From Frazzled to Fun

Have you been New Year decluttering and have annoying piles left over?

You know

...the stuff you want to keep

...but you don't use on the regular 

...and you don't necessarily want them taking up room in your prime real estate areas?

Don't give in to the temptation to just stuff it back into an area in your house to get it out of sight out of desperation the next time you have guests over.

The Coach Mom Tribe mamas have been working this week on a great storage box system, set up so they can easily retrieve anything in storage that they need within a matter of minutes.

It has saved me so much time, frustration and money the past 25 years.

Here's the quick gist of it: 

Fill storage boxes with "to save" items that you don't use frequently, and number them.

Make a list of those numbers (on your phone or another location), and beside each number record the contents of the box and the location of the box.

As your...

The Organizing Alongside Kids (OAK) 5-Day Challenge just wrapped up and was amazing. 

This is just one other way I'm helping moms move from frazzled to fun.

The progress made was just astounding. Moms realized just how much can be done in just 15 to 30 minute chunks of organizing time.

And many were surprised at how enthusiastic their kids were to help reach goals for their own rooms.

Check out below some of the before and after pictures.

Would you like to see some transformation like that in your own home?

Why not walk with us the clearly laid out step-by-step path to 

• a decluttered, organized home
• a family that pitches in happily to help with things like laundry and meals
• kids that get along
• a closer relationship with your spouse and kids 

The doors are open now but will close again at midnight tonight.

I am committed now more than ever to the building up and strengthening of Christian homes and...

2020...BEST YEAR EVER...period.

This past year goes down as my most ironic calendar ever. 

Every day in the midst of "one more" unprecedented and unexpected change, I kept seeing...

BEST YEAR EVER. Haha.

On New Year's Eve my family and I lingered around the table and I was blown away as we recounted how many great things actually DID happen in our lives in the midst of all of 2020's twists and turns.

I am grateful the first week of January 2020 I felt the Lord whisper to my heart Redeem the time on your knees. 

As I sought to honor that directive and carved out more time than usual to pray and be in the Word, I saw Him multiply my time in unexpected ways and was reminded of Matthew 6:33, "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."

If I had known in January all the challenges that the next 12 months would hold, it would have been too heavy a burden to bear.

But day by day the Lord met me as I bent my...

Christmas blessings from my family to yours.

I hope you have been able to sit down, inhale and exhale deeply, and take a break from all that it takes to orchestrate a family Christmas celebration -- the food, decorations, and gift planning and preparation.

Wishing you a Christmas season of

hope, that comes from our Savior Jesus Christ

peace, that, in Him, passes understanding

joy, that we have in Jesus, and

love, that Jesus has for us.

Jesus is the light of the world, and brightens all things. So we shine as He resides in our hearts by faith.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matt. 5:16 

In these times of continued uncertainty may we do as the Psalmist said, "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth." (Psalm 121 KJV)

God bless you and yours,

Brenna

...

Mama, is Santa real?

Do you know the history behind that jolly red-suited gift-giving legend?

Check out this documentary, hosted by historian/archeologist Mark Wilson. 

Instead of traveling to the North Pole, he goes to modern day Turkey to explore.

There he digs up clues that tell us a lot about the man behind the legend.

Maybe you will want to share this with your kids, too? You can watch at this link or find it on Amazon Prime.

Praying you are having a blessed Christmas season.

May that Saint Nicholas spirit of giving and generosity prevail in us not only this month, but throughout the year.

Mom of elementary aged (or older) kids, are you ready to get the clutter moved out and get organized in a way that 3-4x your efforts? 

What if you could do that by having your kids gladly work alongside you?

But that would be a grumpfest if I tried to get my kids to help, you are thinking? It’s easier to just do it myself.

I’m here to tell you that you can

• multiply your efforts
• motivate your kids while training them in good life skills
• weave “teamwork” into the fiber of your family
• have fun doing it and
• end up with results that you can all be proud of!

“When it’s time to get something done I realize I haven’t been the best at communicating at the best times and in the right ways, so instead of everything going just smoothly, it’s gone bumpy often with bad attitudes, including my own,” says Nicolette Scarborough, Estes Park CO mom of boys ages 13, 11, and 8.  

She said,  "So we are...

In Christmases past, have you ever wished you had a better plan to enjoy the Christmas cards you receive?

I found a few ideas for Christmas card displays that I thought you might like to make yourself.

This DIY Christmas Card Tree by Driven by Decor is simple and adorable. 

Also, Minted has16 Unique Ideas for Christmas card displays here.

These were my favorites:

• Display bars
• Twinkly Lights Card Display
• Wall Tree Card Holder (zig-zagged twine)
• Binder Ring Christmas Card Flip Book

Which is your favorite? Or do you have an idea to share? I would love to hear it.

Praying you have a peaceful and joyful Christmas season, and that the cards you receive are reminders of the many blessings in your life in a year of tough realities.

May the God of hope fill you with all JOY and PEACE as you trust in Him, so that you may be filled with HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

The case of trying to thwart the snooper...I worked so hard at it a few Decembers ago that I have yet to find that sweater that my daughter pined for and I was sure she would not have the self-control to leave alone! (It's probably 2 sizes too small at this point....)

Do snoopers get active at your house before Christmas?

Oh, the thought of those gifts makes things soooo tempting!

It's time for you to get sneaky, girls. 

I've got a few tips for you:

• DO NOT hide in “traditional” places where kids will search (i.e. the floor or shelf of your closet, under the bed, etc.)
• DO keep track of where the gifts are kept. Jot down in notes on your phone where to find things when it is wrapping time.
• DO keep as many gifts hidden in one place as possible. Ideas:
  • In an empty diaper box (put one layer of diapers on top to cover)
  • In a large suitcase stored in its usual spot
  • In a grocery bag that is hung around the neck of a...