How to get kids to help with Spring Cleaning

April 20, 2013 By

There was a day when I imagined that when our children could drive, apply for college, and deposit a pay check, they would help with Spring Cleaning without even being asked. I was deluded. There will never come a time when the woman of the house doesn’t have to get her hands dirty in guiding her family in the care and cooperation of her home.

Setting the TableIf you want to get your kids to help with Spring Cleaning, you have to throw out your rotten habits and bring in some fresh ones. Kids of every age need moms to encourage, equip, and empower them to be involved in caring for the home they share with their family. By successfully engaging children in the work of the household, we prepare them to be responsible (and clean?) when they have a home of their own.

Throw out your rotten habits

  • Nagging ~ Because it never works. Repeated negative messages suggest frustration, lack of confidence, and opposition. If you want kids to help with Spring Cleaning, “Bag the nag” and get started!
  • Long Lists ~ Because they set kids up for failure. Instead of putting long, insurmountable goals in writing, craft short, attainable, age appropriate tasks your child can achieve. Teach them how good it feels to complete work.
  • Isolation ~ Because we’re on the same team. Isolation can feel like punishment. Children of all ages need mentoring to turn their work into learning opportunities. Kids benefit from our company as we work side by side and let relationships grow while tasks are done.
  • Criticism ~ Because it crushes the spirit. When children do their age-appropriate best (or husbands, for that matter) we either reinforce our joy at their diligence or teach them they can not do enough to satisfy us. Dishwasher filled inefficiently? Clothes folded imperfectly? Resist the urge to “re-do” their work. Guide when necessary, but appreciate always.

Girl cleaning the house with a broom

Bring fresh in to the house

  • Tools ~ Because it’s fun! Appropriately sized equipment for your child communicates that you desire their participation, plan for their regular involvement, and value their contribution. Get the right tools to make work easier to do, and set them up for success.
  • Rewards ~ Because something motivates everyone. You don’t need to pay children to help maintain their own home, but give “rewards” they long for:  appreciation, hugs, praise, rest. Help them learn the valuable lesson that hard work brings blessing.
  • Information ~ Because kids ask “Why?” Your kids are smart!  Give them reasons behind the work we do. Why DO windows need to be cleaned? Why DO we change our sheets? Show them a picture of a peaceful room and talk about why it would feel good to be there. There are answers for “Why?” questions.
  • Learning ~ Because knowing leads to growing. Starting at home, children learn to feel competent and confident about their world and their part in it.  As they understand the care of a home, they’ll feel more self-assured about establishing one of their own. Or you could do their laundry forever …

One day our kids will grow up and have homes of their own. Like us, they will have the potential to let household things overtake them:  laundry, dust, clutter, and mess. This spring, let’s clean out our rotten habits and bring in a fresh supply of good practices so we teach our kids the joy of keeping a house as a home.

By Julie Sanders at Come Have a Peace

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Tips for Spring Cleaning, Garage Sales & Making Extra Money

April 13, 2013 By

salvage-garage-sale-find-1Are you getting ready to do some Spring cleaning? Looking for ways to make some extra money? Why not kill two birds with one stone?

This year, Spring’s glow is clouded by the ever present economic challenges that face us all.  So, in the midst of the circumstances in which we find ourselves, I’ve decided that it’s time to make the most out of my annual spring cleaning event.  It’s time to clean up, clean out, price right and resell.

That’s right.  Garage sales and consignment shops are back in, so why not make the most of it.

There are some tricks of the trade that can help make your “resell” experience the most productive and profitable it can be.  Remember, you’d probably find yourself cleaning house anyway, so you might as well bring in some cash in the process.

Here’s some helpful tips for spring cleaning and making money.  Let’s begin by dividing our big event into two categories.

CLEANING UP & OUT:

1.  Wall to Wall – If you want to eliminate the clutter, one of the best strategies for doing so it to begin at your front door and thoroughly cleaning everything in sight, moving throughout your house inch by inch until you come back to your front door.  Look at everything as a potential sale item.

2. Ask yourself, “Do I really need this?” If you haven’t used it in over a year, it’s super questionable as to whether you need it. If you haven’t used it in two years…you definitely don’t need it.

3. Throw it away if it’s broken, throw it in “garage sale bin” if it’s re-sellable.  By the way, don’t skip over the closets or the drawers.  This is your chance to clean and organize, and it’s probably where you’ll find some of your best garage sale items.

