My Space

So, I'm off for Christmas Break, about two weeks, without having to go to work every day. I spent the first few days hustling around, stressing over making Christmas memorable for the kids. Then, I was able to relax and enjoy a few days with little to do. Nice. I did decide that it was time for one project in my home. My Space needed help. It has been overtaken with Stuff dropped there in an effort to get it out of the way. Instead, it created chaos in my little corner of the world. 

Piles of stuff: School Uniforms that don't fit yet, yarn for projects started, not yet started, finished, waiting for a home, papers to save, clothes missing buttons, toys with rips, discarded blankets, stuff, stuff, and more stuff. Not to mention, dust. 

So, I took it a piece at a time. I grabbed a couple of empty boxes and sorted out the school uniforms. Some to be kept for the kids for next year, some to be sold at a local re-sale place, some to be donated to charity. 

Next, I sorted out my yarn projects. I stored away my unused yarn, stashed away some unfinished projects that I don't think I'll get to any time soon, neatly organized projects that I would like to finish soon, and decided what to do with finished projects. Some will just go to charity, some nicer pieces will be given to a person who will make sure they go to people who really need them, and one or two pieces I will keep. I enjoy crocheting, but I enjoy being able to bless others with my projects even more. 

With the rest of the stuff, very little of it was kept. some things were thrown away, some put in other rooms where it belonged, some donated. I then took a few minutes while the family was watching a movie, to sit with them and sew some buttons back on. Three buttons and a repaired stuffed monkey later, and less stuff remained in My Space. You can't see it in the picture, but even my dresser is covered with stuff. I gave myself time, and gradually, throughout one day, My Space is My Space once again. I even hung some pictures on the wall. Nice and tidy: 

No, it's not magazine-cover perfect, but then, I don't know of anyone coming for a photo shoot any time soon. The point is, I am more at peace when My Space is pleasing. I still have stuff, materials for future projects, etc, but I also have a Space that I can look at and not feel guilty about the clutter. I think the part I like best is the pictures of my family over my sewing cabinet. After all, they are what matters. 

What one project can you do in Your Space to feel more comfortable? Get Busy!

Thankful

"Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks. And God's peace, which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7).
I'm reading a book that I bought a long time ago, but my sister-in-law is currently reading it, and encouraged me to read it again. Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World has turned out to be an encouraging book. Right now the author is talking about worry. She points out that this verse was written by Paul when he was in prison, and yet he is focusing on being joyful and not worrying. If anyone had "licence" to worry, it would have been Paul! Instead, he give us tips for not worrying. One of them is asking God for what you need, the other is being thankful for what you already have.
I'm not much of a conformist. During November lots of my Facebook friends posted 30 days of thankfulness. I thought it was an interesting idea, but I didn't do it simply because everyone else did. I am, however, thankful for many things. So, here's my short list (there are so many more!)

• My Firstborn daughter, who is growing into an interesting teen. She is thoughtful, compassionate, and still loves her mom!
• My second born son. He is incredibly smart, loves to have fun, and gives great hugs!
• My oldest, came to the family last, daughter. She loves to listen to music, clean her room, and is learning so quickly from this strange land called America. 
• My youngest son. He is full of life, is not slowed down by much of anything, but LOVES to snuggle. 
• My incredible hubby. He is so very patient with me! He enjoys cooking, helps out around the house, and loves to make me happy. He's a great daddy and spouse!
• My job. God has given me the opportunity to teach where I can set an example for students and peers. I learn from them as much as I teach them! While the pay isn't good, the benefits are so very worth it!!
• My family. I'm blessed to live close to my parents, and just a text or phone call away from my sister. They are an awesome support group!
• My church family. Through all the ups and downs of the past 10 years, I have loved being a part of that group of people. They are challenging, supportive, and loving. 

There are so many more things I'm thankful for. Listing some of them out really does take my mind off my worries and puts them on the wonderful blessings that I've been given. Thinking about them, not one was material. I am blessed in many ways!!

How have you been blessed this year?

True Confessions...

