Confessions of a hoarder

I like to laugh a lot about my basement and my clutter "issue" around the house. j Joke that I'm a hoarder and need an intervention. Well....I am decluttering my basement (HA! as usual) and trying to find some sense in all this mess that I've managed to accumulate for years and years. And really working hard to declutter. So I've enlisted Goldilocks (Who btw has the same issue as I do) and she who is yet to be named to help me in the basement. They are becoming great help and working with me to part with "stuff" I would chronicle this journey in pictures, but to be honest I'm too ashamed to. LOL I am taking pictures though and eventually will do "before" and "after" Once the after is complete and I can feel better about it. :)

But here is what I have found so far:

1. I am completely emotionally attached to "stuff:....Pictures of loved ones, letters or books of my dads who passed away 18 years ago. Bells that were my grandmothers. Pictures my kids have made. Tokens from vacations or fun times. China and dishes that were my great grand mothers and beyond....Lots of things to cherish but so much that the meaning is gone when it's packed away in a box in the basement for years on end.

2. I keep "stuff" because I have this thought that I might need it someday and not be able to buy it. *sigh* I'm pretty sure this comes from being poor as a child. But....Seriously hoarding a bunch of blankets or purses or shoes or "whatever" for the past 10 years isn't really going to help me if I do NEED them someday. Likely they are outdated and not usable for any purpose then just having it. Which...is pretty silly.

3. I am surrounded by stuff that serves no purpose. And I don't really LOVE but can't seem to part with it for a variety of reasons.

4. I keep "stuff" that I have plans to change into something else, or redecorate, or upcycle. But....I have no time to do that stuff because I am constantly working to declutter.

As fast as I take out it seems to pile up. I declutter and a month or two later it's back!! From where? I don't know. I purged 60 bags (YES 60!) during my 40 bags in 40 days project over Lent and I seem to have more now then when I started....What is up with that?

So....I have forced myself to face this. Taking an hour out of each day during nap time or after bedtime and making myself sort a box one at a time and either re-homing it or throwing it to the curb. I have given up on the "yard sale" idea. Because that gives me a reason to "hoard" so I'm just ridding it.

The past two weeks I have managed to rid out another 20 or so bags/boxes from the basement. And little by little it is going away. Not as fast as I would like and not as easy as I would like. I need to changed my attitude and my emotional connection to stuff.

I might not ever reach "simple living" status, but maybe I will be able to have more space and less "baggage" literally. :)

IPAD Apps for Special Needs

I was given a great list of apps for Little Baer and Brother Baer from one of our therapists. So I thought I would share! Most of them are free (At least their Lite versions) so you can try them out and see if they work for you before you purchase the bigger version. I try to incorporate FUN with learning and the IPAD is an awesome tool for that! The boy think they are "playing" when they are really learning important developmental skills. 

The Scan job isn't the best! But they are readable. :) Happy App'ing!

A Challenge for you!!

Here it is! A Dinner Challenge for you all! 

I want you to tell me what I should cook for dinner this week. It's a pretty impossible task though. Here are the rules, you have to follow the "guidelines" as stated. Otherwise....have at it! If you can come up with something (must be edible for real) I will cook it! For real!

Here are the guidelines (This ensures the Baer Clan will actually eat it and I don't waste my time)

1. No soups, chili's or anything of that nature (Papa Baer rule)

2. Nothing that requires being spoon fed (Little Baer rule)

3. Nothing "mixed" like Casseroles, etc. All foods must be separate. (Brother Baer rule)

4. No Mexican, Asian, or other foods that may present themselves as "different" (Papa Baer, Brother Baer, and Little Baer's rule)

5. No Pasta or noodle dishes. (Little Baer rule) 

6. No Salad as main course (Brother Baer rule)

7. No Italian dishes (Little Baer rule)

8. Nothing that resembles a sandwich. (Little Baer rule)

So....that's my job Every.Single.Day of the year. Find dinner for these impossible eaters. Seriously...if you use those guidelines I dare you to find something that I can cook and have them eat it. It's nearly impossible. And it has left me exhausted before I begin. I need some serious help here~!

Christmas Shopping in July

If you knew you could start Christmas shopping in July, could find some really awesome handmade items for your friends and family, AND help a family bring home an orphan would you? 

Well here you go! I've started shopping already and I'm excited to give some great gifts this Christmas and feel good about doing my part to bring home a child with special needs. 

Here are some really awesome sites for purchasing some gifts AND helping these Reece's Rainbow families raise their Ransoms. 

Do you know someone who loves scarves?

