Do you spend the month of January looking around your house asking, “What can I do with all this stuff?”

After all the Christmas packages have been unwrapped and put away, the ornaments nestled safely back in the attic, and the tree stored or sent off to the chipper — many of us feel overwhelmed at the task of organizing. RE-ORGANIZING.

This is the year for you (and me!) to make some big changes. Instead of heading to the store to buy more storage boxes, why not pare down our stuff and simplify?

I was thrilled to be contacted by author Kathryn Porter, who is offering some advice for us overwhelmed moms. A former clutterbug, she’s now a professional organizer and popular speaker who shares her faith-based message on how to keep a clean house. You can read more about her at her website, Clutterwise.

Kathryn, can you tell us how you define clutter?

Clutter is anything that does not enhance our homes or enrich our lives. Sometimes we think when something is expensive that it’s enriching, but that’s not always the case.

What do you suggest we do first if we’re feeling completely overwhelmed by our clutter and don’t know where to start?

When you don’t know where to start, start with the easy stuff:

• Is there trash around the house that missed the garbage pail?
• Are there clothes with holes, stains, or in otherwise disrepair?
• Is there junk mail, expired coupons, or old newspapers laying around?

How can we stop clutter from coming into our homes?

I’m glad you asked this question. This is an essential component to maintaining a presentable home. Anyone can de-clutter a room, but how do we keep the clutter from coming back?

It requires a lifestyle change that starts with establishing boundaries. Learning to say no is probably the number one boundary issue when it comes to clutter. It’s hard to say no to sales at department stores, unwanted gifts, and helping a friend by storing their extra couch.

Even too much stuff on our calendars can end up cluttering our homes. We have less time to clean, while at the same time we’re accumulating more stuff from all the activities we’re involved in. I talk about this in my book, but here are some examples of how to set boundaries in order to keep the clutter at bay:

Boundaries with books:
How many books do you own? Do you have boxes stacked on your closet floors without a home? Limit the number of books you own to what comfortably fits into your bookcase.

Boundaries with people:
Are you storing other people’s stuff? Stop opening your home as a storage facility for friends and family. Let them deal with their own clutter so you can effectively deal with yours. Also, be careful about borrowing other people’s stuff, particularly if you have a tendency to forget to return things.

Boundaries with giving:
Do you go overboard for birthdays, Christmas, and other special occasions? Simplify your giving habits. Instead of buying Christmas gifts in January that you have to store all year long, wait until October for purchasing holiday presents. Consider giving gifts that don’t cause clutter such as treating someone to dinner, a movie, or play.

These are all great ideas! Kathryn, do you think it’s possible to live clutter-free?

I don’t think it’s possible to live completely clutter free because we constantly create more everyday. If it’s not of our own doing, then it comes in our mailbox or as a well-intentioned gift. The goal is to create a home that’s both functional and attractive, while minimizing the clutter.

Do you have any suggestions for mothers who are constantly dealing with the in-flow of papers — from kids’ schoolwork, teachers’ notes, birthday party invitations, newspapers, magazines, thank-you notes, grocery lists, notes-to-self. HELP! I speak from experience, unfortunately.

I could talk about paper for an hour and still have more to say so I’ll try to keep it simple. When it comes to a house drowning in paper, here are a few things you can do to plug the holes that let the paper in, while controlling what’s already there:

1) Take your name off mailing lists. If you don’t see the sales ads, you won’t be as tempted to buy more stuff.

2) Cancel unnecessary magazine and newspaper subscriptions. You won’t feel obligated to read them if they’re not coming through your door, nor will they create extra trash for you to toss.

3) Consolidate bank accounts. The simpler your money management routines, the less paper it will require.

4) Cancel credit cards. We tend to buy more using plastic because hard-earned cash in hand hurts us a little more when we spend it.

5) Use electronic bill paying. Be careful when giving out account information and be sure to track the debits, but this is a popular option to make life easier.

6) Implement a calendar system to track appointments. Limit memos and sticky notes by having a central location in which to record activities.

7) Create guidelines for keeping children’s schoolwork and stick to them. Create standards such as keeping only the best work or assignments that require creativity such as writing or artwork.

Can you tell us about your book? Who would most benefit from reading it?

Anyone who feels overwhelmed by clutter would benefit from my book. I write from the trenches.

It’s not just about another method to get organized. The focus really is on helping people determine what’s meaningful and what’s clutter, but there’s lots of organizing tips too.

