Last week’s chat with you all got me on a roll with this whole organizing thing.
January was the month I had set aside to go through anything and everything in the house or garage that needed organization or sorting. The words of my elementary school teacher rung in my ears, “A place for everything, and everything in its place.” I never was one who lived up to that statement, but as time went on I saw that it really was the only way to flow as a family with six little ones.
Organizing ranks among the top of my hobbies, but you may not guess it when you walk into my house. You see, this is where we live, it’s not a show piece or a model, it’s the place the children and I call home. The best of memories and the hardest of times have been spent inside these four walls. Some time ago when I decided it’s the time to downsize on the quantity of items that are stacked and stored in our house, I found myself growing weary of constantly making decisions, “Should this vase be taken to a thrift shop or should it be given away with a bouquet, and if I do keep it for that perfect moment, will I reach the goal before the next time I clean out? Is this sweater Hosanna outgrew ready for the trash or would someone still get good out of it? Will the boys mind if I trash the tractor with a missing wheel, or will they be heart broken?”
Many times when I was organizing there were little hands, helping me go through my already sorted items. It was time for something new. Anything that I did not actually need or really want in my house was to go into a tote, and when it was full, it would go to the garage. The next tote stood in line, they were filled and placed out of sight, and to the best of my efforts, out of mind. In the meanwhile the children were told that these totes are going to the garage and we will decide later what we’ll do with everything. I knew that one day the time would come where every item in every tote would be sorted and placed in its assigned spot. Funny how much I tend to dread a duty as such, and when the time is right, I end up enjoying it.
Well, guess what, January first came with all its ambitions of making a wide sweep work on some major organization, and with it came the flu bug, soaking up all my time for over a week. “Must be God has something else in mind,” I told myself.
When the moment finally came to start on cleaning out corners, I was elated. I tackled hard-to-get corners that have been neglected ever since Daniel had passed. The ones that bugged me the most also brought the most satisfaction. Well, guess what? It’s mid-February and it’s still not complete, but we’ll make the best of it and keep on til we’ve reached our goal. I had hoped to set the month of February aside to get in touch with column readers and do some sewing for my growing children. We’ll see how it goes, seemingly the most important part is to learn to go with the flow even when things don’t turn out the way I had planned. I keep learning that joy is not based on my circumstance, but on our Savior and my willingness to let go of what I had wanted right now.
So back to the project at hand. I now have 20 totes and several barrels lined up in the garage, all sorted. Hosanna’s favorite is of course the one marked “Dolls” which contain extra dolls and doll toys that have been cluttering up her closet for the last years. One doll with a purse and some basic doll clothes seem to keep her happier than a basket full of them, then needing to put them all away every time she gets them out.
One of my favorites is a large black tote marked “Austin.” It is loaded with clothes for him to grow into, that I have picked up in Amish thrift stores or others have passed on to me. Time and again when he is in need of a pair of pants I scan the stacks, and many times I find what I need! If you are a mother who is sewing for your family, you know the blessing of little things as such.
Then there are a few totes that bring warmth mingled with sadness. Before each of our babies were born I would get out the baby totes and sort through these adorable little clothes and dream about the newborn soon to be in my arms. Before Daniel passed I imagined of one day having a dozen children. Things changed. It was a blow at first, but as God heals, I have come to enjoy and embrace the stage of having the children growing older and establishing deeper relationships with them.
As I sort through clothes, I sort through seasons of life; I find there is nothing I am in charge of, except to allow God to be in charge of all things in my life!
I am getting carried away, it’s time to be quiet and wind up with a recipe. I’d rather make up my own recipe for organization, but I know that’s not happening, I just need to finish up my own projects and see if I can live up to my own specks.
One morning before I dove into more organizing I decided to mix up a batch of Scrumptious “Healthy Bars” The recipe was in a package sent to us from my uncle’s family from Pennsylvania. The box was loaded with all kinds of goodies, including jars with the needed ingredients to make these bars.
The children were impressed to come home from school and satisfy their after school cravings with this yummy treat. Try them for yourself. Since they are no-bake they are easy to put together and always fun to share.
Scrumptious “Healthy Bars”
2 cups oatmeal
1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup honey
2/3 cup chocolate chips (optional)
1 Tbsp. chia seeds (optional)
Mix altogether and press in a 9 by 9 inch container.
If desired top with the following chocolate concoction:
Healthy Chocolate
1/2 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup maple syrup
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
Place coconut oil in a sauce pan. Heat just until oil is melted. Remove from heat and add remaining ingredients. Whisk together.
Optional: add 5 tablespoons heavy whipping cream for a milk chocolate effect.
Gloria Yoder is an Amish house-wife in rural Illinois. She is the third writer of The Amish Cook column since its inception in 1991. Yoder can be reached by writing: The Amish Cook, P.O. Box 157, Middletown, Ohio 45042.
