Wednesday, September 30, 2009

The Great Paper Purge of '09 - New Leaf, day 8

Only two days left! I'm in the home stretch! But I'm starting to worry that this is ending up to be more than a 10-hour job. . . .

So tomorrow and Friday I'm going to hit it hard and Do This Thing!!

Only two days left to enter the giveaway, too. I've decided that for each comment you have made on a new leaf post, you get an entry into the drawing. I may do more than one prize, because I just wish I could send chocolate to all of you beloved friends, so we'll see how it ends up. :)

Today I spent an hour and a half on the top drawer of the file cabinet, throwing away almost a whole kitchen garbage bag full. And it's not even done yet! Crazy-ness. I can't believe how long some of that useless stuff sat in there and kept me from using the file cabinet.

I have realized something about myself. Maybe you're like this too, but I actually kind of LIKE filing stuff. It makes me feel happy when something has a designated home, and I put it there, and kiss it good night and close the door and feel all cozy. But if its designated home is SO CLUTTERED AND STUFFED FULL OF JUNK that I can't put it there, so I put it somewhere else and it becomes homeless and I can't find it when I need it, well, then I DON'T like filing stuff. In fact, then it's right up there with getting an IV or unclogging a toilet.

So the key is to keep my file cabinet useable!!

That's for stuff that has to be filed, like bills and bank statements and other joys.

Memorabilia stuff, well, that's actually turning out to be more fun than I thought. Now that I have been freed from the idea of having to save every. little. cute. thing ever created by one of my children--because I can take pictures of it, and because there are so many that I can just pick my favorites--there will hopefully be room to store those treasures in their individual totes.

Fluffy is so excited about his tote (hot pink and all) that he wants to look through it with me for his Super Kid date this Saturday. Awesome.

 

Gotta run pick up these cuties. . . .:)

009

010

 

Made me feel Heavenly Father's love today:

My wonderful visiting teacher Linda came and listened to me and taught me and we both cried.

 

Made me smile today:

PW says that rosemary is her "favorite herb on the face of God’s green earth."

11 comments:

Becky said...[Reply to comment]

Maybe you should call Rosemary, Herb on the blog instead of Rosebud. :)

Go, you, Mischnell. Man, Flylady would be simply glowing if she heard all of this success story. Your description today really made me realize that what you are doing is a labor of love. For you, for your family, for your kids, for life.

Awesome blossom.

Cindy said...[Reply to comment]

Way to go, I'm sure you'll be done soon! I actually like filing things too. It's so nice when things have a place. You have been motivating me to make better use of our filing cabinet too :-)
I have to tell you that looking at the pictures of the boys made me nostalgic today. Exacto is SO big now, but I can remember when he was just a baby, I guess he was a toddler and how he made the best lion roar I have ever heard a little one make! Do you remember how he could make a roar that would rumble from inside his little chest? LOL... ah, memories!

snbjork said...[Reply to comment]

Hmmm...I think I like filing stuff. But, I'm not sure. I never do it. I never organize anything. Well, that's not true. I start to organize lots of things, but usually either don't finish or don't keep up with it. Drives me crazy!

You're doing such a great job! It's been so fun to see the pictures and hear about your success! Good job!!!

Stephanie Johnson said...[Reply to comment]

Yeah, I'm glad that you're taking digital pictures of your kids things. I take them up close of the paper/artwork on a dark background and sometimes with the child. Keep up the good work!

llamitanan said...[Reply to comment]

Oh, wished I could see those sweet "Mama's Boys." What fun picturs of all three of them! Congratulations to Fluffy on earning his "Bobcat" and to Exacto for receiving his "Arrow of Light"! Good job on doing so much organizing especially with the interruptions you had!

terry burchfield said...[Reply to comment]

hey michelle, i keep a big binder that holds all my important mother info. i keep it close by and always know where it is. i use dividers and either hole punch or use sheet protectors for my papers. i have it divided into sections such as school, where i keep class schedules, contact info, etc. i have a section for each child where i keep sports schedules, schoo info pertinant to just that child, even their clothes & shoe sizes (i do this for hubby too). i have a section marked important at the very front where i keep contact numbers (anything i don't want to have to hunt the phone book down for). i have one for church where i keep lesson schedules and visiting teaching info. i love it b/c i don't have to think about where i put some paper when i need it!

Annie said...[Reply to comment]

I think that one of the great understated joys of filing is that, once you have set in order this one aspect of your life, it is not only easier to organize other aspects, but it almost seems to set the whole world in a more perfect and sensical order.

But then, I am a bit mad, so perhaps none of that made sense at all. ^-^

Andre said...[Reply to comment]

Hooray for you! Today I am going through Dakotah's preschool papers and saving only the most favorite. It's only one box full so I expect to be finished in an hour. Then I get to use that box to hold all her kindergarten papers. I'm glad you've stuck with your project. It's good to feel good.

Deaton Adventures said...[Reply to comment]

Well I did my job last night and have a good size bag of stuff to burn tonight. You are such an inspiration to us all. We love you, you are almost finished now.

Malauna said...[Reply to comment]

(Becky's comment) Herb! That would be so funny...then you could keep the mama's boys title for your blog. I am laughing just thinking about it.

Have a great big garbage day!

Vauna said...[Reply to comment]

WooHoo Michelle! Way to go! I once kept a huge box of important papers for about 2 years and when I finally went through it, it was almost all old bills, I shredded 99% of it, it felt so good to not have to look at that stupid box anymore.
I want to see those sweet mamas boys too!