I’ve also heard from readers who are self-described neat freaks telling me they appreciate my book because it’s helped them understand friends and family with messy tendencies. I even had one woman come up to me after a speaking engagement who said that she never considered herself a packrat until she heard my story. I’m learning that a lot of people think the way I used to think: “It’s not clutter! It’s just my stuff and my stuff needs a home!”

Do you have any closing bits of advice for the woman who feels like she’ll never emerge from her chaotic home in one piece?

Never give up. De-cluttering is a process, so enjoy the journey. There may be times when setbacks occur, but they won’t undo the amazing strides forward.

I also want to encourage people to embrace de-cluttering as a fun and positive activity. It’s a beautiful thing when we let go of the possessions that steal our hearts so we can focus on the people who matter to us and become more aware of God’s blessings in our lives.

Kathryn Porter is an expert at teaching parents how to get their kids to help around the house. Check out her article here at Focus on Your Child. If you’re in need of some more encouragement, you can learn about workshops and resources availabe by visiting Clutterwise.

I’m hanging out at Pioneer Parenting today and hope you’ll stop over for a visit. Author Mary DeMuth has totally revamped her site, and it’s even more of a great place to grow in your journey as a parent.

Mary is gathering an eclectic variety of articles written by and for parents, and she let me share with her readers my passion for journaling.

Do you keep a journal? What do you write in it? I’d love to hear from you over at Pioneer Parenting.

Shannon’s hosting a themed “heathy eating” edition of WFMW today over at Rocks in My Dryer. Yep, we’re all in this together, trying to work off those pounds that crept on during the holidays.

The only way I could get through all the stress of shopping, decorating, and going to parties was by eating loads of chocolate, alternating salty/sweet snacks, and drinking coffee. It got me through it, and now my stress is showing up on my waistline.

But what to do? My family doesn’t need to eat low-fat; only I do! In fact, my husband doesn’t like ANY food that has “low fat” on the label. If you’re a mom with a house full of kids, you know how pasta, rice, bread, and potatoes can stretch your food budget and make everybody feel satisfied. Yet all those starchy foods are what OUR bodies don’t need, if we’re trying to slim down.

So I’m heading back to The South Beach Diet — actually not the strict phase 1, but more of a phase 2. If you’ve never read this book, it’s a good one, and I’m sure your library has it.

You basically cut out those things I mentioned above: pasta, rice, bread, potatoes — and anything with sugar in it. Even fruit, if you want to do the strict phase 1 (which lasts for two weeks). You still eat plenty of dairy products, protein-rich foods, and vegetables. If you follow this plan and increase your exercise, you will easily drop ten pounds in two weeks. (And weirdly, you won’t be hungry for junk food. It somehow, mysteriously works, after a couple days of withdrawal).

Here’s what I do when I’m South Beaching, yet feeding my family regular meals. I buy about five of those salad bags a week, and this is what I base my meals on for lunch and dinner. I fix myself a HUGE bowl of salad and toss in everything I can — beans, tuna, cheese, raw veggies, etc.

For example, if I’m feeding my family chicken and rice, then I’ll put chicken on my salad and skip the rice. If they’re eating spaghetti with meaty/tomato sauce, then I’ll put the sauce right on my lettuce with some cheese. It’s tastes pretty good. What’s even better is that my energy goes up, and the numbers on the scale go down.

It’s hard to do this alone, though. It’s so helpful to have an accountability partner. One thing I really picked up from reading The South Beach Diet is the obesity-diabetes-heart disease connection. Being overweight is often just an outward sign of the havoc that our poor diets and sedentary lifestyles are wreaking on our bodies: especially our vascualar systems.

Heart disease is the #1 killer of women, not cancer. Yet 80% of heart disease can be prevented. The South Beach Diet explains it all. I’m still trying to drop my last stubborn 20 postpartum pounds — and the reason why I haven’t is because I’m carrying around my junk food addictions stuck right around my middle.

Well, it’s a new month, a new year, and I’m going to keep on trying. The South Beach Diet has worked for millions. And it works for me!

Club Mothers and Wives, Club M.A.W., is up and running, and I’d love for you to visit and tell me what you’re reading!

Author and mom, Michele Steinhauser, has started this new club for women — and she’s building a great community. Her site is based on rooms of the house, and I’m the club “MAW-derator” for … you guessed it. The Library!

There’s a discussion board set up, and I’d love for you to click on over and sign up, then join in the discussions. I’d love to know what you’re reading. To be honest, most of the books on my nightstand are new Christian books, what the publishers and publicists send me. But I’m also reading an older book for my ladies’ Bible study, as well as working through the Anne of Green Gables series … slowly.