F.Y.I.- Make it fun.  Open the windows, turn your favorite music on and sing like no one’s listening.  Ask a friend if she’d like to join in this adventure.  Get together and clean your house one week and then go clean her house the next week.

TIPS OF THE GARAGE-SALE TRADE:

1.  Enlist Neighbors – Community wide garage sales always draw a crowd…a big crowd.  So go door to door and begin the process of organizing a neighborhood garage sale.

2.  The Price is Right – Always name your price and be sure your price is right.  If someone walks up to your garage sale and you don’t have a price on anything, they will most likely turn around and go straight to their car…they will not pass “Go” and you will not collect $200 dollars.  Your price is paramount to a successful garage sale.  Remember, you want to get rid of this stuff and you want to make some money in the process, so be sure the price is right.  It’s a garage sale and your shoppers are not sentimentally attached to anything you’re trying to sell, they’re just trying to save a buck.  That’s why they’re at a garage sale and not at a store.  So, get out there, go buy some labels and put a realistic price on everything you want to sell.

3.  Divide and Conquer – As you’re pricing your items, be sure to organize them into logical categories.  That means, kitchen gadgets with kitchen gadgets, household decorations with household decorations, toys with toys, and clothes with clothes.  If possible, put a pole up and hang all your clothes.  People are more apt to look through clothes hanging on a rack than they are piled on a table.  Never leave clothes in a box and don’t put them on a sheet in your yard.  If you have to put them on a table, be sure to label them with the price and size and organize them according to “type”… jeans, skirts, t-shirts, ect…  A well organized garage sale is very inviting to “drive-by garage salers.”

4.  Get the Word Out – Don’t forget to advertise in the local paper the week before the big event.  Put notices up in various restaurants, grocery stores, convenient stores and churches.  Be sure to get permission, but most public places have a community center wall where you can post your notice.  Don’t underestimate word of mouth.  Be sure to tell your family, friends and your coworkers.

5.  Doing It Right – If you’re involved in a community wide garage sale, you want to get together with your neighbors a couple of nights beforehand.  Use this time to help one another.  Remember, there may be someone in your neighborhood who isn’t physically able to carry their boxes out, so this may just your opportunity to perform a random act of kindness.  This would also be a great time to buy from each other.  You might have something they need and vice versa.  You may even enjoy getting to know your neighbors in the process.

6.  More Than Stuff – A good way to draw a crowd and make some extra money is to have cookies, cupcakes, lemonade or bottled water for sale.  After a long hard day of driving around, getting in and out of the car, people are always ready for a good cold drink of water and something sweet to eat.

Spring is definitely in the air.  So, don’t let the clouds of a dampened economy get you down.  Make the most of it.  Get busy doing your spring cleaning and make some money at the same time.

WILL YOU BE DOING SOME SPRING CLEANING AND GARAGE SALING THIS YEAR? DID ANY OF THESE TIPS HELP? 

By: Stephanie Shott

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Counting the Cost & Monday M.O.M. Link Up

March 11, 2013 By

Lately, I have been praying over our diligence as a family.  There are so many ways God has entrusted us–with our families and helping others, whom He places on our path.  And EACH ONE really matters. So to begin being a good steward and spurring you on to being one, as well, I want to challenge you to due diligence–being faithful with little or much.

Here is my old faithful method of meal planning.  This may be something for you to implement in your own home. Or perhaps, it will spark some new ideas with what you are already doing.

Every two weeks, we have $300 to spend on groceries for our family of six (with two elementary students and two teens). To me, groceries include all food that we have and prepare at home, drinks, all paper products, pet food, beauty & hygiene and cleaning supplies. (YAY now we are done with diapers–12 years is a long time for diapers, friends!!)

Here is what I look at every month to begin:

Scripture Food for thought–I wrote this verse  to remember it and feed my soul with it every day.

Scripture food for thought

Refrigerator/ Freezer (we have two R/F’s–one is in the basement.

Refrigerator
Why yes, that is homemade deer sausage in our freezer! Amen and HalleluYAH!)

freezer
Pantry (Yes, it needed organizing in this picture. It’s clean now, YAY!)

Pantry
Cookbooks

Cookbooks
My Chart/ Legal Pads

Clipboard
First, I begin to plan meals from what I have already and add what is needed to make a meal. I take care to actually USE the meals that have been frozen by planning them in sync with some special sides, appetizers and a dessert. A little bit of special can make a frozen meal much better!

