It has been forever...

But I just have to "write it" out loud and don't want to jinx it by telling someone, but I have lost 14 lbs. I am so excited. I have never lost that much on a diet before, just my expanding.... really expanding waistline over the last 10 years. I don't think I have lost enough for other people to really notice yet, but my clothes definitely are looser. I have about 50 more lbs to go so this is just a drop in the bucket, but I am going to acknowledge and celebrate every 5 lbs.

John and I are doing it together it is working for us. He has lost 20 lbs and is starting to feel discouraged because he hasn't lost much this week. But what we keep telling ourselves is "this isn't supposed to be easy or fun or comfortable". It has helped us keep going. We have decided to try something else diet-wise next week, mainly because we have a youth pizza party for church on Tuesday night and camping next weekend and we just don't think it will be realistic to do what we have been doing for the last 6 weeks. So our goal of course is to continue losing weight, but mostly to just keep off what we have lost already.

Keep us in your prayers.

So many things to pray for today...

Luke had his phone stolen/lost at school last week. We have been praying and trying to figure out the lesson in all this, because we do feel God has a plan. I am just asking anyone and everyone to send a little prayer for the return of his brand new phone (literally he didn't have it for 24 hours).

Courtney has been having trouble with some girls at school for the last couple of months. Broken friendships and that sort of thing. She is still struggling and I don't know how else to help her. She continues to be in my prayers as she starts a new week.

Josh's teacher told me this morning that she is expecting her pink slip this week. She is still hopeful that there will be a place for her at another school in the district, but she is fairly new to this school district. My heart is so heavy for her. She is truly an outstanding teacher and I am so sad for her. I pray that she has the strength to make it through this week without too much anxiety and that she isn't informed that she won't have a job next year. Our school will be losing 7 teachers because of the budget cuts. Our school is #1 in test scores and attendance in our district and a big part of that is the teachers. Mrs. Murray is one of those outstanding teachers. I am so sad that she has to leave our school but more than that I just hope she doesn't lose her job.

John and I started a diet on Saturday. It is the craziest diet, but we are encouraged. It is called the idiot proof diet. We follow a diet plan for 11 days and then have 3 days off. You go through a list and choose 30 items that you like and it generates a diet plan for you. It is just the strangest combinations of food. One of our meals on Saturday was bacon, grapes and peanuts. Yesterday was all friut except for 1 deli sandwich. I believe we are expected to lose a pound a day and then gain a few back on our days off for an average of about 7 lbs weight loss every 2 weeks. We both feel so unhealthy. It isn't about not looking good, although that is the majority for me, but now we are feeling unhealthy. We need to do this.

I would appreciate any prayers you can throw our way in these areas.

I bet my dog out-does your dog...

Yesterday Luke ran in the house for a minute and left his cell phone and Ipod Touch outside in the backyard. Well guess who decided to sink his teeth in them? .... you guessed it our all too loveable (not so adored) chocolate lab Chevy. I wasn't home and it is a good thing. Later that evening John said Luke and I are going out. I was a little irritated that not more information was being provided, but didn't say anything. An hour and a half later they come home and I express my displeasure in their absence. John said... I didn't want to tell you, I wanted to handle it myself, but.... Chevy broke Luke's cell phone and Ipod. You could have seen the steam from my ears. I left the room without a word spoken and went in to solve the problem mode. I went straight to the computer to see if the screen could be repaired on the Ipod and in about 1 minute I found that we could get replacement glass for $89... I reported my findings and John couldn't believe what he was hearing. I solved the problem in 2 minutes. I simmered down a little, still not pleased that it will cost $89 to fix it but relieved that I doesn't need to be replaced.... he lives on this thing. His phone didn't fair so well, it will have to be replaced and will cost us $100.

I tell you, if Chevy wasn't the most adorable, loving, funny animal I have ever met he would be in pretty hot water. We should have named him Goofy the way he galavants around the backyard being silly.

My dad called yesterday and said his cocker jumped up on the counter and broke his princess house cake plate. I bet my dog out-does your dog dad.

Luke is 13!

