[organize chaos] a little laundry room love

I am a procrastinator by nature. Don't even get me started on how crazy I drive myself sometimes. But!  When I know something has to get done, I can get it done, and get it done fast!

About two weeks ago our dryer broke. I had to call a service technician to come take a look, but I was embarrassed for him to come. Why? Because my laundry room looked like this:

                                 

A mega mess if I have ever seen one. The poor guy wouldn't have even been able to get in. I knew I had to get to work! Luckily, I had my sidekick to help.

                                 

I took every single thing (besides the W and D) out of the laundry room and swept the floor. I really need to get behind the W and D, but for now the dust monsters are out of sight and out of mind. 

Next it was time to sort all of the junk! I threw away some things, bought a new basket and some organizational wall mounts and got to work putting the stuff that belonged in the laundry room back in the laundry room!

Along the way I had some mis-haps. I tried to channel my mister-fix-it father, but I ended up with four not level holes in the wall... Those are out of sight/mind for now too!

Aren't you dying to see the "after pictures?"

                                

                                

                                

                                

It feels so good to have this little room all tidy! 

learning from the Lord

I have never felt like I was a Christian who had all of "it" together in terms of my relationship with Christ. It's usually a pretty up-and-down roller coaster of commitment on my part, and to be quite honest I have never figured out how to have the perfect "quiet time." I have often blamed this on the fact that I never exactly learned how to have a quite time... only that I should have one. Somewhere in my mind it felt like only the really good Christians had daily quiet times, and I was doing pretty well to go to Bible study, not say bad words and be nice to people I went to school with.

Here's the reality: I may do a decent job of going to Bible study, but I may not always be prepared spiritually to be there. And more ugly truth... I can be as mean as a snake and cuss like a sailor when I feel like it.

In the past couple of years I have started to learn what it's like to "own" a verse or two as yours and meditate on them to get you through a little bit of whatever this life throws your way. Ever since studying the book of James last winter at my church, I have clung to James 1:2-4.

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

 (James 1:2-4 NLT)

And just in the past couple of weeks...

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 

(Romans 8:26-28 NLT)

But just in the last few days I have committed myself to spending time in the Word and in prayer and working through a study on Jesus, and let me tell you... I have learned so much from the Lord. Just in four days! What have I been doing all this time...?

In four short days, I have learned about what I can and can't control. I am a control freak. While I can control some things, I can't control it all. The rest is up to God. I have learned that often I condemn others, but I forget that I will one day give my own account of this life I have lead. (Romans 14:11) I have learned that God is The Healer, but we must wait on his timing. (Luke 5:12; Isaiah 64:4; 1 Corinthians 2:9) This is especially hard in a world of instant gratification! And today I learned that I can be oh-so full of pride. That as I am busy striving to keep it all under control on the outside, I could so easily be rotting on the inside. In Beth Moore's "Jesus: ninety days with the One and Only," she says this:

"Given the right set of circumstances and the wrong state of mind, each of us is capable of just about anything. Even if we could get our external lives under perfect and legalistic control, we'd probably rot on the inside with the heinous sin of pride.”

There are so many days where I can see Sarah written all over that!

All in all, I am so very encouraged. And I am so thankful that Jesus is opening up my eyes. I can't wait to share more of what he will teach me!

Maybe you need encouragement today... I can tell you one thing. Spending time with God doesn't have to be so fancy like I used to think, or only reserved for the really good Christians. It can really be just as simple as opening God's Word - and opening your heart - and allowing our Creator to speak to you.

t.i.g... baby!

Considering I have been home from Guatemala for over a month now, it's definitely time to blog about my little journey.  Several people have asked how the trip went, and my response is always the same.  "I am ready to go back!" And it's true.  I can't wait until my next trip... And there will be a next trip!

Our journey began on Saturday June 8th with a shuttle ride to the Fort Smith airport - did you know this airport has award-winning restrooms?  Well they do.  And if the start of the trip were any indicator of how the rest of the trip was going to be, I should have known right then it would be awesome.  After a quick Starbucks and McDonalds run at the Dallas airport, we boarded our flight to Guatemala City.  Three hours later, we were on the ground, navigating through customs and making our way to the hotel.  After freshening up a bit, we met our driver for the week - Arcenio - and headed out to the city of Antigua for dinner and ice cream.  My first efforts in communicating en Espanol occurred in Antigua when asking about the ice cream flavors... "que tipo?"