Legal Pad

Then I begin to look at recipes in the cookbooks. This is my favorite part! I think about their categories, their nutritional value (still using that old food pyramid from elementary school), and their cost. I like to introduce a few new things in the midst of old reliables. All the while, I have a pen and legal pad to write down the title, ingredients, book and page number.

Every home is different. My kids are all different, too. So I tend to make sure I make at least something they like with each meal. However, I do not cater to them for everything. I set the food before them and expect that they will eat it. We do not make them eat everything on their plates, though; however, we DO make them try it (and that may mean up to 5 bites) or no dessert. We think this is fair and not one of our children is starving.

Currently, another part of meal planning is trying new, healthier alternatives to some of our old southern favorites, that needed some healthy updates.  We are trying food such as kale, quinoa, steel cut oats, veggie wraps (instead of flour tortillas) and even veggie chips, which my family loves.  Also, we are eating more whole grains, fruits and vegetables.  I keep the fruits and vegetables cut up together in two large tupperware dishes.  This makes it simple to pull out freshly-prepared, healthy snacks in a hurry.

For each week, I also consider whether or not we are expecting company or celebrating a birthday. With company or special days, I may make an extra special meal like this: shrimp scampi, twice baked potatoes, Caesar salad, and blueberry cheesecake. On that particular week, I may have to pull out an extra frozen meal or use leftovers longer for budget purposes.

Though leftovers are usually not associated with good things, my Chris is the envy of all his co-workers, as he carries leftovers every single day to work. They complain at him constantly for the good things he brings and mercilessly reheats–sending the wonderful smells wafting through the air.

Finally, I consider whether or not the meal can be adapted for a second meal. For instance, if I make a crock pot roast on Sunday, I may adapt it into vegetable soup on Tuesday. Or if I make a ham on Wednesday, I may make some yummy potato soup from the meat on Thursday and beans or peas with the ham bone on Saturday in the crock pot. Also, I have found that next day (or frozen: thawed and reheated) chili or taco meat is especially tasty in Killer Queso (which is not healthy, really, but everything in moderation, right?)!

Here is what I do to plan my menu and grocery list. I get out my three legal pads: grocery list, menu ideas, and actual menu. I only write in menu items for supper during the week. On weekends, I may add lunch (which I call dinner). Generally, I plan the entire month’s menu at one sitting.

Then I create the month’s menu chart with a reference to where to find the recipe, if needed. Usually, we have leftovers/ frozen meals on Tuesday and Thursday. Wednesdays we have AWANAS and youth group, so I put together a quick meal like sandwiches, veggies, chips, pickle and a cookie. Friday night is family night, which we call pizza pajama night. Every two weeks, we order out or get Papa Murphey’s. On the other Fridays, we make homemade pizza at home. On Sundays I usually make a crock pot meal at lunch, and for supper, we have our home group (so we bring whatever it is our turn to bring–enough to feed 40 people). Saturdays we like to cook out–even something like brats or hot dogs are SO much better on the grill.

OK, so I fill in the spaces on the menu (leaving room for change–flexibility is a good thing). Then I write my two week grocery list on a separate legal pad. It will have everything I need to complete my menu for those two weeks. There are staples that we need like eggs, butter, milk, etc. Also, there are things we have run out of like contact solution, cleaners and pet supplies. I always buy these in large quantities from Walmart. I try to alternate buying them so that they do not all fall on one grocery trip. Usually shampoo and soap do not run out for awhile, so it may be every six months that we have to buy them.

Finally I put my menu chart on the pantry door for the kids to read every time they ask the dreaded question: “Mo-om, what’s for supper?” Praise God for communication that is CLEAR!

By the way, my Chris wants you to know that he does most of and the best, cost-effective grocery shopping. Well, he does! And sometimes? I call him before he leaves work to ask him to bring home chicken from Walmart or King Soopers. Flexibility is good!

 

What are ideas and tips that work for you and your family?

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Organizing for the Unorganized – Spring Cleaning Anyone?

March 2, 2013 By

“We did it.” I smiled giddy at my husband as I surveyed our newly cleaned and organized kitchen.

I couldn’t contain myself and so I posted pictures on Facebook. I even tagged some friends who know what my kitchen normally looks like so they could see my hard work.

