Trying to clear the clutter... and just keepin' it real

Dishes are never-ending in our house.

This is a common site outside of Jordanne's room. When she cleans her room, all the unwanteds get pushed out into the hallway. I wish I could say inside the room was tidy, but she's a girl in transition. (moving stuff into her soon-to-be-home when she gets married.)

Our spare bedroom which is actually even messier now since I've been trying to purge stuff...it's the room that I plan to use as my sewing room one day. I did hear rumors that Jen is moving back home in the fall, so maybe Jordy's room will be my sewing room. *notice that the window trim is still not finished since the installation of windows 3 years ago. It is the last one to finish and since there is no urgency and hockey season is still in full swing...well, it's low on the priority list.

This is the condition of my bedroom right now. It needs to be dusted and vacuumed with piles of clothes to be put away.

A typical teenage boy's room. In the "west wing" I just close my eyes and shut the doors. Perhaps not the best way to deal with things, but it keeps my sanity. Check out the jar of pretzels! Oh, and FYI, that is NOT a noose hanging from the ceiling...it's a lazy boy's way of turning off the light. Heaven forbid he'd have to walk an extra foot over to the wall switch!

This is what's waiting for me right now. A good day spent doing laundry is always cathartic. Notice the washer is up on a wood block because there is something leaking underneath and with Pat's bicep surgery (and coaching hockey) he hasn't had a chance to order the part. There is a broiler pan under the washing machine which is catching the leaks. NIIICE!

...Just keepin' it real!

Not only am I trying to purge the clutter in my head, I'm trying to clear the clutter in my house. For some reason by the end of hockey season I feel like a frazzled, unorganized mess. During lent, I am working on freeing my mind from clutter. Instead of dwelling on the gloom and doom in the world, instead of worrying about Pat's job situation or being fearful and full of worries, I am dwelling on Philippians 4:8 and refreshing my mind:

>>Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.<<

So while I am attempting to change my mind and heart, I figured I would put the wheels in motion and take some action in my home. My heart, mind, and dwelling place can all be symbolic of the freedom from clutter I am trying to rid myself of during lent.

Uh...except I don't know where to start. Everywhere I look there are piles of stuff, dishes to do, laundry to do, paperwork to be sorted, purged, and filed, dust and dirt to be swept and washed, toilets to be scrubbed...well, you get the picture. It's the end of hockey season and my house has taken its toll. *(Mom, if you're reading this, PLEASE HELP!!!!! I could use your mighty fine organizational skills about now. Don't worry, It's not as bad as Aunt Darlene's house...YET.)

So today I'm going to crank on some music and start with one room, picking up the stuff everyone has laying around... I'm going to forget the fact that I'm overwhelmed and frazzled... I'm going to put a load of clothes in the wash, start the dishwasher, sort some mail.

...BABYSTEPS.

...and I will dwell on good things. Cheerfully... Once I find my rose colored glasses in this mess.