busy, ???productive??? Saturday

So often on Saturdays, I am trying to catch up on all of those things that I do not have time to do or I am too tired to do during the week. I feel mostly unskilled as I approach these tasks.
For example, this Saturday I ...

• gathered up another couple of bags and bins to take to the consignment stores (However--1 store was not accepting that day, so I had to bring 3 bags back home.)
  
  
• cut the grass (I had forgotten I made sure there was no gasoline in the mowers at the end of the season, last year. My gas can was empty and I had to make a run to the gas station. Then the choke on my riding lawnmower is stuck. After several attempts to fix the choke, I gave up and used my push mower. The push mower malfunctioned and would not shut off, so I mowed until it was too dark-hoping the gas would run out.)
  
  
• attempted to exterminate a 3' x 3' anthill in my backyard (I doused it with gasoline and lit it. Despite the charred patch, those buggers did not die.)
  
  
• attempted to fix the leak under my kitchen sink (My jury rigged solution appears to be working but I sacrificed a hammer as part of the rig---don't ask.)
  
  
• steam cleaned the section of the living room carpet upon which our dog relieved himself (However, I added just a tad too much detergent and I had to redo the section due to soap overload.)
  
  
• and washed 5 loads of laundry. (These are piled up on a living room chair, still waiting for me to fold them

I did enjoy some successes this Saturday....

• took the boys to the Fan Fest at our minor league ballpark, (We had a blast---eating hotdogs and cracker jacks, watching local celebs compete in a home run derby, chatting with friends we ran into at the park, taking a tour of the clubhouse and dugout, and taking some batting practice.)
• went to the school ball field with the boys to practice throwing, catching and batting, (not a success---I accidentally hit my youngest on the shoulder when throwing him the ball. He would be happy to recount my mistake and show you his bruise.)
  
• helping my oldest son study for an upcoming test, and
  
• helping my youngest get his eggs "stuffed" for his class celebration next week.
  

I am chalking this Saturday up as productive since we had fun, my yard no longer looks like an abandoned lot and no children or animals (not even ants) were severely harmed in the completion of these tasks.

dinner:
potluck at life group ---fellowship and no dishes to wash :)

currently reading:
little house in the big woods
no other gods
my single mom life
barefoot church
genesis

today grateful for:
God
my boys
spring
life group

Day 5

Yesterday was Day 5. I am finding that reaching my daily goals of about 3-4 acts towards my February celebratory 100 Acts of Love are a bit difficult to accomplish spontaneously. From today forward, I will plan out at least 3 per day while still praying for God to show me several other extemporaneous opportunities. In the past 2 days I am blessed as I have been a recipient of more acts of love than I have given.

Today I tackled one of several neglected and cluttered places in the house, my husband's closet.
Some of my widow friends were able to go through their husbands' clothing and belongings soon after the deaths. It was after the 1 year mark before I was able to go through the first of his things. In this closet are still his shirts that were my favorites, his pillow I sealed in plastic the day after he died (hoping that it would still smell like him) and some of his comic books, toys and presents for the boys. Now 2 years later, I am emotionally stronger and able to handle this task better than I was a year or so ago. I stopped only twice for small emotional breakdowns. I spent several hours emptying and sorting most of the items, only about 25% of which were clothing. After most of the contents were strewn ALL over the bedroom, the thought hit me that I should have taken a photo of the closet before I started. I did take a photo of the mid-cleaning sort. I do not have the courage to share that picture publicly, yet. In addition to the general trash, I am discarding or donating over 90 items from the closet.

I broke the goal of zero nonessential purchases as I had to purchase 2 birthday gifts for my sons' friends. He received 2 invitations this week to birthday parties and he no longer wants to give gifts from my bin of on-hand gifts. The boys made one additional purchase each. They have saved money towards their purchases. The boys both have a Larry Burkett, Giving Bank which helps to teach them to tithe and to save for short term as well as long term. Yesterday, my 4 year old purchased a paper jamz drum set and my 9 year old wanted an accessory for his electronic game system. I did not count their purchases towards my monthly total.


in February:
celebration (celebrating February & Acts of Love) - 1
discards-92
nonessential purchases - 2


Currently listening to:


Breakfast
waffles
fruit

Currently reading:
Ephesians
online preview sections of One Thing At A Time

Today grateful for:
healing and good health
clean water
sunshine
my boys
strength from the Lord

Getting things done

I often wish for a few free days in order to clean and organize my house. For the past week or so, I have had my wish but I have not been making the best use of my time. In reality, when I do not strictly schedule my free time, I waste time and in the end I am more disorderly that on my busier days. So I need to find a way to make myself feel like I have a frantic deadline to fool myself into getting myself in gear.

Truth be told, I have a few OC tendencies which paired with my perfectionist, procrastination avoidance tendencies are an unhealthy mix. I inherited my mom’s depression era flawed thinking of “I might need this someday.” Arggh! I hate that I cannot just go through my clutter swiftly and dispose of stuff. Occasionally I watch those horrific hoarder shows in order to scare myself. Grief has not helped in that; sometimes I want to cling to some of Andy’s things. I think I do not want to deal with the feelings related to parting with them or I want to keep them for the boys. I hate having emotional attachment to things.

Those same perfectionist tendencies keep me from blogging, since I sometimes will work on a blog writing and rewriting and still be unsatisfied with my efforts. So today at least I am publishing this post without reconsidering it so that I can get off my duff and off the computer and get to some of the necessary tasks at hand.

Currently listening to:
the portable heater

Breakfast:
oatmeal

Currently reading:
Be Joyful
How to unspoil your child
A walk in the woods
Two chai day
Heaven is for real
(I tend to read multiple books at a time-my indecision and moodiness.)

Today grateful for:
being able to get my hair done
good child care
good health
working automobiles
vacation time
God’s provision
God's presence