Day 1202 Potential

 

Progress, progress… slow and steady. My big closet clean-out has completely overtaken the entire upstairs—drawers dumped, shelves cleared, and every bin I once tucked away now emptied across the floor. Tim has done his best to avoid going upstairs for anything, afraid I’d pull him into my insanity and ask him to open his closet too! (Smart man.)

Right now, the upstairs looks as if a tornado swept through, and whether I want to or not, I have to keep going until it’s all put back together. I’m sure I’ll be happy once it’s finished, but I’ve definitely hit the stage where I’m asking myself why I ever started. I filled bag after bag of things to donate and dropped them off immediately so the chaos stayed contained upstairs and didn’t overflow into the living room. I sure know how to enjoy a four-day weekend, don’t I?

After a full day of cleaning, cooking dinner, and doing my regular daily chores, Tim and I went out for a drink at the pub down the street—a much-needed timeout for me. And although we’re an old married couple, we still love a date night. We sat chatting about nonsense, enjoying each other’s company more than either of us can believe. We shared a kiddie-size plate of mac and cheese and headed home like a pair of early birds. My brain stayed focused on the task at hand, determined to keep my momentum going until every room upstairs is in tip-top shape and ready for Christmas company.

I’m also trying to organize our holiday plans now, and getting everyone on the same page is nearly impossible. But it looks like we’ve settled on a Christmas Eve celebration—just waiting to check in with Bridie about her family’s availability. Getting all four kids and their families together at the same time is a challenge greater than my upstairs mess! We can’t wait to meet the newest member of the family, but we’re planning our visit for next week to give them a little time to settle in. 

And why the photo of Santa? He’s my inspiration to finish this whole project. My all-time favorite holiday decoration is that silly plastic Santa from my childhood—the one that sits on my desk holding a night-light bulb. Once he’s out, the holiday season can officially begin.

Here’s hoping that by the time Santa takes his place on my desk, the upstairs and my sanity will be fully restored and Christmas plans will be as organized as my clothing! 

“Continuous effort—not strength or intelligence—is the key to unlocking our potential.” — Winston Churchill