The Benefits of "Spring Cleaning" Even in the Summer

Well since my friends have helped me have a better perspective, I have been motivated to do some much overdue spring cleaning. In so doing, I came across a journal that I was writing in when we first moved into this house. Just reading those words, and the things that I felt about this house, how much I loved it and how it was everything I dreamed of - well - it inspired me to use my lemons to make lemonade.
I love cleaning things out, sprucing them up. This house has gotten away from me. I have felt a bit overwhelmed by everything. I didn't try anymore because I decided I was done here. But now I know that I want my world to be beautiful. Today I threw things away, moved things around. I feel like I got a fresh start for my new attitude. I wish I had lights to hang up. I wish I could decorate for Christmas or at least fall.
I needed it.

In the midst of trying so hard, there always seem to be things that roll at you. The new show Wipeout has an obstacle course where barrels roll towards you while you are trying your best to make your way up a slippery slope. Life kinda comes at you like that. For instance, I woke up this morning and my cell phone that I have only had for two weeks was fried. As expected the representative at Sprint was horrendously rude - even laughing at me at one point, and telling me to "calm down". (That always works, doesn't it?) But I realize now that there are friends rooting for me - in real life, online, and even those of you who just read this blog on occasion and are motivated to say a prayer for that frantic, squirrelly little blogger - cheering me on and hoping I make my way up that slippery hill called life, and manage to store away a few good nuts for myself along the way! With people rooting for you, you can't just stand there at the bottom and let them knock you over the edge - that collective energy keeps you moving. Here's to you my friends!

And in case I didn't mention this before, KENDRA HAS A BOYFRIEND. Someone we really like, and hope to get to know a lot better.

Some Thoughts on Cleaning

I know - I know - insane, but I used the quiet time alone this morning to deep clean both of our bathrooms without interruption. It is still only 9:30 so I have some down time before going to get the kids - except there is this nagging task my husband keeps reminding me of which is to go get the oil changed in my car - ugh - so I might go and do that. I was going to look for a Jiffy Lube next to Starbucks and take a good book. That'd be R&R - or not for a squirrelly person like me who has to look up everytime they call out an order to see who got what - and then spend 10 minutes regretting the drink it took me 20 minutes to decide on. I'm a lost cause.
Can I recommend never, ever again cleaning your bathroom mirror? I have decided that the dust and toothpaste splatter are there for a reason. I think it was divine inspiration that created such things. The haze on the mirror acts as one of those filters like they use at Olan Mills that softens and smooths fine lines, wrinkles and blemishes. I got the first good look at myself in six months a while. Not pretty.
Take it from me - for someone that is slightly nutty like myself - having time to clean the bathroom without a million interruptions which come usually about the time you have your head half-way down the toilet bowl or are perched precariously on the edge of the tub trying to keep your butt and boobs balanced - was a real luxury. I also got to catch up on some God Journey podcasts. Good stuff.

Spring Fever - Almost!

The weather has been so warm the last week or so, but I have been too preoccupied to enjoy it. I have had so many irons in the fire that I hadn't even taken the Christmas tree down yet. We weren't lighting it up anymore - and it was bugging me. How is it that something that gives you so much joy and be SO beautiful only a month ago is now a nuisance and an eyesore??!? Go figure. I had the kids start taking the ornaments off the tree yesterday, and gather things from all over the house that were "Christmas-y". Four HUGE boxes later, we were packed up. This morning I had to double check what they did and dismantle the actual tree. What started as sweeping a corner ended up as a complete clean sweep and rearranging of the living room, which also bled over into the dining room. (I did the kitchen yesterday!) My friends who know me know how much I LOVE to rearrange my furniture - and what a fresh feeling it gives me. I thought I'd share some pictures.

This is my desk - a/k/a the "blogging nook" - hee hee
This isn't much of a BIG change - the television used to be to the R of the fireplace.
We moved Travis' antique radio to the other side of the room - and hopefully he'll put the knobs back on it and make it play again. The french doors behind the couch go into my dining room - the couch is out from the wall about 3 feet.
Since we moved here, the long couch has been in front of this big window. I really like it that there isn't anything blocking the light and air that come in from these windows with the new arrangement. I put the big footstool there - it'll make a nice reading spot, or a place for the cat to lounge, and can easily be moved to be used as a footstool.
This has always been my biggest challenge when it comes to rearranging the living room is this piano! It fits pretty nicely in this corner - isn't in a walkway - and doesn't block anything! Wow.
I took a picture of this to show you - it is an old sewing box that my parents got in Williamsburg, and was in every home that I lived in as a child. My mother got custody of it when my parents divorced - and gave it to me when I got older. When we moved the top got broken somehow and is in need of repair. I decided that a stack of beautiful books might make a nice table top for now. What do you think? Travis got me the little oil lamp that is sitting on top quite a few years ago - in fact we used it for a prop when we did "Scrooge" at the community theater a few years ago.

Thanks for visiting with me in my living room. I am feeling a lot less overwhelmed today and a huge sense of accomplishment is a lot better feeling than spinning your wheels in mud and digging a deeper hole!
What did you do today?