A New Year

Christmas holidays are over and with it meant I need to put away the Christmas decor. Tomorrow is back to school and back to normal routine. I find taking down all the Christmas decorations quite depressing. I love Christmas and the all the decorations, especially the glow of the lights and how it sets the ambiance in our home. In fact, last year I remember having taken down my decorations but left up the garland on my banister and mantle just so I could enjoy the glow of the lights a little longer. I wish I would have done that again this year as I am already missing the glow of lights. However, I knew that I needed to get it put away and get the house cleaned up and organized as a new year has begun.

On New Year's Day, as I took all the Christmas decor down, I began Peter Walsh's #31Days2GetOrganized2017. Day #1 was - clear off a table top in your home. Simply take ten minutes and just declutter one table top so it is free from clutter like mail or magazines. As I took down Christmas, I was able to bring two of my tables up from the basement. I cleaned them off and then reorganized them with less stuff. This one was a bit easy for me. Although, Terry was in the decluttering mood and kept distracting me all day. All in all, aside from Christmas getting put away, we also got lots of organizing done in our storage rooms. Day #2 of the challenge was to set up a donation bin in your home. That was easy as we had done that the day before. We set up a garage sale bin. I hate garage sales so this will be all Terry in the spring. So perhaps a girls weekend away will be in order for me! And we set up a bin of donation stuff that we already dropped off today and is set to go for other things we come across in the coming days. I love to organize and can't wait to see what the new challenges will be each day. I have to say though, I got a little carried away and went from morning until night with cleaning up and organizing. I was a little exhausted by the end of the day but also felt like I got much accomplished. Do you need to do some organizing in your home? I would love for you to join me in Peter Walsh's #31Days2GetOrganized2017. And share with me how you are decluttering your home and your life.

I think that is why I like to organize so much. Because as you do, you also organize your life and become free from clutter. It is a wonderful feeling to be free. I haven't written out any goals for this new year yet but have some in mind. My hope is to continue to grow as I have been growing and allow God to direct me in becoming the person He wants me to be. I pray that as I spend more time in the Word that I will become more devoted to Him and His leading. That I will become a person who is focused on others more than myself and that I will make a difference in the way that I live that will impact others for Christ, specifically with my children and family and friends. Now that being said, I think it is still important to set goals in various areas of my life so that I can envision that life and strive to achieve that life. I don't want my life to be all for nothing. I want to grow and I want to live fully. And that is my prayer for 2017 - to live fully, in gratitude and joy - to be transformed in heart and mind as I live a life following after all that God has planned for me!

Romans 12 speaks of being a living sacrifice and loving others with our whole being. None of us can do this on our own and it doesn't happen overnight. It takes Him changing us and that can only happen when we are willing to be changed as Romans 12:2 states, "...be transformed by the renewing of your mind." But there also needs to be a heart change as well. And so I pray that God will work to transform me so that I can do the work set before me and live my life fully to honour Him.

Below are some pics over the last few days. Prior to 2017, we spent two days and a night in Banff to spend some quality family time. Then we bought in the New Year with Mark and Shea and their boys - some skating, Vietnamese for supper, and game time. I was so close to beating Terry at poker. Spending time with our friends was a perfect way to ring in the new year. Praying much peace, joy, grace, love, gratitude and God's direction for each of you in the coming year. May 2017 be a year where you are blessed abundantly! Happy New Year!