Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Thoughts on Organization

Organization is suppose to be one of my personality traits and for some reason most people "think" that I am organized! I hate to disappoint anyone but, honestly, I have never understood where that comes from. It is certainly not something that I have ever touted and bragged about.


  • Right now I have some five, possibly six, purses that need to be emptied of "left overs" that remain from my rush to change handbags and get out the door!

  • Because of some recent changes in my household I don't have as much storage space for my personal belongings. I find clothing stacked on the bedroom chair at the end of the week rather than hanging in the closet....?

  • My car has not seen the inside of a car wash in ____weeks, dare I say months?

  • My desk no longer has stacks of paper that I am going to go through one day. I got rid of all of it----in the boxes under the desk!

This list could go on but I am actually getting more overwhelmed as I write. The truth is that these things do need some attention. And, one day, I'll get around to it!!! I am smart enough to know that when I am organized I actually have more time because I don't spend so much time looking for things..... that seems very practical and logical. However, as the years have gone by I can be a little more flexible with my time so when I hear from a friend, "Can you meet me up at Munz for a cup of coffee?", or "Hey, Steinmart is having a sale, want to go," or "Mom, we are sending you a ticket to come see the grandchildren," well, it doesn't take long to weigh it all out.


Even though I love my quiet time and do not have to be entertained a lot, I just simply am finding that there are a lot of people that I love and care about and want to spend some amount of time with. Many times, with my busy and ever-changing work schedule, that means making a choice of the task or the people. I am naturally drawn to the tasks----but, having made some purposeful decisions to enjoy people and relationships has taught me how important it is to maintain relationships and find the value in the different personalities that I come in contact with my friends/family. Taking time to smell the roses??? Ha, I have been a gardener for years and I have been more involved in the task than the joy of the fragrance. Not so much anymore! The fragrance of our labor, whether in gardening or people, comes from the joy of taking time to enjoy the individuality . That takes time!


So, disorganized and running behind I might be, but, I have never enjoyed quite so many friends as I do now----and no one has rejected me because everything isn't picture perfect when they come in to my home for a visit. Having said that, I must go and get ready for my three girlfriends and Monk videos that will accompany their arrival tonight as we get together in my "not as clean as I would like" sunroom for some fun fellowship! Tomorrow or, maybe the next day, I'll get those clothes back in the closet!

Yes, at one time I probably was more organized---ask my kids! I think I almost drove us all crazy! I think even they would say the change in priority has created a calmer and more pleasant atmosphere. If the truth be known, I love organization. I also love people and sometimes we can have one or the other at a given time and I am purposing to have the joy of closer, deeper and more joyful relationships and for me that means giving up some of the perfectionistic, picture perfect organization that spells comfort (or control???) for me but, also, what I give up more than is made up in the sweet memories of friends!

Let's get together soon!



Sunday, November 30, 2008

Gratitude

It is Sunday evening after Thanksgiving and I have so much to think about and be thankful for. I've been reading my daughters blog: (http://www.thejournalinggina.blogspot.com/) and just being so awed by the amazing woman she has become. I wonder, when did that happen that she just blossomed into this beautiful woman of integrity? On what day was it that I began recognizing her not just as my daughter, but, as a friend and mature believer in Christ that I could always come to with my thoughts, questions and prayer requests?



It's hard to say exactly when one passes from one season of life to another. It resembles the passing of one season of the year to the next. We don't really see winter become spring all in one day but, rather, one day we see that winter has all passed and surely the freshness of blooming flowers and budding trees tell us that a new season has come.



A new season has certainly arrived in the life of my daughter, Gina. I enjoyed the last season of seeing her become the young mother of two fantastic children........better known as Savannah and Tucker, my grandchildren!!! Now, there is a maturity in her that speaks well of knowing who she is, what she is about and where she is going. Her identity is founded in Christ.....not people or things. Her words are filled with wisdom and her view of life is sprinkled with humor and her actions speak volumns about compassion. She is a joy to those who take time to know her and I am proud to be the only woman in the world who can truthfully say, "That's my daughter!"