Spring cleaning!!

I know it's not quite spring yet, but with a little one around I realize what is important and what isn't.  Cleaning has been the what isn't.  And with that I realized the Mr. and I have way too much stuff.


So I found a couple of my favorite blogs and they are giving me the kick in the butt I need.  This one starts in March, and this is the one I am going to be following.

If you want to read more about it, head over to the Simple Mom blog.

And then, I found this one on pinterest.  Clover Lane is the original blog giving me the challenge of 40 bags in 40 days!  

I'm going to combine the two challenges to try to make our house clutter free so that I can continue to make Hagen my priority.  

Thoughts on clutter...

Clutter makes Hagen unhappy too!!
(I won't say anything abut the fact that maybe it's just the onesie he's wearing...)

It causes stress and anxiety in my life when I see the clutter.

I spend nights awake thinking about how I'm going take care of the stuff the next day.

I then get frustrated the next day when I don't finish because there is not enough time in the day. 

All in all too much time wasted on thinking about the clutter when I could be spending that time praying for my husband, my child, my family, my friends... heck I could even have time to pray for politics if I wanted. More time in prayer means less stress.

It causes tension in my marriage.  

We get in small fights about who put what where.  

We spend all our free time cleaning, therefore not making new memories. 

If we didn't have the clutter, we could enjoy our time off outside, or at an art gallery, or... well anywhere... even inside our own home playing games or watching movies... working on our relationship with each other.  

It keeps me from building a sense of community.

I am too embarrassed to have people over when our house is clutter filled.  

IF I have people over, I spend weeks cleaning, and not going out with friends till things are shoved away so it at least looks clean.  I would love to invite people over at any given moment so the Mr. and I can build precious friendships, which military life makes time that much more special since it can be oh so short.

Clutter makes moving harder than it needs to be.  

And come on, did I mention we are military?  Moving is the name of the game. Why are we moving unnecessary baggage with us wherever we go?

Clutter keeps me from pursuing my interests.

We like to play guitar.  

I like to paint.

We like to go camping.

I like to create.

I want to do all of these things and more with Hagen.

How can I implement them back into my life with Hagen if I don't have the time to do them now?

Isn't holding this wayyy better than constantly moving around clutter??

So as you can see I know why I am fed up with clutter, and Hagen is a good reason to kick the habit for good.  As I thought about what I want to give up this year for lent (I'll give you the reasonings for following this spiritual act if you ask!!), I thought it's time to get rid of stuff!!!!

So we are going to have 40 less bags of stuff in our house. We are only going to keep what is necessary to build relationships and pursue our passions.  (Oh and of course things of necessity like clothes, food and hygiene... but not overkill in any of those areas!)

Who wants to join me? I know I offered this last spring and didn't follow through with it. But this year I am.  The more people who do it with me, the more motivated we will all be! Including me!! 

Happy Fat Tuesday!!