543844_4805549730783_1357155936_n-1I didn’t believe this was possible – to see my island and not have piles of papers, books, toys, etc hiding in the guest room. But it was possible. I thought I didn’t really care. I mean I know I am not organizationally gifted and so why try? But let me tell you it feels fabulous. And it is still relatively free from clutter nearly a week later.

Some of you organizational ninja types are thinking that is so not difficult. I hope you leave comments to tell us your secrets because organization is like a foreign language to me. It looks beautiful, but it makes no sense.

So for you unorganized folks who really want to know my secrets for getting it clean and then keeping it that way for a whole *gasp* week, here are my tips.

  • Just do it. It looks like it will take a whole day to unearth your kitchen, office, play room? It probably won’t, but it is ok if it does. Just carve out some big chunks of times and be ready to say I can finish tomorrow if you don’t finish with the first chunk of time.
  • Don’t just shuttle papers/toys/etc to another part of your house. Decide where you want those papers/toys/etc to be. Choose a spot and make sure your family knows where their things belong.
  • Consider giving away or throwing away some things. Hoarding is the opposite of organizing. Take a deep breath and let go of some stuff. It really won’t hurt and once you get started you may even find cutting loose of some things makes you feel better.
  • Get the trash or stuff to give-away out of your house fast.
  • When papers, mail, toys, etc are found where they don’t belong get the owner of the items to put them where they belong. That may mean making yourself take care of somethings or asking your kids to pick up after themselves.

Now for you organizational ninjas or some of you who really need more structure to keep things organized. . . Have you heard of The Fly Lady? She has a wonderful system (that I adapt for myself) to help you get and stay organized. I am not an affiliate and I do not receive any compensation for mentioning her, but I appreciate her system. I think you may like it too.

So how do you stay organized at home? Please share your secrets…I need help and other do too.

by Angela Mackey – the organized wanna-be

 

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Championship Bean Dip

February 2, 2013 By

It is Super Bowl time! The M.O.M. Initiative is here to help you spend more time with your family, and less time searching for “the perfect” game day recipe!

ID-10032182

 

Grab a few bags of tortilla chips, your slow cooker, heat up and enjoy!

I make this for every get-together, everyone LOVES it!

 

1 can (16 ounces) refried beans,  1 cup picante sauce,  1 cup (4 ounces)shredded cheddar cheese,

1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack Cheese,   3/4 cup sour cream,   1  three ounce package softened cream cheese,

 1 tablespoon chili powder,   1/4 teaspoon ground cumin,  tortilla chips

In a bowl, combine the first eight ingredients; transfer to a slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for two hours or until heated through, stirring once or twice.

Yields: 4 1/2 cups

Jump on over to my website, or facebook.
Recipe adapted from–Quick Cooking, Wendi Wavrin Law, Omaha, Nebraska

 

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Can I Offer You My Fish?

January 16, 2013 By

Two fresh sea bream on wooden board with herbs and lemon“Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” (John 6:9)

Hospitality is not my forte. I love to plan parties, decorate cakes and daydream about giving my mantel a trendy makeover—but when it comes to executing these crafty ambitions, my klutzy side takes over.

I’ve always considered this a shortcoming. Until recently, when a children’s Bible story shifted my thinking. It was the well-loved tale of Jesus feeding five thousand people with one boy’s lunch.

“What’s special about this story?” I asked my five-year-old daughter.

“Ummm. . . the boy gave Jesus his fish?”

“Yes, the boy was very kind to share his fish and bread with everyone,” I agreed. “But what did Jesus do with it?”

“He made it grow bigger so everybody could eat.”

“Yes! Isn’t that amazing? The lunch basket wasn’t magic. The boy wasn’t magic. But Jesus has super powers.” I squeezed an arm around my daughter’s shoulders. “He is the star of this story.”

Ahhhh. She got the picture just as a light bulb popped in my own head. Sometimes I’m like that little boy. All I have to offer—my mismatched coffee cups and carpet stains—is nothing but an unglamorous peasant lunch. Who’s going to feast on that?

BreadI want to host a play group, but my house is too small.

I can’t possibly have the Bible study meet in my living room. They’ll trip over the Elmo ball pit.

I’d love to invite some ladies for tea and crumpets, but I don’t know what a crumpet is and I’m pretty sure I’d burn them if I found a recipe.