You can find a whole variety of handmade scarves here: Life's Amazing Journey

What about an Auction on FACEBOOK! Where you can find really cool items like this:

the auction ends Saturday! (Tomorrow) and there are tons and tons of really cool things. You can find it Here:

Help the Marble Family

What about Pampered Chef? the Marble Family is traveling VERY soon and still need a lot of funds. You can go here to order some Pampered Chef and help them! Marble Family Pampered Chef

What about this really awesome "Mother" plate

you can find it along with a TON of really awesome items including stampin' it up items and so many others here:

Auction for A Princess

Do you like Avon or know someone who does? You can order through here and under events you can choose a family for the proceeds to go for:

Avon Fundraiser

What about hairbows? eeekk....I have already ordered some of these for my Princess! I'm hoping baby baer gets enough hair to wear them by Christmas! 

She has tons of different hair bows and holders to choose from! You can check it out on Facebook!

Kenzi's Kraft Korner

How about a baby that needs a gift? My little baer's love their taggie blankets. 

You can find these along with a lot of other taggie blankets and different items up for auction Here:

Auction for Carolina and Kanani

Want to enter a giveaway and have a chance to win a new TV to give to someone for Christmas? (Or keep it for yourself? lol)

Go Here and enter!!! Journey to Reunite Two Angels

Check out this little baby doll! Handmade and waiting for a little girl! What a cute gift. 

You can find this cute doll and so many other items here on Facebook: But by Grace

Bows? Hairbows? Again...I love hairbows. Here is an example of one you can buy:

you can find them here on Facebook: Bringing Home Orphans

What about this awesome handmade necklace for a mom or sister or friend:

You can find this along with lots of other necklaces on Facebook Here: Auction for Lily and Isaac

What about this bracelet? Hmm...*hint hint* I want one! :)

You can buy them Here: One at a Time 

How about Tee Shirts? 

you can order them here: Life's Amazing Journey

These are just a few of the items that you can purchase or bid on RIGHT NOW! I'm also including the link to the Friday Family Fundraiser Page from Reece's Rainbow. you can check in with them on Fridays and see new and exciting items. 

Reece's Rainbow Friday Family Fundraisers

Seriously....Isn't it awesome to get a handmade gift? I love them. And I love giving them. And since i'm not so crafty this is perfect for me. Made with love, bought with love, and given with love, knowing you can help rescue an orphan while you are doing something that everyone does! Shops! 

Happy Shopping Ya'll!

4 "Pins" I wish I could find on Pinterest

I love Pinterest. It's fun and entertaining and inspires me to be crafty and makes me laugh. I can day dream about the perfect house and the awesome dinners I will never have time to make. But honestly....Finding ways to make sandwiches into fire trucks, and paper cups into Christmas Trees really isn't all that helpful in my crazy life. So, here is what I would like to find (Hint: if you find them and they work...pass them along please)

1. How to keep a diaper on a toddler. Seriously. Why is this an issue? Every.Single.Day. I am a grown woman with 22 years of child rearing experience and this baffles my mind. I can't find an answer. 

2. How to keep your sons from peeing all over the bathroom. this baffles my mind as well. the toilet bowl is HUGE compared to your pee pee...get it in the bowl for goodness sakes. Pee on the floor, on the toilet, on the back of the toilet, on the rug, in the garbage can. Everywhere put the darn toilet. 

3. How to get poop smell off your hands. This goes back to the #1 pin I need. I feel like it's a constant state of stink in this house, then I realize it's my hands that stink. I wash them, I use hand sanitizer, lotion, you name it. The smell is still there. 

4. How to get laundry to fold itself. this task is simply daunting to me. It's like an over run circus when I try to fold the clothes. It goes something like this: fold, unfold, fold, unfold, throw on the floor, pick it up, in the basket, out of the basket, fold, unfold. Take the toddler out of the basket, put the clothes in, turn around to pick up the other clothes....and the cycle starts again. 

That's it. Pretty simple if you ask me. That's all I need these days to make me giddy with happiness. 

Welcoming Sight....The Front Door

It's done! Finally It's done! what used to look like this:

(This actually was after the first paint was stripped off and ready to repaint)

To this:

A much more Welcoming sight don't you think? I replaced the screen and cleaned off all the "old paint" (Not from me! lol) off the screen door glass and the door itself. It looks a million times better. It matches the eaves of the house and the trim on the windows. I'm preparing the fence area to start that project tomorrow. And today I'm painting the creeper/serial killer door Cellar Door. Then there is the shed, the swing set, and the flag post....oh and the mailbox post. For some silly reason there were 3 colors of paint on various things throughout the property. I'm not really sure what statement was being made...but it's outta here! :) 

Where are their mamas???

