organizing

Last week I lost my wallet. Oh, the stress! I spent a couple of frantic hours searching every possible, and impossible, spot it could be.

After it wasn't found in the kitchen, at the table, on the desk, between the sofa cushions, under the the mini-van seats, beneath the cars, behind the dryer, inside  the dryer, under the bed, in the refrigerator.....I moved on to some less likely places. Yes, there were places I could look that were less likely than inside the refrigerator. Like the crawl space underneath the basement stairs.

Ummmm. It wasn't there.

My sweet husband entertained my insanity by driving to the only store I had visited that day, the one where I first noticed my wallet was AWOL. Based on the fact that it didn't seem to be anywhere in our house, I  was convinced that it must have fallen out of my purse into the parking lot or a grocery isle. Based on logic, he  was convinced that notion was impossible. But he went there anyway. Because he loves me. And because it was quieter there without me nagging him about it.

Still, no wallet.

So, I started the "enjoyable" process of remembering everything that might have been stored in my now-lost wallet. Driver's license, debit card, credit cards. Library card, Costco card, insurance cards. Other cards that I couldn't think of then and I can't think of now. Annoying!

Now it was time for the real fun to begin. I called the bank, apparently pushed all the wrong buttons, got rejected by the pre-recorded voice, fought back tears, called our local branch, talked to a very sympathetic young man, complained about the recorded voice that nearly sent me into therapy, and got a temporary hold put on my cards. Good times.

Finally, I did the only thing I could do....I made dinner while feeling slightly better than dirt.

That dirt-like feeling wasn't just caused by the stress of losing my wallet. Oh, no. It was because my purse was such a mess that I thought it was possible for my wallet to spill out. It was because of the piles of mail and newspapers I had to look under. Because of all the unnecessary "stuff" I searched around and behind. It was because of the clutter that is starting to take over.

Clutter makes me feel tired and overwhelmed. And like dirt. I lose things I want and can't take care of all the things I have but don't really need. When clutter creeps in, peace leaks out. Less junk, more joy. It's a pretty simple principle, and one that's been proven over and over in my home.

So right then and there, while dunking French fries in a pot of hot oil and wallowing in self-pity, I decided it was time to get rid of the clutter and chaos. Again. I started getting rid of it during my little Countdown to Clutter-Free at Christmas time, but....well....it was Christmas time. Good intentions; bad timing.

Spring is better, don't you think? If you take a look at this week's Daily Do List, you might notice that the "Monthly To Do List" tasks all involve sorting or organizing, rather than actual wash-the-dust-off cleaning. I'll still be working my way through my home like I usually do, one area at a time, except this month (or longer, if needed), I'll be thinking about junk more than crud. Understand?

Now, I could have decided to go through my home like the crazy person I am and simplify every single space over the next couple of days. But that would make me get grumpy and mean. Instead, I think I'll stick to doing just a little bit every day. I'll post my bite-size tasks on the Daily Do List {mini} that I send out every morning, and I'll give some reminders throughout the day on the Gospel Homemaking Facebook page and on Twitter (both @gospelhomemakng and @DailyDoList).

My house isn't ready to have the windows boarded up and a big "condemned" sign tacked to the door, but it is ready to be more comfortable and peaceful for my family. And the next time I lose my wallet (yes, it's gonna happen), maybe I won't have to look so hard for it. Or at least I won't feel like dirt while doing it.

Ready for the end of the "Mystery of the Missing Wallet"? (Where's Nancy Drew when I need her, anyway?!?) I found it. In my house. It was in the fabric basket next to where I keep my purse. Don't ask me why it was in there. Or why I didn't look there first. I must have dropped it in by accident earlier in the day. Because I do things like that. Like I said, good times....