The Arch in Antigua

On Sunday morning we headed out to the city church for morning worship and lunch.   That afternoon our group loaded up on the bus and headed out to the village of Santa Luisa along with another bus of amigos from the city church.  We attended the evening worship in Santa Luisa and met some of the kids we'd be hanging out with for the next couple of days.  On our way back into the city we stopped at a restaurant that served "meter pizza" - and for this little math geek, it was pretty great.

"Welcome Brothers and Sisters from Arkansas"

Monday morning began with a trip to the grocery store and city church to purchase supplies for and assemble our sandwiches for lunch that day.  I believe this was the morning that a few members of our group nearly got ran over by a bus... named Dolce Jesus.  From that moment on... we were always on the lookout for the bus that read "Sweet Jesus."  After our sandwiches were packed, and our team was safe and accounted for, we headed back out to Santa Luisa for a day filled with medical clinics, construction and hanging out with kids.  That afternoon there was a huge storm that brought in a nice breeze and rain... and lightning that may or may not have traveled through the metal roof we were under.  The Guatemalan kids thought it was funny to hear the white girl from Arkansas scream.  (If any of you are still wondering who the white girl from Arkansas might be... she looks a lot like me.)  These kids also love playing a little game called Pato, Pato, Gonzo... can you guess?  We played A LOT of Duck, Duck, Goose in Santa Luisa!

We had a similar schedule on Tuesday as we did the day before, with the addition of playing soccer at the kids' school.  Let's just say that the group of ladies who volunteered to go to the school was probably not the group that you'd pick to be on an Olympic soccer team.  Or at least this sweet teacher who wanted to visit the school isn't the girl you'd pick to be on an Olympic soccer team.  I don't think I have ever been so hot in my entire life!  My favorite quotes from this futbol match include...

"Ladies!  We just got skunked by a bunch of kids!  Be aggressive!"

and,

"Sarah, do NOT jump over the ball."

... courtesy of my pastor, Jonathan.  :)

It was sad leaving Santa Luisa Tuesday night knowing we would not return the following day.  But I took great comfort in knowing that I will return some day.  As I was leaving I gave Sister Yolanda a hug... it touched me to know that even though we could not communicate with words that we didn't end up needing them.  A hug said it all.

Futbol Field at the Santa Luisa School

Pato, Pato, Gonzo!

I wanted to take this cutie home with me!

And this little sweetie too!

Wednesday morning began with a stroll down paparazzi lane.  There was a PAGEANT going on in the mall next to our hotel.  I am super intrigued by the pageant world of Toddlers and Tiaras... and I could not stop staring.  They didn't seem to mind.

Little Miss Latin America

Mister Venezuela of course!

On our way out to the mountaintop village of Bejucalito we stopped at a gas station with the last clean toilet.  This is where I began my carer in petty theft by stealing a Sprite from the convenience store in front of an armed security guard.  Apparently I have a knack for petty theft... who knew?  It was a total accident, and as soon as David pointed out that I had exited the store with the merchandise - ironically trying to get enough cash to PAY for the Sprite - I quickly entered undetected, paid for my Sprite and thanked Jesus that I hadn't been caught!  (Luckily the guard had been grilling another girl from our group about her granola bar purchase, and my little charade went undetected.)

Once we arrived in Bejucalito, our medical clinic set up and the Jesus Film was shown to the kids at school.  This was the first time that our church has formally presented the Gospel in this village.  After the film we continued with more soccer playing, frisbee throwing and nail painting.  One thing I thought was sooooo neat about this village was that it had been visited by TOMS shoes!  Lots of the kids were wearing them.  I love TOMS, and now I love them even more!

Just a little exponent lesson in Bejucalito :)

TOMS 

Thursday we headed out to another village near Antuigua called San Filipe.  We visited a school ran by an organization from the UK and helped out at coffee plantation.  We got to learn how our friend Pabs performs a coffee tasting - very interesting (and gross!) stuff!  After spending the afternoon at the coffee plantation, we went back to Antigua for some market shopping and dinner.

At the coffee plantation...

Antigua, Guatemala

Our designated "Adventure Day" was on Friday - even though we had been having adventures all week!  We made our way to a lake surrounded by three volcanoes, and took a boat ride into a port across the lake.  We shopped around for a little while, climbed back on the boat, made our way back across the lake and ate lunch at a place called Casablanca.  We had Pizza Hut Friday evening for dinner and began packing our things to head back to the States.

