Homemaking 4 His Glory

Sanity for $1.00

     Seriously..... Sanity for $1.00?  Obviously, I don't know what you are dealing with.  The house, the marriage, the children, homeschool, a full time job, church commitments, friends, extended family, health issues, trying to lose weight... etc etc... Here is the thing.. I do know.. I get it.  I have many of those situations in my own life.  So what is the magic $1.00 answer?  Well, my local grocery store had a regular notebook on sale for $.25 and a package of pens on sale for $.75... yeah I know tax... so not quite $1.00. 

     So.. I bought the pens and the notebook and decided instead of using a moleskin or hardcover journal I was going to try to use a regular notebook for my organization.  The notebook does have perforated pages so that is helpful in case I decided to tear pages out later to move to a 3-ring binder, something I am currently considering now that I have filled one and am starting my second notebook.  So I found that I liked the Bullet Journal concept but I am not really that crafty etc.   I needed more space than the hardcover journals I tried gave me and I thought why am I being a snob, what if a notebook was the answer.  So, I bought 20 of them.. and then found then for cheaper at Staples the following week and bought more.  Yep, cheaper sanity.. I already owned 10 pens...

     Numbering the pages, adding and index and a key to the back page ~ all bullet journal ideas has helped me immensely.  I think I am going to also leave a blank page in the beginning to be a space for me to summarize the time period the journal covers.  I have learned not to number all the pages since the notebook seems to lend itself to children drawing in it and or pages getting torn out.. so I number it as I go along.  I do add the daily and monthly pages the bullet journal method calls for and a weekly spread.  This helps to keep my sanity.  I can see menu plan, events etc.

    Now what about all the other things in your head... dump them... into your notebook.  Add what you can to your calendar... but the other stuff.. projects start a page.  Homeschool units.. start a page.  Women you would like to have for lunch.. start a page.  Christmas gift ideas.. movies to watch on Netflix, date ideas for time with your spouse, prayer list... etc.  It can all go here.  You can even keep a journal of what has happened ... just write a few sentences.. it really does help to remember all those things that you think you will.. but will fade in time. 

     Journaling has helped me in so many ways.  It helps me to make decisions.  It helps me to see if I am keeping my goals.  It helps me to remember where I am supposed to be and what I am supposed to be doing.  It helps me to track bills, weight loss goals, hours completed for homeschool etc..  Don't think that a pen and paper is an answer you have already heard.. already tried etc.. and just ignore this post.  Try again.. here are two huge reasons it won't work.  It won't work if you don't look at it consistently.  You need to have times you check in with it.  Morning and Night to plan the day and to write about the day are easiest.  I keep mine with me.  I use it for family meetings in the morning and for information needed throughout the day.  If you check Facebook 10 times a day.. then you can do this.. start checking your notebook.  The other reason this won't work is if you don't write in it.. the information has to be in there.  You have to write, draw, plan, etc.. it won't just magically appear.

     This will work if you overcome those two obstacles.  You may even have a notebook and pen in your house right now.. Look at you saving money.  Go get them.. check out the bullet journal video linked below.  Take a deep breath.  Start using your notebook and start writing.  I have found it has offered me a way to stay sane as life gets busy and I need to keep up, or delegate or just say no to something.  I can see it all in one place and I don't have to keep reminding myself in my head. 

The Beginning of my Homemaking Journey

     I was newly married.  We were renting a winter rental.  We didn't own much - the house came fully furnished  - I mean fully - plates, pots, forks etc.  We had some clothes and a few other things.  I worked full time, we cared for 3 children on the weekend and had youth group, missionaries, friends etc in and out on the weekends.  I cleaned - prepared - planned and handled it all.  This book was the basis.  Helped me to see my work at home as important. ~ how to serve others, how to prepare and be ready.

    This book is what helped me to organize our stuff... as we began to accumulate.  The book has been republished but this is the cover when I first read it.  I still organize our stuff with office boxes and index cards.  This book encouraged me to grow and learn - that home was important and manageable. 

