Time for Another Change

My world has shifted on its axis, yet again. While I have loved running my organizing business, and will continue to work with a limited number of long time clients; I find myself in the wonderfully amazing position of wanting to be a stay-at-home mom AND having the ability to do so. I have always felt that I needed to be many things at once. Now I feel that I need to do one thing at a time.

Here is why:

Eric and I will travel to China again in the spring to bring home another precious son! It was an unexpected opportunity to adopt again. While we did not expect it, we learned of him from the adoption community. A potential adoption by another family had fallen through. His personality, gender, age and special needs were a perfect fit for our family. He needed us at this time in his life and we chose to step up and become his parents. We recognized that although we thought we knew what was meant for our family of six, that the Spirit of Life had other plans. We are to be a family of seven. Adoption is not for the faint of heart, yet, if you are called to it you must prepare for a wild ride. We have been called again. Our son is slightly younger than our girls and will need lots of support and time as he adjusts and transitions. He is also clever and fun and full of smiles and laughter and love. He knows we are coming for him and he is so happy.

Eric & I are homeschooling Megan & Shanna this year. Most people react positively when we tell them this, and yet, they say "Oh, I couldn't do that". Well, I thought that too. I had no idea how to imagine having that much responsibility. At the same time, I thought maybe I could. We were worried about the holes that they had in their foundational skills and the pace they were expected to move at in public school. We recognized the stress is was putting on all of us. We questioned what we were gaining by sending them on to middle school to face that rushing and pressure. We decided to try a different tack.

Shanna holding a bearded dragon.

Megan sharing love with a snoozing milk snake.

And now that we are doing it--- I know it's the Right Thing.  I love being with them and understanding what they know and don't know, what they need and don't need. I have the resources, the patience and skills to do it and we are all better for the
 slower paced life it offers. The only thing is that I knew that I would have to take the time from somewhere and work was the only obvious place. I had to decide to let go of helping others outside my family- in my business. This was not an easy thing to do, but yet, a necessary one. By the time our son comes home, I hope to have created an easy rhythm of life that he can settle into. This will be my major focus for the next few months. Pull in further to my core, follow my instincts and my heart, eliminate distractions and keep only that which brings me joy and happiness.

I love to write and I love to share with others. I will continue to do so by posting on this blog about issues related to family, children, homeschooling and adoption, as well as organizing challenges, tips and ideas about living more simply and following my heart. Although I cannot take on new clients personally, maybe someone will be helped my my experiences and ideas.

Feel free to sign up for my mailing list so updates can come to your inbox, come often and comment.

A New Beginning

The new year offers a new beginning and isn't it wonderful that it happens every 365 days? We get a chance to put the past behind us, archive it -- if you will, and start again with a clean slate and a new attitude.

I am grateful for the opportunity. The past few months have been extremely busy and challenging for me. I took an intentional break from writing and working with clients in order to concentrate full time on helping my father and his partner downsize their individual homes into a beautiful shared apartment in an independent senior living community. This transition has not been easy or quick. We have sifted through two lifetimes of belongings, every one connected to a moment, a passion, a joy, a disappointment, a sorrow or a purpose. We have laughed, we have cried, we have hollered, hugged and apologized. It has been physically and emotionally exhausting.

It has required my soon-to-be 86 year old dad to let go of things he has done everyday for the last 50+ years. It's really hard for him and it's hard to watch. He is trying to find new purpose and as he says "figure out how to reinvent himself". He is understandably apprehensive and afraid. Yet, and I admire this deeply, he is also eager for the change to happen and is embracing it the best he can.

He is like a hermit crab who must leave his shell (but in this case, it's the shell that has grown too big!) and he needs to find another. So he is scurrying around vulnerable and unprotected as I help him sort, purge, plan and organize.

His partner, whom I have known for 15+ years and love dearly, has undergone an amazing transformation throughout this process. She started out feeling very overwhelmed and not really sure what she wanted or needed to keep or even how to begin. Now, she has developed a real confidence in her tastes, can quickly identify and express her choices and see logical categories for sorting and simplifying. Seeing her life become organized and streamlined has liberated her and she radiates happiness and excitement.

The end of this phase is finally in sight as their apartment nears completion. Soon a moving date will be confirmed and my dad will get to try out his new shell and see how it fits. Undoubtedly, it will feel strange and unfamiliar at first. It will take a while to stretch it in all the right ways, but I am sure it will feel so much better. He is worried that he won't ever find all of his stuff. I assured him that he will have lots of labels to guide him, as well a personalized tour! :) Stay tuned for updates as things progress!

Thank you to all of my clients who have patiently waited for me.

I promise to call as soon as I can.

I wish all of my family, friends and clients

a very, very Happy New Year.

May your New Beginning bring opportunities

to simplify and enjoy your lives.

Warmly,

Linda ~