Part 2 of a Larger Project Simplify Done Homeschool Library

Project Simplify has really motivated me to get some task I had left undone since I moved in completed. 


This week I worked on Our new home-school library.

The boxes are unpacked and gone. The books are on the shelf by grade level.

When I decided I wanted to have all their home-school books at home because we move so much I developed my own system for labeling them so I would know on sight when I would need them. It does make unpacking and organizing them easier.

The frames handing in here beautify the space and removed them from the floor. It is a neat way to store picture frames you are not ready to use. 

Our dinning room book-shelf has been organized to be a little more functional. It now contains all the books and equipment I need to complete a day of school. 

The boys no longer need to hunt down handwriting, composition, math grid, or art paper. I was able to store them on the shelf next to our recycling bin in a magazine file divided with plain binder dividers. 

The Computer Desk 

On the top shelf of the desk I took every items off and moved my wireless system to the shelf below the printer. If it is ugly and untidy but necessary find a way to decoratively hide it. 

I had a beautiful butterfly box that the boys had given me, which I wanted to use and display, so I turned it into a pet food box. I created a box to fit inside to protect and made some inserts to separate the different types of food. 

The best complement from my eldest son "Mom it no longer looks like everything is just thrown in there." 

I removed all the items that were not necessary, unused and old CD, back up drives, cords and replaced them with the essentials. 

I placed the printer paper next to the printer in another magazine file and only left this year's math CD inside the cabinet. 

From our main book-shelf I removed all the non book items. I placed the books from the second smaller shelf onto this big shelf it is amazing how much space you have for the necessary when you choose to simply remove what does not belong. 

As much as possible I am going for having less.  We are selling or giving away the Homeschooling books as my youngest finishes with them. 

I love the look of having only a few decorative and special items. 

The photo albums on the top shelf first cubical is the remains of my photo project and the boys baby books. I have some more scanning to do and then I will create the digital albums.

I was surprised that I finished this project and I am happy with how it turned out. The question I have left unanswered is why am I choosing to simplify. What am I preparing for?  

Last week project simplify was:Part 1 of a Larger Project Simplify Started Guest Closet

March 16 Project Simplify: Kitchen Project Simplify Week 2

March 9 Project Simplify: The boys playroom closet

Next week I will post some thoughts about this process and how I decided what I would keep.


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Choosing the Armor of God

When the boys were little I loved listening to Christian Kids music. During a particular lonely time in my young motherhood I was blessed with a great christian radio station in Texas. I would spend my days looking out the window and listening to the radio. 

I would gaze out the window people watching while listening to Adventures in Odyssey, and the Sugar Creek gang, those were in a way very peaceful days.

Upon waking in our studio apartment, grabbing breakfast I would sit on our air mattress in front of the window. Grab lunch and back to the window. I would not go far because our apartment was one room with the door on one end and a big window on the other. My kingdom could be surveyed with the turn of my head yet my days were wonderful and I was at peace. 

Why the walk down memory lane? I am struggling with my Giants, the big scary medical profession. I want to Google things like "WebMD, Wiwi Answers," and yes I have a few questions for them.

I am reminded that Giants are big and scary but they can be slain with a few single words. These are the words my brain are currently playing:

God is bigger than the boogieman 

He's bigger than Godzilla or the Monster on TV

Oh God is bigger than the boogieman

and He's watching out for you and me

So are you frighten, no not really

are you worried not a bit

I know that whatever going to happen that God can handle it

by Veggie tales

David faced a giant using these four items in 1 Samuel 17:

³² David said to Saul, Let no-one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.

1. He did not lose heart.

⁴⁴ Come here, he said, and I'll give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!

2. He did not let the taunts of the enemy deter him.

    ⁴⁵ David said to the Philistine, You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

3. He knew who was fighting for him.

⁴⁷ All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands.

4. He knew where the credit belonged.

With lab results may yell at me from their envelopes, doctors saying something is wrong, that undefined something and more test may be ran but I will face my giants with:

Ephesians 6:13-15  

Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

Choosing to wear the full armor of God, will you join me in choosing to facing your giants? God is bigger than the boogieman and He's watching out for you and me.

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An Organized Family Booking Through Thursday

Welcome to my Book Review and Booking Through Thursday Post, this week question:

Are there any fictional characters whom you have emulated (or tried to)? Who and why?

What literary character do you feel is most like you personality-wise (explain)?

The answer: I have not tried to emulate any fictional characters. It would go against my working self-image. 

Personality-wise I think I relate most to Anne of Green Gables. We have similar themes running through our lives. 