     This book was the next level from me - I moved from a notebook with tabs to index cards.  This book has also been updated with a new cover.. but when I read it WAY back then... it looked like this.  The Sidetracked Sisters helped me to grow into routines as we moved to our own apartment and added our first child and my mother to our home.  This book is the basis of Flylady and still a wonderfully helpful read.. Yes I still own the copy that looks like this.

     I was blessed to have many women in my life who have influenced me.  Yet I felt on my own when trying to set up my own home - to do things MY way.  These books are dear friends that I am thrilled to introduce to you... Friends that encouraged me ~ May they encourage you should you choose to get to know them better,

Heart Check-up

I have heard many women complain about cooking - cleaning - husbands who don't appreciate - no one helping in their homes - too much work - not enough time OK I have been one of those women.  I love books by Don Aslett, Emilie Barnes etc - You know the ones how to organize - use time better - clean faster.  They Motivate me... hmmm motivate  Well a quick search says motivate isn't in the Bible Or in Webster's 1812 dictionary ot Webster's 1913 dictionary.

Will - Deciding in our hearts - Inspired by God - ahhh those are words the Bible uses.  Have I once again settled for worldly cheap imitations?

Webster's 1812

1. To determine; to decide in the mind that something shall be done or forborne; implying power to carry the purpose into effect

   Power to carry the purpose - Purpose there is a word that is in the Bible - Here is Webster's 1812 difinition

 That which a person sets before himself as an object to be reached or accomplished; the end or aim to which the view is directed in any plan, measure or exertion. We believe the Supreme Being created intelligent beings for some benevolent and glorious purpose, and if so, how glorious and benevolent must be his purpose in the plan of redemption! The ambition of men is generally directed to one of two purposes, or to both; the acquisition of wealth or of power.

   The Bible says Every purpose is established by counsel - so let's consider my reading as seeking counselors.  I am on the right track - What derails me is that it merely motivates - I set a goal (sometimes unattainable) and come up empty.  I might even meet the goal and come out on the other side PROUD of MYSELF and then ready for the next goal (almost like an addict),

   What is God asking me for - my mind?  No~  My heart!  - Why cook, clean, teach?  Because of Love - I love my husband and children.  I love the Lord - Because I am blessed to have my dear family.  Ladies it is tough to look in my heart and see selfishness, laziness, whining etc.  I purpose to ask God for Power to be able to do His will.  I know He can change my heart.

80/20 Decluttering and Cleaning

Friday is cleaning day at our house.  I should lock us in the house every Friday.... but well this morning we were off to a huge rummage sale.  I purchased some items to resell on the internet and ok a few things for us... the globe puzzle is for geography (that's what I told myself as I wondered if we could even put it together.)

Home, baby care, eating.. and oh yeah Cleaning day.  So I started to clean.  Put away some clothes - decided I could give away some items yay - decluttering!  Then I decided to clean out a box - it ended up being a box of things that had been in my van before I hit a deer weeks ago.  Guess what I found?  My husband's wallet!  He has been looking for that.  I threw out trash (why did we box that anyway?)  Pulled out a receipt for a gift I was going to give but need to return instead - hope I can find it at the same time as the item.  Some baby toys were put in Julianna's toy basket.  Then the 80/20 principle occured to me. 

If we only use 20 percent of our items 80 percent of the time then there is most like 80 percent of our items we could do away with.  Meaning that I should be able to go through any box (yep lots of boxes) and easily get rid of a mere 20 percent of its contents.  So I went to get a box.  I pulled out the items in it - two unread children's magazines (guess we don't need to renew that one) a magnetc doll kit (dented  maybe we can get rid of that too and 23 books.  So I only need to get rid of 5 items - that would be easy.  I pulled 2 books quickly we could get rid of (Little Runner of the Longhouse and Young Children's Mix and Fix cookbook in case you were wondering.)  The Giving Tree a KEEPER - then I pulled 7 more books that could go.

I am a bookseller so I looked up the books before putting them on the front porch to be donated.  3 had members wanting them on paperbackswap and 4 were worth listing on Amazon,  So I would get paid for cleaning and decluttering Woo Hoo!  And I didn't manage to get rid of 80 percent of the items but I did manage to get rid of more than the 20 percent I was aiming for...  Maybe doing that for every box will really help me to declutter more aggressively.

