Day 9 Results

Since the cleaning was just sweeping, vacuuming, and mopping my floor I didn't feel it necessary to take pictures of my floor. Yesterday and today have been taxing for me because when I start it literally takes the life out of me. I could fall asleep at 3 in the afternoon and not wake back up until 8am the next morning. But, I moved my table and chairs out of the kitchen, swept my floor, vacuumed my floor, and then mopped. After that I went straight to bed. I prayed while I cleaned because my back hurt so bad and I really needed a little extra strength to get me through the mopping part because I have to bend over with my swiffer sweeper. God provided and I pushed through and got my floors clean. I'm glad that laziness was the topic from yesterday. It really hit home and made me realize I need to get off my butt more often and stop being so lazy. Tired is a different story. I'm glad I have been sticking with it and I can't wait to see what is to come.

Friday Confessions

I confess that as gross as Derek thinks it is for me to change my feminine products in front of him, (which I don't out of common courtesy) I think it's twice as repulsive when he comes into the bathroom first thing in the morning, pees standing up while I'm brushing my teeth and farts while he scratches his butt.

I confess I have been struggling with keeping up with my 31 Days to Clean the last few days because I have been SO TIRED.

I confess I freeze Derek out at night on purpose because I find that he doesn't snore as bad when it's cold.

I confess I have been trying to stop biting my nails...and have been failing miserably.

I confess I can not WAIT until this afternoon when Derek and I get our pictures taken by Ashley Lancaster. She takes amazing pictures and it's for such a great cause. She is bringing home her son very soon with the help of everyone that gets their pictures taken by her. Check out her Love in Photography Blog.

I confess I have been stressing a lot lately because of school for next semester. I am going to be taking 6 hours of studio classes, doing my foundation review, and taking the WP003 test. The studio classes I'm taking are Ceramics I and Intro to Web Design. The foundation review consists of putting out all of the artwork that I have done in the last 4 years and putting it out on display to be judged to see if I can keep going as an art student. The WP003 test is just a 3 hour writing exam that I have to take on a random Saturday so I can graduate. Fun Fun Fun!

I confess I will probably be a zombie for like 5 months starting Aug 22.  Studio classes are the worst!

I confess I am ready for the WEEKEND! Happy Friday!

3 Long Years

So today is the 3rd anniversary of when I started blogging.

When I first started blogging I had no idea it would become such a huge part of my life. I love posting on my blog and reading others blogs. I love the blogging world and all the wonderful people I've met and stayed in contact with because of my blog.

I started blogging because I wanted to remember everything that I was going through while I was having some MASSIVE life changing moments. I didn't really know how else to deal with the emotions that I was going through other than blogging about them. None of my friends were going through what I was so it was nice to get it off my chest. Now I've met some really great friends through blogging and I have SO many more people to talk to about my life experiences. Not to mention it's so nice to get encouragement from others when you're trying different things in life.

I'm so happy to have been blogging for 3 years and I hope to have many more to come in the future!

If you would like a blast from the past please read my first blog post ever!
First Comes Love Then Comes...

31 Days to Clean - Day 9

Day 9 - Confronting Laziness

I have to admit .... I can be lazy every now and then. I just love not doing ANYTHING. Especially when I'm at home and have the best couch to be lazy on. That being said...laziness is the snare we willing step into. It's hard not to be lazy when you work full time, go to school, cook, clean, raise your kids, etc, etc...  We all have to confront this daily. I know I'm not the only one that struggles to be productive every day. If you find yourself struggling with being lazy, the first thing you need to do is confess that sin to the Lord. Allow his grace to wash over you as you seek to have a spirit of diligence and reliance on the strength of Jesus.

Colossians 3:23 is a great pick me up verse
"Whatever you do, do it wholeheartedly as though you were working for your real master and not merely for humans."

Mary Challenge:
Every time you find yourself saying "I will do that later," You need to stop and pray, asking God to give you a spirit of diligence. Then with an obedient heart, go to work. If (and when) you fail, allow His grace to lift you up and being again. I know you can do it!

Martha Challenge:
Kitchen - Sweep, vacuum, and mop floors. Add some fresh flowers to brighten your day.

Day 8 Results

I only have two drawers in my kitchen and one is for my silverware. I keep that clean and wiped out so I didn't have to do anything to that but I have the dreaded

JUNK DRAWER

Here is all the junk that was in it.

It doesn't look like much of a change between the before and after but I threw a lot of the junk away. I really need to get some drawer organizers for it but I haven't had time to go by target to find any. Once I find them I'll take another picture. But now I can actually see what's in the drawer.

31 Days to Clean - Day 8

Day 8 - Overcoming the Curse.

