Weather The Storm

I did some more work in the garage today. It's starting to look presentable. The only problem is that every inch of the perimeter is covered with shelves or the freezer or a lawn mower, etc. I want to see some empty space. I crave it. I have to have it! It must be time to have a garage sale!

I can't be completely happy in my kitchen until the counters are perfectly cleared off. Not one piece of paper, not one loaf of bread, nothing. Leaving one little thing on the counter is just asking for trouble. We all know how clutter multiplies when we aren't looking. If there is a glass left in the sink, there will soon be a bowl and a spoon keeping it company. Minutes later you'll find a stack of dirty plates, forks, and a frying pan added to the mess.

I've been in homes where there are cute little canisters and paper towel holders and toasters left out. I can't have this in my home. It looks and feels too cluttered to me. I have a difficult enough time keeping my head cleared without all that excess confusion around me. It's fun to go out and look at walls covered with old photos and books and treasures. I expect a restaurant to be loud, busy and full of information. But then I want to go home to my peaceful retreat and feel centered, relaxed and comforted.

That's my goal in everything I do in my home. In my decorating, organizing and cleaning, I'm creating a refuge for myself and my family. Home is the place we come for protection from the inevitable storms of life. Is your home a refuge, a haven? If it isn't, then do one little thing today that will make help it become one. All those little efforts add up to the kind of home you really want for yourself. The kind of home you need and deserve.