What if they judge my bare walls? Does the kitchen smell like last night’s garlic sauce? When was the last time I dusted the light fixtures? Aaaaaaaack! Too much pressure! Shut the fridge and lock the doors! I can’t take it anymore!

So what? Maybe just the thing Jesus needs in order to feed the multitudes is my wimpy basket. Host the play date anyway. Pray over the Elmo decor. Skip those crumpets and buy donut holes.

I’m so easily embarrassed by my hospitality deficiencies that I forget God can transform my meager offering into something bigger, better, beyond imagination. The wow factor is his job, not mine.

So what’s the real issue here? It isn’t my lack of hostess flair. It’s pride.

Oh yes, let’s just call it what it is. There’s the kind of pride we take in great accomplishments, and then there’s the pride of self-consciousness, the fear of not measuring up. Either way, pride shines a spotlight on me rather than on the One who made me—klutzy, yet with a purpose.

Back to the story of the boy and his lunch. Jesus didn’t just feed people’s bellies. He filled their souls. And he didn’t actually need that starter batch of fish and loaves in order to work a miracle. Jesus can create those out of thin air. Could it be he wants to use our ordinary gifts and steps of faith to launch great things? How can I let my pride get in the way of that?

“Let’s invite some friends over to play next week,” I told my daughter as we closed her Bible for the night. “We could have a special snack.”

“Easy Bake Oven cake?”

“Perfect.” I smiled. “God can grow it!”

 

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

 

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Getting It Together + & The TMI Monday Link Up!

December 30, 2012 By

556491_407604185968728_1736217259_nKayse Pratt is a wife, mommy, and writer whose brand new eBook Getting It Together: Your Guide to Setting Up a Home Management System That Works releases on Monday, December 31.

I’m delighted to talk with Kayse about how we can set realistic home management goals for the new year–without getting overwhelmed!

How can we start the new year with reasonable get-myself-organized goals?

Kayse:  For me, having a system is key: a central place for all of my home management stuff! My goals themselves have to be organized: project lists, cleaning schedules, etc.

I think it’s important to start small, creating manageable goals that are actually attainable. Nothing’s more discouraging than setting huge lofty goals that you can’t possibly reach. Remember, every step toward organization makes a difference! Creating a simple cleaning schedule, having a central calendar for the family, finally creating that paperwork file you’ve been meaning to get to – each step is an important one!

Get-myself-organized goals can break the bank — How can we be frugal and still be well equipped with the right tools and systems?

Kayse:  Right now, I’m a stay-at-home-mom and my husband is in grad school full-time. We understand frugal! As far as organizational printables go, I’ve created most of my materials myself. For organizing gear, like tubs and boxes and files and systems, I really do love the dollar store! You’d be surprised at how many cute baskets and containers you can find there. A little spray paint or scrapbook paper, and they’re even cuter than full-price ones! Pinterest has some great ideas to make cheap things super cute.

Some get-myself-orgnaized goals discourage us by Day 3. How do we create goals that are sustainable?

Kayse: We’ve GOT to be real with ourselves. Creating small, realistic goals is so important. One load of laundry a day, sticking with meal planning for one week, trying to schedule one week’s worth of blog posts ahead of time – setting small goals and sticking with them is much more effective than the crazy dream goals we have. And when we set small goals we can stick with, we are then able to keep growing in our goals, knowing there are things we’ve already conquered!

What’s your top tip for trying to start the year more organized?

Kayse:  Start now! Set 2-3 small goals and stick with them this week! Next week, look at how you did and revamp it if you need to. Give yourself some grace and remember that perfect isn’t real.

What are some common mistakes we make when trying to “finally” get “all” organized?

Kayse:  Thinking that we can finally get it all organized. :) There’s always something else to do, am I right? I think what we’re going for is peaceful living – keeping a home that is both functional and welcoming, despite the daily messes that are impossible to avoid.

What are some little things in organization / home management that can make a BIG difference?

Kayse:  Many of us need good systems. That’s why my home management notebook works so well for me. I have everything in one place, and a system set up for each area. Blogging calendars, cleaning schedules, meal planning lists, info for the kids and babysitters, it’s all there. Simply having a notebook with all of my important information in one place is crucial for me, and such a huge help!

How do we teach our children basic organization skills and personal management skills…etc.?

GIT_3D_Paperback_FinalKayse:  I’ve been blessed with a toddler who is way cleaner than I am. She impresses me. :) But we’re still trying to impart good organizing habits to her. We work on picking up toys before naptime and bedtime, and teaching her that everything has a place.

