40, Happy Imperfections and Letting Go Of Others' Expectations, Part 1

So, it's after midnight so now I can officially say, "I turned forty yesterday." I had this vision of how I wanted to spend my birthday. I wanted to reflect and relax. I don't think that really happened, but I have no one to blame, but myself. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't consider myself to be a people pleaser, instead I would call myself a perfectionist. And that my friends has caused so many problems for me.

Last night, my eldest and I stayed up and cooked and cooked and cooked some more. We made roasted chicken, stewed chicken, sweet potato pie, and Amish sweet rolls. The pumpkin bread, and pumpkin bread pudding had been made the week before and frozen (Sometimes, I surprise even myself). My wonderful friend and neighbor, made us an apple pie, that saved me from having to do it (Thunder said it was "actually really good!") Eldest son made my friends Garlicky String Beans. Yum! And I roasted veggies.

As I was cooking Wednesday night/ Thursday morning, and catching up episodes on of 24,  I realized I was severely tired. I just had these moments when I had fallen asleep and woken up while washing the dishes. I also felt my body falling as I was standing and trying to accomplish different tasks. To be completely honest, I've had a hard time getting back to a "normal" sleep pattern since Baby Z was born. And I had been up very late for the last few nights. I was experiencing what I would describe as severe symptoms of serious fatigue.

When I finally got in the bed, I had no idea what time it was. I just know that I was tired and the last thing I can remember was pulling the covers over my head. I had never felt such complete and utter fatigue before. It was unreal. I woke up at some point to hear my husband leaving to run an errand and Thunder and Princess E arguing about something. I knew it was my birthday and figured all the noise was about some project they were working on. I quickly corrected their behavior and rolled over, My words sounded like they had come from such a far way place and my limbs felt so heavy. I burrowed even deeper into the covers then.

A few minutes later, my husband returned, and shortly after that my birthday procession came up the stairs and woke me with the blend of five voices singing "Happy Birthday" to me. It was so sweet and as tired as I was, I had to remind myself to live in the moment. Over the last few years, this birthday processions and presentation of gifts had become somewhat of a tradition at my birthday and Mothers' Day. Note to all. I'm not really an early morning person. I get up, and it takes a lot to make me joy-filled in the morning since I'm not a coffee drinker.

To Be Continued . . . (Because I'm admitting that I'm fatigued right now.)

So What Stops Us?

I am definitely NOT the expert, but I can speak from personal experience. This blog has been up for a few weeks, and I haven't posted anything in a while because of this thing called LIFE. It totally gets in the way. 

We've been trying to enjoy the end of summer vacation, which means hanging with our besties at the pool or down by the river. It has been great fun. But if I am to be completely honest, it hasn't been just life that's stopping the decluttering. I haven't really been motivated to continue decluttering, because I've been stressed out. We've been prepping for the start of the school year, ordering curriculum, cooking food made with love, and enjoying good books. But the time has come to get back on the wagon.

It's not at all easy. In fact, it's hard to focus on the things we need to do because we live in a world filled with so many distractions. Our commitments can be as fleeting as the shadows. The apostle Paul wrote in Romans 7, 

"When I would do good, evil is present. . . " 

The things that distract us are not necessarily evil, but it's important to prioritize our lives so that we will have time for people and relationships.

                                         

I want to get rid of STUFF so that I can spend more time with my family. I want to be able to walk through the garage without tripping over STUFF. I want to not feel like I have to choose between reading a story to my daughter and "organizing" my STUFF. I want to make time to nourish my creative side without feeling guilty about my room being a mess.

SO WHAT STOPS US?

Us.

Stuff.

I have seen the enemy and it's me.

What are some of the things that stop you from BEING THE BEST YOU or DOING THE BEST THINGS? 

Happy Monday,

Simone

SIMPLY LOVELY LINKS:)

Because Even Kids are Happier With Less

Take the Purge Plunge

Bend don't Break

Brown Shoes & Heart Space

Getting rid of junk takes time and energy, and those things are in low supply around these parts. I've been working out with my eldest late at night, and waking up at 6am with the already terrible,almost two year old. 

Today, she drew on the couch(in purple, no less!), attempted to write on the door (also in purple), climbed onto the table, took her sister's cash, ate about seven clementines, and I could go on...  Fun times! Not excuses, mind you, just stating the facts.

Despite all the above, Jesus taught this in Matthew 6:19, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal" (ESV). Which leads to one question: "How shall I then live?" In obedience to Christ's word or in defiance of it? I do get to choose.

And so I know that everything is a process, but I'm so manic at times, which is not good. The closet is coming along so beautiful that I guess I've been just resting at this point for the last few days, and enjoying breathing deeply every time I walk into that space.

So in honor of forward momentum, I bring you (drum roll, please)this . . .

.

.

.

.

No, folks. Do not adjust your screens. You are, in fact, looking at three pairs of brown shoes. In my defense, they really are three different shades of brown.

I know I don't need all three, but how do I know which ONE to let go.(Let me start slow.) The Carlos Santana's are so cute and comfortable, the Kelly and Katie are so everyday comfy, and works with many different looks, and the Nine West pair are such a great color.But the truth is I've worn them once. Their awkwardly wide around my toes and kinda high.

So, I guess, maybe I can let those go. They'll be out in the garage tomorrow...never to be seen here again...clearing head space...clearing heart space. Okay then. I'm good. 

From Home with Love,

Simone 

Lesson Learned from an Almost Two Year Old & Two Happy Weekend Links

We make so many things more difficult than they need to be. I was gathering veggies for a salad and by the time I turned around, my little Swiper had snatched my cucumber and taken a few bites Then I thought to myself, "Kids are so smart." Why did I need to make a salad? I could have just picked and eaten the cucumber, and some tomatoes. One of the areas where I definitely need to simplify is in the kitchen. I tend to make meals much more complex than they need to be.

Happy Weekend Links:

Eat Real Food and Save $$

The Nourishing Home: How Much Food is Enough

From Home with Love,

Simone

Five Minute Friday: Begin (Again) . . .

"In the beginning was the Word." Yes.

The Word became Flesh and dwelt among us . . ."

Now we can begin again, anew, every morning--

A new beginning with new mercies that we all need.

But we can also begin to give new mercies ourselves,

because beginnings lead to endings.

And so we begin with the end in mind.

The end of all things, and the beginning of all things.

The eternal thing--Love

Which points us back to the One who is Love because

"In the beginning was [Love]."

Happy Weekend.

Simone

Link up here:

Lisa Jo Baker- Five Minute Friday

Day One ~ Enough Already

I've had enough of always feeling like I need more clothes.

They don't satisfy.

Enough of feeling like I need just the right pair of shoes

They don't satisfy.

Enough of holding on

To things I should have let go of long ago --

They really don't satisfy

And Enough of letting go

Of the things I should be holding on to, daily.

Enough of having not having enough time, or energy, or creativity,

Because who can create in all this clutter, with all this clutter.

I need to move beyond the clutter, beyond the junk.

Beyond feeling like my house is one big Sanford & Son episode.

(Though I do live with a LaMont. No, seriously.)

I want to move beyond feeling like

I need to have something newer, bigger, better.

I want to be satisfied with less than Mr or Mrs. Jones.

One day, all these material things will fade away and burn up anyway,

And only one thing will remain.

LOVE!