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Home ยป Blog ยป Quiet Days

Quiet Days

by Sarah Turner Clover Lane

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Quiet January days-I love them but want winter to hurry through nevertheless.  The warm weekend was a little tease. My niece walked out of her house and said, “That was fast! Summer is here!” If only, if only.

We’ve had a run through with the colds going around, Patrick was out last week and it was so so nice to have him home. I miss that kid when he’s at school all day, and so does Janey.

We have been doing some much needed winter clean-outs (just finished the pantry today, with Janey’s help) , some good “house love” on these warm and cozy days, and I caught up on all my scrapbooks. Boy do I procrastinate every step of that, and it never takes as long as I think it will, and I’m always happy when I look at how neat all the books are.  My Dad built me a nice shelf for them above a built-in in the basement, so that motivated me further.

It’s pretty incredible to me the amount of core strength teenage boys have. Someone was gifted with a super cool balance board for Christmas and this is the roller part of it. Matt can balance on it forever. If I even look at the balance board I envision myself with a broken hip. Which means this house would go to hell in a hand basket and I would sit and watch from the sofa.  That deters me from any balance board attempts.

I took a lovely walk one really really early morning to the river.  It’s amazing how 20 minutes by myself outside in nature can change my entire day every single time for the better.  What gets me up on cold dark mornings is knowing that my day will be great if I just do it.

Jeff and Janey made this lump look like me, with my boots sticking out.

The cutest photo I found from about 10 years ago-so happy and agreeable EVERY DAY and so loving and so talkative and so grateful at this age…it seems like ages and ages and ages ago.

Makes my heart hurt for the mothers of these boys, one of which is me.  Sometimes it seems like they disappear for awhile, and we moms are left to wonder where our little guys went. But they come back, at least my experience tells me so, but when you are in the thick of teenager raising sometimes it’s hard to remember. 

Sigh.

That is the ‘mom of teenager sigh’, and if you have some, I know that you know it well. It can feel lonely and sad at times, can’t it?  But remember that EVERY mom of teenagers is doing that same sigh, whether they tell you or not.  

Three things:

-This too shall pass.-

-Love is the answer.-

And also could I add? A little of:

Terms of endearment:

(Sorry, I just couldn’t stop laughing at this.)

This is Janey’s “help mom with cleaning outfit”.  I think when I was cleaning I whipped off my sweater because  I was hot as Hades and she did the same and there you go-tank and leggings=cleaning outfit,forever. (NOT, for me, an ‘answer the door outfit’, I assure you.)

New matching boots (accidentally matching, but both came on same day and what do you know?)

Cousins, so cute.

At a MI basketball game.

In heaven.  He watches The Journey and has seen this workout room enough to know it by heart.  He also met all his favorite players and it was a day he will remember forever…

…Abbey took this pic, I love it. 

Dreams.

Grandma with grand kids on her birthday.  A few college/high school kids missing, but they all adore her. 

Matt playing CYO basketball. Fun to watch at this age, because they are truly having so much fun with friends. The games can get wild (I’ve seen a few broken bones over the years) but lots of good healthy competition.

That’s a baby in there. ๐Ÿ™‚ 

Every where we go we watch for babies. Church especially and then we oooh and aaah over them.  Because babies should be ooohed and aaahed over, always. They are perfect gifts straight from heaven.

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January 23, 2017 ยท 9 Comments

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  1. Kim says

    January 23, 2017 at 10:25 pm

    I always enjoy your post. Do you do old school scrap books?

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      January 23, 2017 at 10:35 pm

      I started out this way and now do it digitally with printing 12 x 12 pages that are bound in the old school scrapbooks. It's not as time consuming as paper layouts, but still more than say, doing a yearly book for everyone that is already bound. I do a few pages the old-fashioned way for mementos. If I had to start all over again, I would do ONE book (printed six times) for a "family year", maybe? And a separate folder with keepsakes for each year/each child. But I'm NOT starting all over again. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  2. Christi says

    January 23, 2017 at 10:58 pm

    The mom of teenagers sigh – yes. Sigh. I know it well. Love IS the answer (and I love the sign, lol).

