Just a BlinkProof Time Flies

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One of the perks of being an singleton: Storage Space.

In my family I was able to keep my must-haves year after year under one condition…I had to sort, purge and label toys, books, clothes and memory junk upon H.S. and College graduation and marriage.

My Sticker Book has made all the cuts.

Oh yes, I coveted, traded and obsessed over stickers. My favorite collections were by far the “puffies”. All you who were little in the 80′s are like,

“Yea, remember the fuzzy ones or the holograms? They were totally mint!”

My second favorite collection of stickers was and is the “smellys” – Stratch-n-Sniff. My “smellys” still smell. Ryan has poured over my smelly collection with caution to skip the western boot sticker. He frequents the chocolate cones and root beer mugs.

Mom, they smell like what they are!

He got me thinking about what I look like vs. what I smell like. Well at least my Godly aroma.

Bible, Book of Corinthians, Chapter 2, Verses 15-17

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.

For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life

And who is adequate for these things?

For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God.

I Love You toast on You Are Special Everyday plate.

As a Mom I find it is second nature for me to encourage, build-up and compliment my kids. Yes, I also find it second nature to growl, snare and fuss at my kids but that is for another blog post.

I credit my parents for raising me with the ability to express verbal praise. They loved me verbally before I was ever born. I heard their voice throughout the years even when I believed very little in myself.

True, I am a part of the self-esteem generation that was given a gold star for every little thing in school and told that losing was okay as long as the game was fun. Compliments for compliments sake are useless. However, promoting confidence is helpful. There is a fine line I guess.

Comforting yet hollow ringing from teachers,

Good Job for your C-. You are really showing an effort! No F!

Obligatory but heart felt praise of caretakers

You can do anything! You are so smart and beautiful!

They leave me with a thirst for more. I can always count on God to tell me the truth.

“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good” (Gen 1:31)

Stamp I Love You on your skin because you are precious.

Loving

This is my new Archer Farms mug. It is tall, simple and easy to hold. It came with a bag of grounds at Super Target. Archer Farms is their house brand. Decent coffee. I bought a second mug on clearance so it can have a partner. I think it would be nice if I actually shopped at a place called Archer Farms. I have to hand it to Target Corp. for their marketing group – Generic never looked so good.

So what brand am I? God created me. Do I have a logo? What do I represent when people interact with me?

Can I be spotted for my house brand flavor? Like the house of the Lord is my logo. Peter always gives me a friendly sneer for my close-but-not-close enough analogies. So forgive my stretch to compare a mug brand to myself.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children.

Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.

-Bible, Book of Deuteronomy, Chapter 6, Verses 5-8

So I am challenged today to teach my kids about how to love God and wear my faith like a God logo.  I strive to love God with all my soul, heart and strength in my home and beyond.

I have an idea or the seed for an idea called The Simplicity Project. Sounds big because it is. It will come to me as I exist in each day discovering it. I plan to chronicle my efforts right here for you. It is my hope you will join the campaign too. Here are my thoughts that got me started thinking about change.

I think if I were given free rein over the house I could reinvent most of my life using a shovel, scissors and paint. Too much TV, plastic, sticky floors, loud toys, where’s this?, where’s that?, fast food, more TV, icky colors and dirty socks. Still we have lots of love, time and fun its not all bad.

I want to avoid frustration because I love living freely and not tied up in sad little knots. I will need a project to cure my creative home executive fix. I need simplicity. Too big I’ll get lost. Too little and it won’t help. I need The Simplicity Project (TSP).

My heart is brimming with inspiration but alas my eyelids are drooping from fatigue. My brain is overflowing with joy yet my hands are heavy laden with work. Balance, pace and commitment will all be involved with TSP.

Three steps to creating TSP

1. Big plans that are fluid. I must be flexible, easy-going and in motion.
2. Little spaces that are solid. I may not be able to move my actual house but our foundation in Christ is solid.
3. Happy hopes that are steamy. I will lift my desires upward. Seeking Him who strengthens me.