Back to School Already? Wal-Mart Gift Card Giveaway

Y’all know I keep it real so I gotta just say it, “I am so NOT looking forward to school starting!” I have really enjoyed letting the girls just BE without barking out marching orders to the next activity. Not having homework and projects has been fabulous. There have actually been a couple of evenings I was able to come home from work and kick my shoes off. Ahhhh.

Perhaps it is just me, but my eyes seem to roll on their own every time I see or hear the words “Back to School”.  In years past, I waited until the last minute to shop for back to school.  Since it was last minute, the lines were long and I ended up frazzled.

The frazzled feeling seemed to be a common theme for me last school year.  The crazy hurried mornings, the tearful commutes to work after losing it with the girls, the frantic evenings trying to throw something at the stove, make it to extracurriculars AND get in bed at a decent hour, are all great reminders of why  I LOVE summer.

I am overwhelmed by all the things that need to get done in preparation of  “Back to School”.  I did manage to get the school supplies but our hallway closets and both of the girls closets need to be purged and organized.  In an effort to corral all the the mail and papers that end up on my kitchen countertop, a kitchen command center would be awesome.

Just thinking about doing it ALL while balancing work, children, husband and everything else makes me feel lethargic and demotivated.

I am reading a book by New York Times Best Selling Author, Lysa Terkeurst, called Unglued (Making wise choices in the midst of raw emotions).   In the book, Lysa uses an amazing term called “imperfect progress”.  She defines imperfect progress as: “slow steps of changes wrapped in grace”. I just love the sound of that! (Vist the Unglued website to purchase the book and get freebies)

So, if I had to chose one thing to do as a small step of change, I really think a kitchen command center would give me the greatest bang for my time and money.

Here is my inspiration:

I just love the simplicity of this AND the flower notebook contains meals for the week and a cleaning checklist!  (Shut the front door!)  I found it over at Lovely Crafty Home.

Looking through the lense of imperfect progress, I am able to celebrate the fact that I did get the school supplies.  I am also able to clearly see the wisdom of making a plan to do what is reasonable considering my schedule demands.

Imperfect progress allows for inconsistency, mistakes, the need to apologize and start over.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (CEV) We often suffer, but we are never crushed. Even when we don’t know what to do, we never give up. 9In times of trouble, God is with us, and when we are knocked down, we get up again.

Imperfect progress is still progress.

Dear God, as we prepare for a new school year, keep us keenly aware that perfection is unattainable and unnecessary.  Help us to remember that you are our true power source.  It is because of you that we CAN imperfectly progress.  When we fall down, we can get back up because of you.  Thank you for being our refuge and strength.

I will post pics of my version of the kitchen command center next week.  School starts here on August 27, 2012.

Have you done any back to school preparation?  How can you remember imperfect progress?

Would a $25 Wal-Mart gift card make your back to school process eaiser? If so enter my giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This post is part of a weekly meme hosted by Shell @ Things I Can’t Say and Women Living Well!