    Loved this glimpse into your January days, sweet Sarah.

    Reply
  3. Tara says

    January 23, 2017 at 11:35 pm

    Such loveliness. I am like you about the sick/home from school days… They are the BEST! As long as it's nothing major and I know they'll be better soon. I sink down into them and savor every moment!

    Reply
  4. Unknown says

    January 24, 2017 at 12:18 am

    I didn't know my sigh had an official name. But mom of teenagers sigh is right on the money.

    Reply
  5. Kathy Olson says

    January 24, 2017 at 12:22 am

    Yes, babies are a gift. I wish I could have a few more:)
    I laughed over that picture your kids made of you with the blankets and boots. I did that once to see if I could fool my husband, but I kept laughing and just couldn't keep a straight face about it.
    I love that idea of taking a walk by the river each morning. I know what you mean. It brings a fresh clarity to life.
    I know what you mean about the teen years. My son is 17 and sometimes when he can't see, I cry. I wonder if I messed up somewhere. I'm pretty sure I have. But, I'm hoping that in a few years this will all be a distant memory.
    Love your blog posts so much. I always finish one feeling encouraged:)

    Reply
  6. Sue says

    January 24, 2017 at 2:52 am

    Sarah, thank you so much for this post. It was exactly what I needed to read. I'm dealing with teenage boys now and I miss the days when they were so sweet. Sometimes they're still sweet but, like you said, many times I feel like they're gone forever. It's so good to know that I'm not the only one who feels that way! And your advice that love is the answer was perfect. Thank you! I absolutely love your blog and have for years. As Kathy wrote above, it is such an encouragement- and a sane voice in our crazy world. Please keep writing!

    Reply
  7. Jessica @ Barefoot by the Sea says

    January 24, 2017 at 10:31 am

    Beautiful – I love your words about teenage boys too.

    Reply
  8. PamL says

    January 24, 2017 at 3:40 pm

    Yes, the sigh of mothers with teenagers….boys and girls! We have 5 teenagers….I am sighing a lot. My husband is really, really good with teens, and he reminds me all the time that love is the answer. But it is hard. Love and a lot of prayers for peace and patience. Love your updates!

    Reply

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Welcome!

Sarah Turner

When our first baby was placed in my arms I knew there was no place I wanted to be other than home with him every day. Twenty five years, and five more babies later, (six children, now ages 26-8), I still feel the same. I blog here about motherhood, how to make a house a home, easy recipes, and simple living. You can read more about me here.

