A little motivation Pooh…

Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up. 

A. A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh

What to Do When the Lights Go Out

I am taking a brief break from clutter tips today to let you know about a great new resource from my friend, Cec Murphey. Cec is an award-winning writer and the author or co-author of more than 100 books, including the "New York Times" bestseller 90 Minutes in Heaven (with Don Piper) and Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story (with Dr. Ben Carson). He’s also the author of When Someone You Love Has Cancer and Christmas Miracles, both 2009 releases. Cec’s books have sold millions and have brought hope and encouragement to countless people around the world – including me! His latest book is titled When God Turns Out the Lights – and I’ve included some of his thoughts on the subject below. I hope it blesses you as much as it has me. : )

If you sincerely desire to follow Jesus Christ, life won’t always be easy. Many times the Bible promises victory, and you may need to remind yourself that there can be no victory without struggling and overcoming obstacles.

In my book, I used the image of God turning out the lights because that was how I perceived the situation. I felt as if I walked in darkness for 18 months. We all interact differently with God, and my experience won’t be the same as yours. Even so, most serious Christians have times when God seems to turn away or stops listening. And we feel alone.

GREAT Resource for Work-At-Home Moms

I just had to spread the word about this new book from my friend Jill Hart! Jill knows what she is talking about because she’s run a successful business from home for almost a decade. HIGHLY recommended resource! : ) * * * * * * * * Home-based businesses are estimated to be a $427 billion-a-year industry. In recent studies it was found that as many as 105 million people in North America alone were working at home. Considering this information, it is obvious that home-based businesses can be successful and authors Jill Hart and Diana Ennen will help you succeed with your own. So You Want to Be a Work-at-Home Mom details all the basics of starting a business in a spiritual, motivational, and comprehensive manner. From deciding what type of business to start to keeping your family and faith first, this helpful tool details every aspect of establishing a business. With proven success tips utilized by the authors and others who own work-at-home businesses, this inspiration approach will provide you with the resources you need to start your own home-based business. So You Want to Be a Work-at-Home Mom includes: * Detailed information on types of businesses to start * Ideas and assistance for setting up, operating, and marketing your business * Definitions and descriptions of work-at-home terminology and processes * Help for developing your Website * Explanations of the business nuts and bolts, including bookkeeping, taxes, and more About the Authors JILL HART is the founder of Christian Work at Home Moms, CWAHM.com. Jill is a co-author of So You Want To Be a Work-at-Home Mom. Jill has published many articles and is a contributing author in Laundry Tales, The Business Mom Guide Book, I’ll Be Home for Christmas, and Faith Deployed. She holds a bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies. Learn more about working from home at http://www.cwahm.com/work-at-home/ .

Sentimental Journey

So what’s cluttering up your storage space for sentimental reasons?

• Maybe it’s the Easter Bunny canister from your Aunt Shirley…
• Or that needlepoint plaque stitched by your college roommate as a wedding gift…
• It might even be a box of greeting cards from Christmas’ past.

Although these sentimental items have served no useful purpose for many years, you are loathe to get rid of them because of the person or memories attached the the objects.

If this scenario sounds familiar, I’d like to pass along a piece of wisdom it took me way too long to understand.

People are not their stuff. And just because you are getting rid of gift from a cherished friend or relative, doesn’t mean you are getting rid of the relationship – or the memory.

I think it’s also important to remember that we are not honoring a person by stashing their gift in a box in the basement. Instead, pass these items along to a friend or charity so someone else can use and enjoy them.

Isn’t this is a better way to honor those who are dear to you?

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LEAN AND GREEN TIP

Save a tree – or maybe a forest!

You can find up-to-date information on just about any subject on the web — so WHY are you allowing paper clutter up your files?

Toss your piles into the recycle bin — then dress your clean desk with a vase of fresh flowers.

A WONDERFUL RESOURCE FOR A DIFFICULT TIME

My dear friend and mentor, Cecil Murphey has written a book to help you through one of the most difficult roads a family can travel – When Someone You Love has Cancer. Written with the compassion of someone who has traveled the same road, I highly recommend this book.

 

 

A WORD FROM THE AUTHOR

When Shirley walked in from the garage, she didn’t have to say a word: I read the diagnosis in her eyes. I grabbed her and held her tightly for several seconds. When I released her, she didn’t cry. The unshed tears glistened, but that was all.
I felt emotionally paralyzed and helpless, and I couldn’t understand my reaction. After all, I was a professional. As a former pastor and volunteer hospital chaplain I had been around many cancer patients. I’d seen people at their lowest and most vulnerable. As a writing instructor, I helped one woman write her cancer-survival book. Shirley and I had been caregivers for Shirley’s older sister for months before she died of colon cancer.

All of that happened before cancer became personal to me–before my wife learned she needed a mastectomy. To make it worse, Shirley was in the high-risk category because most of her blood relatives had died of some form of cancer. Years earlier, she had jokingly said, "In our family we grow things."

In the days after the diagnosis and before her surgery, I went to a local bookstore and to the public library. I found dozens of accounts, usually by women, about their battle and survival. I pushed aside the novels that ended in a person’s death. A few books contained medical or technical information. I searched on-line and garnered useful information–but I found nothing that spoke to me on how to cope with the possible loss of the person I loved most in this world.

A PICTURE OF ORGANIZATION

  One of my pet peeves is having to tear through storage containers to find something. That’s one of the reasons a label-maker is a professional organizer’s best friend.

But what about when a label like ”Christmas Decorations” is too generic?

I’ve found that taking a quick photo of the contents – and attaching it to the outside of the container – is a simple and effective solution. This is also an easy way to help children who can’t read learn to put away their toys.

An added benefit is that you’ll have a record of the contents of those containers in case of a fire or flood. Just be sure to back up your photos and keep the files in a safe place.

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MIDWEEK MOTIVATION

 

“Dwell in possibility.” – Emily Dickinson

LEAN AND GREEN TIP

Looking for a quick update for lighting fixtures without buying new? If the lights still work, it is amazing the transformation you can make with a can of spray paint.

Instead of replacing the dated shiny brass light on my back porch, I bought a can of exterior spray paint made to adhere to metal. I chose Krylon’s H20 Latex in black – but there are MANY choices – even hammered finishes.

You might be wondering, as I did, if using spray paint at all can be considered a “green” choice. Here’s an article that convinced me that my project met the criteria for being both lean (reusing rather than buying something new) and green (environmentally-friendly).

  Krylon’s H20 Latex™, the first 100 percent acrylic latex spray paint, contributes 55 percent less to smog pollution than most solvent-based spray paints. It can be safely sprayed indoors with ventilation.

The Smart Traveler

With airlines charging fees for checked baggage, it pays to keep what you pack for your trip to a minimum. One way to save space is to keep in mind that most hotels today offer amenities to help lighten your load. Here are a few things you likely won’t have to tuck in your suitcase:

• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Body lotion
• Soap or body wash
• Hairdryer
• Alarm clock
• Pool towels
• Iron and ironing board

Some hotels also offer also offer robes, slippers, shower caps, sewing kits and shoe shine necessities.  Check with your hotel’s website before you leave to see what items they offer for their guests and you’ll likely save space, money – and have room for an extra pair of cute shoes.  : )