Yesterday we talked about the Curse and horrible it is. SUCH a downer. Not one of the best pick me ups for the week before Aunt Flo comes to visit and I'm already starting to get the "I hate cleaning" feeling back. But, I've pushed through both problems and have stuck with it. Even though I didn't get to post on time the last few days I have actually been keeping up with both the 31 Days to Clean challenges as well as keeping what's already been cleaned organized AND doing my laundry (yes mom I have even been putting it away when it's done). The Curse leaves us feeling the way you do when you have the cleaning blues. Here is how to overcome this and help keep us motivated:


Keep you eye on the eternal value of your work.

If we look to Christ in everything we do, then not only does what we do have value here on earth, but it holds it's value for eternity. That means this will literally last forever!

James 1:2-4 tells us:
"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

How we take care of our house - how we stay on task - is all about your response to God. God gave us our house. He also gave us (women) the ability to give LIFE to them! We have to chose what our response to Him will be. We shouldn't respond grudgingly and feel hopeless because it's just another "rule" to follow. Which is exactly how I used to feel about house work. But, we should thank God for the goodness and blessings that he has given us. He knows our weaknesses, and He's not looking for you to be perfect. He already sees us as saints if we are covered in the blood of Jesus. Taking care of your house is something to be joyful about and that we should take honor in. It is ultimately something that will lead us towards a Christ like character and humility.

Mary Challenge:
Think back to a time when God refined your character through difficult circumstances. Write it down and thank Him for His faithfullness.


Martha Challenge:
Kitchen - Clean out and organized your drawers.

Day 7 Results

Since I don't really have a pantry I decided to clean the pot rack we use on a regular basis that is in our kitchen. There was SO much junk on it and it's always such an eye sore with all the stuff that is always littering it so it felt really nice to get it clean and looking nice again.

Check out the results!

31 Days to Clean - Day 7

Day 7 - The Curse

Sorry I didn't get this posted. I will post results from day 7 tonight as well as day 8 and day 8 results. I wasn't feeling 100% yesterday so I cleaned and then went to bed.

Anywho...

Day 7 we talk about The Curse. What is the curse you ask?
Lets start this way.
Have you ever...
Wondered why it's so difficult to keep your house clean and to keep on task?
Wondered why you feel like no matter how much you clean or how hard you work, things always seem to just get messy?
Wondered why you feel depressed and overwhelmed at the work the just keeps getting bigger and bigger?

Friends, that right there....is the curse.
If read Genesis 3:17-18 it tells us about the curse that God put upon us.
"Then to Adam He said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat from it'; Cursed is the ground because of you; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. "Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; And you shall eat the plants of the field..."

Because Adam sinned (it's his fault, not Eve's, because he was supposed to be responsible for life and work in the garden before us girls were created) our homes go against us as we have rebelled against God. Everything is heading to decay, and we are striving against it. No matter how many clothes we wash, there will always be more to be cleaned. No matter how many times we dust, it will always become dusty again. These are all parts of the Curse.

Work is no the Curse, unproductive work is!

Characteristics of the Curse include the following:
-everything is working towards death, decay and disorder.
-unproductive work destroys your labor
-pollutions pictures sin
-evil is temporary and abnormal

Mary Challenge:
Read Romans 8:20-21 and find what the hope is in the Curse

Martha challenge:
Kitchen - clean out and organize your pantry.

Day 6 Results

Day six was cleaning and organizing my cabinets.
Since I only really have 2 cabinets that have food in them I kept my Tupperware/Pots and Pans cabinets for today (Day 7). I had no idea how easy it is to go through your cabinets and just organize them. It literally took me all of maybe 15 min for each set of cabinets. It was so simple to do. I made sure everything was still good and not expired and I organized everything so it's easy to read what the item is. Then I just put it all back in there the best way I could. I think they look MUCH better than they did before. Check it out!

 Click on the images to enlarge them.

I felt like I had so much more room once everything was actually organized and not just throw in there. Whew! What a relief!

SEMO Bloggers!

SEMO Bloggers had their FIRST MEETING yesterday!

It was such a great success! We all had so much fun getting to talk to everyone about the various blog topics and getting to know everyone that much more. So glad everyone could join for the first meeting. Hopefully we will get more people (those who don't blog too) to come next time. Enjoy some pictures from the event!

 Emily at Love Woke Me Up This Morning had this awesome salad. Doesn't this look good? It tasted even better! Calix has some AWESOME food if I do say so myself.

 Nothing like some blogging with good friends!

 We felt SO official with your reserved sign and eveything!

 From left to right: Lauren with Livin' On a Prayer, Leslie with Life Told By Leslie, Emily W with Emily, Derek, and Stratton, and Emily H with Love Woke Me Up This Morning. Not pictured is Bobby with Purveyor of Positive.

We had such a great time and I can't wait until next month to meet up again and hopefully see some more new faces!