Snapshot

Every closet in my house needs reorganizing.  Lucy and Clara's closets, especially.  It seems every couple of weeks I have to go through and sort out the clothes they have grown out of and there is no end in sight.  They are growing like weeds.  In all honesty, though, I finally cleaned my dorm-room-sized closet for the first time in over a year last week.  In that time the floor has been buried by at least one foot of laundry and I am not exaggerating.  I am yet to catch up on that laundry.  My to-do list seems never ending.
Today I was tackling Clara's closet, purging the clothes that I never put either of the girls in because I just didn't like them (which I thought I have already done at least twice before) and came out with a big box to donate as well as the things I still love and would want to save for another baby girl should we ever be blessed.  These clothes I like to send to my friend Michelle and her new baby Aubrey, so she can get some use out of them first and they can take a break from my house and storage space until I should need them.  Because of my self-diagnosed ADHD I was intermittently checking my Facebook, Twitter and email between sorting through clothes, taking a walk down memory lane with each tiny little dress I folded, and my friend Sam had sent me this article;

Community Voice- May 12, 2011

Simplify life

By Diana Karls

With the first marriage of one of my children and the graduation from college of our youngest, my life has certainly entered a new stage. It finally hit me: "boy, life and time really do fly by." Although this phrase has been passed down for generations, it seems insignificant until you actually witness your son standing in a tux, speaking vows or your daughter shaking hands with the chancellor to accept her diploma. And in that moment, it seems like just yesterday you were right there, where they are.

As much as I want to stop the clock from ticking, I just cannot control it. What I can control, however, is my ability to be more aware of the present moment and to be a participant in life versus a spectator, watching those minutes tick by.

Most of us are guilty, as I am, of letting our minds race ahead, eagerly jumping to the next thing on our never-ending list of to-do's. My solution is simple: simplify. I have decided to simplify my life, be more aware of the present moment and live each and every second I can.

The changes in my life have been gradual but meaningful and long-lasting. This began in our home. After the answering machine broke, my husband suggested not fixing or replacing it. Why? Besides being kind of annoying (with that light always blinking), we were spending so much time just listening to messages. Plus, with the addition of cell phones (that is right, we are keeping up with the Jones'), we figured who really needs an answering machine these days anyhow!

While on the topic of cell phones, I should mention that my husband is certain they are the demise of the world (boy is he aging). In trying to keep our lives simple and less confusing, there is about one thing that we do with the phones...push the button that enables us to answer it. Other than that, we choose not to text, play games, or have "Scotty beam us up." How much more simple can we get? And with that, look at all the precious time we are saving.

Speaking of time, have you ever asked yourself how much money you would be willing to pay for a few extra minutes on your clock?

Because, unfortunately, you cannot buy time, I am trying instead to minimize the time wasted in my life and in turn, maximize the quality of my time. I want to do things with my time that will make me a better person. For example, I will try to read more, carry on more seriously genuine conversations, where I am actually listening to those who are talking to me, spend more time outside being a part of nature and ultimately, a participant of this great world (I love to turkey hunt). What do you plan to do to buy more quality time?

I believe that my grandpa had this whole simplicity thing figured out. Grandpa loved to work with his hands and he spent hours building things. He built me a guitar which sparked my love for music. I still have it to this day. He loved to be outside doing simple things like fishing, trimming the apple trees, and playing softball with the family. As a hobby, grandpa repaired TVs for neighbors, friends and relatives.

The funny thing is, I never remember him actually sitting down and watching TV. He was always too busy living himself to sit down and watch other people live through the television box.

This man even kept names simple. If you were a female, your name was "The Girl" and if you were a male, your name was "The Boy." It didn't matter if you were his daughter, granddaughter, or the neighbor lady. You were "The Girl." Or, if you were his son, nephew, or the mailman. You were "The Boy." You tell me how much more simple one can get. Grandpa may have had a bit of dementia, but his "simple" way of living gave much quality to his life and the lives of those around him. He truly lived for the moment.

So here we are, in a world that seems much more complicated than the one my grandpa lived in, where the hands of time seem to be moving faster by the day. It is a world full of high-speed technology, where communication is possible with the push of a button and is honestly more technical than personal. A world that excites me with all the new and positive discoveries to help us and at the same time scares me with the loss of some very simple practices like respect for one another, the art of listening, and the gift of patience which helps to keep us all a united and caring community.

 As I think about my son uttering those deep-rooted vows on his wedding day, I no longer wonder where the time has gone or why the hands on the clock seem to move too fast. I only consider how I can make this moment, right now, in this exciting and scary world, meaningful.

 Diana Karls has lived in the Lodi area most of her life.

She and her husband Paul have three grown children. They all enjoy outside adventures and spending time with family.

Talk about a reminder to savor these precious moments.  This was read with overwhelming emotions this week as Clara is taking her first steps, reading of a friend's sentimental Facebook post about how her first born turned nineteen today, and coming across this little onesie that I had made for Lucille for her first UW-Stout Homecoming football game while cleaning closets.  Needless to say, I got a little weepy, per usual.

(Cuter yet, I even stitched "OTTO" across the back with #46, her dad's football number.  Life with one baby clearly allowed me more time on my hands)

A savory little moment from yesterday--I took Clara in to the doctor and her older sister got a bit jealous of all the attention she was getting being put on the big table and poked at and doted over.  After the doctors left the room, Lucy started in on her little act with dramatic gestures telling me how much her belly hurt and how I need to look in her mouth because that hurts too.  Annoyed at the time, I strapped the restless 10-month-old into her stroller and set my newly 3-year-old up on the table.  I unwrapped a tongue depressor and pulled out a little flashlight digging around in her mouth portraying that I was very concerned and insisting that a good tooth-brushing when we got home would clear anything up that might be harmful.  Secretly, I kept running through my head what I might do or say if anyone was to walk in seeing me mess with their equipment.

Here are some highlights of this week, of our life at this time.  I felt these pictures depicted each of my lovelies as they are today.  Clara, fearless and restless, ready to jump out or climb off of anything and everything; and Lucy, playing outside and loving everything and everyone from people to sippy cups to trees :)

And last, but not least, Dad with his girls on Clara's first ride in the convertible.  

A lovely memory that was as well :)