Me, Yard Sales, and the Bermuda Triangle

I solved one of the world’s great mysteries this weekend.  It happened totally by accident.  One of my big goals for this summer is to have a yard sale, so I’ve been going through all the closets in the house and cleaning them out.  Let me just say we’re going to have a really big yard sale in a few weeks!  Anyway, this weekend it was time for the most dreaded task of all…cleaning out my youngest son’s closet and bedroom.  I knew it was long overdue, but wow, I had no idea what I was in for.

It took the entire long weekend – three days of hard work – and I’m still not totally done.  So far we’ve filled two and half huge trash bags (we’re talking lawn-and-garden size bags – you know, the 5,000 gallon kind) with outgrown toys and clothes for the yard sale, and some smaller bags of trash (broken toys, toys with pieces missing, old coloring books, etc.).  His room is looking so much better!  He can now actually find the toys he loves playing with.

In the midst of all that cleaning, as I said, I solved one of the world’s greatest mysteries.  The Bermuda Triangle.  It’s simple, really – everything that has disappeared from the earth, ever, was somehow sucked into my little guy’s bedroom.  It was all there, and it’s now either in our garage awaiting the yard sale or in the trash.  Well, okay, not all of it went to the yard sale or the trash.  My oldest son’s entire Bakugan collection was located in my youngest son’s toy buckets.  The boys’ entire wardrobe was buried at the back of the closest.  (Their idea of ‘Hang this up neatly’ needs some work.  And besides that, what are my 10 year old’s clothes doing in my 7 year old’s bedroom?)  Now, thanks to his clean room, the entire Marvel Comic superhero squad can guard my boys’ bedrooms, since they are no long MIA.

I have to admit, I’m impressed with what was accomplished this weekend.  Apparently I’m not the only one.  When he saw his younger brother’s room, my oldest replied, “Wow, Mom – I may have to hire you to clean my closet too.”  Hhhmmm…this idea just may work!

This morning, as I was getting ready to post this, I saw that Sarah Mae is hosting a challenge to celebrate her 31 Days to Clean "reboot" with daily challenges.  What could be better?  Obviously, from the condition of the boys bedrooms, my house needs it.  I'm out of class for the next six weeks, so the timing is right.  She says it's an experiment...well, count me in!  It started with one room - now, clean and organized house, here I come!

Simple Goals and Big Changes

Several weeks ago, I snagged a copy of Candace Cameron Bure's book Reshaping It All for my Kindle Fire.  (On sale - I love a good bargin.)  I grew up watching Candace on "Full House" and her brother on "Growing Pains," so I was super excited about getting a copy.  As soon as I finished my last final for the semester, I started reading it. 

My life has been all about changes lately.  I finished a brutal semester of college, during which I had to make huge sacrifices just to pass.  We lost our beloved 13 year old Yorkie, and a month after her death, we got a new puppy.  Major changes at my job of 4 1/2 years forced me to start looking for a new job, which I just started this week.  I worked at a gym, so leaving also meant starting a whole new workout routine at a different gym.  My life looks very different now than it did in January.
A lot of things are being reshaped in my life right now, so I decided that this is the perfect time to read Candace's book.  I've been fighting the same 10-15 pounds for too long, and I'm ready to finally hit my goal weight and stay there.
In chapter four, Candace talks about goals and counting the cost.  I'm setting four simple goals for myself, with the ultimate goal of losing 15 pounds.  I know (from experience) that if I set too many goals or make my goals too complicated, I'll get overwhelmed and give up.  So I'm keeping it simple:

1. Daily quiet time.  Why am I starting with daily quiet time?  Because I realize that my health is so much more than just the physical - my health is a spiritual thing, too.
2. Move more.  Establish a regular workout routine that includes running, Pilates, and Praise Moves, with swimming and biking with my boys thrown in for fun and variety.
3. Drink more water.  I am a major diet Dr. Pepper and coffee adict.  I love them, and there is no way I'm cutting them out - but I am cutting back.  I'm going to limit myself to one each per day.  I need more water, and I plan to make it my main beverage.
4. Eat clean(er).  I've done some reading lately on "clean eating."  Some things I like, some things I don't, and some things will just never work for our family.  So I'm modifying it a bit, and we're going to clean up our diet - more whole grains, no white (rice, pasta, etc.), less meat/more beans, less prcessed foods.  I'm not totally cutting processed foods and sugar, but I want to cut back drastically on them. 