How about you? If you’re reading a great book — or you’re the author of a great book, come tell us about it. Especially if you’re reading something older, a classic even, I’d love to know. Your advice will be much appreciated.

Michele Steinhauser is a gal with a huge heart, a mom of two boys, living in northern California. I met her in fall 2005 at the Glorieta Christian Writer’s Conference. We found ourselves sitting next to each other at breakfast one morning — and ended up becoming buddies.

She’s been such an encouragement to me the past year — and if you visit her new home at Club M.A.W. I’m sure you’ll know what I mean.

Hope to see you there!

A couple of years ago, I read a great tip in Lisa Whelchel’s online journal. She said she gives each of her children a new box of stationery for Christmas. These are for writing thank-you notes.

Here’s something she says about it in a Focus on the Family article, “Holidays and Kids — Maintain Control,” by Jesse Florea:

“We have a tradition of putting new stationery in our kids’ stockings at Christmas,” Lisa says. “It’s more fun to write thank-you notes if you’re writing on new stationery.”

She has her kids write a thank-you note before they play with the gift.

“It teaches a nice principle of thinking of other people,” Lisa says. “If someone took the time to buy you a gift, then you need to take the time to write and thank them right away.”

I was so glad to read that! I’ve struggled with getting my kids to write thank-you notes (probably because I struggle with it too). I’ve been remiss the past couple of years — and felt guilty about it.

I’m curious. Do you think adults need to write thank-you notes to each other if a gift is received in person? It’s certainly a thoughtful gesture, going the extra mile. But if I don’t write them, am I breaking rules of etiquette? Does anyone know? These days, I think a phone call or email work fine too. Of course, if you didn’t receive the gift in person, you should in SOME way let the person know you received it and thank them for it.

I do think it builds gratitude in children when they sit down and write out a thank-you note. After all, in the rush of ripping through paper, sometimes it’s hard to even remember who gave them their gift. Even if all the note says is, “Dear Grandma, thank you for the new Bionicle. It’s cool. Love, __.”

This afternoon, I was so proud of my six-year-old daughter who got out her new “fairy” stationery and penned notes to her aunts, uncles, and grandparents. She sealed them all — so I’m sure they’re full of creative spelling and lots of love. That got her siblings moving — and now the notes are all written! I didn’t do anything this year except give each child a list of who gave them what (which I jotted down a couple of days after Christmas).

From one mom to another. Thanks, Lisa!

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:
to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep
oneself from being polluted by the world.
James 1:27


A local friend of mine has adopted two precious little boys from Russia, increasing her family size from three to five children. In the past year, her new sons (who are brothers) have learned English and love living out in the country, where they raise sheep and other farm animals. We were blessed to be present when the older boy (7) was baptized after accepting Jesus into his heart.

Only a few months before, the boys had little hope for their future. My friend has visited the orphanages in Russia twice and feels a deep calling to raise up families in the U.S. to adopt these children.

The organization is called New Horizons for Children, and they’re currently hosting a group of children from Latvia. It’s my prayer that if anyone reading this is longing to raise a child, will you consider adopting an orphan? These children are so beautiful and in need of Christian families to love and teach them.

You can learn more about their needs through visiting the New Horizons for Children website. Here is the contact information:

Le Ann Dakake
Renee McAlpin
New Horizons for Children, Inc
678-574-4677
www.newhorizonsforchildren.org

My friend writes:

There are so many awesome stories out there about churches and people who have taken orphan ministry to heart and are really making a difference. My favorite story is the church in Texas of about 600 members that took James 1:27 to heart and shut down an orphanage in Russia by adopting around 50 children. Voice of the Orphan has some great information about orphan ministry.

God predestined us for adoption into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.
Ephesians 1:5

I dashed out of the house a few minutes this morning to shop before my husband left for work — but otherwise, I’ve been at home … with five kids.

We’re in the twilight zone of two days before the HUGE Christmas festivities begin, and I’m trying to think of simple, LOW-COST things to do to keep our kids occupied.

Rescued by Homemade Playdough.

I haven’t made any in years, but it’s much more fun for the kids to play with than the store-bought kind. Plus they really enjoyed being able to add the ingredients themselves and pick out their own color.

We made four batches, and it took about 20 minutes altogether. A science lesson was even tossed in when one batch was too squishy and we realized we’d forgotten the SALT.

You probably already have all these ingredients on hand — except for the Cream of Tartar. You can find it in the grocery store spice section under the C’s. I paid about $3.50 for a small container, and it will make at least a dozen batches of playdough.

