Task #1 - Survey the playing field

"I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.  Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live."  Psalm 116:1-2

I've been praying and trying to stay focused these past three weeks, and I'm ready to keep moving forward.  I'm really excited to add Zone Defense to my Create in Me a Clean Heart challenge.  So, here it goes.

Home Inventory Questions:

What are the problem areas you face in daily cleaning?
Too much to do and no plan of action.  Also, I haven't found a schedule that works for me yet.  I have so much I'm trying to fit into each day, and cleaning seems to always take a back seat.  I only do as much as I have to, but I know this is not good enough.

Where does clutter tend to pile up in your home?
The dining room table, my desk, and on the boxes that need to be sorted, purged, and/or put away.

Is it easy for you to get ready in the morning? If not, what do you think is the problem?
I lack discipline in this area.  The minute my feet touch the floor in the morning my brain is full of the tasks that need to get done for the day.  Even during and after my prayer and Bible study time there is no shutting off the inner voices telling me to get busy.  I am making progress with getting the minimum of daily chores done, but purging the extra clutter is not going as well.  I get overwhelmed and frustrated very quickly.

What is your favorite room of the house? Why is that? (You’re going to want to think about this, so that you can duplicate that feeling in other areas of your home.)
My favorite room is the dining room.  I have some very fond memories of when I was a child.  I remember meals with my parents and sisters, helping my mother make Christmas treats at the table, playing games and putting puzzles together with my sisters, and at one time even my son and I have made some of the same memories around our dining room table.  If I could only get that space the way it should be maybe the rest of the house would be easier to tackle.

What room do you avoid at all costs? Describe this room and think about what annoys you about it. What would you need to do/buy to make it better? (We want to solve this problem and keep it from spreading throughout the house!)
My bedroom!  There is so much of my mother's stuff in boxes that I'm storing for her.  I'm just not ready to go through all of it because I know the majority of it needs to go.  She will never be able to live on her own again, but it's hard to part with her stuff.

Which cleaning tasks do you avoid like the plague? Chances are you can make these jobs easier with a little decluttering and organizing.
Cleaning the bathroom.  In fact I'm teaching my son to do most of these chores so I don't have to.  I will try to do a daily quick clean myself because my son hasn't gotten very good at it yet, but there is more that I could do to make this room better.

Where do you hide your clutter? (Yeah, that’s gonna have to stop.) And why is that? Are you rushed? Don’t know where to put it? Lazy?
I don't hide my clutter because I refuse to fill my cupboards and closets with all that junk.  The boxes need to be purged, and every once in a while I'll get sick of looking at it all and tackle a box.  I keep thinking sooner or later, or one box at a time, I will win this battle.

Are there parts of your home that are broken or in need of repair or a makeover? Keep a running list. If they are urgent, make plans to fix them now. If not, chances are we’ll cover it in the coming weeks.
I'm tired of my bare walls.  I haven't put my pictures up or anything else, and it tends to be a little depressing.

Is it too much stuff, failure to put it away, or plain disorganization that holds you back from having a home you love?
Way too much stuff!  And, I do have a problem with how to organize.  I have tried in the past, but every time I come up with a plan for one reason or another it doesn't work.  A great example is in my kitchen.  I've rearranged my cupboards three times since we moved in, and I'm still having issues.  This is the only room I have no problem purging clutter.

Are you joining the Zone Defense challenge?

Join me here too!