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Monday, June 18, 2012

Perspective part 2

I actually wrote the last post on perspective a couple of weeks ago, didn't add anything to it, just couldn't bring myself to post it until today. I know I'm so cheeky. I just couldn't post it, without having some sort of results. Like I mentioned in part 1, I just can't fail and posting "my dirty laundry" for all to see and then not following through on those resolutions I made for myself... that would be the definition of failure for me.

So I decided all this towards the end of May, and set these resolutions for myself. So far so good!

1 & 2 Keeping the right perspective & choosing Joy- How easy it is to dwell on the nail polish in the carpet, or the sippy cup that has been hiding under a bed and what once was milk is now a solid, or the tantrums of a 2 year old, frustrations of a 4 yr old and sassiness of a 5 yr old. The title of the blog is the blessing is in the SEED, and this right here is all the perspective & joy I need. I have started printing out quotes and bible verses and have them sporadically around the house as a constant reminder that each and every day is a blessing and not to sweat the small stuff :)

3) Organize/Re-decorate the house- This is where a lot of transformations have changed. The garage and backyard were cleaned/organized. The playroom is undergoing a major change and it's almost done, just needs a few more decorative touches to add some color. Expect a post or 2 soon. :) Steve made 2 trips to the recycling centre/landfill. I'm also in the middle of re-doing my office, I'd like to get the playroom done first and then will finish the office. We took a trip to Ikea and also placed an order online for delivery so we got new furniture for both spaces which is why both are being worked on. Since we had to pay a flat rate delivery fee we wanted to get everything that we wanted to save money.

I also created schedules and printed out morning & evening routine charts for the kids. These are so awesome, it's amazing how much of an impact some pictures, and words on a piece of paper makes! :)

So that's what we've been up to for a couple weeks now, we're a bit excited to have started these projects that we've been wanting to do for so long and not just starting them but we're almost done! The feelings of joy, peace, and accomplishment, ahh it's wonderful.

Perspective part 1

After talking with a great friend on the phone and openly admitting that I stress out about stuipid stuff, but let more important stuff pass by; I'm going to try and change that. How the towels are folded, which toys go into which bin, how the dishwasher gets loaded; little things like this bug me. However things like, filing receipts and important papers, putting laundry away, organizing, meal planning, etc. I always put off until the last minute or don't do it at all and instead have piles of paper or laundry(of course behind closed doors or cabinets so the house doesn't appear to be chaotic.)  I should be grateful that the towels are folded, toys are put away, dishwasher is loaded instead of stressing out that it isn't done "right".

"A pebble held close to the eye appears to be a gigantic obstacle. Cast on the ground, it is seen in perspective. Likewise, problems or trials in our lives need to be viewed in the perspective of scriptural doctrine. Otherwise they can easily overtake our vision, absorb all our energy, and deprive us of the joy and beauty the Lord intends us to receive here on earth." Richard G Scott

 I know I'm not the only one who feels this way, or else there wouldn't be best selling books with the title "Don't sweat the small stuff" out there. Unfortunately stressing out about the small stuff does absorb my energy and it does take away my joy, which is so ridiculous! So, it's time for a change. I'm making some "mid year resolutions" :)

-Remember to keep things in perspective, don't sweat the small stuff
-Always choose Joy
-Organize/re-decorate the house
    -I know this isn't exactly with the theme of this post, BUT, your house is a reflection of you, and when you enter your home you should be overcome with feelings of peace and tranquility. This isn't the case for me. I have feelings of eagerness, anxiety, and sometimes of being overwhelmed. I immediately think of what didn't get cleaned or how this room is not how I like it. Decorating and Organizing just got placed on the back burner, I had other priorities and didn't think that taking time and money away from my family to make a room more homier or to organize a cabinet or 2 was as important; lesson learned!

So here I go letting everyone know another of my imperfections, and for a perfectionist with a type A personality, this is hard to type because if I fail, I won't be the only one who knows it. HA

Friday, June 8, 2012

Playroom & Summer

The kids are out of school this week, for half term. Since they are in a British school they get out of school July 20th and start again the 1st week of September. Since their summer break is only 6 weeks compared to 11 like the American Schools have, they have 1-2 week long breaks throughout the year.

So this particular day I woke up to the sound of giggles, and there was a request for pancakes for breakfast. First things first, a cup of coffee. Then I made pancakes with a fresh fruit salad. Afterwards I turned on the British cartoons while I cleaned up from breakfast. We colored some pictures for Daddy. Had another cup of coffee. Kids played with play doh while I started a load of laundry. Pulled out all the supplies for painting, and set that up. Debated on another cup of coffee. Colored some more pictures for daddy then we played hungry hungry hippos; looked at the clock and it was only 9:30 AM. AHHHHH... what are we going to do for 6 weeks while the kids are out of school? It's definitely time for a summer schedule for the sanity of SEEDD we need a schedule.

We have a section of the living room designated as the playroom, my goal over the next month, before the kids are out of school, is to revamp the playroom. My list is as follows:

~Get rid of small pointless toys
~Organize all toys in new baskets
~Label all the baskets
~Paint the table& 2 stools and get 2 new stools for it
~Hang a shelf for our phone center(the only outlet for the internet & phone is in the corner of the playroom)
~Set up "centers" it works for schools so why not do it at home.

If you have any tips or suggestions on how you survive summer, or plan to survive, lol, Throw them my way for sure & I'll be sure to share any ideas I get. :)