Clutter creeps in so quickly, y’all.
The house looked good on Saturday. So good that on Sunday, I could completely ignore the blankets I’d put out for my son and his friends. They were still piled on one of the recliners.
Sure, it was irritating when someone else claimed the “only” recliner before I could get to it, but we managed. (We’re good at managing.)
Ignoring the blanket/sheet pile helped the shoes, the books, the boxes and the TRASH collected over the week escape my Slob Vision as well.
Even the shoe ON the coffee table.
Did not see it.
But last Thursday, I had a perfect solution. Someone was coming over. I’m excited to start a one on one Bible Study time with a woman I’ve only recently met. She’d never even been inside my home.
That’s great motivation to take the 15-30 minutes needed to make the house look better. Still “lived in” but way better. And it was purposeful motivation. I actually suggested that we meet in my home. Hosting a church home group on most Sunday nights has done wonders. It keeps me from letting the mess get more than a week deep.
I figured adding in a Thursday guest would make that even better. Mid-week motivation. Yay for that!
But it’s like the rare occasion when I’m asked to sing a solo in church. When I’m asked, it sounds like a GREAT idea. Sure! I’ll do that!
And then the time comes, and I always (like ALWAYS without fail) wonder what in the world I was thinking when I made this commitment. The nervous feeling in my stomach and wobbling in my knees and lack of air in my lungs make me question my own sanity. How in the world does it still sound like a good idea even though I know from LOTS of experience that I always get this icky feeling? Every single time!
I always regret saying yes in those few moments before.
I always tell myself that next time I’ll say no.
And then I sing (or clean) and I’m (almost always) glad I did.
Really. I spent 30 minutes cleaning the kitchen, clearing the dining room table, and picking up the living room. 30 minutes I’d have justified skipping if the doorbell wasn’t scheduled to ring.
I dreaded it, but it wasn’t that bad. I’m almost giddy that my house looks (and feels) so much nicer.
And I’m reminded (again, for the forty-eleventh time) what a good idea it is to invite someone in.
Note: I honestly don’t think I’d have noticed the PUMPKIN (from before Halloween) if not for the picture. I was surprised when I saw it in my viewfinder.
Another (obvious) note: I have issues.
One last note/rationalization/explanation: That’s a dog toy on the floor.