This is the year the Bakers get it together. Step 1: Organize my craft stash

This is it y'all. This is the year. This is the year that the Bakers get it together. I'm not a fan of new year's resolutions or anything, (and it's February, so it's a little late anyways) but we have got a problem: EXCESS. And Mess. And chaos. A while back, I got this forward in my email. One of those powerpoint presentations set to overly dramatic music that usually goes straight to the trash bin because the presentation of it all just irks me (I know, I'm heartless). But this one was about the perfect symmetry of the bible. If you have no clue what I'm talking about, here it is.  In a nutshell, The Divine Providence of God is on full display throughout all history and in the pages of the Holy Scriptures. The beautiful order and symmetry that God displays speaks loudly to the veracity of the Word of God and His direct involvement in the affairs of His creation. Seriously, check out the article. Anyhow, God is a God of symmetry, order, purpose. He is not a God of chaos, so it makes sense that we are uncomfortable and stressed when we are living in chaos. So, yeah, we're working on becoming less, well, chaotic. First project: the craft stash. 
The closet in the family room/fireplace room/skylight room, whatever you want to call it, is home to my crafts and since we've moved in it has also housed tools, Christmas decorations, Shannon's uniforms, whatever. It's like that junk drawer in your kitchen, but it's an ENTIRE CLOSET. I'm not kidding. I couldn't ever find anything I need, it was always a mess. It got to the point that when I'd hear a crashing sound in the house, I wouldn't even flinch because I knew it was coming from the craft closet. I should have taken a before picture, but I forgot! I know, I know. But I remembered after I was almost done removing every. single. thing. from the closet. 

 You can't even see it all in these pictures, but you get the idea. And the kids were kind enough to help.

 Aren't they sweet? Anyhow, I took a whole day of sorting through, organizing like with like, downsizing, and bagging up items that we don't need for donation. I was pretty panicked throughout the day and I may or may not have even cried at one point. The task became much more complicated when I decided I couldn't stand the dingy white walls that were all marked up. And the "shelving" consisted of long boards propped up at both ends with zero center support. Well, there was one little L that was- wait for it- 2 ENTIRE INCHES BELOW THE SHELF. Yep, that was pretty much useless. Anyhow, I painted, installed center supports, painted some more and then methodically placed everything in it's own place. Including a desk and a chair, which, when tucked in where it belongs, are all hidden behind the closet doors. 

It's fantastic if I do say so myself. Now I can leave my sewing machine out in it's place- no more cluttering up the dining room table :) And aren't the fabrics pretty all folded up there- bonus is that I can SEE what fabric I have. Same for the ribbon on rods instead of in a drawer, and all my other stuff in glass jars for visability! Yea!
So, there's your motivation people- go clean out a closet! It feels good!!