Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Ruthless Spring cleaning

Call it Spring fever, call it "tired of my home in dis-array" or call it what you will, but I had had it. I took a week and a half of (yes I DO work, I am a full time housewife!). I went to my husband and told him my plan: No walking, no daily mass, no anything until I got the chaos and clutter under control in our home. About this time he raised his eyebrow, and I responded "Ok I'll make sure we have food and there MAY be clean clothes in the basement, but not ironed :-)

He agreed. So off I went, full speed for days. From 8am to 5pm - the Mount Vernon method. I started on the right from my front door and went through EVERY space, drawer, cupboard and cabinet until it was emptied out, cleaned out and only a select few made it back in. Ah! the serenity of order and peace. Now I KNOW what is in each drawer and cabinet, I don't have to go on a wild goose chase with my husband to find something.

Well, 5 days into it I couldn't keep my eyes open past 8pm, so hubby and I agreed it's time to back down. I am glad. Most of it is done. I'm working upstairs and would like to finish that with the same vigor, but the Lord gave me this message: all good things are done in time. Not with rushing. So, I will do what I can in the frame of my normal daily routine.

Now the exciting part. In this decluttering mode, after a year of praying, we decided to sell our large side by side frig and get a smaller one. Mainly because our home, built in 1929, doesn't have the frig "space" for a larger, 2000, version. The day I went to go shopping and start price checking, I was talking to a friend who I buy eggs from. Fresh, farm raised eggs. Oooh, with bright orange yolks. Okay, enough drooling. Anyways, Roxanne and I were talking about my latest adventure about a frig and we came up with the idea to trade! She could use a bigger one, especially freezer space and I needed smaller and already have a deep freezer in the basement. Hence...I got a new frig, and so did she. :-)

Out with the old...


In with the new..

So, this week I am concentrating on finalizing clutter in the office and linen shelves while getting back to the joys of routines. Tomorrow, Laundry and House blessing day along with shred the mile high mountain of papers.

Decluttering and paring down your home always brings about peace. If you can't do like I've done, and I realize the Lord has blessed me with the time and ablity to do that, you CAN take it one day at a time. Start with a list of all the things bothering you. Break it down by room, then break it down to the top thing to accomplish that day, then the next. Don't get to far ahead, remember...If you ever want to see God laugh, make plans. When I am addressing my list in each room, I tend to mark A B C for Monday, then when Monday is done, A B C for Tuesday. That way if things come up, like Molly has an eye infection so off to the vet we go, it won't mess up a whole week's worth of plans.

My home is coming together, finally. After almost 2 years I am able to settle in. I think we are staying for a bit, at least until the Lord says otherwise.

May God's peace be upon you,
Dee

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Graduation Day!!

We made it to Family Day on Thursday and Graduation on Friday. Kim (Danielle's older sister) flew in late Thursday night. It was great to have both the girls together. Here are some pics, I took to many to post so I will post a few to share. Danielle and Kim drove back with us to Ohio and Kim flew out on Easter. We've had a busy week and as I write Danielle is packing to fly out tomorrow. Next destination: more training in N.C. for the next 3 mths.
I am so grateful a good friend of mine is picking her up at the airport and helping her get all her seabags, etc to the base. Thank you Kim!!

That's all for now. Oh, Sand Flies! in SC at Parris Island. If you ever want to know about them ...don't ask! and be grateful!!! These little buggers actually made it into the museum (as a cartoon) on base. The cartoon depicts them with "iron" teeth. I will just leave it at that!

Hope you enjoy the picture's of Pvt. B. Danielle Peterson:



This was the M.O.T. run (motivational run) at 7 am Thursday morning. Check out the grin!
Danielle's platoon and senior drill instructor, yikes!!
Pvt. B. Danielle Peterson
Her platoon got the trophy for Final PFT, Final Drill...big accomplishment. You go girl! (or should I say girls!)
So, this door has a rich tradition in the Corps. Only recruits can go in it. No one else, for any reason. There are doors on the side for everyone else. Danielle has graduated now and can't enter them. Here you have one retired Marine, after 20 yrs, and one brand spankin' new one..Love ya both!

Danielle's platoon doing a "Pass by" on the parade deck.

Sisters, a bond that can never be broken.

"The" handshake of congrats.

Once off base she wanted to stop at the first place we could so she could change. Hence the Burger King bag. NOT my choice! She got to make her first call and first french fries in 13 weeks. Keep in mind, no phone, no computer, no male contact, no stores, no off base for 13 weeks. Marine training...only the best for our country! (So I'm partial, give me a break!)

God's peace,
Dee

Tuesday, April 07, 2009

3 days until Danielle's Boot Camp Graduation


I can hardly believe it. 3 days until Danielle's graduation from boot camp.

We will get to see her Thursday for family day, that will be the first time since January 12 when she left. She called last Sunday for the first time, and we were gone. (insert really sad face here). That's ok, the Lord allowed Chris to hear her voice and he said she seemed excited to see us on Thursday...so she made it through the Crucible!

We leave this afternoon, driving for 3 hrs then will finish the drive (9hrs) tomorrow. Our hope is we will be back in time for Easter service Saturday night. God willing we should be.

Please keep her in your prayers, and us as we travel.

God's peace,

Dee

Sunday, April 05, 2009

Quote about Proverbs

So a friend in Georgia years ago introduced me to reading a Proverbs a day, I still do this though not as regular as I used to. I have gotten back into it recently and this is a quote that came to mind:

"Proverbs is like a multi-vitamin, take one daily."
by me!

Cute huh?! Though I can't take the credit for it, the Lord gets the glory.

God's peace,
Dee