Status Check

So the goal I stated for last month was to simplify, to get the clutter cleared. And how well have I done? Not so well, I'm afraid, but I did accomplish this much:

• Two cabinets cleared out and organized
• Kitchen counter and sideboard cleared once in a major way, and pretty well maintained, day to day
• Yarn stash reduced and organized

Like I said, not so much. But I haven't given up - my goal for the next month is to get the kitchen cabinets done. Surely, I can accomplish that much.

There are times that I marvel that we get anything done around here. I keep expecting the chaos to lessen, but it's not happening. I have to stop myself once in a while to remember that to school age kids in the house means that things may not stay on track. I don't know how Mom did it; I certainly can't. It feels like we all fly from one thing to another. Homework is a major undertaking. Clutter piles up higher than we can keep up with. But there's been time for the fun stuff, too - a couple of bike rides, the long promised trip to Disneyland for Mackenzie's birthday. Life is pretty good.

Name That Town 2

Is this making anyone else homesick?

Name This Town

And do you have a favorite story to go with it?

I guess we didn't pay attention when Conor decided he wanted a bed to sleep in, so he solved the problem himself:

Mackenzie supplied the fuzzy stole for his blanket.

A Lost Tooth & Finished Object

Mackenzie lost another tooth.

And my first "Finished Object" of the year - a Shilling Hat for the Women's Wellness Center.

A Very Good New Year

Only two day old, 2012 has already had its ups and downs. The highlights of the last two days:

A surprise visit from the son of long-time friends and his adorable family.

A bike ride with Christian and Mackenzie.

Going to see "The Adventures of TinTin" and going out to dinner.

We won't talk about the Christmas decorations that aren't put away or the laundry to be down. So far, 2012 is a great year.

Farewell, 2011

And I can't say I'm sorry to see it go. What is it that always makes you think next year will be better? Ah, yes, Hope, and a belief in following the plan God set out for you. There are a lot of lessons in the events of the last year, including:

1. Love your family and be grateful for every second you have with them.
2. Remember that everyone has chosen a path, and if you can't agree with or support that path, let them go on. You cannot change them, you can only pray that the way they're going will lead them where they need to be.
3. Accept the fact that the house will never be completely clean, the work will never be done, and that the world doesn't really care if it is.
4. Make sure you spend at least some time every day doing something that you love.
5 Stop trying to make yourself the perfect person and appreciate the person that you already are.
6. There really aren't very many "things" that you need in your life. Be careful about which ones you let in.

My first goal for 2012 is to purge. I'm not sure how to measure this; all I know is that I'm surrounded by "stuff" that really means nothing to me, and in many ways it makes life harder. More stuff to clean around, more stuff to walk around. I'll check back on this one in a month. How are you starting the new year?

I hope everyone has a great 2012. Love you all.