Here’s what you need:

1 cup flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 cup water
Few drops of food coloring
1/2 cup salt
1 tablespoon oil

Mix in a pot on the stove. Cook on medium heat, stirring until thickened (takes only a few minutes and looks gooey. Don’t let it boil or you’ll need to add more water). While still warm, knead a little. Keep in a covered container when not in use.

Give kids some cookie cutters, a spare rolling pin, and some little plastic animals and people — then go prop up your feet and read Christmas cards. They’ll be entertained — quite cheaply — for hours.

This recipe compliments of A Taste of Georgia II cookbook, p. 279.

[Note to self: Add salt to grocery list.]

Shopping madness has set in around here…

Be careful if you’re out with your kids! I’m tellin’ ya; people are NOT watching where they’re driving. I was taking my kids into Wal-Mart a few days ago, and a woman almost plowed over all of us. She was driving slowly, but totally not looking where she was going. She had her mind on one thing — finding a parking place.

In the nick of time, I grabbed my sauntering nine-year-old (who is too cool to hold our hands) and yanked her out of the way. And I did something I never do — I went up to this lady’s window and tapped on it and said, “You almost ran over my kids!”

She cupped her hands over her mouth and giggled, like “oops.”

OOPS!!!!

What do you do with events like this? I’m so mad just thinking about it, typing about it. This is the kind of thing you put into your “character sketch” notebook, and you make this lady a villain in one of your future short stories or novels.

All that to say … watch your kids. Keep them close to you while you’re crossing the parking lot. Try to shop during the day (yeah, right).

It feels good to rant. Thanks.

I mentioned a couple of days ago I was tangled in Christmas lights. Well, I was still tangled in those things this afternoon. But I couldn’t put it off any longer. I needed to get the half-dozen boxes of ornaments out of the den. Tomorrow is our 9-year-old’s slumber party here.

Yet every time I unwound the lights from last year’s cardboard thing, only half of them worked. What do you do with half a string of lights? I had 20 minutes before I had to leave to go pick up the older kids at school; the two little ones were napping/playing upstairs.

I was so frustrated, I just threw the lights away and decided I’d buy new ones. Ever done that?

We stopped at a drug store on the way home, and I picked up two new strings of lights. The guy at the counter must have been in a good mood (maybe he felt sorry for me), but he said he’d give me $10 off my bill. So the new Christmas lights were free!

I got home and made a strong pot of coffee. My mood lifted. What is it about a 4 pm caffeine fix? I couldn’t live without it. The new lights went up easily, and my daughter turned on some Christmas music, so we were all listening to the Hallelujah chorus, decorating the tree together.

And I had to think of Busymom’s slogan: Better Parenting Through Coffee. Got me through the day, and our tree is up at last.

The best part of the day was receiving a Christmas card from the Philippines. YEA! (Sara, if you’re reading this, congratulations!!

The blogosphere is still reeling from Spunky (Karen Braun)’s announcement on Tuesday that she’ll no longer be blogging at Spunky Homeschool. She has built a loyal readership of homeschoolers and others who enjoy her inspiring faith and wisdom. Her popular blog was recently chosen a finalist in the “Best Education Blog” category of the 2006 Weblog Awards.

Karen is one of the best researchers and writers I’ve ever come in contact with, and I hope she’ll continue writing in some other capacity.

Her last post, titled See Ya ‘Round, explains a little of why she’s decided to stop blogging for now. She says:

Please accept as I have, that at times it’s necessary to end one activity and move on in order to continue to walk with the Lord and in His ways.

That’s all. There isn’t a reason for leaving, but a calling to go forward. What that is will unfold as I obey and take the first step in leaving this behind. Is that being secretive? No. It’s telling the truth as I always do. If there were more to tell I would tell it. You deserve that from me.

We’ll certainly miss Spunky. I’ve gotten to know her as a fellow reviewer for Active Christian Media. I wish her the best in life — and look forward to reading one of her books one day. If you’ve enjoyed Spunky Homeschooling, I hope you’ll click over and leave her a comment. She says she’ll keep her archives up for future reference.

Karen, along with her husband Steve and their six children, specialize in living history presentations of the Civil War time period. They also conduct a variety of workshops through their business, Liberty Family Resources. I read on their website that Steve has an extremely popular military drill for ages 10 and up. The site says:

It’s the perfect history lesson for any homeschool support group, private or public school, or church youth event. We bring Civil War history to life! Join us for the fun — leave with a new appreciation for the sacrifices of our ancestors.

If I lived somewhere closer to Michigan, I’d love to see their presentation! You can see some beautiful pictures of the Braun family here.