My children have discovered that Valentines Day is only a few days away.
They are meeting it with anxious anticipation…the same way they meet every special day.
And they are creating.
They are creating Valentines for their siblings, for their Daddy, for their Mommy, and for friends…imaginary and real.
They give freely with words of “I love you!”
And they create non-stop.
The top of our glass-topped coffee table has become covered with a cluttered mess.
Currently, it is filled with
Papers
Markers
Glue
and
Scissors
But, then again, is it really cluttered?
An organizing consultant recently spoke to our MOPS group and she defined clutter as unmade decisions.
In that case, I am declaring our coffee table truly uncluttered.
Because a decision has been made.
A decision in favor of creativity and fun.
A decision in favor of imagination and love.
A decision in favor of cherishing this all too-short moment in time.
Linked to: Things I Love Thursday at Diaper Diaries
Alyssa says
I needed to hear that as my whole house is “cluttered”.
.-= Alyssa´s last blog ..Some Favorites on my Shelf =-.
Ally says
I like that description of “clutter”…from now on I will say the same thing about my kitchen table that is always covered with matchbox cars and magazines 🙂 The magazines for me and the cars for my son! Thanks for sharing!
Shanna says
I like the organizer’s definition of clutter – I think I’ll use that for myself, especially regarding my desk!
Regarding the childrens’ creativity, my girls are constantly creating cards, pictures, and letters for everyone. Sometimes it is aggravating with the paper and envelopes stashed around the house and in their belongings, but their little notes are…oh so sweet!
Amy @ MomsToolbox says
Hip-Hip- HOORAY for love-filled clutter!
I keep attempting to contain the Valentine stickers and other supplies in a show box… but I think there is just too much love to be contained!!
.-= Amy @ MomsToolbox´s last blog ..B 90 Days SOAP: Can you praise the Lord always? =-.
Erin @ Closing Time says
I love this kind of clutter! Our coffee table looked very similar to this yesterday!! 🙂
.-= Erin @ Closing Time´s last blog ..Why Am I Doing This? =-.
RuthintheDesert says
Amen!
.-= RuthintheDesert´s last blog ..Bible in 90 Days: thoughts on Day 40 =-.
Tanna @ Complete Organizing Solutions says
I recently wrote a post defining clutter as any thing or thought that
prevents you from living life to the fullest! Your table looks like you are teaching your kids to live life to the fullest! Carry on! I get asked all the time as an organizer if my home is perfectly organized all the time. I say no way, it is lived in! There is only one perfect person in existence and I am not HIM!
I am so glad I got to see you at Blissdom, just wish I had the chance to sit and talk! 🙂
Olivia says
Great post! Thanks for the reminder. I tend to get so frustrated at the clutter, but the kids and their hearts are SO much more important!
Linda@cookingtipoftheday says
Cluttered? No… memory maker…. you will remember that “cluttered table” and smile everytime you think about it for the rest of your life… trust me..
.-= Linda@cookingtipoftheday´s last blog ..Recipe: Osso Bucco Milanese =-.
Aubrey says
Clutter just means busy to us. And a sweet busy-ness it is!
.-= Aubrey´s last blog ..BlissDom Thoughts =-.
Jen@BigBinder says
That is a fantastic way of determining what is clutter, and what is just – accessible stuff. I have plenty of both in my house – it just all looks the same 🙂
Lori says
I love this!~Lori
Maggie Mae says
Well then, I have a lot of uncluttered surfaces in my home! LOL
.-= Maggie Mae´s last blog ..What Dealing With Down Syndrome Taught Me About Dealing With Alzheimer’s =-.
Mandi @ Organizing Your Way says
Love this, Monica! Enjoy!
.-= Mandi @ Organizing Your Way ´s last blog ..Weekend Reading, 2/13/10 =-.
The Diaper Diaries says
Love, love, love this post!! What a great perspective.
Lenetta @ Nettacow says
I came over via Finer Things, and the unmade decisions part really spoke to me. I linked to this on my weekly roundup, the post is under my name. For Lent, I’m working on a 40 bags in 40 days decluttering challenge (that post is in my sidebar), and even though I’m 30+ bags down so far I’ve not even really felt pinched, i.e. “do I REALLY have to give this away?” so that tells me I need to keep going. And I do indeed have a lot of unmade decisions.
Also, I like the decisive “clutter” part of this post, too. :>) Thanks for sharing!
.-= Lenetta @ Nettacow´s last blog ..Link Roundup – MELTING Edition =-.