Today marks the end of possessions month. It's not really over, though, for two reasons. 1) Due to bronchitis, a few migraines, and a pretty hectic January, we still have a few areas in the house to finish sorting. 2) I (we) want this to be more of a lifestyle/heart change than a one time "fix". If things go back to the way they were, this month has been for naught. As we move on to the next phase of our version of the 7 experiment, I pray we take this month's lessons with us. I don't want to collect more closets full of stuff I don't need (or even want). I don't want to teach my daughter by my choices to chase the American dream instead of Christ. I want my new motto to be "Just because I can have it doesn't mean I should."
In other news, food month begins tomorrow. I really enjoyed today. As in, crab cakes, cupcakes, pasta... Sigh. So long, cupcakes. Hello, spinach and sweet potatoes...
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Food month is coming...
February is quickly approaching, so I thought I'd go ahead and post about food month. Just in case anyone wants to join in and needs to plan a little. ;) The premise of food month goes right along with the rest of 7. In our culture, we have all we need and then some and still pursue more. Case in point: today, instead of eating the food we had at home like we had planned, we decided to pick up something else because it sounded better. Bad thing? Not necessarily. But we're spoiled. Don't like what you have? Get something else.
So for one month, instead of eating anything and everything I want based on cravings, emotions, and convenience, I will eat only 11 specific foods and limit my liquids to water and black coffee. Jen Hatmaker did quite a bit of research on nutrients and whatnot to come up with her 7 foods. I swapped salmon for avocados and added a few more foods. (And coffee, for crying out loud.) Here's my list:
Chicken
Salmon
Eggs
Spinach
Sweet potatoes
Apples
Bananas
Oats
Whole wheat bread
Peanut butter
Greek yogurt
Black coffee
(Salt, pepper, and olive oil on a limited basis)
Andy will be participating in food month. Elisabeth will be, as well, to an extent; as in, she will eat what I cook for dinner. Or when she says pizza sounds good for dinner, she will be told, "No, we are eating what we have."
Before anyone says anything: this is NOT a diet. (Believe me, if it was, it would last about 3 minutes.) This is a deliberate choice to fast from excess. The pizza and chocolate I turn to after a long day. The gummy bears I eat when I am stressed. The latte I get to reward myself. The Chinese take out I get when I just don't want what is already in my kitchen. I'm looking forward to it - choices will be easier to make. I'm dreading it - choices will be limited. I like food; I bake and eat as a hobby and stress reliever. Andy and I readily admit to being food snobs. This isn't going to be easy but I have a feeling it will be worth it.
Here's to the approaching food month. (And on March 1st, let there be cupcakes!)
So for one month, instead of eating anything and everything I want based on cravings, emotions, and convenience, I will eat only 11 specific foods and limit my liquids to water and black coffee. Jen Hatmaker did quite a bit of research on nutrients and whatnot to come up with her 7 foods. I swapped salmon for avocados and added a few more foods. (And coffee, for crying out loud.) Here's my list:
Chicken
Salmon
Eggs
Spinach
Sweet potatoes
Apples
Bananas
Oats
Whole wheat bread
Peanut butter
Greek yogurt
Black coffee
(Salt, pepper, and olive oil on a limited basis)
Andy will be participating in food month. Elisabeth will be, as well, to an extent; as in, she will eat what I cook for dinner. Or when she says pizza sounds good for dinner, she will be told, "No, we are eating what we have."
Before anyone says anything: this is NOT a diet. (Believe me, if it was, it would last about 3 minutes.) This is a deliberate choice to fast from excess. The pizza and chocolate I turn to after a long day. The gummy bears I eat when I am stressed. The latte I get to reward myself. The Chinese take out I get when I just don't want what is already in my kitchen. I'm looking forward to it - choices will be easier to make. I'm dreading it - choices will be limited. I like food; I bake and eat as a hobby and stress reliever. Andy and I readily admit to being food snobs. This isn't going to be easy but I have a feeling it will be worth it.
Here's to the approaching food month. (And on March 1st, let there be cupcakes!)
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Plodding
Plodding is the best word to describe how I've been going through our house. So far, I've gone through three closets, most of the kitchen, the guest room (with the closet and laundry area), and both bathrooms. The most daunting of rooms remains: Elisabeth's room. It scares me...
So just a day or two after my last post (about the lady out of rehab), Andy got an email saying a coworker's house had burned down. She has a son Andy's size, so he went through his side of the closet and was able to take a lot of his clothes to the son.
Last night, Andy and I packed our Explorer FULL of boxes and bags jam-packed with perfectly good kitchen gear, clothing, books, games, puzzles, and house decor to a local place called Abilities Unlimited. AU is basically a non-profit thrift store that works to improve the living and working conditions for people with disabilities.
