Treasures

So, I have fibbed a little. Just a little though nothing huge, but I feel like I have to confess to you all. I had some small, tiny, itsy bitsy, micro New Years goals. Ok now that it is off my conscience and I don't have to fret about future blogging and slipping that I have created these minute goals.

The Hitch: First of all, I had a lot of clothes; thus these clothes tended to live all over the floor in my bedroom. It was a sea of clean clothes. I promise you they were clean; I have enough sense to put my dirty clothes in the hamper. My clothes had a cycle, they would come home in a bag, be hung up, be worn, put in the hamper, washed, put on the bed to be put away and then it would get too late in the night and they'd end up on the floor. This is a lot to admit here readers; you would think "what happens in the bedroom, stays in the bedroom", but here I am flailing my dirty laundry out there for everyone to see.

The Get Along: I decided that I was sick of waiding through clothes. So the beginning of the year I started washing every piece of clothing that could be washed. With the idea that anything I would be putting back in my drawers and closet is something I have worn in the past 6 months. The things that I haven't worn I was donating to the D.I. (Side note, when we first moved in, I got rid of 4-5 garbage bags of clothes) 30+ loads of laundry and 7 garbage bags later I have completely washed everything! My goal is to keep it up. I have been successful now for 9 days. I have 357 more days to say I completed my goal---and have created a habit that will stick.

The Hitch: I live in an apartment building. This means that Mr. Bailey doesn't like it when I puncture the walls. IIt also means its not a house, so I don't have a lot of places to put things. The consiquence for puncturing the walls is we have to fill them all in when we move out. Dandy eh? For this factor I have been reluctant to put much on my walls. I have a select few things that add some "this is a home" feeling. Thus I have always felt like my house is half complete; like I have boxes hidden somewhere that I still need to unpack. Simply I just felt like our home was half decorated. Some rooms were more coordinated than others and my eyes couldn't handle the look any longer.

The Get Along: The D.I. and Ikea happened in my house. As per my last blog I've been re creating some fun D.I. purchases. We bought some new shelves for the bathroom, three actually. Re- organized the items on the new shelves and I must say it looks pretty spiffy. I put a plant in there, I believe the more plants the better in your home. They are good for you and they make me extremely happy. I also put two bamboo placemats on the wall and hung our sea shell and Kukui nut Leis in front of them. A wonderful reminder of our honeymoon. I made some faux potted plants to put on either side of my television. They are in a rectangle bamboo basket with faux prairie grass. To some, it may look like you are watching television on a safari in Africa, but trust me you are not. We bought all the pillows needed for all of our decorative pillows on our bed. (another goal in itself, to make the bed everyday). I bought another sterilite drawer organizer and strategically placed them in my cleaning closet. Which is also where my water heater is and follows the pitch of the roof. Its kind of like an indoor lean-to. I have organized all my cleaning supplies, wrapping supplies, toiletries ect. Basically I have organized my whole house inside and out.

The other goal that I have is to read the Bible in a year. Drayton and I trade off reading in our Bibles. He in his King James version and I in my English Standard Version. We are diligent in keeping this goal, 9 days into it and our faith as a couple is stronger.

The one thing we purchased that I have not found a home for yet are book ends. Metal ones actually, but they aren't just plain jane book ends. They are "B's". They are Bailey book ends. we simply purchased them for that phrase alone.

There is something ironic about all of this. We have purchased all these things to make our live less stressful, more organized and less hectic. Then, we stumbled upon this: Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ~Matthew6 19:21

I sit here and think "But, but I needed all those things to help me be better; so I could be better for everything else" Okay, Okay there was a lesson to be learned in all that. I found it pretty ironic that my thoughts were else where and then we read that passage.

Until Next Time,
Peace & Love

A Juggling Act

I'm pretty proud of myself. Yes I know, cocky much? Well what I mean is, I'm comfortable with myself. I'm a realist with myself. What I'm trying to relay is this: I know I will never be a size 3 jean, or a size Small shirt. You know what, I'm totally comfortable with that. In fact I like having my hourglass of a body. So I complain about my thunder thighs, and in my Mother's words "A couple boobs going on" All in all I have to thank my wonderful genes for my figure.

I have been comfortable with the way I look all my life. There are people out there with all sorts of pill popping, eating, not eating disorders. The one thing I have never been comfortable with is my personality. I've swayed one way or the other my whole life trying to people please. Would you believe it, if I said I was done? Well I am. Its harder to be who you are in your core 100% of the time than it is to count calories for the week; well for me at least.

What has me filled to the brim and open eyed is I know people and situations that I have to speak a certain way to, or walk on egg shells around, dress a certain way, or not speak in general. Well, I am at fault for bending in so many directions for all these people and loosing myself in the process. Thus, making me uncomfortable with my personality. Trying to juggle the quiet, loud, humble, aggressive, modest, crazy facade from person to person is not worth it. People, I'm not saying that I'm a fake, or that I'm not myself around everyone. I just have realized that I'm a pretty darn good person with who I am; not including all those things to juggle and carry around.

That is what makes us all individual. This is part of me rooting myself in my path. Yes there are times that require tact, respect and softness; though, I will continually stand by my believes no matter the situation or the person. This will be a test of my strength as an individual. It will be an even greater test of relationships, friendships and situations. I pray that the times and people will see who I am, not who I've bent to be.

"So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today to love the LORD your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and olive oil." Deuteronomy 11:13-14

Until Next Time,
Peace & Love

List Making

I am a maker of every kind of list you can imagine. To do lists, Completed lists, Chore Lists, Goal Lists, Budgeting Lists, Thought Lists and even Grocery Lists. This is the very entertaining non-genetic thing I picked up from my Mom. I make lists at any given point of the day. In my head, or on a yellow pad with only a blue pen, or in Excel. It could be that I just love looking at my 3rd grade handwriting; who knows. I have made my 2011 list. Yes, I didn't accomplish much of my assigned 2010 goal list, but those 2010 goals were just minuscule in the big goal I did accomplish.

Here are my goals:

-I want to root myself.

Thats all. Its going to take a bit of grooming, pruning and watering. I think the outcome though will be rather long lasting. For that, I am beyond excited. I have already started to root myself in and man does it feel incredible! I'm thankful I have a comrade in my quest.

ROOT: Noun, Often Attributive /rut/
Beginning: The place where something begins, where it springs into being.

I am so excited, I was asked to make a Prayer Shawl this past Sunday. I started on it last night, and can't wait to see the finished product. I also have started my Grannie Square afghan. She is a beaut, with her 8 squares so far, Let me just say.

Until Next Time,
Peace & Love