Decluttering and Preparing

Hello everyone! I hope your first week of June has been off to a good start. I will say mine has been nice considering my circumstances. Surgery is in 2 weeks and 4 days. It is getting closer and I have a few areas I need to cover beforehand as I know I will have a process time of recovery. I didn't get to my spring clean and declutter because of my health and the passing of my mother-in-law. 

I have been a little overwhelmed feeling because I know I need some order in some areas before surgery. I just told myself to breathe, choose the most pressing things (top 3-4) that I truly could physically handle if I took my time. Well, one of those things was my closet and drawers.  

Reason being is that we are now having 100 degree days and I still had sweaters and all my winter clothing out and all my cooler things were packed away. I truly have been living in a loose gown and a few flowy dresses lately. 

So, Tuesday was the day. I will say once I brought everything out of my closet (I did not do my husband's clothes) I had to rest for an hour and then I worked and rested and worked and rested. I am not used to this at all. What would normally take me an hour or two from start to finish took me all day and the next and I still do not have it all fully complete. 

Here are some pictures of it all. Ignore the shoes. I finally did those, but I didn't take pictures of the afterwards because I am still wanting to set up my closet a little better.

I shared the start of the process above. On to the rest...

This is a partial of before. I had already grabbed several items out of the closet before I took the picture. Normally my closet never gets like this, but I honestly have felt so bad since Feb/March so it just does. 

I decided to make the day cozy. LOL!! I lit this yummy candle and played some jazz music while I was at work. 

Around lunch time I STOPPED I was so exhausted. I decided I needed to put a little pep in my life, 😆😆 and I ordered me some Chick Fil A (no judgement~ I don't normally) and took a 5-minute slow stroll afterwards. I then sat down for about 30 minutes and just read and rested. 

 

I ended up decluttering 75 items this day. I was pretty ruthless. Here I was thinking I had a small wardrobe. LOL! Mind you this was for ALL SEASONS and Hiking gear and etc. Like I literally went through every single piece of clothing and shoes I owned. EVERY SINGLE PIECE!!!! From socks to coats. I ended the day!

Wednesday, I rested in because I felt pretty tired and weak. I had three drawers I needed to conquer. I got those all cleaned out and then went back through the boxes I put my winter items to see if there were anything else to get rid of after sleeping on it. :) 

I also went through some old blankets, pillows and etc. I decluttered to donate or trash a total of 178 items, and it feels so good. But it also makes me go back to one of my words of the year.... Stewardship. This process made me realize that that I need to be more mindful of what I purchase and bring into our home as well as store up in our home. A lot of the clothes and items I decluttered I have had for 5 to 10 years. I was holding on to sweaters that had totally seen better days. I was holding on to shoes that hurt my feet that could be a blessing to someone else. All of it is now at the thrift store. As a past house cleaner and organizer, my number one rule is to take items immediately if possible. That I did. I made a donation drop late yesterday afternoon.

I want to share this beautiful verse that always ministers to me. I actually sing a song when I lead worship sometimes that is called The Everlasting and it opens up with a part of this verse and every time I sing it, I feel so connected to my Savior. (Image is from google search)

P.S. Please be patient with me as I am trying to catch up visiting all of your blogs I read. If I haven't popped by, please know I will!

Blessings!!

Chrissy T

Happy June! Kicking Off June~ Soak Up the Sun

Hello!! 🌞

Here in the deep south of Mississippi on June 1st, it was 93 but the weather said it felt like 96'F! Yep... already HEATING UP!

I am thankful for air conditioning! Unfortunately, we have to get a new unit installed Friday! I am thankful we were able to get a plan for the $11,000 unexpected event. We will pay it in full in August. Wowza! We kind of knew it was coming BUT definitely not at this moment. It is working but it has to be replaced before it finally bites the dust, and it is barely chugging.

For all you people who hate feet you will not like this image... but..... 😆😆😆

Anyhoo.... I sit outside every afternoon for about 15-20 minutes to soak up some Vit D since I am low in that vitamin this year. I usually do not have an issue because I am always walking, hiking, and exploring outdoors but for the past 6 months it has been limited.