It is so hard to believe I have a teenager..... 13 years old. He is such a good kid, he believes and lives for God, he is smart, good looking, funny... oh my goodness he is funny. And he is everything I ever dreamed he would be. I remember when I was pregnant with him, we decided not to find out what we were having and I just really wanted a boy. When I was a little girl I always wished I had an older brother to look out for me, I was the oldest, and so my first child had to be a boy. I wanted him to be big and strong and athletic and good looking and a good boy, someone who didn't tease and make fun of other people and was still respected. I wanted him to be well liked by everyone because he was kind and smart and strong. He is all of that and even more, he is so in tune with his spirituality. I didn't really think about that part of it when I was dreaming about who he would be as he grew up, but I couldn't be more pleased with this. He prays at school at lunch time, he will take an F on a test on the Islamic religion because it isn't right that he has to learn that in school but he can't learn about about God at school (we have had a talk about the power of knowledge and grades since then, by the way). He goes to church and participates as an acolyte, goes to confirmation every Sunday night, will spend a Saturday with 500 other teenagers learning about abstinence. He is a good boy and I couldn't be more proud of him....

Happy 13th Birthday Luke, you are my dream first child and so much more than I ever dreamt you would be.

More thoughts about Karon

Well, Valentine's came and went, but not without a thought about my sister. She died 21 years ago this Valentine's day and while I didn't go through the day reliving that horrible day, I thought of her.... between feverish naps and rib aching coughing fits. My dad came to visit this year. He retired about a month ago and it was nice having him here. Very relaxing and he didn't once say, I hope I don't get sick now... he didn't leave early like he might have a year ago. He went out to Costco with Josh to pick up a few things and brought me back a dozen roses. What a dad!

Anyway, memories of Karon are always with me, little slips of the tongue when I accidently call Courtney...Karon, shed tears when I think of all the things we missed together. But this year, I am feeling thankful that I had her in my life at all. She has been gone so long, she may as well not have been part of my life, but that is not how I am feeling. Better to have loved and lost than to have not loved at all. Thank you God, for giving me my sister, even for just 16 years. Some day I will hold her in my arms and cry with her for all we missed and all we will still have together in heaven.

Gender orientation ???

This was another topic that was at this seminar that Luke and I went to last weekend. Not a topic that either of us wanted to go to, but during the time slot this session was offered nothing else was offered for the kids so my guess was... they must have something interesting to share. So I decided to go to the adult session on this topic.

I always felt that homosexuality could not be nature, God says it is not right, how could it possibly be something that is "wired". I have not done a lot of homework on this topic so I don't really have anything to offer, but I just have always felt this way. So the speaker on this topic was a counselor of gay men. Their practice is based on christianity and the men who come to him want to change. According to his practice, this is how it happens...

Attachment Trauma. Between the ages of 1-2 y/o a boy is not allowed to explore his boyness. Mom is overprotective and careful and does not allow him to be rambunctious. She may be overpowering and controlling.

Gender identity shame. Between the ages of 3-6 y/o a boy usually expresses shared interests with dad. Boys like excitement and fear and adventure and because he was held back from this during the ages of 1-2 he doesn't have these interests with dad. Dad lets it go and there is no male bonding. Also dad is usually critical and unkind to his son.

Defense Detachment. Between the ages of 6-12 boys and girls usually don't like to intermingle, boys (or girls) have cooties. They share very little in common. Boy finds he has more in common with girls and hangs out with girls.

Now this is all in a nutshell, I could be getting some wording off a little. But the above is considered pre gender type homosexuality. There is also post gender type where everything goes according to God's plan up until the age of 6ish where there is a trauma, such as abuse, which causes the feelings of homosexuality. These men are usually the more male personality of a relationship and the pre gender type are the femanine personality.

This speaker gave all kinds of statistics based on men who want to change to heterosexuality and I didn't write all of them down, but according to him it does work. It is a lot of work, maybe over the course of 5 years... but it does work.

I found all of this so interesting and kept thinking wow, mom's need to know this before they have kids. I say this very light heartedly. Anyway, I found it all very interesting and it seems like a good explanation to support homosexuality as being nurture and not nature.

Anyway, you can find Joseph Nicolosi on youtube. He wasn't our speaker, but he is the leader of this clinic, if you find this as something you might want to look in to more.

Kind of intense topic for kids, huh? EEK. It was for us adults too.

Pam Stenzel - have you heard her speak?