Office Day

Wednesday at our home is office day - I have a small office off of my tv room so that I can watch the children and see what they are watching when the tv is on.  I am not a big tv watcher so it allows me to get work done(I sell books online) or get some bills paid etc while still being able to talk to my family etc.

Cleaning my desk is the first task - and here it seems a never ending one.  Personal, business, homeschool, and family papers seem to pile here.  Three ring notebooks for Time (calendar, flyers of commitments etc), Money (bills, debt repayment plan etc) Family Notebook (addresses, birthdays etc) , Homeschool (plans, subjects for students etc) all help me to clear the desk.

Checking on bank account balances seems to give me a clear overview of where we are so I normally start there.  Food shopping, menus, inventory lists, grocery list normally are next - You Gotta Eat! (Checkers motto that makes me laugh)  Looking at what we may need and making my errand list for Thursday is next.  Then back to finances - paying any bills, checking on debt repayment.  Business check is next - Avon order in?  Any books that need to be mailed?  Family things are next - calendar filled out, birthdays, special occassions etc.  A list of contacts I need to make - phone, email, Im, letter may all be acceptable ways these days - and it may take me a week to get through this list (I am terrible at using the phone). 

Managing our home is work - and no manager would dare try to manage anything without a clear system.  My notebooks are my system.  Checking them at least weekly helps me to be able to trust that all is running smoothly.  My desk is an area I am still working on - but my goal is to clear it everyday (maybe before I go to bed).  I pay bills usually once a month - but while we are in debt repayment phase I am trying to get any extra payments in that we can afford.  If you don't have a desk - get some area that is yours - if you don't like notebooks get a file cabinet and files.  Don't try to run your home without some sort of command center.  Plan time to take care of paperwork, lists, inventory schedules, bills - it will be time well spent.

Kitchen Day

We have a kitchen day on Tuesdays in or home.  A day to really deep clean the kitchen - inside fridge, microwave, etc.  A weekly call for all hands on deck to clear all the counters - check food inventory - cut up and flash freeze some onions - make a meal or two ahead - make sure all things are on track.  I make 3 meals and 3 snacks a day for 6 people - that is 36 feedings a day.  I need the kitchen to be ready. 

Time is saved by kitchen prep and clutter being cleared.  Food inventory helps keep last minute trips to the store to a minimum.  Money is saved as we are able to use up last bits of things or freeze them.  Good health of having a clean kitchen saves us time, money and suffering. 

The kitchen is the heart of our home hours are spent there - guests tend to gather there - homeschooling drifts to the kitchen table and of course family meals happen throughout the day there.  Heart attacks are the number #1 killer in our country.  We know many things we should do to keep our hearts in good condition.  I wonder if the same is true for the high divorce rates in our society  - are the kitchens in those afflicted homes serving nourishment of body and soul.  Candlelight family dinners - wholesome daily sharing - praying - fellowhip with friends - homemade food - signs of a healthy heart of your home.

Yes it is just a Kitchen day - but it could be so much more.  It could be the place where a family is saved from destruction.  Where the unsaved could gather for food and truth.  Where the saved can fellowhship.  Where meals can be prepared for a neighbor who is sick or a friend who has just had a child.  When we work as unto the Lord there is no limit to what God can do to make even the smallest task a way to bring glory to Him.  May we work in our homes to increase His kingdom.   

Laundry Day

Mondays are laundry day in my home.  Before breakfast is served your sheets and dirty clothes must be brought down.  Laundry being done on Mondays has allowed us to make sure no stains get set in our Sunday church clothes.  Our clothes for the week can be put aside - gymnastic's leotard in gymnastics bag, soccer uniforms in soccer bag, swim suit in YMCA bag, etc.  Putting clothes away means everyone is ready for their week.  Yes it does mean 6-10 loads in one day - we stay home on Mondays and prep for the rest of the week.  School at the table allows me to hear when machines are ready to be switched.  We can fold and put away clothes in between subjects.  Working together makes it a much easier job and at the end of the day I know I don't have to be concerned about laundry for another week.