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Nothing pretty, flashy, or spectacular. Just an o Nothing pretty, flashy, or spectacular.  Just an ordinary Monday morning breakfast counter after the kids leave for school.  Because ordinary gets the short hand in our culture but really it's extra special. 
It's a symbol of unselfishness, contentment, prudence and gratitude.  There is a certain peace about the ordinary.  It's the opposite of temporary-it holds the joy of contentment and gratitude and prudence all in one hand.  It's lends itself toward peace, and a settling in, not a constant search for more or less or anything.  Ordinary is authentic and good enough- in short it's a gem in disguise. ๐Ÿƒ
I love my home and I hope you do also. With all t I love my home and I hope you do also.  With all the imperfections and maintenance it requires, when I pull up and walk in I want to stay, to relax, to feel safe, for daily life to be easy, and to care for "home". I want simplicity, ease, convenience.  To me when my home is simple, without being filled to the brim of things that just take up space I love it best.  I hope if you've participated fully or even partially as time allowed in 40 Bags in 40 Days you've found that joy and pride in your home.  I plan to share more little challenges and tips as the year proceeds to trouble shoot areas and keep maintenance effortless and the house love flowing.  Daily life in our homes should bring us joy and ease while we care for our families, we should be thoughtful stewards of our money and of our time and simple living is the answer to that. 
Thank you for participating! ๐Ÿก
I think this is one of the best things about the 4 I think this is one of the best things about the 40 Bag decluttering process.  When I know what I have and have removed all that I don't, it cultivates more discretion and caution about what I bring back in.  I think there is also some realization of how much money is wasted on fads, or thoughtless purchases.  It's quite eye-opening.  I've become so much more careful, and find we all take better care of things, as do my children.
The final week of 40 Bags in 40 Days! I've tackle The final week of 40 Bags in 40 Days!  I've tackled all the areas of my home with exception of my oldest daughter's room (not the photo)- which she is excited to work on this week.
The simpler the room, the easier it is to clean an The simpler the room, the easier it is to clean and straighten up.  And then the more enjoyable it is to actually sit in that room.  It's not a hard equation, all it takes is ruthless purging-and not just little things but larger items also.  Functional furniture is the key and very few decorative pieces especially when children are in the home, makes life so much easier. 
๐Ÿƒ
As we head into the last week of the 40 Bags in 40 As we head into the last week of the 40 Bags in 40 Days Challenge I'm hearing from so many of you what a difference it has made in your appreciation of your homes, a certain contentment, and at the same time a thrill of looking in on the organized kitchen, closet and living space.  I agree!  I love purging, cleaning and organizing a space and then going back later that day just to get that wonderful sense of accomplishment.  It makes such a difference! 
๐Ÿƒ
A lighter, fresher, calmer home is the result of de-cluttering.  I even had a participant who had been planning on listing her home, start 40 Days just to get her house ready to sell, and then was so ruthless in the process and also thrilled by the results that they decided to stay put in what seemed like a new home to them.  What a savings of time, money and energy. 
๐Ÿƒ
Next week I will be talking maintenance and answer all questions! โ˜€๏ธ
Tips For Shared Kids Rooms- This bedroom has seen Tips For Shared Kids Rooms-
This bedroom has seen every configuration possible.  With kids spread out 18 years apart, I've had to be creative over the years-which I think is the key to sharing rooms.  It is all possible-I consider it a rare luxury and privilege to not have to share a room although I know that is not the norm today. 
๐Ÿƒ
I like to create a simple look with white furniture (this ends up making room transitions easier also when moving someone out and someone else in.) I also like to match bedspreads for a cohesive look. 
๐Ÿƒ
Clip on bed lights save space. 
๐Ÿƒ
A simple shared book shelf can hold a child's special books and knick knacks and if necessary can be assigned per shelf.
๐Ÿƒ
When my kids were younger I had my dad build me a large wooden roll out box for under each bed.  This held each child's toys. 
๐Ÿƒ
All clothes are kept in a closet instead of dressers to save space.
I feel like I bailed on everyone following 40 Bags I feel like I bailed on everyone following 40 Bags progress and tips.  My excuse is the stomach flu ravaging us all here in the last week with me being the last to fall and the slowest to recover.  On top of that the weekend before I tried to roller blade (don't even ask how many steps I made it) and majorly bit it.  Thankfully I think I just sprained my arm. So I've been using one arm for nursing sick children back to health, and doing whatever cleaning and cooking and straightening I can do.  Alas, last week was a wash.  We have two weeks to go.  I'd like to continue and end on a high note.  How about you?  Even a little de-cluttering counts! Spring is in the air and I can't wait to throw open my windows and let fresh clean air circulate through my fresh clean orderly home. โ˜€๏ธ๐ŸŒท๐ŸŒฑ
Especially where kids are concerned- we tend to th Especially where kids are concerned- we tend to think that the more things they have the happier and more occupied and loved they will feel.  Nothing can replace human interaction and I've found that too many toys has the reverse affect.  They cause overwhelm-just like us - we'd rather sit in an orderly space than one filled with too many things to do and too much stuff.
โ˜€๏ธ
When it comes to kids closets here are some tips-
1. Hand me downs don't all have to be received.  Or received at all.  Be choosy and keep just what they will use and need.
2. When children are presented with too many choices, tension and acrimony can exist.  Being able to open a closet with a reasonable amount of outfits can create more peace.
3. Cultivating independence in care of clothes is easier when there is less and the space is simplified and organized. 
โ˜€๏ธ
More tips coming on the blog this week.  I am moving my blog platform so I can't make any promises - it's under construction and that's exciting!
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