Spring Cleaning

Spring has sprung here in central Arkansas. By day our weather is comfortably in the 70s and cool 50s at night. Pollen is coating anything that stands still long enough. Bugs are coming out of their hiding places and color is everywhere. It's inspiring.

Spring means many things. You have spring cleaning, spring break and spring into action. It's a sudden push forward and a time of rebirth and renewal. In that spirit, I have decided that in the future, instead of making New Year's Resolutions, I will instead embrace the wholistic re-examination of my life in the spring. I will renew and reinvent with this season. I say this in part, because, since I'm being honest here, I never really did make or keep New Year's Resolutions. I mean isn't there enough to do at Christmas? And who wants to change their ways in the middle of a cold spell, with all that media pressure? I never did. I'm with nature - renewal comes in the spring...
So, this year I will make my renewals now, in the season of rebirth. (Not to mention publicly, on the blog, for the world to read and hold me accoutable....)

First, I will de-clutter. One room at a time. One closet at a time. Thank you James, for pushing us to clean out the garage. I love to be in there now. I can breathe. And thank you Melissa, for redoing my JustWriteCards closet. Aaaahhhhh. Now I can find the tools I need to make the cards I draw, but haven't created. Now on to the rest of the house...

Second, I will follow through. I have this awful tendency, as pointed out to me by my children, that I don't finish what I start. I don't hold up my end of the bargain. My daughter did me a huge favor, for which I thanked her and promised her a fast food meal (a rare event at our house). Three days later she wasn't keen on what I made for supper and asked if she could go to Wendy's instead. You promised me, Mom. I did. She got her combo meal and I got pushed down a peg. I have to follow through...

Third, I will pay compliments. Apparently my children also see me as critical. Ouch. I will be more open with praise and more quick to cheer on their good works. Let's start right now: Rachel is compassionate and creative. Samantha is driven and observant. Charlotte is sweet and curious. Josephine is witty and helpful. Jay Michael is generous and energetic. James is forgiving and strong. Wow. I live with some amazing people.

Easter and the celebration of the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ are all about rebirth and hope. I hope to follow His example, His life.