The kitchen and dining room closet have probably been the most shocking so far. I mean, really, how many potato peelers and spatulas do I need? Don't even get me started on the coffee mugs. I literally packed up at least 25 of them - and still have no fewer than 20 at home. (We kept a good selection of at-home mugs and travel mugs, in case you are wondering why I kept that many!) I got quite a few for Christmas, making it clear that 1) I have a problem, and 2) my friends and family all know and encourage it. So basically, I kept what I was given, but for every new one, I pulled one or two out of the cabinet to give away.
I'm closer to being finished than at the beginning of the month, but there is still much to do. As I was cleaning out the dining room closet last night, I filled two large boxes with "give away" stuff and one BIG trash bag to throw away. One closet. How have I accumulated all this stuff and not noticed? I'm hoping my eyes will remain open and I can prevent it from happening again. If you've seen me out at Target lately, you probably have heard me say things (out loud!) like, "Jennifer, you don't need that" or "You don't even really like that - put it down!". Please, Jesus, keep my heart soft and my eyes open. I'm ready to walk out of the "things" trap and stay out of it.
We are making our way quickly through January, which means food month is fast approaching. Details about the food month layout will be coming soon. For now, I suppose I need to gather all my courage and step into Elisabeth's room...
So just a day or two after my last post (about the lady out of rehab), Andy got an email saying a coworker's house had burned down. She has a son Andy's size, so he went through his side of the closet and was able to take a lot of his clothes to the son.
Last night, Andy and I packed our Explorer FULL of boxes and bags jam-packed with perfectly good kitchen gear, clothing, books, games, puzzles, and house decor to a local place called Abilities Unlimited. AU is basically a non-profit thrift store that works to improve the living and working conditions for people with disabilities.
The kitchen and dining room closet have probably been the most shocking so far. I mean, really, how many potato peelers and spatulas do I need? Don't even get me started on the coffee mugs. I literally packed up at least 25 of them - and still have no fewer than 20 at home. (We kept a good selection of at-home mugs and travel mugs, in case you are wondering why I kept that many!) I got quite a few for Christmas, making it clear that 1) I have a problem, and 2) my friends and family all know and encourage it. So basically, I kept what I was given, but for every new one, I pulled one or two out of the cabinet to give away.
I'm closer to being finished than at the beginning of the month, but there is still much to do. As I was cleaning out the dining room closet last night, I filled two large boxes with "give away" stuff and one BIG trash bag to throw away. One closet. How have I accumulated all this stuff and not noticed? I'm hoping my eyes will remain open and I can prevent it from happening again. If you've seen me out at Target lately, you probably have heard me say things (out loud!) like, "Jennifer, you don't need that" or "You don't even really like that - put it down!". Please, Jesus, keep my heart soft and my eyes open. I'm ready to walk out of the "things" trap and stay out of it.
We are making our way quickly through January, which means food month is fast approaching. Details about the food month layout will be coming soon. For now, I suppose I need to gather all my courage and step into Elisabeth's room...
Thursday, January 3, 2013
And today, I almost cried...
Today's plan was this: finish the kitchen cabinets and finally start on the dresser in our room. I thought I'd come home at lunch and work in the kitchen some more. God had other plans.
When I got to the office this morning, I asked about a lady with whom our church has recently become acquainted and whether or not she needed any clothes. As it turns out, she had already been given some clothes, but there was another lady who was in need of help. As in, she had nothing. She was sleeping on a mattress she pulled out of a dumpster. (And she has a 2 month old daughter.) I was given her name and phone number so I could find out what size she wore. After getting over the "this is going to be so awkward!" feeling, I called the number and her mom answered. I was eloquent (or not). "Umm, this is a strange phone call, but a guy from my church said your daughter needs clothes. What size does she wear?" As God would have it, she wears pretty much my size! I had SO. MUCH. FUN. going through my closet and drawers picking things out for her! Pants, skirts, cute tops, casual tops, dresses, shoes (I'm hoping they fit), jewelry, purses, Bath and Body Works stuff. Another friend brought some clothes. I had been planning on just taking it to Goodwill or Salvation Army (totally nothing wrong with that), but instead got to give them to someone I can pray for by name. How cool is that???
My heart is overwhelmed today by how God works - how my little plans change and how He allows us to be involved in His Work. I don't know that I've ever had a better lunch hour. I'm praying the clothes work and that this precious lady will be able to continue on her journey with God in better living conditions - and raise her daughter to know the God Who loves her, as well.
Please know, the last thing I want from this blog post (or any others) is a pat on the back. There are others in my church collecting furniture and kitchen items and bedding and all kinds of things for this family. I have been humbled today by God's timing and planning - that He would place this family in my path at the beginning of possessions month and that she is my size is just like Him. I'm not surprised, but I am amazed. Thank You, Lord, for choosing to use Your children.