This past week within the Orphan Warrior community, it was brought to our attention that there are 63 Orphans listed with Reese's Rainbow who have been waiting for a very, very long time. Years and Years they have waited for their mamas and papas to find them and bring them home. So, today is officially Blog Blitz Sunday! We are sharing all these kids and hoping and praying that their families see them and hears God's voice telling them....SHE is MINE! HE is MINE! I must go get him!!!

We are going to be YELLING and SCREAMING their names and faces in hopes that their families will find them and bring them home. 

Please join me in reading about these sweet faces. Pray for them, share them, and YELL for them. We can not sit by and watch these children die waiting for a family. 

We can not all adopt. I'm aware of that. We also, can not all give money, although we CAN support the families that are adopting by Christmas shopping!!! We all do that right? Lots of families have auctions and sales going on to raise money. 

We can all pray! Pray for them. God commands this. God says we should take care of the orphans of the world. Not as a "thing to do" but as his children we are told to take care of orphans. 

I want to introduce you to a few of the waiting children. And tell you a little about them. 

This is Carolina, born in 2006. This girl is adorable!!!:

Carolina is such a beautiful girl; beautiful brown hair with olive skin.  She has cerebral palsy, and does wear AFO’s on both feet.

From her medical records: Cerebral palsy, convergent squint, mental delay.   She can walk by supporter or holding one hand.  She says separate words, understands simple speech, is affectionate and friendly.   Physical therapy and a loving family will bring MIRACLES for this little girl!

Carolina was transferred to a boarding school in 2011 (not an institution).

Father to the fatherless, defender of widows — this is God, whose dwelling is holy. God places the lonely in families.

Psalms 68:5-6

This is Valerie, born in 2004, so cute and happy:

SIGNIFICANT RISK, PLEASE ADOPT ME SOON!!

Isn't Valerie cute??  She is diagnosed with hypothyroidism.  She also has strabismus (crossed/lazy eyes).    She is diagnosed with developmental delay, and shows many of the facial characteristics of a child with FAS (Fetal Alcohol syndrome).  But she is a darling girl, very active, loving and affectionate!   She is facing the institution soon.  I hope a family is out there waiting just for her!

If you are unfamiliar with FAS, please spend some time researching this condition.  Just as with Down syndrome, FAS and FAE have a wide variation of effects on each child, both medically, physically, and cognitively.   This is typically dependent on how long during the pregnancy the mother consumed alcohol, and of course, how much.   There is no way to know this ahead of time.

Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.

Isaiah 1:17

This is Justine, born in 2001, STILL waiting. Look at her adorable smile!!!:

Justine is a pretty girl with dark hair and eyes.  She is fully mobile and active.   Her face bears features of FAS, but this is not documented and is only a cautionary disclosure.

From her medical records:  congenital microcephaly, autism

As with all children living in these difficult conditions,  this child’s cognitive development has regressed significantly since he/she was younger.  It is of crucial importance that any family considering the adoption of an older child from the mental institution setting be well prepared for what to expect with regards to how the neglect and lack of adequate medical care and nourishment has affected this child.    These children all have TREMENDOUS potential for improvement, and deserve to have a life outside these four walls.

These children are truly living on borrowed time, and families should be home study approved before an official commitment can be made for this child.

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.

Proverbs 31:8-9

This is Kristie, born in 2001. She belongs in dance classes or cheerleading! I can see her now!!:

Kristie was born with Klippel Feil syndrome, as kyphosis and 6 of her vertebrates are fused together.   Despite this, she is completely mobile and totally functional/self sufficient.  She is also of typical development cognitively.  Kristie's older sister was recently adopted into another family (separated legally), so Kristie is still waiting for her own "forever family".

And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me.

Matthew 18:5

And this is Austin, born in 2006. His smile is so cute. I bet he would be an awesome son!

This darling little boy is waiting for his forever family. He has very unique facial features, but I am unfamiliar with the condition that causes these.  One of the possible diagnoses we have been made aware of *may* be a form of Russell Silver Syndrome  (RSS). This most recent photo shows he is growing well, and seems to be active and relatively happy.   After what we learned about RSS, it seems much more likely than the previously supposed progeria, which is good for Austin!  Please consider adopting Austin and helping him be the best that he can be! There will never be a place for him in his country outside the walls of an institution, just like our children with Down syndrome.

I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!

