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. 

Sit Still, My daughter

Sit Still

The pastor is preaching on chapter one in Ruth. I am not paying attention. I am flipping ahead. This is only one of two books named for a woman. Four chapters.. I scan through them. Then these words catch my eye in Chapter 3 Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall.

Oh how out of my nature that is.. Sit still. To do nothing but wait. Why? Because Ruth had done what she could. Because when we have done all we can do we need to not Do anything else. Wait is implied. Can wait be spiritual? Can wait be what we are supposed to do?

In a society that tells us to keep doing, to stay busy, these words seem absurd. “Sit still, my daughter” the words are there, in my Bible. Oh how often, God has said to me “rest” or “be still” Yet somehow on this Sunday, when I am not paying attention to what the pastor is saying. These words speak to me. These words jump out of the page. These words must be imprinted on my heart. Shared with others.

Yes, we need to do what we can. Do the next right thing. When you don’t know what to do, do what you know to do. But, sometimes, we MUST.. Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall.  Can you hear your Heavenly Father?  Some days He whispers it... sit still, My daughter.  In that moment, Doing anything is the wrong thing.  The only thing that must be done is sitting still.

Off Balance

     I am off balance - doing too many things - and spread too thin... Yet I think that for this time period that it is necessary.  A family member is in need so we have opened our home and family to do what we can.  I am not getting it all done  - not even 50 percent and yet we are managing.

     Why blog about this?  Well I think it must happen to many women for different reasons and that maybe there are times we are going to be out of balance and its ok.  Now when is it ok?  When we are doing what God has called us to do and when we are sure the things that are tipping the scales are beneficial.

     Homeschooling - Breastfeeding - Shiftwork - Child we raised wth Reactive Attachment Disorder - Sickness - Illness in the family -  Family member in need - Time for extra work - Church or Mission Projects  - Pregnancy - Major Project - Moving - Death in the Family - Car Accident - SOOOOOO Many things life throws our way - so Off Balance will happen.  Makes me loud and clumpy like my washing machine when it is off balance.  Working and trying but not as effective or quiet as when I am centered.

  How do we get through when we are off balance?  Stay internally centered with prayer and Bible Study.  Stay accountable to a few close friends - make sure there is someone to help you emotionally and mentally.  Decide what you can cut out - let the less important items fall through the cracks.  Take vitamins and eat healthy.  Guard time with family - make sure you keep your family near.  Time it - relook at the situation at least monthly - is there some changes to make that will bring you back to balance?  What is the next step? 

    A friend told me today to give myself some slack.   I am not good at giving myself some slack... but I am good at asking God for mercy. 

Deut. 4:31

“For The Lord thy God is a merciful God, He will not forsake you, neither destroy thee.....

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.

How to use paperbackswap

Here is the best way I have found to use paperbackswap.  I go through catalogs or websites that have books or suggestions I like and then put those books on my wishlist - I think they allow up to 200 items on your wishlist.  If the book is entered into the system they will offer it to you first.  If there is a book that you are sure you want you can put it on auto request and when it is entered they system will accept it for you.

If you don't want to package and mail books you can just buy book credits.  I don't mind shipping books out especailly when I know when I want a book it will come to me for Free.  I do try to keep 10 credits or so available.  So if a book from my wish list is posted I have credits available.

Another good way to use the system is to buddy friends on Paperbackswap - you can see each other's lists and even share credits!  I have been able to get copies of books I like to give away - Me? Obey Him - or get bbooks for our homeschool.  I do sometimes splurge and get books for Me with no Guilt. 

The system is easy to use and a great way to save money.  Don't forget to Buddy me if you join!

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.

Plan Your Month

Today is the first of the month.  Take some time to plan.  Get your household notebook or time notebook and schedules - newsletters etc and take an hour to plan.  It may take longer than an hour but usually 1-3 hours pays off hugely in time saved - appointments kept - celebrations remembered etc.

Looking at our month we have two birthdays - a soccer tournament - church activities - Mother's day.  I need gifts for our mothers - a plan for Birthday days - to throw a birthday party  - time for gymnastics and soccer.  I need to plan a menu for bigger breakfasts when dh is on nights and bigger dinners when he is on days.  We have a friend or two we were hoping to spend time with so need to plan a day with them.  We would like to have someone from church over for dinner so need to plan that.  You get the picture.

Planning will pay off in time - money and peace of mind. 

Sleep So you can get MORE Done!

I want to be organized  - eat healthier - get rid of clutter - spend time with my family ~ you know all the things we women have floating in our heads.  About six years ago I felt like I was caught in a trap - I wanted so much but my reality was something like this - I want to cook but that requires going to the grocery store - well that would require clean clothes for myself and children - well that would mean going to the store to get detergent - and before we go to the store I should eat so I don't spend more money - SEE? crazy trap!

And every thought went that way - just couldn't find the beginning or end of any task and nothing got done.  Couldn't see how to get through - so Nothing got accomplished - leading to more negative feelings and frustration - which was more reasons I couldn't get anything done.  After watching the failures build up I realized I couldn't do it on my own.  Hmm why didn't I realize that sooner. 

On my knees explaining excuses for why I couldn't get housework, shopping, laundry, cooking etc done I clearly heard God say I needed to rest.  I was sure He didn't understand.  I was asking how to get more done - REST?  REST?  Who had time to rest?  I had Stuff that needed to be done and all God could give me was verses about slumber, rest and sleep?

Well it took a bit ~ but eventually I heard Him - I needed to Rest!  So I decided I would sleep at least Six hours a night - Maybe 7.  I announced my new bedtime.  I started sleeping and I was able to think more clearly. 

So Now I will tell you - Yes you NEED to get to A Million things - but don't forget to sleep.  Rest - give your mind and body a chance to energize and repair.  Decide on a bedtime and follow through.  Try to get to bed and wake up at the same time every day.  By getting enough sleep you can get More done.