Kitchen Cabinets - Beginning Organization

In my last post I set myself some goals to be organizing my home, which will in turn create some much-needed organization in my life. This post was the beginning of my God-Sized Dream that I shared as I read and study with Holley Gerth and her readers. Organizing your house doesn't seem like much of a big dream to most people but it's what I need emotionally, mentally and spiritually... much more than physically. Let me explain why.

I read a few words recently posted by Becky on a great blog that I follow, Organizing Made Fun. I can't find the post now after stalking so many of her posts but it was something about the places her family has lived, both rentals and homes they have owned. She made a huge impact on me when she said even while living in a rental, she did what she was able to do to make that house their home. That was definitely inspiration to me because we live in a rental home. Because of health issues, my husband is disabled and isn't able to work now. If I was being realistic, renting is better for us right now. This allows us to not have the stress and worry of repairs and maintenance around the house. I've cheated myself out of enjoying that blessing for far to long.

We have lived here since 2006. It's not big but it's big enough for us. But because it isn't ours, and I plan to live in a home we own again one day... I've not allowed myself to feel "at home" here. My mindset has been, for a long time, that I'm leaving, I'm not staying here. In other words, "don't get too comfortable Diana, this isn't your home." And that's not a bad thing from the perspective of planning, dreaming, hoping for something more. But it's been bad for me. Because I make myself feel unsettled in this house, other things in my life feel unsettled. Because I'm always trying to get away, I miss the opportunity and potential I have for the here and now. I go through too many steps of making do... with where I live and how I live. And I'm tired of not feeling at home. So this God-Sized Dream of organizing... not only my home... but my life is a road I'm ready to travel on.

The first step photo I share in the last post isn't ready for and "After" post yet. I've decided to not only organize but rearrange. Some things in my home will find a new place to reside. Instead I'm showing another before and after cabinet space that I started with. It's not 100% complete but still a huge change. See for yourself...

BEFORE

AFTER

I found these pantry supply images and printed them on clear shipping labels that I picked up at WalMart. I have a few more to do. These were pre-made images but I have a few more I will make myself with Photoshop. This was a wonderful feeling to open the cabinet door and actually see everything on a shelf without digging behind things to see what I have and what I'm out of. And will make creating my grocery lists much easier. I can't wait to tackle another cabinet now. :)

My Mustard Seed Goal

I'm beginning the "Do What You Can" Plan and with the help of Holley Gerth's eBook I will be on the road to discovering and achieving my God-Sized plan.

My God-sized dream isn't anything that will make a big impact on anyone but me and my small home and family. I want an organized life. That's a big dream for a girl who likes "stuff". Maybe it's from growing up with very little. But when your surroundings are cluttered, your whole life feels cluttered. And when you're whole life feels cluttered, you can't be the person God means for you to be. And you can't accomplish the things he has for you to do. When there is so much to do, sometimes it's hard to know where to start. And that's where the breakdown occurs... you don't start. You spend your days sitting, and thinking about it but not very often acting on it. 

When change of any kind is needed, I find myself trying to look ahead to the end result. Not that the end result isn't worth the effort but knowing the distance between beginning and end... from A to Z... I feel overwhelmed. But I need to remind myself that there are many more letters before Z. If I can just look from A to B and succeed in that first step, it will be easier getting to the next. Start small. One step at a time.

My Mustard Seed Goal is to simply de-clutter and purge just one small area. Not even a whole room. I will share my first step, my step A tomorrow. I have one kitchen cabinet that makes me crazy. Who am I kidding! I have more than one. But I'll start with just one. I'll show you what it looks like now.

What a mess huh? Cookbooks, Tupperwear, paper plates & bowls, Pampered Chef prep bowls and chopper. ziploc bags. This will look totally different tomorrow! My goal is this one cabinet. We'll see what tomorrow brings.