I do enjoy sitting outside with a glass full of crushed ice water, head tilted toward the sun and birds chirping. It was pretty HOT though yesterday, so I didn't sit out but maybe 10 minutes. I had already pushed myself a little earlier in the day and I could feel that I was getting super weak and tired!

In other news.... I have FINALLY FINISHED my National Park Diamond Art Coasters Kit that our youngest son's girlfriend (Carleigh) had gifted me for Christmas. I love them. I didn't quite like how the Arches Nat'l Park turned out but the rest I love. 

I think my favorite ones are the Grand Canyon and Yosemite. I just really liked how they turned out. 

I am chipping away at my puzzle I want to do for my Spring Bucket List.

I have actually accomplished a little more since I last took this picture on Sunday afternoon.

Monday, I had to go to the store to get some very much needed toiletry items like shampoos, soaps, and things like that. We were out of a lot of things. I usually do not get low but due to my "bed" resting I just haven't kept up with it. I have moved now from complete bed rest, to light slow activity now until my surgery on the 22nd of this month. Woohoo. Unless I start hemorrhaging heavily again. 

It is that time of year that I needed to replace the HEAVIER bedding with a summer quilt. My husband mentioned he was getting really hot with our Fall/Winter bedding. I forget sometimes because I only use white bedding and since it is light colored, I forget the weight of the blankets. I typically sleep on top of the covers with a tiny light thin quilt because I have hot flashes. LOL! Without further ado it was time to replace it and get the bed all fresh!

All good, fresh and lighter!! Ready for the hot months ahead. Hubby mowed the grass after work yesterday and I did the bedding. It was still 90 degrees at 5:30-6:00 pm so we wanted something cooler for dinner. I made up some chicken salad out of some rotisserie chicken we had left over from the weekend. 

It was good and hit the spot. 

We usually put chicken salad on croissants, but it was kind of unplanned, so we enjoyed it on basic white bread. We tend to eat a lot lighter and less warm meals in the evenings during the summer months when it comes to supper/dinner. We will eat maybe a tad heavier lunch instead.

I have been enjoying slow evening strolls to strengthen myself for surgery and to promote better circulation. I love the sky in the evening!!

It is time to wrap up this post and before I do I want to say Happy June!!! Blessings to you all!

Books, Devos, & Strolls~ Oh, Sweet Roses!

Hello everyone. This past week was a lot of reading, very short & slow strolls, researching and planning for my TBR (To Be Read) Summer Reading list. One book was delivered yesterday! I am so excited. 

 I also picked up some sweet roses to replace the flower bouquet that someone sent me two weeks ago. Those flowers were ready to be recycled (discarded). I found these roses on a clearance rack we have for flowers at our local grocer. I got this dozen for $4.50! They are still in great condition and smell fantastic. 

I have taken a few short strolls this past week. My bloodwork came back this week, so I am still on "resting and light duty" and NO HIKES or LONG WALKS. Sigh!!!!!

It is pretty hot here now as well as humid. So, I have been taking evening strolls. 

Getting my puzzle organized to complete for my Spring Bucket List puzzle. No new to me puzzle. I just chose from a stash I got last summer at a yard swap. It isn't really spring like overall. It will do though.

These are two of the current spiritual growth books I am reading. They are both super great so far. Actually, the Called to Thrive is a short devotional Booklet. 

I am still hammering away with this Bible Study from Daily Grace Co. I started it when I went to the Tiny House on the Goat Farm in March. When I returned, I went to the doctor because I noticed how much I was having female issues and lack of energy on my hikes. I was truly not feeling myself. I just didn't know what was really going on. Then my life shifted. So, I shelved it for a bit. This is my Spring Bible Study I want to finish. I will share my thoughts on it when I complete it. 

I am excited to share my fun "mocktail" or Spring Fun Drink I plan to make soon. I purchased all the ingredients yesterday. I had most of it. I may make them tomorrow for Derrick and I. 

