"SUMMERTIME SERIES"
Time to 'Spring' Into Summertime Cleaning
Have you ever looked around your home and just said enough with the clutter?? Well that was me a week ago. A week ago I felt the urge to do a massive cleaning in my house. Not the usual cleaning here and there, but a MASSIVE cleaning. More like the mythical "SPRING CLEANING" you hear about. I say "mythical" only because I hear people talk about spring cleaning, but I rarely ever see people I know accomplish it, let alone actually do it. Let me back up for a moment and define to you what I refer to as "spring cleaning." I define spring cleaning as that type of cleaning where you empty out all your drawers, closets, shelves, and any and all other space in your home to not just clean, but DE-CLUTTER! All of those items you kept for years and years and vowed you'd use one day, but never have. All of those clothes in your closet with the mindset that you would fit back into one day, but never did...Basically cleaning out and getting rid of everything not needed, wanted, worn, touched, or even looked at in months, or even years.
So a week ago I decided I was going to attempt to do some spring cleaning. I have attempted before, but I failed miserably because I always find myself keeping the very things I have vowed to get rid of. But this time was different! I felt different. I felt the need to really clean and de-clutter the entire house from top to bottom with an urgency. Although very determined, I still gave myself a little incentive. I decided that I would hire some professional house cleaners to come in to help clean my home after I had an opportunity to de-clutter. So I made an appointment for someone to come clean a week from the day I decided to de-clutter. I gave myself (and my family) 7 days to de-clutter our house prior to the cleaning people coming.
Today is Sunday and we only have 2 more days after today to get rid of stuff prior to the cleaning people arriving. I'd have to say that my family and I have done pretty good thus far. I really surprised myself because my momentum is still going strong! Even though I am a bit exhausted now, coupled with the fact that my 3 year old has been a bit of a hindrance because everything we put into the donation or trash pile is a new toy or play thing for her, we managed to get the entire upstairs done (with the exception of a few minor spaces). YAY!!!! Today we started on the downstairs which was another HUGE undertaking!
It feels so good to have half of the house done! Not to mention how much better all the rooms look and feel!!! I've even noticed my son staying in his room a little longer from what I believe is due to it being clutter free. The rooms upstairs look more like they did when we first moved into our home 5 years ago. Here are a few pics to show you our progress. The following pics are of all the stuff we took to the donation center, they don't even include the amount of stuff that went into the trash...
Amazing isn't it??!! Amazing how much stuff we had to give away to people who could really use it. And that's only HALF of the story...of our 2-story home. I can't help but draw the comparison of physically cleaning my house, to spiritually cleaning our bodies and minds of all the junk and clutter! Just like I felt so much better de-cluttering my home, the Lord wants us to feel better on the inside by de-cluttering and renewing our spiritual beings of all the things that we have allowed to come in. De-cluttering and renewing your spiritual being will not only help you feel better on the inside, but will show on the outside as well as you present yourself to others. For some of us (me included), it's time to de-clutter our lives physically AND spiritually!
I pray that the Lord will continue to give me the strength and mindset to finish the job! Amen :-)
God Bless!
T Denise Clary
Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. - Psalm 51:10 (NLT)
