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Sunday, January 2, 2011

Introduction to OYOL

Yay! The new year is finally here and with it, the hope of a more peaceful daily life. 2010 was, for me, a year of being entirely overwhelmed and completely stressed. I'm not sure exactly how I got here, but some where between baby number 2 and baby number 4, life overtook me. This past year, I suddenly realized that I am not the happy, peaceful mother I was when Cherith was a baby and toddler. I guess I was like a boiled frog. I had no idea I was being boiled. I just suddenly realized I was hotter than I liked.

They say the first step to change is realizing you need change. Got that step covered. Next would be to plan the change and carry it out. I think planning is fun, so I'll have no problem taking care of that. The hard part... definitely the carrying it out.

So, here's the plan... school myself in how to organize my life in one year's time. My goal is pretty simple: to be more organized at the end of 2011 than I was at the end of 2010. I hope by accomplishing that, I will be a more joyful wife and mother.

Now, I'm kinda weird. I don't just wake up one day and say, "Ok. Time to get organized." I have to plan, break it down, and............. yes, create an entire "program" for myself, complete with weekly lessons and worksheets. Ha Ha!! Yeah, seems strange to create a regimented program and then force yourself through it, but that's me for ya.

I'm calling the program OYOL. Originally it stood for One Year to an Organized Life, but then I received a comment from the author of a book entitled, none other but... One Year to an Organized Life, which I had no idea existed (but I shoulda knowed), saying that she was so glad I would be making her book part of my new goals and if I or any of my readers had questions, she'd be happy to answer. I'm  not sure if she was truly glad or just trying to gently say, "Hey! You're stealing my title! Erase it, Lassy, or die!" So I thanked her and apologized and promptly added a {more} in there.

And there you have it... One Year to a {more} Organized Life was born. Join in if you like. If not, I'm happy to trek through it alone. I just need a bit of publicity to keep me pluggin'.
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28 comments:

  1. sa4graceJanuary 3, 2011 at 10:36 AM

    Oh you stinker... this is part of my overriding goal for the year as well. I'm expecting #4 in April (4 mo. before #1 hits 5) and I as well, feel like life has turned into a frenzy without my permission. I get frustrated easily, don't see God in the big picture or the small details as I should, and generally don't like who I am turning into. So thank you. I will make this journey with you.

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  2. BrennersJanuary 3, 2011 at 9:20 PM

    Yup, those back to back babies play a huge number on our bodies, our mental abilities, our emotional stability, and everything else I'm not thinking of at the moment. My fourth was born right after my first's fifth birthday.

    Thanks for joining me in this journey. It's so nice to know I'm not alone. I'd love to get to know you a little... do you have a blog?

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  3. AnonymousJanuary 4, 2011 at 10:12 AM

    I hope to make this journey with you, too! I have NEVER been organized, and having #1 pretty much turned my already-unorganized home into complete chaos. I keep trying different things to get it under control, but I never follow through. Now I am expecting #2 right around #1's 2nd birthday...and I fear the worst for my home and sanity! I look forward to following your journey, and I hope I can accomplish this goal as well!

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  4. CatieJanuary 4, 2011 at 10:19 AM

    Count me in! :) I feel like I can't get a handle on things since Baby Girl #2 was born in July! It's really frustrating b/c I am a very organized person! Well, that's what I like to think, anyway!

    Hopefully with this accountability and much needed direction, I'll be able to get back in control. <--whatever that means. ;)

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  5. UnknownJanuary 4, 2011 at 10:31 AM

    I'm doing a 101 in 1001 challenge, so this would fit right in. Haha!

    I don't have 4 in 5, but I have 4... one teenager (so NOT an easy teen either), and then 3 in just over 4 (they are all 2 years 3 weeks apart) with the older of the 3 having classic non-verbal autism. Oh, and I have 3-5 extras on weekdays, depending on the day and time of day... crazy!!!

    We also plan to homeschool... am I insane??

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  6. KarrieJanuary 4, 2011 at 11:13 AM

    Thank you for this. I found your blog because of this post (through MoneySavingMom.com), and I need some serious intervention if last year is to not be repeated. I only have 2 kids (toddlers) so far, but my husband is a church planter, and everything that gets done in a church is done by my husband and me. When I intended to be the model housewife, I am now a counsellor, janitor, graphic designer, secretary, bookkeeper, event planner, and everything in between. Then we got our first new building, and have had to renovate it for the past six months (grand opening is this Sunday!). Now, instead of teaching my daughter to read, I'm preparing for inspections and hunting for bathroom fixtures. I am ashamed to say that ministry has overshadowed my first priority of my family, and that we've been living in emergency mode for over a year now. This is going to change THIS YEAR, before another year of my children's lives slips by. Thank you for stepping out and doing this!