View of the lake

Tossed by the waves!

Coca Cola stop at the market

A friend of Dolce Jesus... these fancy school busses were everywhere!

We had an easy travel day back to the US - other than the pilot who accused me of stealing chips at Subway.  He must have heard about my reputation... We made it safely back home and picked up our pup at doggie daycare on the way.  I had missed my buddy.

Overall I think that my high school Spanish teacher Senora Karraker would be proud of my attempts to speak a language foreign to me... or she'd be really embarrassed and disappointed.  It could really go either way.  But when it comes right down to it, hugs and smiles and laughter don't need much of a translation.

Like I said earlier, I really can't wait to go back.  I had such a great time.  One moment that stuck out the most to me was on Sunday morning during the worship service.  We attempted to sing the worship songs in Spanish - but sometimes I gave in and sang in English.  And then it hit me.  "This is like Heaven."  Every tribe.  Every tongue.  Every nation.

[organize chaos]: organizing myself and (hopefully) increasing productivity

I have been on summer vacation for a week.  So far, I've taken a trip to Indianapolis with my mom and grandma to see a cute new cousin and his super smart (and absolutely adorable) big sister and visit David's family, including our sweet, sweet nephew.  And just this past weekend, David and I went to my parents' house with one of my favorite people Kelsie and her husband to enjoy some time at the lake.  In just four short days we will be leaving for Guatemala with our church for a mission trip, and I am just so excited.

But on the 4.5 days I have actually had time in my house to - I don't know - ORGANIZE and CLEAN it like I've been griping about for THREE YEARS, I have found that trashy Reality TV on Bravo is just SO MUCH more appealing.  Seriously.

I drive myself crazy.

What am I proud about?  I have taken some time to decompress.  To sleep in... to lounge around.  To reset.  It seems so silly to say, but I have needed it.

What else am I proud of?  (I can tell you that it's not that I have ended my past two questions in prepositions...)  But I did make a budget for David and me for the month of June!  It's nothing fancy.  Mostly just a list of bills and other expenses and how much we have left over for the entire month to spend on gas and groceries.  And I cooked last night!  And I am planning to cook on Thursday!  That's two meals in one week.  Watch out world.

So where would I like to be in terms of organizing myself and increasing productivity?

     1.  Sticking to my to-do lists!  I am great at making them, but not always so great at checking off the     boxes...
     2.  Carving out "me" time.  This is an easy one right now.  I've got all day!  But I need to get into the habit of finding a few bits of time each week to read or journal or have coffee with a friend.  You can't be productive if you are worn out!    3.  Creating (and sticking to) a budget each month!
     4.  Making a schedule (or two or three!)  The goal... a monthly menu and cleaning schedule!  Yikes!

And since this is my first "real" summer off in quite awhile, I am totally open to any advice or suggestions regarding how to ditch the Reality TV and put my booty to work!

under a rock

Oh. My. Goodness.

It has been a minute or two since I blogged last. (i.e. at least three months - woah.) It feels like I got sucked into a vortex of busyness... And a lot of life has gotten in the way of quiet moments. In an attempt to crawl out from under my rock and recommit myself to this little blog of mine, let me give a quick recap of the past quarter of a year.

I fasted from Facebook for forty days. I can live without it. However there is still much work to do in this area of my life... Social media so easily takes on the role of an idol in my life. An easy trap to make me an ineffective follower of Christ.

I celebrated Pi Day. (March 14 ~ 3.14) And it was great. Other than the pi(e) I took to school was not the crowd pleaser I'd hoped it'd be.

David and I went to Dallas for a hockey game (my first!) Sarah's rules: follow the puck. Any tripping,  fighting or hitting someone else with your stick gets you a time-out.

Hamilton Turner Camp celebrated his third birthday. We sure do love our pup.

I chaperoned Prom. Took lots of great photos of my students and did the Cupid Shuffle.  I was not the only teacher showing off my sweet shuffle moves.

I was invited by such a sweet student to a Teacher Appreciation Night. It was such a special event and came at the perfect time. I was on cloud nine for a week!

School is winding down... Just seven days left. Overall I have had a great year back in the teaching world! I work for an amazing school in an amazing department.  I. Am. Blessed.

And so looking forward to summer break and the "rest" it will bring. I know it will be good for the soul.

