A made bed makes a big difference...

     Let me begin by saying I like a clean house like most people. Am I crazy about every little speck of dirt, sand, dust, an occasional tumbleweed (you know, since we do live in the desert, kidding about the tumbleweed though. Those things have thorns!) that gets tracked in? Of course not. I used to before kids, but now I know it comes with the territory of being a mom and excepting the messes, the spills, the dirt. It can all be cleaned up. It's just a matter of how many times I have to clean it up is the question. 

     Like today, little K. had an open top cup half way full (we know not to give her a FULL cup no matter how much she begs us) of Apfelschorle, her new favorite drink. It's just apple juice and some sparkling water mixed together, a very popular drink in Germany. Anyways, it took about three minutes and what seemed like in slow motion, her cup tipped and out poured all her juice down herself, the counter into the drawer, into the cabinet, down the inside and outside of the cabinet and all over the floor (she was sitting on the counter at the time).  Yep, just another spill to clean up and more clothes to wash. Gotta love those Swifter Wet Jet mops! Once everything was cleaned up, a change of clothes, and her crying soothed, another CLOSED top cup of juice was made and all was right in little K.'s world again. 

     And though there are messes to be cleaned, crumbs to be swept, dishes to be washed, clothes to be folded, the list can go on and on, I find that making the bed, such a simple, quick, and easy morning chore, makes all the difference on the cleaniness of the house. Don't you? Do you feel the house is cleaner when your bed or even the kid's beds are made? The house could be a wreck, literally like a tornado passed through it, but having the bed made doesn't make it seem so bad. 

     Of course, I have those days where I just don't make the bed, simply because I don't want to. And I've noticed I tend to feel obligated to clean everything else. 

    Right now, we are in the beginning of a big move overseas. With that comes going through our stuff and either getting rid of it, garage selling it, donating it, or keeping it for storage or to be shipped to us. I've already started a pile for a garage sell, and it gets bigger and bigger everyday! So our home has become piles and piles of books, games, out grown clothes, unplayed with toys, extra kitchenware, you name it, it's probably out there too. Our home feels cluttered and messy with all this extra stuff lying around.  I am totally one of those people who like things in the right place. To me, there is a place for everything and everything has a place. With that said, these piles are driving me crazy. One way or another they will be gone by Saturday (garage sell day) and if it doesn't sell...to Goodwill it will go! 

     I know it's just going to get worst since we are having the first set of packers (for items that go in storage) come on the 10th. Soon boxes will be filling the rooms and hallways, but for now I will just go with the flow and deal with whatever comes our way and make sure to make the bed!