Blessings and Until Next Time,

Chrissy T

When the Bucket List Needs a Makeover....

Life happens. Things Change. Curve balls come. When I was younger in the earlier part of marriage and motherhood, I would get quite upset when change happened. I am kind of a stickler for routines and flows. I know. LOL!  I have learned a lot with age! 😆😆

Something happens as you get older and you realize life is a lot more joyful if you just grab your seat and go with it. It may get bumpy, wild, hard, fun, crazy, wonderful and tearful all in one go. One thing for sure is that things CHANGE. 

I had my made my beautiful, curated Spring Bucket List and shared it with you all when spring kicked off. Well, some things changed for me physically and besides letting this rain on my Spring Bucket List Parade I have decided it just simply needs a makeover. 

I think sometimes we have a hard time saying, "that isn't going to work" and start over. Sometimes it just has to be done. It usually works out for the better most of the time. 

I know that most people (including all my family and most friends) think Memorial Day is the kick off to Summer starting, but I am one of those purist 😅 that really clings from ONE SEASON TO THE NEXT and because I go by dates not holidays or weather I still have plenty of time to get some things on my Bucket List done before Summer hits and before my surgery!

I have until June 21st 3:24 a.m. (central time in USA) 😆 My surgery is June 22nd. SIGH!!!!!!!!!!!! 😞

Here is my previous bucket list....

As you can tell I have done TWO! LOL! Well, life happened right after I made this list. Some of it seems pretty simple but with my current situation physically most is a no go, or it needs to be made with some accommodations. 

Here is my more simplistic and modified NEW ONE filled with things I feel I could pull off and if not.... OH well! It will be alright! Life will continue and I will be just fine. 😆

A lot of these may seem super simplistic compared to my other one but it is what I feel I can do and it brings me a little joy thinking of some of the ways I can make all these things happen. I can combine a few of these things so that will be neat and fun!!! Like I can drive to a new to me state park and have a picnic. Boom. :)

Have you done things on your spring bucket list? Are you planning for summer already? Do you even do bucket lists? Not everyone does and some may think it is silly, but I do like having a plan to really do some fun simple things here and there. It makes life more shall I say JOYFUL!

Until Next Time, 

Chrissy T

Wednesday Hodgepodge Time

 Joining this week's Hodgepodge....From This Side of the Pond!!!

Welcome and I hope you are having a lovely week so far! Please go check out this beautiful blog above!

1. Do you like your name? Are you named after someone (grandparent, etc)? If you have children how did you choose their names?

I have never really thought about it. I must like it then. I don't dislike it. My full name (not last) is Christina Lynn. I go by Chrissy 99 percent of the time and all of my life. I am rarely ever called Christina except the doctor's office because I use my "legal" name. 

Lynn is my mother's name. I am not sure how Christina came about. My grandmother suggested it to my mom, I believe. 

Our oldest son's name is Nathaniel Ethan. Nathaniel is after my husband's grandfather, and Ethan is from a soap opera I watched. I NO LONGER WATCH THOSE! I was sick and bedridden for my entire pregnancy with 24/7 morning sickness and had IV therapy to help. So, one day I was watching this silly soap opera, and I heard the name and I liked it. 

Our daughter's name is Hannah June Grace. I chose this name after lots of prayer, and this is what came to my mind what Hannah Grace, but I wanted to add my grandmothers name (June) so that is how I came up with her name.

Our youngest son's name has a whole different story. His name is Kyle Bryce. We actually had a totally different name all throughout the pregnancy and even called him that up until the night before I gave birth. I had a scheduled cesarean. We originally named him Nicholas Cade. My mom even had a pillow made and I felt so bad BUT it didn't feel right. We were praying the night before and when we kept praying his name it didn't feel right. Literally, I cannot explain it and wish I could, but I felt Kyle Bryce and that is what we named him. And yes... people were upset. LOL!

2. A piece of red velvet cake, a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a slice of blueberry pie? You can only have one...which will you choose? If you could pick any red, white, or blue dessert other than those listed here, what would you choose?

