Matthew 6:25-34

Do Not Worry 

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?  So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. 

~Matthew 6:25-34

Guest Room

I thought I would share our guest room since my last post was in 2013 My Guest Room and My Sewing Space. I shared in 2012 a couple months after I first set it up Guest Room/Nastasja's Bedroom Redo. It has really changed and looks very nice on a small budget. I have added to the decor over the last couple years with thrift store finds. 

It was painted about 7 years ago and needs to be painted again. I plan to paint it the same color of creamy white called White Chocolate. We had previously used it in the room along with the rest of the house and the tan brown of the Master Bedroom called Otter Tail. We need to redo the wood floors in this room along with the rest of the house. That probably will not happen until next summer.

 

I bought the bird themed couch for $25 at a thrift store this past Winter. The previous couch went to our oldest sons room.

 

I really like my guest room and think its really pretty.

 

I got the mirror over the desk at a thrift store a couple months ago for $5.

 

My bible study supplies in the flower pot on the stool one of our boys made.

 

I keep hard candies in the blue crock on the night stand. I have games for the grandkids for when they get a little older in the night stand cabinet. I have old Mary Englebreit magazines in the basket. The baby pack-in-play is now in storage.

 

The little table and chair set I sent to my grandaughter's home. 

 

I keep my poetry books in the china cabinet along with decor items. I have a few things in the drawer such as air freshener and a lighter.  The bottom cabinet is empty.

 

I like to sit on the couch and read sometimes. 

 

The chest is empty. The TV hasn't been used much since I bought it. Our youngest son had it in his room for a while to play console games until he bought himself a new TV.  I got the rocking chair for $30 at a thrift store in the Spring. I donated the chair that had been in the corner before.

 

I love the quote over the bed.

 

I keep my sewing supplies in the closet and desk.

 

 

Clutter Busting Challenge September 2014 Part 2

I've collected 27 items this month so far to donate. I've been at this since January 2011 and I'm really pleased with my home. It will be 4 yrs. in 2015 for me and I'm trying to make it to that mark. I've did the household and my personal stuff alone. I'm really starting to slow down with my purging over the last month. This last year my husband has gotten serious about purging his stuff. Last month, was the first time since I started that  my husband collected about half of the items that we purged. It has been fun to do the challenges. I have way to much free time. I'm looking forward to being finished and moving onto other things. Although I'm not really sure this journey to less stuff ever completely ends.

My purge pile this week:

You may be interested in:
Clutter Busting Challenge September 2014 Part 1

It's Not All or Nothing

I have a “non-minimalist” sized home (2,800sqft) that is nicely decorated on a budget. I have a ton of books, craft supplies, and workout stuff. I like giving myself manicures and facials. I like to dress nice, wear heels, makeup, and jewelry on date night. I have food storage, water, and bug out bags in my basement. I have a limit that I allow myself to have and don’t have clutter. I’ve stuff I’m working to downsize including Homeschool stuff, cookbooks, and memory keeping.  It’s minimal compared to most people but I do have stuff and I like it. LOL

I digitized my music, DVD’s, and photos to minimize the physical stuff, yet I don’t use much technology other than my computer. I prefer print books, notebooks, planners, pens, and paper. I do my best to DIY to minimize expenses with cooking homemade, crafting, and home repairs. I like to support local businesses but shop second hand, and big box stores. I visit the farmers market for anything that I don’t have grown in my garden. It’s a balance of doing what feels right.

Our Kitchen/Dining Room

I thought I'd do an update on my kitchen since I posted last 6 months ago in March Spring Cleaning: Kitchen/Dining Room Part 2. I think my May 2011 post 52 Weeks: #19 Kitchen will show you the most dramatic difference I've made in my kitchen.

I've purged most of the decorations and bought a few pieces from thrift stores. Most everything I have owned for a long time but moved stuff around or took it from storage. Anything you don't see in the previous posts have been donated including the God Bless wall plaque, the plant stand along with pots/plants, the yellow stool, the CD player, some of my china, and the pots above the stove. I have definitely purged more that I've add to this room.

The biggest purchase was the kitchen table that I bought for $125.00 at a second hand furniture store. I need to paint, remove the carpet and put down new flooring,  and redo the back splash on the wall with the sink.

Before:

After:

I removed the pieces that paper towels hang on that I used to hang china cups. I'm thinking on painting it along with the wall calendar holder.

I bought the quilt table runner for $15 in March.

I've had the display on my china cabinet for a couple years. All bought from thrift or yard sales including all the my china and table linens.

Clutter Busting Challenge September 2014 Part 1

My pile of stuff to purge is small this week. We'll see how it goes next week. My husband and I've completed a couple things on our outdoor project list the last 2 days.
 
My purge pile this week:














You may be interested in:
May Outside Projects
June Outside Projects
July Outside Projects
August Outside Projects

God Is Never Beyond Our Reach

No one ever sought the Father
And found He was not there,
And no burden is too heavy
To be lightened by a prayer,
No problem is too intricate
And no sorrow that we face
Is too deep and devastating
To be softened by His grace,
No trials and tribulations
Are beyond what we can bear
If we share them with our Father
As we talk to Him in prayer—

And men of every color,
Every race and every creed
Have but to seek the Father
In their deepest hour of need—

God asks for no credentials,
He accepts us with our flaws,
He is kind and understanding
And He welcomes us because
We are His erring children
And he loves us every one,
And He freely and completely
Forgives all that we have done,
Asking only if we’re ready
To follow where He leads—

Content that in His wisdom
He will answer all our needs.

~Helen Steiner Rice~