Okay ladies... The Colossal Clutter Clean-Up is fast approaching, and you have some work to do before then.  This week you MUST take down your Christmas decorations, trees, junk... umm... did I say that?!  Okay, I did... and here's why...

Before you begin this "clutter thing", it's time to start thinking about the stuff in your life.  I mean, REALLY thinking about it.  Has is taken over you?  Have you become a "slave" to your things?  As you put away your Christmas things, I want you to ask yourself why you have each item.  There will be things that have justified sentimental value.  But how many "sentimental" things can you keep year after year, while accumulating more?

"PRE" CLUTTER CLEAN-UP CHALLENGE:

• Make sure that EVERYTHING you put away for next year's Christmas has:
  • sentimental value
  • AND/OR meaning tied to Christmas (remember... your children are learning from you and what they see will determine how they decide to "do Christmas" in their homes someday)

This includes lights (how many strings do you need?), tree ornaments (your tree can have special meaning as well... you don't need to hang something just because you have it.  Make sure that next year's tree reflects a story of your family as well as the true celebration of Christmas), decorations (make sure everything is used and quit keeping items for "someday"), etc.  By doing this now, you won't have to deal with it next year, and will also have some "free space" upon getting rid of items in boxes/totes. 

• As far as getting rid of things... well, if you know of someone who would appreciate something, then bless them!  Otherwise, use the nearest charity shop to donate your items. 
  
• If you have a child that will be leaving for college or leaving home, then box their stuff up separately so it will be easy to give them next year for their own decorating of their home or dorm.

We put very little out for Christmas as far as decorations go.  A tall skinny fake tree and a nativity scene.  That's it and I LOVE it!  Some might say it's bare in comparison to others, and I'd have to agree... it looks clean and UNCLUTTERED and I'm not taking days to decorate or "tear down".  And as far as the tree goes... this year I decided I would only have ornaments that had sentimental or scriptural value.  Our tree is mainly red that represents the blood that was shed for our sins, and for every plastic heart they put on the tree, we had a verse on love.  We hung up nails with red ribbons representing the nails that put the manger together, as well as the nails that pierced Jesus' hands and feet.  I also had some gold angels that represented the angel that came to Mary, the angel that came to Joseph, and the angel that came to the shepherds.  I had a gold tarnished heart and told them "Psalm 51:10".  Everything we put on there, I did that with.  If I couldn't figure something out, then I had the choice to keep it "just because" or get rid of it.  Getting rid of the items brought my Christmas decorations down to just two totes (that includes Christmas tree decorations in one box, and lights and nativity scene in the other).  I have to tell you... it was freeing!

Remember the true celebration behind Christmas, and this year as you put things away, get excited about the upcoming de-cluttered year!  Begin praying about your heart as well by asking the Lord to reveal areas that need attention.

Bless your heart and home,
Amy