Organized?

So, I've been thinking a lot (A LOT) about how to make our home more streamlined. I have this thought process at least 4 times a year (it comes with the seasons) if not more. I'm not big on being a "pack rat", but that still leaves us with much that we are entrusted with (Mt. 25:14-30) to be good and faithful stewards of. That said, I've had a couple people ask how our little ship stays afloat. Following a wonderful talk on organization by Patty McCracken, I figured I'd repeat some of her very helpful words of wisdom. 

Most of you reading this know me well. You know that I don't like clutter in my home, nor do I like troublesome spots where clutter gathers. I purposefully stare down areas where I've let it slide and stand there contemplating how to undo it. It's something I enjoy doing! So that might be why our home is the way it is. Lord willing, as I grow and mature, I hope to use this somehow for God's kingdom.  So these are a few tips that I'll share in hopes that you'll share yours! You may say, "it doesn't matter", but God desires us to care for that which He's entrusted us with, and He tells us that He is not a God of disorder, but of peace (1 Cor. 14:33). He is a God of beauty (Ecc. 3:11), of perfection (Ezek. 28:12), and He desires all things to "be done decently and in order." (1 Corinthians 14:40) So to keep your home base a place of peace and not chaos, what do you do?

I start with the simple "medicine cabinet", which in our case because of very little closet space, is also our linen closet and traveling bags area. It helps to have everything have its spot so you know exactly where to go. For me, all diabetic supplies on top, medicines next, toiletries for Judah and I (cause Joe's cool and really doesn't need extras), linens, and bags. Medicines are organized by need- band-aids/gauze pads/hydrogen peroxide/ointments far right, cold/flu medicines are the next row, pain relievers next, and last row before curling irons are all infant meds. Granted, things get shoved in (like those cough drops), but I know where to go.

Next- use the space you have to the max. We were blessed with more drawers in the kitchen than ever before. Which meant for us that tea finally had a home, and cookbooks I never use and kitchen linens had their own drawer. 

Even though we had space, things still needed to be handy. Early on in our marriage, when kitchens were a 2 people max. kinda space, pots and pans began to make their home on the wall because they were easy to grab and out of the way. If you don't know if you want to try this, try hanging them on 3m hooks first! Or just leave them on 3m hooks if you like the set up!

I pull ideas from everywhere: Real Simple, Good Housekeeping, Better Homes and Gardens, my mom... As I said, if I were able, our apartment would be a clutter free zone. But, alas, sin is in the world, so clutter has to go somewhere. But our "office supply" drawer doesn't have to be one of them. 

Like I said, especially in the kitchen, use the space you're given in the most streamlined way. I don't need our picnic basket or serving dishes often, so they can be up. Glass ware, mugs, plates gotta be closer. Even our cooking cabinet (spices, broths, gravies, etc) and baking cabinet (baking powder, shortening, wheat flour, etc.) are organized so that it's grab it and go. Everything has it's place and it's easy for those outside of our family to maneuver (I hope!).

Judah's room... I love this closet. It's actually my favorite closet in the whole apartment. Odd I know, but it's delightful to me. We've never needed to use our baby gate (apartments on the first floor don't have a lot of need for those). So it's a shelf. Blankets, wipes, extra blankets, extra cloth diapers, clothes (left to right- 12mo up to 2 year). Everything has a spot to make grab and go quick and easy. Granted, I could have forgone the need of a shelf and put the baby bath and infant seat down in storage, but I want them to be clean and ready in case God decides to bless us with another little.

Toys- I'm of the camp that toys belong in Judah's room. Each night before bed, we sweep through the apartment and make sure all is back where it should be. Each "category" has a basket (cars, trains, baby toys, stuffed animals). And while we try to make sure to put something back before we get out another, let's face it. That doesn't always happen. But clean up is relatively quick when even the resident 20 month old knows where his trains go.

And lastly, personal organization. This took us a while to come to. I show this desk for personal organization because it's my stationary desk. Need a thank-you note? Second cubby on the left. Need a blank card? Second on the right. Stamps, envelopes, etc. This is my command center for bills, paperwork, and work in general. 

Joe and I's favorite personal organizational secret? Our library. You say, "Yeah, you have a lot of books." But no. No no. Each book is cataloged, alphabetical by author, in the computer so we know what we have. Then, each book is placed with like books. If you want a book on marriage, it's in the marriage and relationships section. If you want to "check out" Sherlock Holmes, it's in classical fiction. A bible study on the book of Joshua? The bible studies section. This by far, for us, is the most helpful cause we are constantly needing to check a book for something. We have a homeschooling cubby, foreign languages cubby, reference books, art history, theology, parenting, history... the list goes on. We love our library. Stop by if you need something to read!

In conclusion, God blesses us abundantly with what He has given us. Why not take care of it? Having a place for everything, and not leaving it in the "I'll get to it later" pile handicaps you. It causes you to think, "We can't have people over! The house is a wreck!" Not that my house is clean (I'm grateful these pics don't show my floor's need for a good sweep and mop or that our bookshelves haven't been dusted since we pretty much moved in). But when things are in order, that means especially for you moms, that a 10 minutes sweep through daily of the home (dishes, wipe down counters, and maybe a clean toilet) means the house is tidy enough for spontaneous entertaining whenever they come a calling. Let your home be another witness of the gospel- not the spotless floors, but the warmth that comes out of the love and care you've spread throughout it.