Kids...

Kids, you gotta love em. No, really, I read somewhere that you are required to love your children. I love my kids, most days. Okay, Okay, just kidding. I love my kids every day. Having children has been the most demanding, terrifying, yet rewarding experience of my life. Demanding because I am overwhelmed with the day to day struggles. Terrifying because I age five years every time they are hurt or sick. Rewarding because I am overjoyed when they succeed... So many things change when you have kids. Like did you ever wonder what happened to all your stuff. All the things that have come up missing over the years. Let's use silverware as one example. A very long time ago, before kids, you know you had a full set of bright shinny silverware. One day you just happen to realize you are missing one spoon. Well, isn't that the strangest thing. I mean how do you lose a spoon? After a while, you notice a few more spoons are missing and a fork as well. By this time you really don't find it unusual. As parents you are slowly becoming accustomed to the fact that everything you own has depreciated since the kids came along. You are well-aware that by the time they are grown and gone you will be lucky to salvage any of your beloved treasures. My best guess, my missing silverware is most likely buried out in my yard somewhere... Have you ever been dusting (something I avoid as much as possible) and pick up your prized possession only to have it crumble in your hands? You instantly wonder "when" did this happen, and "who" did this? If your dusting schedule is done on a regular basis you can narrow down the "when" rather quickly. If your dusting schedule is like my schedule you might as well forget the "when" and concentrate on the "who". Good Luck with that. Let me know how it turns out for you. My personal favorite is "Yeah, I am pretty sure Dad broke it"... I can't begin to tell you how many times I have explained to them that the microwave is not self-cleaning. To please hang up their coat, pick up their clothes and take care of their dishes... We sure thought we had it made the year we gave them cell phones for Christmas. Oh boy, now we've got them. Finally, something to hold over their heads. We had the power back. Or so we thought. I very quickly realized giving them a cell phone gave me peace of mind. I only punished myself by taking away their phones. Naturally the kids figured this out as well. Our master plan and new found parenting tool faded away... Oh, and those teen years. What fun. When I say fun I mean fun like a scary carnival ride that last way too long... They push and push and then it happens. That golden moment of parenthood when you realize you just recited a phrase your mother used to say. Yeah, you know, the one you vowed you would never say to your children. Yikes! You begin to wonder "What has happened to me and when did I become my mother"? Funny how things change. How many times have you said: "I WILL NEVER,"or: "MY KIDS WILL NEVER," only to find out you were wrong. Yes, having children is like a circus most days, but I can't imagine life without them. Kids, you gotta love em.

Note...

My oldest is 29 years old. He is extremely intelligent with a sarcastic sense of humor.

Next is my 27 year old. She is very beautiful and exceptionally talented.

Next is my 16 year old. He is the artist of the family and my most respected critic.

Finally, we have my 14 year old. The apple of my eye. She is and always will be my baby...

And I love them all very much...

Keep On Junking
Nora

Dumpster Diving

What do you think when you hear the term "Dumpster Diving"? I instantly ask myself, Could I? Would I? Should I? Am I above it? I am willing to paw through every garage sale free box I find. Is that any different? Many times I have hauled curbside finds home. Is that any different? In order to answer these many questions I should first define the term "dumpster diving". What is dumpster diving? A Google search will return pages and pages on dumpster diving. Basically the term means to rummage through trash. Well, that doesn't sound so bad. I know I have dug through my wastebasket to retrieve something I accidentally pitched. Have you? If so, does that mean all of us could be considered a dumpster diver? Maybe instead of defining dumpster diving I need to consider the "why" factor. Why do people submerge themselves into a container of waist high garbage? Some people will dumpster dive in search of confidential data to assist them with identity theft. I can rule this "why"out. I know I will never dive into a dumpster for this reason. Some people will dumpster dive for food. It is sad, but true. I am fortunate enough to be able to rule this "why" out. Some people will dumpster dive to salvage an item they consider valuable. Ah, this is my "why". I live by the old saying "One man's trash in another woman's treasure". My head is filled with the questions again, Could I? Would I? Should I? Am I above it? Well, first of all, I don't think that I could ever just dive in without knowing the contents. Phew, guess I am not a dumpster diver after all. But, what if I am out and about and happen to see a discarded item I want sitting on the top of a dumpster? Or, what if I see someone throwing something into a dumpster and I absolutely have to have it? Could I? Would I? Should I? Am I above it? I have decided that in the event either of these situations arise I would DEFINITELY send my husband in to retrieve it.

Keep On Junking
Nora

Organization

This morning I decided to inventory some of my junk. I started looking in my favorite stash places around the house. What an adventure. I very soon discovered I have shoved junk in every little nook and cranny my house has. My barn and garage are both at their maximum capacity. I have boxes under my bed. My closets are overflowing. I even have stuff hidden behind my couch. My poor son will probably never be able to use his top bunk again since I have it loaded up with boxes. In my despair I started to wonder, "what is it about repurposing and recycling that intrigues me the most"? Is it taking some poor unwanted discarded item and giving it new life for someone else to love? While I do find this transformation rewarding I know there is more to this madness. After pondering the subject awhile, it occurred to me it is the thrill of the hunt. Yep, I am so addicted to the hunt and the collecting I sometimes forget what this is all about. I have enough dishes to host a dinner party for at least one-hundred people. Zippers, I don't know what it is about zippers, but I have a drawer stuffed full of them. I collect windows, scales, coffee pots, lamps, jewelry, fabric, books, magazines, bottles, neckties, hardware, baskets, purses, ladders, furniture and the list goes on and on. I get a thrill out of hunting down and collecting all of this stuff. Before this craziness began I was so organized. Now, well by the time I find what I was looking for I forget why I wanted it. Yet, I know there is no possible way out. I am doomed to a life of hauling home every thrift store, garage sale and curbside cast-off I can find. I could never give it all up. I have come to the conclusion that organization is overrated.

Keep On Junking
Nora