Wow you guys, wow-wow-wow. I really can't say much more. If you ever have the opportunity to hear her speak you need to take advantage of it. She speaks to teens and preteens about abstinence and I have to tell you... WOW. The kids were a little ... YIKES... over her because she speaks loud and frank and directly to the point. DO NOT HAVE SEX UNTIL YOU GET MARRIED. Abortion, adoption, raising the child, STDs, emotions, peer pressure... no ifs, ands or buts about it ... God did not ... no way, no how... God did not intend for sex to happen outside of marriage. You can look on youtube, there are a few of her lectures. But these were hard things for the kids to hear and exactly what parents want them to hear. She shared ideas about how to help your child achieve the goal of abstinence until marriage. She gave the example of saying...

Don't have sex, but if you do... use a condom.

Being like...

Don't steal, but if the peer pressure is just too much and you have to steal,
let me show you how to do it so you don't get caught.

Luke and I went to a Lutheran church-run abstinence program yesterday. This was our second year going at it was from 9:30 am - 9:30 pm, there were 500 people in attendance and 4-5 different speakers on different topics. I would like to share them in detail but it will be so much so I will do them a couple of days apart so you can read and not get lost by the length of my entry.

Look for topics on teen hormones, gender orientation, how to talk to your kids about sex and about our experience overall at this seminar. And if you have the opportunity to see Pam Stenzel she will change your world. God found the perfect person to get his message out. I really hope she is there next year because John needs to hear her. I tried to talk to him about it today and he can't buy in to it, it is so frustrating for me because we have our almost 13 y/o son sitting on the couch talking ot us, saying he wants to commit to being abstinent until marriage and his dad saying it is so not realistic. I am so angry with him right now. If this is a goal for Luke then as his parents we need to try our hardest to help him reach that goal. Pam suggested not letting your child date until he's 16 and then when he's 16, only group dates until high school graduation. Then he only has about 4-5 years (on average) before he gets married to work on this goal of virginity until marriage, instead of 8-10 years.

Did you know that there are 30 THIRTY.... THIRTY sexually transmitted diseases that our kids can catch? I can't remember the exact # of those that have no cure... NO CURE. A large number of women are sterile today because 15 years ago they were having sex and not getting their STDs treated and have left them sterile.

Our kids are kids, they are kids... they should not be having sex, they are too young to have to deal with the consequences of choosing between life and choice and then to have to choose to raise their baby or put it up for adoption. She told the boys that if they have sex, get a girl pregnant and she wants to have an abortion, he has NO SAY in it and if she wants to keep it, by california law he is responsible to pay child support, it is the law now that the father be listed on the birth certificate and his wages will be garnished and he has NO SAY.



Pam Stenzel will be in my prayers in her travels as she tries to reach kids all over the world... that Virginity is Cool! She is amazing. Pam is not a touchy-feely, lovey-dovey speaker. But she can certainly get her point across. I thank God for her and pray that many many people can hear her speak.

I screwed up... ???

I turned on the news the other morning to hear Obama say... "I screwed up" Honestly I am not too critical about what he made a mistake of, but I was shocked to hear those particular words come out of a President's mouth. No the admission of the mistake, but the words themselves. I really am so disappointed. I am still working on the judging thing so I am trying not to be judgmental, but I really feel that our president should be more ... presidential. That particular word is not allowed in our home, it is such an ugly word. It just has not set well with me all week. :(

John's birthday is tomorrow...

and he asked for his mom to make him dinner. That hurt. I realize I am not the greatest cook and that it is his birthday and he should get what he wants. But... that hurt. Now we aren't really talking but not fighting either and it is his birthday tomorrow. How am I supposed to put it all away and help him have a nice birthday?

Everything is okay

What a difference a day makes. I am not sure why I was so full of emotion the last 24 hours. The boys went to school and it was not near as bad as they feared. Luke always can hold his own, but I cried all day (off and on, whenever I thought about Josh). I even called my dad and cried on his shoulder, what a nice experience. I think I am liking his retirement. :) Josh was fast asleep before 9:00 tonight, I am so thankful for exhaustion. He had a great afternoon and evening, and was able to fall asleep so peacefully. When we got home from school I went up to him and gave him the biggest hug and said I am so glad you had a good day and he said, mom, your prayers worked. I have to admit, I wasn't sure they were going to be answered because I prayed so specifically for what I wanted and not just for God's will. But tonight I am so thankful that Josh recognized an answered prayer. I am a very thankful mom tonight.