Have a wonderful week, my friends.  I hope to not dwell under my rock for so long this time around!

forty-day facebook fast

In 26 years on this planet, I have never participated in the season of Lent.  Growing up in a Southern Baptist home, it’s just not something we did.  In fact, I didn’t really even know about Lent until I was in high school, and had a friend give up chocolate before Easter.  I still did not participate in Lent when I was an intern at the Wesley Foundation – probably much to the horror of my fellow interns and mentor. ;)

I hadn’t even planned on participating this year… until I was driving home one night listening to the radio.  It was a Focus on the Family program, and they were talking about the upcoming holiday season and how to get your family and kids involved in what Easter is really all about.  One of those ways was to participate in Lent as a family.  For whatever reason, it hit me that this may be something I needed to do this year.  I realized there is something that I could sacrifice for a short (6 weeks?!? – not that short, but not that long!) period of time. Not to go on a diet… and not something easy to do (the radio host joked about giving up Brussels sprouts), but a true sacrifice. 

Facebook.

Dear old Facebook.

I’m coming to the realization that I know way too much information about other people’s lives.  Not good friends… people that I haven’t spoken with in ten years.  I do not know these people any more… but I talk about them like I do.  I will call my mom and say, “So-and-so said this on Facebook.” Or, “Did you know, [insert name here] is pregnant/engaged/married/divorced/living in a van down by the river?”  It’s just crazy.

I don’t think God minds that I have a Facebook account.  In fact, I would have to guess that Facebook fits nicely into the Great Commission.  Technology and social networking are making it easier for us to reach “the ends of the earth,” which we are supposed to do as Christ Followers.  But I think that God does have a problem when I treat Facebook like an idol.  Which, if I am honest with myself, I do.  When I spend exponentially more time on Facebook than I do in God’s Word, I’m pretty sure that counts as an idol, and I’m pretty sure He is not okay with it.

So at midnight my Forty-Day Facebook Fast will begin.  I will be deleting the app from my phone and tablet.  It’s my hope that each time I am tempted to scroll through my news feed or update a status I will spend time in prayer instead.  I am also starting a 90 day study on Jesus, and am very excited about this!

I will not be fasting on Sundays, and plan to continue blogging and using instagram.  (So if you see an instagram update on a Sunday - I haven't given into temptation!)

I am so very excited about this time of fasting and growth.  I know God has something great in store for me during these next forty days, and can't wait to share that with you all!

[organize chaos] closet clean-out (#1)

I started with my closet. No, it wasn't the first item I initially had on my list. But it needed to be done. Desperately. I love to shop, and had a shopping weekend with my mom in Branson a few weekends ago. The Banana Republic Factory Store is a little heaven-on-earth for me.

Here is the problem I have when I shop: I bring new items into my closet... But never take old items out. I still have items in my closet from high school. They do not necessarily fit... But I always kind of hope that maybe one day they will again. I also have items that DO fit, but are never worn. But because they DO fit, I feel compelled to hang onto them.

And so my closet is over-stuffed, unorganized and is in need of a little make-over.

I was fortunate to have Martin Luther King Jr. Day off school this year. I seized this opportunity to get busy!

 "Before..."

First I cleared the floor. I have a terrible habit of hoarding things in my car. Whenever I "clean out" my car, I usually dump everything into a bag, and then when I "pick up" my things in the bedroom, those bags get moved to the closet floor. Another interesting item on the closet floor: the Anheuser-Busch bag containing all of my possessions from my last job at JB Hunt. For six months all of my notepads and pens and the teenie beanie have been on my closet floor. Another addition is the bag-o-t-shirts. (This is still on the needs-to-organize list, and still on the closet floor.)

Floor cleared!

Once I could actually walk in the closet, I felt immediate relief. I then took away the flip flop collection that doesn't see the summer sun, sifted through the hangers, took out every dry cleaning bag and straightened out my remaining shoe situation.

Tidy shoes...

Goodbye Bulldog Beach Collection

Next came the clothes. I knew I had to let go. I didn't let go as much as I probably should have, but I managed to take out 2 trash bags full of sweaters, tank tops, flip flops and purses I no longer need.

(Had to bring in the step ladder to reach

the assortment of tank tops on the top shelf!)

