tease is our own family library).  The older girls have the most focused room which is simply their sleeping room and their dress-up play area. Our living room has recently had a corner converted into a "schoolroom."  The dining room and kitchen are one in the same. And the utility room is also our clothes closet/dresser room (this is my attempt to simplify the laundry process- wash, fold, and put away all in one spot). The utility room also has a couple shelves for games and craft supplies. Some days I think it would be great to have the space available to multi-purpose less, but then I think about the additional housework that would require! No thanks!!! = )  Most days I can't keep up with the square footage I do have! 

      So instead I am trying to take the advice of Kathi Lipp, (from the book that started this project- The Get Yourself Organized Project: 21 Steps to Less Mess and Stress) and make zones in each room that are focused on just one thing, AND then make them as functional as possible.  Yes, I want a beautiful aesthetically appealing bedroom, but I also want it to serve our family fully.  So my "office" is now relegated to one corner of the room with an added cubby unit to store supplies and other essentials.  The sewing and baby stuff each have their own "zone" as well. I have done the same with each of the other rooms.  Grouping like items together in one space has required a little bit of "shuffling," but it has also clarified what purpose(s) the room is serving. This alone has really helped me to know when I have stuff that isn't serving any purpose, and needs to be passed on. So I guess I really am making progress, even if it just looks like fancy circles at the moment.

      I know that I'm not alone in using every last inch of space to it's fullest. What are some ways/ideas you have found to help create order and peace out of your multi-purposed space? I have really enjoyed seeing ideas posted online of creative "make-overs" that have turned wasted space into something functional.  What do you think of the zone idea? Do you think it helps decrease the chaos, or do you think it limits the ability to work with the space you have?

       Sorry for the lengthy post today. I really hope my post does not resemble the shuffle as well. Hopefully it is more like a line dance that has some direction and order to it!  Now that sounds like fun, I haven't lined danced in years.  Maybe it's time to push the furniture to the side and turn on the music! I hope you all have a chance to at least do the funky chicken in the kitchen when nobody's watching! = ) Whatever your "project" is this week, just keep dancing through it! Don't forget that you look the best when you are grooving to the beat of the music, so pay attention to your rhythm of life!!!

Ginger

Enough!!!

       It has been over a week since I have been able to get on and write. All three of my children got sick right before I was suppose to leave for the Virginia Homeschool Convention this past weekend. I wasn't just leaving, I was leaving alone (no kids) for the first time since my oldest was born. The only other time I have been away overnight is when I went to the hospital to deliver a child. = )  It was not easy to leave last Thursday with my youngest still very sick. Thankfully, my husband kept pushing me out the door!

       I truly believe that God gave my husband both extra patience and peace, as well as persistence to make sure that I didn't stay home. I was meant to be at this convention this past weekend. God had some very important things to teach me.  I have so much I want to write and share with you, but I am going to start with the first major thing that God showed me. I hope it encourages and frees your spirit as it did mine!

       Lately, I have found myself defending the "topic" of our fourth baby. I usually find myself defending against the stereotypes of large families, or the criticism of having more than two children. However, as I began this weekend at the convention, I found myself defending our decision for this little one to be our last. As I was walking between workshops Friday morning God brought all this to my attention.  It seems like, regardless of the audience, I am constantly feeling the need to defend our choice to either have another baby or not to. And in that moment I felt God say, "Enough! Quit being so defensive!"

       I am the type of person who feels she must always explain herself. I cannot simply say no, I have to explain why I cannot say yes. I feel like I need to excuse, or defend the condition of my home. I feel I must have an explainable reason for everything I say and do.  Over and over this weekend I felt the Lord telling me,"Enough. No more. Quit living life, in such a way, just so you can give an acceptable answer to others. Enough. No more defending yourself for your choices. Your choices are between Me and you. Enough... If there is peace as you sit before Me and listen to My voice... then enough. You are enough!"

       What freedom! Why are we having a fourth baby but not a fifth? Because we (my husband and I ) feel that is what the Lord desires for us. End of discussion! Why do I choose to homeschool my child? Because that is what we feel the Lord has led us to do for our children. End of story. Why do I choose to let the house be second priority (or third or fourth...) compared to my children's needs or my husband? Because as I walk day by day, moment by moment with God, I am allowing Him to show me what is most important in that moment of that day for me and my family. Enough!

       Don't you think that it's time that we quit defending our choices, and start living the life that God has for each of us?  They are not going to look the same. What is best for you and your family may not be what is best for mine, AND that is okay!!!  Let's give each other the freedom to follow God's leading without feeling the need to defend ourselves. How much energy and time have we wasted defending our choices instead of living them out? 

Galatians 5:1 (NIV)- "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."  

       Enough! Do not burden yourselves any longer. Enough! Rejoice in the freedom, God has given you through Christ, to live as He calls you to!!!

Ginger

The "Don't Come" Invitations

       In an effort to help our children understand budgets and the concept of money, we offered them a choice concerning their birthdays this year.  They could either choose to have a birthday party with their friends, or they could choose to go see Winter, the dolphin from the movie Dolphin Tale, at the Clearwater Aquarium when we go to Florida in the fall. They absolutely love that movie and all sea creatures, so they quickly chose the trip to see Winter. We wanted them to know that things cost money and that money was limited, so they couldn't do both.  I think they chose wisely.

       Fast-forward to this week. We are planning Allie's upcoming 5th birthday and talking about ideas for our family celebration. We have decided to have a girl's tea party with mommy's real tea cups, strawberry tea, and fruit salad.  Daddy will take Tyler to go do some "guy" things together, while just mommy, Allie and Anna share tea. Then Allie informs me that she needs to send invitations to all her friends, cousins and Jesus that say, "Don't come to my party because we are having a tea for girls and are going to see Winter." Lol  She is very sincere about this invitation and has no ill intentions, rather it's as if she thinks it would be rude not to inform them. Ummm... I am thinking I need to do some lessons on the proper etiquette surrounding invitations. So far all of my attempts have not changed her mind about the need for these invitations to be sent. So please, don't be offended if you get a "Don't Come" invitation, it is sent in the most considerate and loving manner! = )

       Oh, and just in case you were wondering how Jesus would get His invitation, Allie explains step by step how this occurs.

• Step 1- You put the letter in the mailbox.
• Step 2- The Post Officer picks up the mail and takes it to the post office.
• Step 3- The post office puts it on a spaceship
• Step 4- The spaceship flies up to space, up and around, and over to the side where heaven is.
• Step 5- The letter is left in heaven for Jesus.

And now you know how to mail a letter to Jesus!!!  Just make sure your mail is picked up by a Post Officer that knows how to fly a spaceship! 


      Before I say goodbye, here are a couple short "funnies" that came from my 3 year old Anna this week:

• Very perplexed Anna informs me, "Mommy, Mater is a tow truck, but he doesn't have any toes!" (Very true!!!)
• My husband was explaining to the kids why he doesn't ride his motorcycle in the rain. Jesse explained, "My motorcycle doesn't run well in the rain." Anna interrupts, "Daddy, that is because your motorcycle doesn't have any feet!" (Can"t you hear the drums "budump bump!" She's too funny. Maybe stand-up comedy is in her future! lol)

       Stay tuned for next time when Allie explains why she was late coming out of my belly and more! That's it for this Sunday's edition of the "Family Funnies!" 

Ginger