I am completely drained

Well today did not go so well. We had this plan for a super bowl party, nothing big, but for the kids it was...for 2 reasons. First, they each got to invite friends over to watch the game and second, our team was going to the super bowl. The Arizona Cardinals, who probably never should have made it past the first round of the play offs, according to sports announcers. We let them all (Courtney too) wear Arizona Cardinals jersey's to church, which we would normally never let them do. So it started out, Josh's best friend was 15 minutes late, when he showed up his dad said that the family was over celebrating his birthday could Josh go back with them and have cake and they will bring the boys back here by half time. Josh thought... okay that is fine. So, fast forward to the end. The Cardinals DIDN'T win and Josh didn't get home until after the game was over. He was completely crushed, cried.... literally cried for hours... that his team didn't win and that he didn't get to be at our super bowl party. AND according to him "the kids at school are brutal, they are all rootin for the Steelers". Both he and Luke were crushed and are completely dreading school tomorrow. Can I just let them stay home? Oh my goodness, my heart is completely broken for them, especially Josh. Luke is strong enough to handle the kids, but Josh is still pretty timid and I just want to protect him. I want to let him stay home, or I want to call his teacher and tell her to watch out for him. I prayed and begged God to help the other kids be... not so mean, I prayed that He help Josh be strong tomorrrow, something to help the day not be so bad. That tomorrow morning he wakes up and doesn't remember that "today was the worst day of his life" (those are his words). So he's been in bed an hour now and I am still crying for him.

Remembering Karon

My sister would have been 37 today. We were less than 14 months apart and she was 11 months older than my brother and we did not have enough time with her. She died when I was 17 and she had just turned 16. I don't know why God took her so young, but I have given up wondering. I certainly don't think anything good has come from it, I haven't seen anything that might tell me she saved someone else or anything like that. But I am okay to wait until my day in Heaven to find out.

I still cry and feel her absence regularly, I have pictures of her around my house. My kids know her even though they were far from being born. They know she played soccer and was really good, was well liked by many different kids....jocks, curbies, stoners, nerds. They know her funeral was gigantic, with 100 +/- cars (according to the police officers) and around 300 people. They have visited her grave with my mom and I. They watched us polish her head stone and trim the grass around it and then asked if they could polish some head stones of people who looked like they didn't have any visitors anymore. They know there is a head stone near hers that reads "Just another crummy day", it made us laugh when we saw it on the day of her funeral. They know she overdosed on her ADD medication, they know she experimented with illegal drugs. They know she was loved by me more than I can ever express to them, they know I miss her terribly.

Happy 37th Birthday sis. I wish I could have you in my life, in my family's life, I wish you had a family I could be an auntie and a sister-in-law to. I would have been a good one, I swear I would have. I miss you Karon, I miss you so much.

Well maybe I spoke too soon...

Now I know why I didn't vote for our President. After 3 days in office he has already reminded me why I didn't vote for him... The honeymoon, so to speak, is definitely over. First he orders the closure of Guantanamo Bay and now, according to USA Today, he is planning to reverse the band on federally supported abortions (more or less). This week has been a huge disappointment for me politically.

Finding myself surprised... in me.

I have been completely drawn, almost glued to the TV since yesterday morning. I did not vote for our new president and have some real concerns. But the inaugeration was really great to watch, to see the country all come together in this show of support that we haven't had, to see the previous presidents and first ladies, their families, the outfits, the smiles. And I was even happy to see the human side of this man.

One of my concerns about this president is that the people who supported him seemed to see him as a savior... that he will solve all of our problems and won't make any mistakes. So in this, it makes me wonder if all of these people really believe he is perfect and if they do they must not understand that only God is perfect. I was so disappointed to see that Obama and his wife did not mouth the Lord's Prayer with Rick Warren in the opening prayer yesterday, it made me wonder if he will seek the path that God has for him and our Country. And it scared me to think that maybe he wouldn't.

Anyway, so back to him being human... he stumbled over his oath yesterday and it warmed my heart... not sour grapes warmed my heart, but made me see him in a different light. And this morning in a press conference he made his speech and then said something like, okay now what do I do? Do I sit? And Joe Biden asked, do I just stand here? And can I have the paper to read the oath? And then the president said he wanted to shake his senior staffs' hands and started to make his way down and then decided, no that isn't a good idea you come to me, it will be easier. It was just so... un-planned out, not rehearsed, not planned. It was so nice to see the smiles and laughter about the learning curve, the human-ness of him and I am finding him likeable. I still have my concerns about his agenda, but at least now I feel like I can stomach to look at him and listen to him and be hopeful in a better future for America. I am thankful for that. I am thankful that after the election I said to myself that I will trust God's plan for our future and maybe things will be better and if not, that I know God will be there for us all. I will watch President Obama hopefully, try not to be judgmental of him personally and pray for him and the decisions he has to make, that they will be in line with the plans God has for us all.

