DeCluttering.......so liberating!

 

 

It's time.

 

 Do you ever just look around and think, "When did I accumulate all this stuff?" Yep, that's been me these past few months actually. I started small last night. I decided that I had too many cookbooks. And what I meant was I had TOO MANY. Every few years I purge some books and keep others thinking I will use them. Well, my last purge was 3 years ago (for cookbooks) and I have yet to crack any of these books. So, they are off to be donated.

 

 

 

 

 So, last night I pulled not only all these cookbooks and cooking magazines, but some dishes and some other items that haven't been used in at least a year. This isn't a bad little stash to be donated, but I'm just getting started now. It feels so good to clean out and purge unused or unwanted items.

 

 

This is my after.....I wasn't even thinking about taking a before picture. But this is very nice to me, because I have my linens on top with some jars and misc. items. On the second shelf I have a large blue binder with tons of recipes that will be the next purge from this cabinet. Next to those binders I have my sons art supplies and then kitchen items. And the bottom shelf I have my most used cookbooks. I love it.....it was such a disaster before. Every time I opened the door something would fall out. I mean seriously, it was like a junk drawer on a larger scale. I can breathe now. Awww...

 

 

Now, to tackle my next project....my closet. Wish me luck!

 



 

I Finally Made A Decision......took me long enough!

 

 

 

I finally decided that it was time to make this blog a living thing again! For months I have been kicking around whether or not this blog should continue to exist. I have a feeling that is should. So, I am going to just make it fun. This is the place for what is happening in the Hardy Home.

 

Instead of catching you all up on this past year, I will go forward from here.

 

Today, I'm just working on some internal questions I have had lately. I am feeling as though it is imperative that I homeschool my children. I want to do what the Lord wants me to, so I am pondering this decision with deep reflection and the next step is to get on my knees and pray about it. I know that my Father in Heaven will answer my prayers, He always does. Last night I was talking with a dear friend of mine and we were discussing this very issue. She had said that she keeps thinking about the Family a Proclamation to the World that was put out by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints many years ago.

 

For me this is the part that keeps sticking out when I read it:

 

"The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed."

 

With all of the Common Core hoopla coming out I have been drawn to what my Spiritual leaders have said and I am feeling that for us, as a family, this is what needs to be done. I want to raise good children who will become leaders in society and positive wonderful people. I love my boys! And I want to give them the best education possible.

 

That's what's happening at the Hardy House.

 

 



Hardy Party of 6!

Yes we are no longer a party of 5! But the trouble I'm having is this: Hardy Part of 6 just doesn't flow like 5. I'm not sure if anyone even follows this blog anymore but I wanted to post our current family picture. Sharee Jones is the photographer and she is such an artist. Look how she captured my boys!

How I started my day today!!

This was how I started my day...figuratively not literally, this belly of mine prevents me from doing this sort of thing right now. I started off strong even though I was exhausted because I have tons to do around the house. 

Do you ever get so far behind that you just don't think you can even get caught back up? That's me lately. I am overwhelmed and overbooked and way over extended in my daily life. So what did I do today to cope? I worked on some quilts.....then cleaned my kitchen, ate some lunch and went right back to working on my quilts.  I'll link you to that once I have a post on it. 

My message today is to take time for the simple and fun things in life, at least once every week.....pretend you're 5! 

Brandon Flowers from the Killers Shares his faith....

I always feel this way when i go to the temple too!

i just love my boys! how sweet is this picture....not even planned! the temple always brings happiness and this is evident even when we are walking around the grounds enjoying the beautiful flowers and sitting on the SOFT grass! happy thoughts indeed!

love all the flowers!

this was a fun shot! i was laying on my stomach in the grass to capture this angle! isn't it just gorgeous?

i'm in love with all the different flowers and colors around the grounds!

what a great day this was!  have a wonderful rest of your weekend!

has it really been FOURTEEN years?

i cannot believe that our oldest is FOURTEEN today! my word...where did the years go? our precious celestial boy is one year older today and i was thinking about when he was born. he had a head full of thick black hair.....the cutest FAT cheeks that i could squish and kiss to no end....and the sweetest spirit. not much change in those departments.  but do you want to know what i love about these pictures the most? he looks like a normal happy boy! you can't even tell that he is severely autistic.....my camera catches all his smiles that i never could before!

Happy Birthday!

love you.