The Weather Outside is Frightful...

And I love it (the weather I mean)!!! Because it truly is the "most delightful" thing to me, as the Christmas carol says. To be stuck in the house with nowhere to go, and nothing to do but be home is one of my favorite things! These are the days that my little "organizer" brain goes into overload. Since we had a day full of plans today (visiting my new nephew, Christmas shopping with a friend, going to a 4 year old birthday party, and then to Bible Study tonight), it was an unexpected day of productivity for me and a much needed day of play for my girls. Those are the best!

I woke up to Fox 4 News alerts of icy streets and wind chills in the 'teens, turned off my alarm, and snuggled deeper into my flannel sheets. Ahhh, nowhere to go. (although I was definitely disappointed to not see my little Braden today!) Then, shortly after the "crawl back into the sheets" moment, the overdrive mode began. Immediately thinking of all the things I could do with my time, I shot out of bed, dressed in layers, and began unpacking the last of the Christmas boxes sitting around the house. As the girls woke up, we opened the "Christmas box", which consists of all the random Christmas goodies left from last year, including a Frosty flashlight that doesn't work (Carlie's favorite), some sno-globes, a snowflake slinky, books, stickers, a reindeer kazoo, and some Christmas jewelry. It's amazing how occupied they can be with this junk! Daddy braved the "storm" (ha ha) and got us McDonald's for breakfast, so that Mommy could have her Starbucks from next door! (Best Daddy ever!!)

Then, the fun began. I organized the kitchen while they ate (replaced everyday plates and cups with more festive Christmas ware), started a load of laundry, and started in on the "arts and crafts" closet. Wow....that place can get scary fast!

After breakfast, we all moved upstairs to the girls' rooms for the REAL cleaning out. Because of our Hawaii trip in the middle of November, I had put off cleaning out the summer clothes. Now that we are officially done with them all, it was time to do the closet clean-out. This takes some major coordinating. Putting summer away in the proper bins, to go back in the attic until the warmth returns outside, packing some boxes for friends, moving others to Carlie's closet from Kendyll's, and then some go to the donate pile.

While I was doing this, I started Kendyll on the "Project Toy Donation". This year we have decided to attempt a new concept with Kendyll, and have explained that there are kids who don't have Christmas trees and new toys at their house, because they don't have the money to buy these things. Now, we will also be buying new toys for the Toy Drive at church, but we also wanted her to learn another lesson of generosity with giving the things that are her own. The things that she has loved and played with for as long as she can remember. The idea that others deserve those things too, and that we are called to give away our belongings because we are so blessed, has been sinking in slowly with her (as well as with us!). So, I started her on this process. I asked her to go through her story-books (she has shelves and shelves full!) and decide which ones were her favorites. After she did this, I asked her to go through these favorites and pick out the ones she would like to give away. I told her that the ones we give to other children, we would not get back and they would get to keep forever.

Then, I continued on to Carlie's room, to continue my own cleaning up. After a little bit, Kendyll came to get me, saying she had finished deciding. I did not get the response I had expected. Now, this girl LOVES her books. She loves to read and she loves to be read to---she always has. So, I really thought she would have a hard time with giving away her "favorites". The sight I saw when I opened her door brought tears to my eyes. She had moved all but two books into her "give away" pile!!!! I couldn't believe it. I went back over the concept with her, in case she didn't understand what she was doing. But, she did. Then, I found myself talking her out of it!! "Oh, Kendyll, don't give this one away. Grandma brought this to you when she visited Arizona and we read it all the time!" "And, this one was your very favorite book when you were only one!" "And, this one? Are you sure? You always read this with Daddy!". She was sure. She said "Mommy, I know the kids will just LOVE these! They will be so surprised!!" Wow. I was speechless. I couldn't do it, but my almost four year old could. Generosity without hesitation. Man, am I lacking in that area!! I haven't decided what to do yet. They're still stacked in her floor. We haven't even started on the toys either! This may be yet another way that God teaches me a lesson through my child.....

So, my day of organizing has been a wonderful one. Full of surprises from my little girls. Carlie has enjoyed finding "treasures" she had forgotten about, lost in her room behind played-with-everyday-toys. She has enjoyed her rocking chair as she "rock-rock" her stuffed animals. And, she has learned new words today...grape and chicken. "Dape" and "nittin". What a wonderful day at home.

As I type, both girls are asleep, the washing machine is chug-chugging away, the dishwasher is humming, and the Christmas lights are twinkling. The sheets are all changed, and the closets are all clean (well, except mine...). And, my daughter is learning the real meaning of Christmas with each passing day. I am a happy mommy!