I need some help.

Yesterday in church there was a scripture reading on Sunday that sparked a conversation for John and I...

Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he
who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know
that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have
from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price;
therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1 cor
6:18-20

It got us to thinking, not so much about sexual immorality but how we do not take care of our bodies physically... with exercise and diet. It was just so amazing that we both got this same message from this scripture and were able to have a conversation about it. So we left the kids for Sunday School, came home and changed our clothes and went on a walk and had a nice talk. And this is where I need your help...

I can't find anything on the internet about it, but at some point in my studies I thought I read or talked with someone about.... God being first in our lives and then it should be our spouse and then our children and then "ourselves" falls in there somewhere too I think. Am I remembering that right? John reads in to that as it meaning we should love our spouse more than our children and I said no, that is not what that means, it means that we should make time for eachother because if we aren't together as one with God then our children will not be raised up right... I can't find that passage either. ARG! Anyway, John is growing, we both are, but if I am remembering this right, I need help with this conversation with him. I admire that our family means so much to him and that he values it so deeply and I would never want that to change, but I want our relationship to grow in Christ, I want us to radiate with God's love. Thanks fo any help you can give with this.

Feeling Thankful Tonight

I am feeling particularly thankful for my family tonight. I am thankful that I married a good man who continues to grow into a wonderful father and husband every time I turn around. I am thankful that I have 3 kids who are amazing all in their own ways. I love my family dearly. I am also thankful that my children have a stable home with loving, caring, religious parents. I know John and I make mistakes and we learn from them, but I know we are good parents. I am so thankful that God entrusted these 3 wonders to us and that we are doing right by them. Thank you God!

Arizona Cardinals

We are a huge football family we all love it... I mean LOVE IT! Well, except for Courtney who is trying but gets bored pretty easily with games and all our talk. Last weekend we were in Arizona for the new year and the guys went to the first round playoff game and had a fantastic time...

So then we watched the teams that were playing who would go against the Cardinals this last weekend and watched the team win that we felt the Cardinals had the best chance of winning against. And this weekend we watched the Cardinals beat that team too. Now our team is going to the NFC Championship next weekend and will be at home to play the game. How amazing is that?

A friend of mine told me once that our family is perfect together, we are all together because God knows our hearts and the love of football. Not that that is why or the only reason, but how great that we have this commonality going for us. Luke laughs at me and my comments sometimes, and John rolls his eyes, but we have so much fun. Josh and I are die-hard Cardinals fans and will always choose the Cardinals and what is best for their team over anything... I love that for our relationship. Last night we were watching the game (we had to tape it) and Josh couldn't stand not knowing who won, it was just too much for his 10 year old nerves. So he looked it up on the internet and kept the score to himself and sat on my lap and enjoyed the rest of the game.

I thank God everyday for my family and the things we love to do together.

Before or Now?

Ugh, I don't know. I used to be such a quiet timid person. No one heard a peep out of me, quiet as a church mouse. Now I have absolutely no trouble speaking my mind, showing my frustration and making my opinion known. I was definitely not as spiritually mature as I am now so why does it seem like I was a more Christian woman back then, than I am now?

I went to a church meeting tonight on behalf of the youth action team and ... well... it got a little heated. Looking back on it I don't think I did anything that I am embarrassed about. But I do wish that I was known as the quiet sweet little Marlayna that I used to be. I hate being so emotional. Though I have to say I have been working on this for several years and I seem to be better at keeping a lid on that simmering temper of mine much better than say, 5 years ago. Whew!

John thinks God gave me this passion for a reason. That made me feel better, I guess. It might have made me feel better because I am always giving him advise based on spirituality and he never does.

I am listening to God

I just love when you know you are hearing God...when it all feels so right.

I prayed that I would be able to find the words and when I found the words that I would have the strength to speak them and then when it was all done that I would find some peace in what I did. ::Deep Breath:: I quit being a Brownie leader last night. It's done and I really have no regrets. That is how I know that I am following the path that God laid out before me. I am making bigger margins in my life.