She helps me fold simple laundry, and brushes her own teeth while I brush mine (I brush hers again afterwards, of course!). It’s important for our kiddos that we model the behavior we want them to imitate. This is always my biggest challenge, and greatest motivation!

You can connect with Kayse at her blog, on Facebook, on Twitter, or at her etsy shop, where she creates custom home management printables.

To check out Kayse’s new home management eBook, just click on the image above!

 

Now it’s time to LINK UP & join the fun, meet new friends & make your message more available to others!

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5 Simple Ways To Approach Home Organization

October 5, 2012 By

While every parent has different levels of comfort in regards to home organization, when the house is in continual disarray, hearts tend to experience the same.

Prov. 28:2b “…a man of understanding and knowledge will obtain order.”

Recently, a pastor friend described to me the homes that he visits, where the lack of organization affects the family heavily.  They can’t find the items they need for daily functioning and this causes punctuality problems.  The tardiness then causes extra phone calls for parents to answer or return.  The cycle continues resulting in additional work.  Many times the family wants to change, but feeling overwhelmed, they do not know where to start.  Having just completed a wardrobe overhaul for my crew, and still working on a few final areas, today I wanted to give you: 5 Simple Ways to Approach Home Organization.   These ideas are to help you plan a way to start your organizational process.  After planning your work, work your plan!  Remember, these are approaches to help you get started. Choose the approach you believe will work best for your family situation.

  1. Work on one room at a time.  When you have a room completed, go to the next.  Work together as a family and find a time that works for everyone, maybe a Saturday. Agree to maintain the area you complete. I always say it is much easier to maintain than it is to overhaul.
  2. Make a project list and work from it.  Simply take it one project at a time.  Estimate the time required for each project and choose the first one based on the amount of time you have available to work.
  3. Write down the times of day you notice are the hardest to get through.  Maybe you can’t start dinner because the pots and pans are dirty. Perhaps getting children to bed is made more difficult because they can’t find pajamas.  Whatever the time, determine just a couple habits or changes that could be made to ease difficult transitioning times. Start with a few small changes. For example, at our house, pajamas are worn two nights and on the second morning, they are placed in the dirty laundry hamper. Clean pajamas are stored in the top drawer.
  4. Start with the top level of the house and work your way down.  Having a designated place for everything is critical for children; no one should be wasting time looking for something that should have a home.
  5. Choose the most neglected area and write a list of to-do items for that area alone.  Knock one item out at a time,then make a new list for the next area.

While it will take some time and determination, taking your home from disorder to order is doable. I hope one of these simple ideas will give you the boost to get started.

Once you enjoy your first steps, I have a GREAT book recommendation I’d like to pass on to you-

The Complete Guide to Getting and Staying Organized by Karen Ehman.

I Corinthians 14:33

For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

Did you enjoy this post of getting started to home organization?  Would you like to see more posts about home organization? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

Rachel-RachelWojo.com

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Scheduling: A Tool for Sanity

September 20, 2012 By

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FACING YOUR FEARS – 31 STORIES FROM M.O.M.

 

 

I look at my watch. 6:30 PM.

Sigh. I don’t have dinner started, L needs to do eye therapy, E needs to study spelling words, and J needs a bath. And bedtime is supposed to be 8 PM.

I felt like my mind was spinning out of control. My shoulders tensed, my heart rate doubled, and the inner voice started.

Why can’t you get yourself together?

Other moms homeschool and have dinner on the table at 5:00 PM.

You will never get this mothering thing right.

You are a terrible wife.

I knew I had to make changes. I have always had a loose schedule. Mostly around when to feed the kids, when to wake the kids, and when to get the kids in bed. Food and sleep – the two most important things to keep harmony in the home.

However I often chaffed at scheduling activities. Mostly because my type-A personality gets up in my grill when I don’t check the all the items off on the schedule every day. Instead of trying again next time, I just stop.

Yet I knew something would have to change. I needed structure if my family and I were going to be productive, eat healthy meals, and get enough sleep. So I found this book – Managers of Their Homes: A Practical Guide to Daily Scheduling for Christian Homeschool Families by Steven and Teri Maxwell of Titus2.. Now before you folks who don’t homeschool run away shrieking, I don’t homeschool either.  But this book has helped me tremendously.