Red Velvet Cake. I like cake. But I like all that is suggest. But I had a choice Blueberry Cobbler. 

3. What's a job you'd like to try for just one day?

A detective! LOL! OR a Travel Guide. I can't choose one! Sorry!

4. Any patriotic decor in your home currently or coming up this summer?

I used to go ALL OUT from Memorial Day to Mid-July! I do not any longer due to time, storage and a few other personal reasons. I do hang a wreath closer to July that is usually patriotic. We put out our large Yard Flag around Flag Day and Fourth. I do always do a patriotic tablescape when we cook out for the fourth. But I do not in general decorate anymore inside for the summer in a patriotic way. 

5. It's the end of May, so let's exercise our brains. Sum up your month with an acrostic using the word MAY. We can do it!!

Many hard weeks this past month. That is all I can say. 

Amazed how we are basically halfway done with the year 2026. Insane.

Yearning for better days ahead with my health but trying to focus on the small little things that bring me joy.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I simply do not have one truly, but I will share a verse I read that I enjoyed today.

"In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence and his children will have a refuge." Proverbs 14:16

Blessings Friends!

Chrissy T

Oh, the WONDER of a Sunset & a Walking Path

Hello everyone. I hope you all had a lovely weekend. I had a slow and quiet weekend. I did get out Sunday evening for a stroll. I needed it to just take a slow walk. I enjoyed the little path that I went to up the road from me. 

The walking path was filled all along it. Bushes and bushes. They will probably be ripe next week. 

I remember one time my husband and I went and picked a bunch of berries close to my mother in law's home, and she made berry dumplings with them. IT WAS DELISH! I am not sure of the recipe because a lot of things she did was from her on concoctions. Carolyn was a wonderful cook. She made the best fried okra I have ever tasted. I also never had rice pudding until she made it one evening and it was superb. I love it to this day. But really, I have never tasted it like the way she made it. 

As I was leaving I noticed this beautiful sunset. It was like a watercolor painting. So, I did what any sunset chasing crazy lady would do.... I rolled my windows down and drove towards the sunset to capture all I could.

I pulled over in a safe parking lot and took these next pictures. I just thought it was magnificent. There are no filters on any of these pictures. This is just a basic photo off an old cellphone. :) 

I sat there until it totally almost went down. I just love how beautiful sunsets are!!! It is like the earth sighs and gets ready for sleep (well part of the earth anyways) and it just makes you feel like it is tucking in to say goodnight. 

Slowly and slowly, it sets! It was such a lovely evening. Psalm 19:1 " “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.”

I have not caught many sunrises in my life, but I always catch sunsets. I love them. Some of my most memorable ones are on a vacation to Petit Jean Mountain in Arkansas. Oh, I will have to find that picture and share it. It was marvelous. 

The second one was St. Mark's Nature Preserve in Floridia this past September. It was breathtaking. 

The third one was on Dania Beach, Floridia. 

I am sure there are more, but these are the most memorable. 

Are you a sunrise, sunset or beautiful sky chaser? In other words, do the skies and all the glory of them stop you in your tracks?

Until Next Time.... go watch a sunrise or sunset!

Chrissy T

Just Few Fun and Cute Sayings....

Hello all. I hope you all had a good Thursday! We are heading into the weekend. A longer one for some as Memorial Day approaches. 

Here are some cute little sayings off PINTEREST that I have saved recently. I just wanted to share them! Please note... I did not create these images. 

Absolutely living this right now! Making lemonade... baby!!!!   

🍋🍋🍋🍋

This was saved off Pinterest, and I cannot take any credit for this adorable image!!! 

Oh, this word.... Snerdle!!!! Isn't delightful?!

Haha! I am not sure I would go around telling people I am "pootling" BUT it is such a cute thought! I actually try to be very intentional that if I feel myself rushing to pause and intentionally slow my pace, action or whatever I am doing. So, I guess I am "pootling!" 😏😆

I hope you all have a lovely weekend. 

With Love, 

Chrissy T