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  7. KimJanuary 4, 2011 at 12:06 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  8. SaraJanuary 4, 2011 at 12:07 PM

    actually, I just checked out that book from the library. It's good, although it's more for the truely unorganized/pack rat mentality, but she has a few good ideas in there. But, I'm looking forward to this series too! Somewhere between having a baby, teaching part-time out of the house, and my husbands demanding new job, life has gotten a bit more unorganized.

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  9. KimJanuary 4, 2011 at 12:07 PM

    I love your idea and will be looking to see if I can follow along and be more organized in 2011! :)

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  10. AmyJanuary 4, 2011 at 12:10 PM

    I found you via Moneysavingmom.com, and thank God I did. The past couple of years I have become the mommy I always had nightmares of it seems. Our life has become so chaotic, I long for organization. I am thrilled to embark on this journey! 2011 is the year of finding me among the chaos. Thank you for prompting this journey, and I can't wait for the ride!

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  11. AnonymousJanuary 4, 2011 at 1:24 PM

    I love your idea! Love it even more because I am also a mom of 4 in under 5 years! :) Looking forwad to keeping up with you! :)
    abcand123okinawa.blogspot.com

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  12. lisaJanuary 4, 2011 at 2:27 PM

    my three are 5 next month, 3 in April and six months. I too 'lost it' between kid two and three. I long to be organized. I'm in!
    Lisa

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  13. The Dutch GirlJanuary 4, 2011 at 3:45 PM

    I'm game! Let's do it...

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  14. ShannonJanuary 4, 2011 at 4:28 PM

    Sounds great to me! I have a 6 mth old (my first) and am totally losing my grip on my organization (and my mind!).

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  15. AnonymousJanuary 4, 2011 at 4:35 PM

    I'm along for the ride.

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  16. UnknownJanuary 4, 2011 at 4:35 PM

    This sounds like the perfect thing for me. I've gotten some ebooks from other blogs this year on time management and organization but definitely need the ongoing ideas, inspiration, worksheets, and accountability that you're offering. My 3rd daughter is now 9 months...the other 2 are 8 and 6. I homeschool both of the older girls, work parttime at my church, and have been far too busy and unorganized for far too long. I can't wait to see what progress this year will bring.

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  17. JackieJanuary 4, 2011 at 4:53 PM

    I only have two kids (3 and 1), but boy have I been feeling very overwhelmed lately. I think getting organized will definitely help. I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

    www.ajcomewhatmay.blogspot.com

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  18. SaraJanuary 4, 2011 at 7:22 PM

    Ok, so I found you through moneysavingmom and I love your brief write up...thats when i reach for the dr. pepper - you could be me!!! except I am only on 1 & 2 (age 3 and 1), so I am on track right? I too plan to be more organized this year. Needed a muse to keep me going, since I tend to fizzle on my resolutions.

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  19. ReaganJanuary 4, 2011 at 7:54 PM

    Oh boy do I need this......but I am afraid I won't even be able to keep up. I also have 4. My oldest turned 4 just two months before I had the 4th (who is 6 weeks old).....& my husband works out of town during the week! I, like you, think that planning is fun but so many times that's where it ends. Looking forward to getting more organized & having someone else to walk with in the process.

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  20. Melissa@ the Sassy SaverJanuary 4, 2011 at 11:38 PM

    I am in. I need so much help!

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  21. AnonymousJanuary 5, 2011 at 3:49 PM

    I like many other's found your blog through Moneysavingmom.com and I am really excited about this idea. I am a very organized person but I have not been able to get a good grasp on my house without making other things suffer. I have a 18month old a 5month old and I am expecting my 3rd in sep so I will have 3 children 2 and under so I desperatly need to get my act together before the baby comes. Please help!

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  22. BrennersJanuary 5, 2011 at 8:55 PM

    Oh, Reagan! You have your hands very full (I know, I hate that saying too). Gosh... 4 in 4 years. Give yourself some grace, but yeah... I'm right there with you. I wasn't sure I could carry it out either. That's why I posted here. I was hoping for a couple people to follow along. Ha. We'll see if that helps. If I have people looking at me to post the next week, maybe it will help. I don't know.

    I'm all about giving myself grace, but I'm thinking *I* may be giving myself too much. :P

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  23. JamieJanuary 5, 2011 at 10:01 PM

    I've already tried to start this for the year! Awesome to have some others to do it with and learn from. So far I have a morning routine (of five things) and then margin time. Using Crystal's (moneysavingmom.com) time management 101 series as a guide so far.

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  24. TraceyJanuary 8, 2011 at 6:17 PM

    Looking forward to seeing how things go!

    (It's my first time visiting your blog and I had to say that your children are precious!!)

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  25. BrennersJanuary 8, 2011 at 9:28 PM

    Ah, thanks so much, Tracey!

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  26. MommaJanuary 9, 2011 at 4:42 PM

    Count me in!

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  27. งาน part timeFebruary 19, 2011 at 4:40 AM

    I GET this topic to long time. I’ll add Favorites your site to read again .

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  28. AnonymousJanuary 6, 2014 at 2:30 AM

    I'M IN

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