In their book the Maxwells encourage you to:

  • Pray over the activities you and each of your children need to accomplish each day, each week, and each month. Ask God to direct what things you need to do and write them down. If your list of daily activities including sleeping and eating require more than 24 hours, perhaps you are too busy.
  • Using your list of activities begin shaping when you need to wake up, when you need to start dinner, and when you need to be in bed. Remember you need at least 7 hours of sleep a night according to my husband who is a doctor.
  •  Start scheduling activities in 30-minute time slots. You will have a schedule for yourself and each child. There are a variety of activities to include. Always include time to spend with God. For your children include time for your children to play together, separately, individually with you, or even with a particular sibling. Include time for homework, or your homeschool schedule. Schedule chores and schedule in rest times. These increments help you stay focused and get a task done without getting distracted.
  •  Finally they encourage you to give yourself and your children grace. The schedule is a guide or tool not a tyrant. It helps you structure your days, but should never be made an idol. Also it is important to build margin in your schedule. Times when you are free to call a friend or hang out on Pinterest or be available for a God-ordained appointment. For more information about margin see this book titled Margin.

I have never once met my goal of a perfectly scheduled day. However having the framework for the day and allowing for grace to seep in, I have discovered that scheduling makes sure I get the essential things done each day without neglecting the most important things.

 

What is your experience with scheduling? Has it helped? What tips can you share?

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Listen. What does your home say?

September 12, 2012 By

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FACING YOUR FEARS – 31 STORIES FROM M.O.M.

 

 

 

Welcome DoorEvery home talks. Above the din or kid tunes, toddler talk, tween laughter, and teenage tunes, homes speak. Despite all of the digital messages firing without pause, “home” still has the potential to resonate strong and true. Whether or not the sound is sweet or foul, our home will speak. What is your home saying?

I was invited to a Christmas party at a house that could’ve swallowed 3 of our bungalow. Before I unbuckled my seat belt, I vowed I would never host the group. A sky high door swung open to reveal a galaxy of lights with a background of yuletide tunes soaring to the cathedral ceiling. We toured each bedroom, admiring the seasonal decor and sampling elegant finger foods. It was so beautiful; I wanted to have Christmas there!

Before another Christmas passed, I learned the truth. When there was no party or tour or holiday, the only soaring sounds were those of angry voices spouting toxic words and weeping. The outer beauty had been as genuine as the spray snow on the garage door windows. I wondered what people would see and hear if I rolled back the spray snow on my home and let people hear “the real us.”

Every home talks. Children see through “fake.” They may love it when it comes out of the can, but they know it’s a fake. Kids want the real stuff. Ugliness can’t be hidden forever. What do you think your home says to friends, neighbors, family, kids, strangers?

Home Extreme Makeover Jeremiah 29 style

I love Jeremiah 29:11 where God promises we’ll seek Him and find Him, but do you know who that promise is written to? God’s people were  living in a land that hated and enslaved them. Despite that, God told them to build houses, plant gardens, get married, have children, seek the good of their community, and prosper. (Read the context in Jeremiah 29:4-14. It’s amazing!)

He wanted to bless His people, but He also wanted the lost people around them to HEAR what homes say when the people live privately and publicly for His glory.  He wanted the sound of God-fearing homes to resonate in the world, so people like me would seek Him and find Him when I searched for Him with all my heart.

If you want the echo of your home to be genuine and full of good news, ask yourself these 5 questions. Put yourself in a guest’s shoes or ask a good friend to tell you the honest truth.

How to know what your home is saying

  1. What’s important here? (Let the things, the schedule, the words, and the activity answer this one.)
  2. Who leads and who serves here?
  3. How do the people here treat each other in word and deed?
  4. When are the people here together, and when they are, what do they do?
  5. Where do the “real people” live?  (In other words … we don’t want spray snow; give us the real thing!)

Does it really matter what others think? God thinks it does. He wants us to cultivate homes that are truly beautiful.  The size of the door or the number of rooms has nothing to do with it. A big home can be sweet sounding, and it can be a big racket. A small home can scream, or it can sing. It makes no sense to have the light of Christ and hide it (Matthew 5:14-15) ; God wants His homes to reveal Him to the world. He wants our homes to sound like He does.

Are you ready for your home to be heard? When friends come to play? When family comes over? When a neighbor stops by? Every home talks. What is yours saying?

What beautiful sound have you heard echoing in another home?

By Julie Sanders

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