Matthew 25:40

To see and read about the OTHER 63 children who have been waiting for sooooo long now please see these other amazing blogs. The Warrior Army is Screaming Today!! Come join us:

http://wholelottalovin.blogspot.com/

 http://gilda-findingpearls.blogspot.com/

http://melissa-roomatthetable.blogspot.com/

www.orphanreport.blogspot.com

 http://lifesbeautifulbutterflies.blogspot.com/

 http://www.multitaskingmama.com/

 http://4alittleloco.blogspot.com/2012/07/blitzing-for-love.html

.http://melissa-roomatthetable.blogspot.com/

.http://departtoserve.blogspot.com/

http://answeringthecallfororphans.blogspot.com/2012/05/dad-who-answered-call.html

http://clairescalicocorner.blogspot.com/

 http://motherslittlehelper004.blogspot.com/

http://wonderofboys.blogspot.com/

 http://butbygraceitcouldbeme.blogspot.com/

www.savingsullivan.blogspot.com

http://covenantbuilders.blogspot.com/

http://the-scenic-route-momto6kids.blogspot.com/

 www.zerothezeros.blogspot.com/

 http://thestarsaligned.blogspot.com/

 http://onechildonevoice.blogspot.com/

to get involved or find out more about adoption please visit:

www.reecesrainbow.org

Limping Along

We are limping along here! that's about all I can think of to summarize the progress here. My Garden is FINALLY doing something. :) Although it's limping along pretty slow I can finally see progress. so excited. I picked 2 cucumbers today. Brother Baer says they look weird (They are completely ROUND HA!) I said they fit in just fine and I'm sure they will taste yummy. The bad soil, the heat, the no rain thing...It's not been good. But We have babies! YAY!!!

 Squash! :)

 Zucchini!

 cucumbers!

 Tomatoes!

And the yard project is "limping along as well" The day the pool was torn down:

Now: Woohoo! We have grass, sand and garden! I seriously CAN NOT wait for the fence to be painted. That's on the agenda for next week. First though I have to remove all the overgrowth and get it ready. *sigh*

 This project is "limping along" as well. Although right now it's pretty much.....stalled. Hello ugly 80's mauve again. *sigh* Mauve...Chocolate Brown...Mauve again. ACK! Hopefully this weekend it is Chocolate Brown to stay. LOL This whole paint disaster has left me frustrated and "over it" hopefully I will get some motivation back to finishing removing the paint so I can paint it again. *shakes my head*

 More babies! :)

The driveway project isn't even started. The basement is still in disarray and after all the work on the doors all I have to show for it are flies in my house. ACK! I hate flies. Literally hate them so bad. They creep me out, make me feel dirty, and drive me batty. So....Killing flies today is on the Agenda! 

I sure hope the progress picks up soon. LOL Whoever is in charge of these things isn't very organized. ;) 

Grilled Beef and Vegetable Kabobs

Grilled Beef and Vegetable Kabobs!

I made these tonight and figured I would share. With the Holiday coming up everyone will be grilling! These Kabobs are super easy and amazingly delicious. I basically threw a marinade together from odds and ends in my fridge and it turned out PERFECT!

Marinade:

3/4 cup Red Wine Vinegar

3/4 Cup Vegetable Oil

1/2 Cup of Zesty Italian Dressing

1/4 Cup of Balsamic Italian Dressing

4 Tablespoons of Worcestershire Sauce

3 Gloves of Garlic

1/4 cup of brown sugar

Salt and Pepper to taste 

Kabobs:

1 1/2 lbs of Beef Chunks 

6 small Yukon Gold potatoes

1 medium Zucchini

2 medium Red Onions

1 Red pepper

1 Green Pepper

8 Mushrooms

Cut all your vegetables up into large pieces. Par boil the potatoes so they will cook evenly with the other veggies that do not require a long cook time. I boiled them for about 5 minutes. They were still firm. I rinsed them in cool water to stop the cooking process and added them to the veggies, beef mix! Place the Beef and the Vegetables into the marinade for 4 hours. Stirring or mixing occasionally so that all pieces get fully marinaded. Soak your wooden Skewers in water while your marinading the beef and veggies

Fill up the skewers alternating meat and veggies. The recipe made 10 Skewers. So would serve 4-5 people. Once they are ready....Grill them up! :) Now I started to "grill" them and ran out of gas in the grill. SO....I had to improvise and grill them on my stove top grill. Certainly not the same...but a good substitute. 

These were so yummy! I served them with Corn on the Cob and even Little Baer ate it up! :)