P.S. And we can scratch the title. While typing out today's events, I did cry... :)
When I got to the office this morning, I asked about a lady with whom our church has recently become acquainted and whether or not she needed any clothes. As it turns out, she had already been given some clothes, but there was another lady who was in need of help. As in, she had nothing. She was sleeping on a mattress she pulled out of a dumpster. (And she has a 2 month old daughter.) I was given her name and phone number so I could find out what size she wore. After getting over the "this is going to be so awkward!" feeling, I called the number and her mom answered. I was eloquent (or not). "Umm, this is a strange phone call, but a guy from my church said your daughter needs clothes. What size does she wear?" As God would have it, she wears pretty much my size! I had SO. MUCH. FUN. going through my closet and drawers picking things out for her! Pants, skirts, cute tops, casual tops, dresses, shoes (I'm hoping they fit), jewelry, purses, Bath and Body Works stuff. Another friend brought some clothes. I had been planning on just taking it to Goodwill or Salvation Army (totally nothing wrong with that), but instead got to give them to someone I can pray for by name. How cool is that???
My heart is overwhelmed today by how God works - how my little plans change and how He allows us to be involved in His Work. I don't know that I've ever had a better lunch hour. I'm praying the clothes work and that this precious lady will be able to continue on her journey with God in better living conditions - and raise her daughter to know the God Who loves her, as well.
Please know, the last thing I want from this blog post (or any others) is a pat on the back. There are others in my church collecting furniture and kitchen items and bedding and all kinds of things for this family. I have been humbled today by God's timing and planning - that He would place this family in my path at the beginning of possessions month and that she is my size is just like Him. I'm not surprised, but I am amazed. Thank You, Lord, for choosing to use Your children.
P.S. And we can scratch the title. While typing out today's events, I did cry... :)
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Day One: Possessions: Go!
Confession: Day One began with me rolling out of bed and joining approximately 2.5 million other people at Dillard's for their New Year's Day sale. I was hunting a purse and I got one. :) Let's just be clear - this is possessions month, not spending month... :)
Jen Hatmaker's goal with possessions month was to give away - you guessed it - 7 items a day the whole month. It sounded daunting until she hit the month's quota after going only through her closet. By the end the month, her family had given away more than 1,000 items.
Our family is tackling this project a closet, dresser, and cabinet at a time. We will have a few piles - Goodwill, Twinkle Twinkle (a local, twice-a-year consignment where I sell Elisabeth's clothes so I can get her the next size she will outgrow quickly), "I know a great place/person for this", and, my favorite, the "why do I even have this crap?" pile. You know the scene in The Sound of Music when Maria gets to the von Trapp mansion and they ask about her clothes? She says she gave them to the poor. Captain von Trapp asks her about the one she is wearing and she replies, "Oh, the poor didn't want this one!" So far I've only gone through one closet and I've already seen that pile build up and be thrown out. Sigh. Housekeeping has never really been my thing...
Today, I took on the coat closet. The one where things are always falling off their hangers and scarves fall on your head when you try desperately to find matching gloves. I was saddened when I found a jacket I'd forgotten I had because it was buried by ones I never wear. In the end, I pulled out 20-30 jackets, sweaters, and coats (from 3 people!) and distributed them among the piles. A bonus for today's work? If you come to my house, I now have a place for you to hang your coat! :)
I won't be posting every day, but will get on to tell you how God is using this time to work in our family. Tomorrow, I will be taking on a few dresser drawers and kitchen cabinets. If you haven't heard from me in a couple of days, I have probably been buried under VBS t-shirts and a various assortment of kitchen gadgets...
Jen Hatmaker's goal with possessions month was to give away - you guessed it - 7 items a day the whole month. It sounded daunting until she hit the month's quota after going only through her closet. By the end the month, her family had given away more than 1,000 items.
Our family is tackling this project a closet, dresser, and cabinet at a time. We will have a few piles - Goodwill, Twinkle Twinkle (a local, twice-a-year consignment where I sell Elisabeth's clothes so I can get her the next size she will outgrow quickly), "I know a great place/person for this", and, my favorite, the "why do I even have this crap?" pile. You know the scene in The Sound of Music when Maria gets to the von Trapp mansion and they ask about her clothes? She says she gave them to the poor. Captain von Trapp asks her about the one she is wearing and she replies, "Oh, the poor didn't want this one!" So far I've only gone through one closet and I've already seen that pile build up and be thrown out. Sigh. Housekeeping has never really been my thing...
Today, I took on the coat closet. The one where things are always falling off their hangers and scarves fall on your head when you try desperately to find matching gloves. I was saddened when I found a jacket I'd forgotten I had because it was buried by ones I never wear. In the end, I pulled out 20-30 jackets, sweaters, and coats (from 3 people!) and distributed them among the piles. A bonus for today's work? If you come to my house, I now have a place for you to hang your coat! :)
I won't be posting every day, but will get on to tell you how God is using this time to work in our family. Tomorrow, I will be taking on a few dresser drawers and kitchen cabinets. If you haven't heard from me in a couple of days, I have probably been buried under VBS t-shirts and a various assortment of kitchen gadgets...
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