Tip of the Day 5/14/12

After living in the upper midwest for over 25 years and enduring freezing winters one of my favorite things about our house is the attached garage. We do not have a large home, no basement, and just a small storage shed, but we park both cars in the garage. I am astounded at how many people don't because they can't. I read some interesting statistics on this phenomenon; The U.S. Department of Energy reports that 32 percent of people with 2 car garages can't park any cars in the garage, and 36 percent only have room for one. With a little effort and will power you could clean out that garage and make room to protect one of your most expensive possessions--your car. Cleaning the garage is just like cleaning the house, tackle a small section at a time. Sort items into 3 piles-trash, donations, keep. If you can't decide within 5 seconds, get rid of it. Aside from major tools, if it hasn't been used in the past year, get rid of it. Just like inside your house, ask yourself "is the space the item is occupying worth it?" Clean items before storing. Look up for storage space. Hanging items, securely, is a great space saver. One important rule, do NOT get rid of or reorganize anything belonging to your husband without him present. :) Trust me on that one.

Word for Today, Parts: Several years ago a friend told a story about her husband taking apart a car motor. The parts sat untouched on his work bench for a couple of years. She was tired of looking at the mess and decided to clean it all up by scooping all the parts into a box. The car was towed away for scrap as her husband had no way of knowing how to put the motor back together now. He had placed the parts in order of the way he had taken them apart. They both learned an important lesson. Sometimes we can feel like our life is being taken apart one piece at a time and there is no way it can be put back together. But there is One with the master plan. He "knit you together in your mother's womb" and He has the power to make you whole again.