So I handed over the checkbook, the achievements book detailing everything about the girls, any supplies I had and said I would stay as a leader in paper only until the other lady got approved. I even suggested they find some place else to meet. We are meeting at my church and I have the keys and I just don't want to be stuck waiting around for everyone to leave so I can lock up. I am really done, I can feel it in my heart.

I did have a bit of a panic attack last night about it though. Before I told the other leaders about me quitting we were planning out the next 6 months schedule. We decided to take the girls on a camping trip with the rest of our unit which is very large, I bet there will be close to 100 girls camping. It is 2 nights and parents are not allowed. Only leaders and scouts. Um.... I realized later last night... I am not a leader anymore. I will have to send Courtney to these things and I can't go. The thought still doesn't sit well with me. A friend of mine talked me down a bit last night, she is a leader in Canada and made me feel better about not sending her at all. She is 6, too young to go 2 nights without me. Well Courtney would probably do great, mom... dad... not so great. Okay, starting to panic again. I need to remember that I do have so much peace about this decision and this panic is about Courtney camping, not me quitting.

Now I pray that when I tell Courtney she will be able to have the same peace. I should have talked to her about it before the meeting. ACK! Okay, did I just say that I had complete peace about this decision.

Some Progress

Well things are coming along in my house. The Christmas decorations are pretty much all put away in the closet under my stairs. We are having a yard sale this weekend so I went through some of the boxes and picked out some things to get rid of. Everything seems to be somewhat organized so I can easily reach my Easter box in a couple of months. Right behind it is the Halloween boxes and then Thanksgiving. My Christmas boxes have an area all to themselves, I have way too much.

I have been thinking about some things to purge out of my life, along with the purging I am doing of our stuff. I have a girl scout leader meeting tomorrow night and I am planning to turn over the reigns. It will be hard, but I just can't do it anymore... nor do I want to, I never did want to, but I just can't say no. I will pray for the words and the strength to do what I need to do and the peace to actually be okay with handing over my book on all the girls which I have put so much pride in. The check book is in order and I am going to look for the supplies I have been storing here to hand over. Keep me in your prayers.


I am also considering giving up MITI (moms intouch international). It is a prayer group that I have been involved in for the last 2 1/2 years. It is the most wonderful group, i have learned so much and the only reason I don't want to give it up is because it is a set time that I pray with another mom for my children. But this other woman and I have lost eachother along our paths. We used to be so close, I credit her for helping me with my walk with God and learning how to pray. But her family quit our church recently, her husband is putting restrictions on her that is making it difficult for us to meet regularly anyway and honestly we feel a little betrayed. Not so much because they left the church but because her husband refuses to return my husband's calls and because things feel different between her and I. I will just work hard to make time for my prayers for the children on my own.



I read a devotional today from Purpose Driven Life and it is about creating margins in my life so I can be more open to God and His plans for my life. So these are two areas that I plan to give up. I think the next thing will be the newsletter for my son's cub scout pack. But I am going to hold off on that for now. I may try to give it up when the cub scout year ends in June.



I encourage all of you to try to have margins in your life. Here is the link if you would like to read it... http://www.purposedrivenlife.com/en-US/FreeTools/devotional/todaysDevo/Devotional.htm?a=2782&z=1

Clean up~clean up~ everyone .... HELP!!

Well I am finally getting around to cleaning up the house. It has been hard to keep clean the last week and a half, first there is wrapping paper and then boxes and twisting things that hold the toy/item in the box and all the cardboard. And everyone has been home for the last week so it seems I can't keep the kitchen cleaned up to save my soul... I guess I will leave that to God.

But today, John is back to work and I asked Courtney to take all the ornaments off the tree, Josh and Luke to take the lights off and then Luke helped me box up the tree and get it back in the closet. Of course in order to do that I have to take almost everything out of the closet to get the tree in the back on the bottom. So the living room is mostly Christmas free, the pictures, lamps and DVR/DVD are back where they belong. But everything is still out of the closet. I can only do so much at a time. I hope to get everything put away by the end of the week.

I had such high hopes for my time off between Christmas and New Years... de holiday decorate my house, wash windows and screens, clean out the holiday storage closet. Nothing got done. I was so tired and had no motivation to do anything. I guess that is why this mess awaits me this week.

I am happy to report that I cleaned out my closet about 3 weeks ago and straightened my room and guess what? It is still clean. Wow what a feeling.