As a child I also disliked my name, it did not tell people who I was. I felt is was the name of an old lady sitting in a rocking chair knitting and that was not me. Names should say who you are, thankfully everyone called me Edwards Granddaughter and I am she.

I wanted to dye my hair back but parental units would not let me, they felt I would not suit me. Unlike Anne, even after reading the book I did not try to dye my own hair black. I worked hard at not disobeying the parental units.

I am at my core a creative and imaginative person and have conjured enough adventures of my own. I having been writing short stories and poetry all my life and still have dreams of being published.

Annie is a great character to get to know and stay a while at Edwards Granddaughter to see who I am becoming as my adventure continues.

Source: amazon.com via Eileen on Pinterest

My Book Review this week: Absolutely Organize Your Family by Debbie Lillard

The goal of these book reviews is to help you decide if the book will be of value to you. I would be doing you, my friends and readers, a disservice to not share my honest thoughts on a book I shared that I was reading. I firmly believe in making informed choices. 

The focus of this book is helping you organize your family by teaching your children organizational skills and modeling organization. Organize your family i s a good how to guide if you need help in organizing your family.

Debbie explains that being organized means being efficient, organized with your time, getting your priorities straight, and creating balance in your life. It is only what works or what does not work for you lifestyle.

Debbie uses the method of categorize, purge and rearrange to help you get organized in all areas of your life.

In all area we should: 

• Only keep what you use
• Subtract before you add
• Finish one project before you start another one
• Daily routines are a must

In life we have to make choices for how we spend our time and what we purchase and keep in our home. 

Using Debbie method, if I were adding basketball to my son's schedule, I would first subtract something else to make room for the activity. You also have to note that adding items or activity to our home and lives seems relativity easy but many times it can just be too much to juggle.

She gives a good guide for creating a schedule for your child but here I would suggest that if your child is six or older guiding them through this process and explaining how adults make these choices. 

Children need modeling but also an understanding of the how and why. Starting to create a schedule with your child at a young age helps them eventually start doing it on their own. This is an area that pays dividends for years to come. 

My sons get the logistics of getting them places and back and are often willing to make their own arrangements when they see that mom and dad cannot help because of conflicting commitments. 

The book contains many list and charts to help guide you to find the best plan for your family. 

Debbie covers with good detail how to organize: 

1. Your time as a family
2. Your children's toys by cleaning them out twice yearly and before buying new toys for your children, which allows you also to decide what they need.
3. Even what to do with all those photo memories, and preparing a memory book for each child 

This book is very detail and helpful. It gives you a starting point and helps you move forward to creating systems that work for your family. 

My final thought: I implore you to make simple choices, after all less is more. 

Choosing to share my love of books. What are you choosing today?

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Choosing to Learn

I took two steps forward along the road to becoming a Photographer. A girl with a camera who knows how to use it. I want to thank Photo Feed from Mom Tried It for the time she took and the feed back she gave me. At just the right time God does lead us to just the right people.


The pictures are dated to tell a story of my progress:

I created the vase, found a great location for it and expected the pictures to be epic. They were not epic in a good way. I had to alter the picture and this was taken at night, after quite a few epics in the day light.

With the morning sunshine coming through this window the light and reflections are amazing. Sadly I could not capture the full beauty and the beauty of the curtains. The picture was taken with no flash and although I captured the vase, the curtains are just ugly and black.

After a little advise form Mom Tried It, this picture was taken during the afternoon I just changed the aperture priority on my camera, who knew the modes beside auto and turning off the flash did anything. I love this picture and if you are here to constructive criticism this is my enter into Photo Feed Back. 


There is hope, what skill or task are you choosing to accomplish this week, I dare you to get some feed back.


Linking with  

Choosing to Face my Giants

The Book of Luke was by a physician called Luke!

 ³ Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,
    ⁴ so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

He was a dear friend of Paul and a doctor. Colossians 4:14

I have been choosing to share more of my interesting times in the Word. Our walk with God is both personal and challenging. There are days where God's hand is clear and days like today were we wrestle to find our way.

Today I wrestle with the unknown. The things I could not possible know till God provides the answers. I am battling my Giants with the Lord.

Today I get

Mark 5:26   

She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse.

I open my Bible when I have an issue because I know God directs my path to just what I need to learn. 

I had not given much thought to this woman's story or even a second look at Luke, the doctor. 

Toady I study them both out. 

Changing Doctors every three years leaves you feeling like quality medical professional are lacking.

Doctors are my giants. They seem to turn me into a temper tantrum-throwing infant. 