I brought in a plastic drawer organizer I have had forever and filled it with shorts, swimsuits and scarves. I straightened out the hanging clothes... All of my tops are by sleeve length. I keep my outerwear by my jeans and dress pants. Skirts and dresses go together - skirts first, then dresses by sleeve length.

(I am terribly sorry if you are bored to death. I have to record the process! If you are still reading - wow! Kudos to you!)

and... "After - Take One"

"...Take Two"

..."Take Three!"

I still need to organize my t-shirts... (see above photo)... And take care of the bags I moved OUT of my closet but INTO another room. But overall I am happy with this first bit of progress!

[organize chaos] the truth: my house is a disaster

In November of 2010,  I started a blog called "organize chaos," in an attempt to create accountability for organizing my home.  This blog never saw the light of day again, and in August of 2011, I converted the original blog into "happy campers."  Ironically enough, the first blog isn't even listed in my archive anymore.  Blogger.com must have known that the initial post wasn't all that important.  Or maybe I deleted the original post because I was too embarrassed by it and now honestly cannot remember doing so.

Either way, here I am starting a blogging series on organizing my home.  FOR REAL.  Because quite honestly, my house is a disaster - and I really can't take it anymore.

I have several theories about how and why my house is in the state that it is.  But in reality these "theories" are really just called "excuses," and it's time for me to do something about it.  There are days I feel that I am thisclose to a "Hoarding:  Buried Alive" nomination.

The sad part is, I love to organize.  I love to be organized.  So what I have allowed to happen in my home the past three years is inexcusable and a little frightening.  I am really great at shutting doors... and shoving things behind closed doors when we have company.  But very rarely do I take the time to deal with the stuff behind the closed doors.  I don't like people to see it... and to know that my house really does look like this:

 my side of the closet...

...verses david's side of the closet

office take one... 

 take two...

 take three... (see why i keep the door shut?)

 christmas and craft clutter...

...this room was clean two months ago!

And so there it is.  I have my work cut out for me, but I know I can do it!  And I'll keep you all updated along the way.  (I can't leave you all to think my house will look like this forever!)

I plan on using a few resources to help me out - "Organize Now," "Fresh Living by Sara Snow," and am pondering purchasing "Organized Simplicity."  I am also open to any organizing advice anyone might have for me!

Time to get busy!  Until next time...

2013... here i am.

"New" Resolutions... 2013 Goals

1.  Organize house FOR REAL.  (Major organizing done by July 1st)

2.  Blog more, read more, journal more... (Stay tuned for a blogging series on Goal #1)

3.  Work smarter, not harder.  (Not a concrete goal)

4.  Start a container garden.  (April)

5.  Should I even mention exercise and healthy eating?  (Luckily I've got some girlfriends on board with this one!)

6.  Eat more meals at home.  (This is the tough one - Tackling Phase One in February)

7.  Paint house!!  And shampoo carpets.  (Taking place June/July)

8.  Complete one craft per month.  (And blog about it too!)

9.  Keep addressing spiritual life.  (My journey with Christ has always had it's ups and downs.  I would love to work through another in-depth Bible study (or two or three!), find better ways to volunteer and continue learning how to trust God with the big stuff and let the little stuff go.)

(If you would like to read the inspiration for this post, visit my friend Kelsie's blog here.)

happy birthday, beautiful

Margaret Jane Lansdown was born on January 1, 1923, making today her 90th birthday. If you have never met my Grandma Lansdown, you are missing out. She is a treasure - one of my favorite people in the whole world.

She loves to read, do crossword puzzles and watch Jeopardy!  She uses mental math to balance her checkbook, and never misses an opportunity to send a card to a friend (or granddaughter).

She is feisty and loving and polite and kind.  She is godly and loves her Savior.  And she is one of the strongest women I have ever known.  She has faced all of the trials this life has had to offer with dignity.  Her faith really could move a mountain.

If you want to know what a Proverbs 31 woman looks like, you need to look no further than Margaret.

posing with her 90th birthday cake

There are a few verses in the Bible that I have often hoped I could live out.  When I think of my Grandma Lansdown and what she means to me, they come to mind.  I can only hope to live them out as beautifully as she does.

"She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.  When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness."  Proverbs 31:25 - 26

"You should clothe yourselves from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.  This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful.  They trusted God and accepted the authority of their husbands."  1 Peter 3:4 - 5

Happy Birthday, Grandma.  At ninety, I'd have to say you are more beautiful than ever before.