StuffStuffStuffStuffStuff

Where did I get this idea of being overloaded with stuff? From society? From tv? From Wal-mart? Certainly not from my parents who were the epitomy of "right-sized" and simplistic. Maybe that's it. Maybe I was the pendulum that said "I don't want this" but while it was swinging away never took the time to stop and ask "how far do I want to go?".

Today's simplistic change deals with laundry. While I was folding my 7 year old daughters clothes it hit me that I was folding about 2 weeks of clothes. I do laundry every week. I'm always griping that she changes clothes too often and when she picks up her room in a hurry it really gripes me when she throws clean clothes in the hamper because it's easier than folding and putting in the drawer. My mind started doing the math. There are only 5 days in a school week so at the end of the week I should only be facing 5 school outfits and 5 sets of pajamas and maybe an outfit or two extra, right? As I was folding outfit after outfit after outfit I decided that I had been willingly participating in an out of control process.

Wal-mart bags. Might as well use them for something other than carrying home my guilt from spending too much money, right? I picked out 5 outfits complete with underwear and socks and placed each set in it's own bag. One kit per day. Recently, due to morning struggles, I had resorted to picking out my daughter's outfit for the day and carving it in stone. She and I would agree and once it had been settled, that was it. No changes allowed so the kit idea simply took this one step further.

Next I went to her room. There were clothes on the floor. Clothes in bags on the floor. Clothes on the bed. Clothes hanging up. Clothes in the dresser. Now remember, this isn't counting the FULL laundry basket I had just folded. Can you believe I recently thought perhaps I needed to go clothes shopping for her. Eeeeck! I gathered them up. Emptied the drawers. Next, I placed 5 sets of pj's in one drawer, 2 shirts in the shirt drawer and 2 skirts in the bottoms drawer, 2 pairs of panties in the panties drawer. Remember, all the clothes she should need are in the bags, these are just extra changes in case there's a spill or she wants to relax in something in the evening. I had 4 very full walmart bags left over which I placed in a hall closet away from her access.

Having done all this I fully expect the following rewards:

1.) Quick, silent, easy mornings
2.) No clothes strewn about
3.) A very small pile of dirty clothes at the end of the week (could I possibly only do laundry once every two weeks?????!!!!????? Oh dear heaven let it be so!!)
4.) Saving money on washing supplies
5) Saving time washing drying folding and putting clothes away

I also expect a conversation with my daughter who will be dismayed that she doesn't have access to clothes to change every few minutes. I'm not sure what my plan is there. I really don't want her to feel deprived. Playing dress up is an important part of an imaginative little girls day. She still has access to her play dress up dresses. I will see what suggestions she may have.

Will it work out this way? We shall see. I will report back on Friday.

Love,

Sarah Mommy

Church & School

This is what our church used to look like

This is what it looks like now! A little facelift.
Made new, just like God makes us new inside

Lydia's 1st day of 2nd grade. 2nd grade!

My sweet little bundle of joy that made me a

mommy is 7 years old and that's how she approaches

her day, arms wide open, ready for love, ready for

learning, ready for all good things that she

knows will be coming her way

A little fun after a hard day of learning

Abby started pre-school this week too. Age 3.

She will have to go to preschool again next year. By

the time she hits 1st grade, she will have 3 years of

school under her belt. Isn't that wild?

Howdy Summer 2010

Hello Friends far and wide. How has the year been treating you? For us it's been a mixture of fun, more time at home, money stress, a few health issues for Sarah but overall more blessings than we can shake a stick at. We are still loving living in Kansas. However, I don't remember the heat irritating me in the past like it did this year. We have stayed close to home, my girls are still young enough to be excited about the local swimming pool and Parson's Forest Park. We've taken in the Katy Days Parade, Altamont Flag Day, Mound Valley FlagPole festival, the Indey waterpark, Silver Dollar City and that's what I can think off the top of my head. Hmmm.....no wonder I'm tired!

Wishing you a safe and happy rest-of-the-summer!

Love,

Sarah, Zach, Lydia, Abby & Rosie

Silver Dollar City 1

For the girls birthdays Steve and I took them to Silver Dollar City. Lydia loved the huge bear in the Christmas shop

We spent so much time in that ball cage

Abby and a getting-tired-mommy

more ball stuff

This was a very cool rocking horse

Summer 2010 2

What would fourth of July be without a roll of 1,000 firecrackers?

Zach and his sis, Amy do the honors
Zach -n- Sarah
(at his Dad and Moms)

Shar, Jim & Marilyn smile for the camera, not a small feat after feeding 300 hungry campers 3 times a day for the whole week. Yes, I got to visit Ochelata Youth Camp!!

My Bestest Long Time Friend Shar and her hubby, Bob took time from cooking and cleaning in the kitchen to have their picture taken

Teen and College Choir at Ochelata Youth Camp

Summer 2010 1

It was soooo hot at the Mound Valley Flagday Festival but the Schwan's truck was there handing out free ice cream!! The girls got to hang out with some very best friends, Hannah, Layla, & Olivia
My sweet Abby waiting for her turn in the bounce house

Pony rides are the best!!!

My experienced horse-woman Lydia

To beat the heat we head to Indey WaterPark

(mommy LOVES the lazy river)

Hot Air Balloon

The Land Of Aahhhs Hot Air Balloon Club hosted a $5 per ride night last night. Zach and I took our first Hot Air Balloon ride. It was awesome. The balloon above is being inflated.

An up close look at the tethered balloon ride while we were standing in line

In the balloon!! This is what it looks like when you look straight up while riding in the balloon

A quick picture while we were rising

I snapped a quick picture of the group after us while we were walking away. I want to do it again. It was an awesome feeling to be up there. A very smooth ride. I'm hooked