1. I want to know what is wrong now.   

2. I want you to fix it now. 

3. You are impotent if you cannot comply. 

I faced my Giants today I now wonder how she dealt with her doctors as she spent all she had and only got worse. She was a patient, faithful woman. 

Two other doctors mentioned in the bible are:

Asa's physicians in 

2 Chronicles 16:12

In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa became diseased in his feet. His disease was severe, yet even in his disease he did not seek the LORD, but the physicians.

It is okay to see physicians but we should also seek the Lord. Physicians are limited by earthly knowledge but God has no such limits.

Job 13:4
“But you smear with lies; You are all worthless physicians.

Job refers to his friends as worthless physicians. I know that feeling, and I cannot imagine what medicine was like in the time of Job to gain such a reference.

Ways I stepped off the narrow road:

1. I got irritated by my child's pediatrician's office.  

2. I did not wait for God.

3. I took the pediatrician's advice and went to the Emergency room.

4. I impatiently wanted an answer, reassurance, 

5. I was operating out of fear, just incase I was on the auto pilot of just in case fear

The funny thing is I am calm. I am not worried that something is really wrong with him and that worries me.  

In 2 Chronicles, Asa never sought the Lord, just his physicians and was never healed. The woman in Mark sought Jesus, when she had no were else to turn, and was healed.

What am I choosing to walk away with?

1. When facing my Giants, go to the Giant killer first

2. Handle perceived obstacles as redirection

3. Get third party advise, emotions can miss guide us

4. Acknowledge that the answer might not bring you peace

5. Trust and return to God.

How are you choosing to fight your Giants, let me know in the comments below or through an email. Would welcome the encouragement.

Choosing to Accomplish in Week 13

My focus scripture for this week is: 

On going Projects:

1. Meal planning – recipe testing  

2. Creating a weekly routine

3. Rebuilding and super gluing the boys Lego. 

4. My Homemakers Challenge monthly post

5. Photo albums

6. Putting together our two thousand pieces Coca-Cola puzzle

to finish my project simplify I might not be able to work on the puzzle this week. One big project at a time.

My goals for this week are:

1. For my time in the Word: I will be joining Christin at joyfulmothering.net for “a proverbs 31 bible study unlike any other” very excited about this after reading the book I know a deeper look will help me in my journey to become a woman after God’s own heart.

The meditation verse of the week is: 

Psalm 119 verse 133

Direct my footsteps according to your Word;

Let no sin rule over me.

I want God to direct my footsteps and to be guided in my choices by His Word. On the other hand, I do not want sin to control me or my choices. I want to be free to choose God's best for me and I cannot do that if sin is my ruler.

2. For my time in Prayer:       

• Praying daily for my hubby  
• Praying for my children that they may build great friendship. The continual softening of my children's hearts.  
• Praying for the women in Group 95 Hello Morning Challenge that they may have an awesome morning time with our Lord.     
• Praying for friends and extended family that have needs. 
• That God to open my eyes to the learning and growing opportunities before me.    
• For the new relationships that we are all building and that we are all open to sharing our hearts and lives.

3. As an AC for the Hello Morning Challenge with Inspired to Action I will be sharing a verse from Psalms each day that goes with the Run to Him bible study. This week Psalms are 119:129-144, 119:33-48, & 119:57-72. 

4. Homeschooling: Completing our school schedule daily

5. Meal planning: This week we completing our menu for week three and freezing an extra meal for each item.  

6. Blogging daily 

Last week blog roll:

1. Dare to Choose

2. Part One of a Large Project Simplify Started Guest Closets

3. Booking Through Thursday

4. The Robo Hamster Wars

5. Word-less Spring

6. Public Quiet Time

7. Week 12 Choosing To Accomplish  

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7. Continuing de-cluttering my home: I am in week 4 of Tsh’s Project Simplify. Week four we are on to choose your own adventure and I will be completing part two of my big project.  

8. I finished reading Absolutely Organize Your Family by Debbie Lillard. Please check back on Thursday for my review of this book.

Source: amazon.com via Eileen on Pinterest

This week I will start reading: Spiritual Makeover: Ten Practices for Falling in Love with Your Life by Sirah Vettese Ph.D. I love the concept of  spiritual make over but I am not sure how I feel about falling in love with my life. This will make for an interesting week and review next week.  

Source: amazon.com via Eileen on Pinterest

I am listen to an audio of Become A Better You by Joel Osteen. A very positive book that focus on saying and doing positive things.

Source: amazon.com via Eileen on Pinterest

My basic goal for the year is to finish reading a book per week. 

9. Working out for an hour each day.  

10. Organizing my computer files. 

What are you Choosing to accomplish this week?