They are simple goals, but I think these will make big changes in my health and well-being.  I know it's going to be worth the cost.

The Original "Supermom" - Proverbs 31

I have a love/hate relationship with the Proverbs 31 woman.  My Bible opens to Proverbs 31 almost automatically because the pages are so worn - this chapter has been read and referenced over and over.  I have to admit, I stand in awe of the original "Supermom."  On the other hand, part of me can't stand this woman.  She seriously does all that?!?  This woman really makes me look bad.

I was excited to learn about the ebook and summer Good Morning Girls session on Proverbs 31.  As annoying as she may sometimes be, I know that I should be like her.  Honestly, I want to be like her.  I just don't know how.  I don't even know where to start.

One of my favorite things about the Proverbs 31 woman is her background.  Wait a minute - what background, you're asking.  Exactly.  The Bible never talks about her background.  It doesn't tell us how she was raised, what her family was like, or anything else about her past.  It just tells us what she became.  It doesn't matter whether or not we saw this example lived out in front of us when we were little girls.  All that matters is here and now, and the fact that God can change us and shape us into a Godly woman. 

I can't wait to dive deeper into my study this summer.  My prayer is that God will use it to make me into the woman He wants me to become.

Too Busy for Life?

Dental hygiene school is all consuming.  It takes up every waking moment of my time.  I spend hours at school, and when I'm not at school or work, I'm studying or writing papers or doing research.  My entire life consists of this:

In just a few more days, I'll have a life...at least for the 57 days of summer break.  I plan to do the things I haven't had time for during the last few months.  On my list:

1. Spend time with my family.  Although in the long run becoming an RDH is going to be amazing for my family, in the short term, it really stinks.  I don't spend anywhere close to enough time with them.  I can't wait to just hang out and have fun with my guys more.
2. Run.  I miss running.  I miss taking my stress out on my run.  I miss the high of pushing further than I've been before or faster than I've been before.  I'm not a good runner or a fast runner, but I love to run, and I can't wait to get in some good running time again.
3. Read.  The Kindle Fire my hubby got me for Christmas was the perfect gift!  I devour books, and my Kindle is loaded with tons of great mysteries...plus my fave author, Ted Dekker, has a brand new book coming out next month...I can't wait to get lost in some good, creepy, FBI-tracking-serial-killer books.
4. Swim.  We just got an above ground pool, and it's calling my name...this summer, I'm going to get skinny and tan and hang out with my guys in the pool. 
5. Geocache.  Again, tons of fun with my family, and it's been a really long time since we went.
6. Go to the gun range.  Ok, I'm a huge tomboy, and you're probably thinking I've read too many of my FBI-tracking-serial-killer books....but I love going to the gun range.  I grew up shooting with my dad (that's what happens when you're the only girl in the family) and I still love guns.  My husband, kids and I go the range and all take turns - my hubby with his Glock, me with my Sig Sauer, and the boys with a .22 rifle.  Good family fun. 

So, yeah, overall, I've been too busy with school to have a life, but in just a few more days, this semester ends, and maybe I can have a life again...for a little while.

This week, I'm linking up with...
<center><a href="http://www.mamakatslosinit.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/ac331/mamakatslosinit/workshop-button-1.png" alt="Mama’s Losin’ It"/></a></center>

Why I Pray

Today marks the beginning of the newest 21 Days for Sons prayer challenge at The MOB Society.  Although I'm drowning in the stress and assignments of my last two weeks of the semester, I'm not about to miss this.  Why?

Because they're worth it.  Because if their Daddy and I don't pray for them, who will?  Because they are my precious gifts from God.  Because they are my knights in training.  Because the world needs men after God's own heart.  Because I love them, heart and soul.  Boys moms - join 21 Days for Sons.  It will change your life - and their lives - forever.