Okay, so I have to confess here. I do have one space in my house that is so dirty and messy I'm embarrassed to let people in. My bedroom and bathroom connected to it are not clean. The cat box is there, and my general mess is there. That is the one space that I can stash stuff when company's coming. It's also the one space mostly off limits to the kids. So, I have piles of kids clothes that I'm saving for the future, but haven't put in storage, boxes of yarn and material for future, unknown projects and long-ago abandoned projects, stuff I've taken away from the kids, that they've long forgotten about, and stuff I just don't want them to have access to. In addition, hair clogs my side of the sink, resulting in a never ending ring of toothpaste and soap scum, the cat (and dog!) track litter across the floor, and the soap scum builds in the shower. Not to mention the ring around the toilet and clothes dropped in the closet floor at the end of a long day. Sound familiar to any of you? Once in  a while, when I have a few minutes and a lot of energy, I go through and clean stuff out. In fact, I might put a dent in one pile now that I've written this blog. But, I must confess, sometimes I need to have a space that I don't have to keep clean. After all, I don't have to invite guests into my bedroom and bathroom. The main bathroom is down the hall, and is relatively clean. It does feel nice to clean it  up sometimes, but not enough to stress over.
So, what space do you have in your house, that you claim as your own, and neglect to clean? Confession is good for the soul! 

Checking In

So, it's been a very busy couple of weeks! After the Thanksgiving rush, we jumped back in to the swing of the Christmas season, with 3 crazy weeks of school. The hallways are a buzz with excited children, frantic teachers, and administrators trying to hold everything together. Those of you in the teaching profession know how it gets this time of year in schools! Add to that, 4 kids, each with Christmas (we can call it that here, no pretenses, or trying to make everyone happy, with "Winter" performances, etc) parties, middle school Christmas program, work parties, stuff going on with church, etc, etc, etc....
So, I have a minute to sit down and catch my breath. I'm currently working on crocheting hats for those with very little. My mom met a woman who had lost her hair due to breast cancer treatments, and only had one hat. We were in the middle of a cold spell that day, so I got the call. I had already made one cap from super soft yarn, that fit the bill perfectly. Then I got busy creating others. I wish now that I had taken pictures, but I never think of that at the right moment. So anyway, now, when I have a few minutes, or need to take a few minutes to slow down, I pull out my crochet bag. I can make a "comfort cap" for someone in just a day or so. It's a small project that I can carry around with me, and the act of crocheting is very soothing. A little bit of peace.
What do you do to slow yourself down when things get crazy? If you don't have something, you need to find it, before you go crazy along with the rest of the world around you!

Checking In...

So, with this crazy time of year, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, it is hard to keep up. Not to mention getting ahead. So, keep things simple. Remember the 4 steps to clean: take out the trash, collect clothing around the house, do a load of laundry, and put the dishes away. Every little bit you can do, keep at it, but always remember, you are not perfect. Take things one step at a time, don't procrastinate, but give yourself a break too. Find balance, take time to spend with God, and take time to enjoy the blessings that you already have. How do you find peace?

Peace

Greetings! I pray the Christmas season is peaceful for you.
It takes some effort to keep it peaceful, to not get sucked in to the hustle and bustle, and especially the "Keeping Up With the Joneses" thoughts. It is so very easy to look at all those around us and want to be like them, to have the stuff that they have, to think that's what will bring happiness. But, as this working mom on a VERY tight budget knows, stuff is not what brings happiness! My mom once gave me a plaque that still has a place in my kitchen, where I see it several times each day. "It's not how much we have, but how much we enjoy that makes happiness." I don't need more stuff. Yes, there are a few things I'd like to have, but really, when I'm asked, my list is VERY short. What I really want is time with my family. I want to remember to set my stuff to the side, and play a game with my family. A deck of cards of package of dice goes far with my kids. And, what I'm learning is, that while they sometimes say they want every little toy they see on TV or in the annoying catalogs that come in the mail, what they really want from me is my time. They want to play games with me, shop with me, or even sit beside me and watch a movie. While I love my quiet "Mom Time" grocery shopping by myself each week, I really do enjoy taking just one of the kids with me, for some one-on-one time. The conversations that take place are priceless.
So, now I find myself rambling, and this doesn't seem to have much to do with what I sat down to write about. But here's my point: Don't look at everyone else and want what they have. Make peace in your own home by enjoying what you already have. Spend time with your family and friends. They are priceless!!!

Catching Up

Thanksgiving has come and gone, and I'm glad to say, I really enjoyed it this year. I hosted 19 people in my home, and everything went well. God blessed us with wonderful weather, so the 10 kids spent most of the time outside, with dads and moms joining them at times. That helped. My weeks of planning paid off as well. I managed to prepare the Thanksgiving meal for everyone, only botched one dish, and was only about 45 minutes late getting it on the table. Pretty good.
Now, what does that have to do with this particular blog? I planned ahead, and was able to enjoy it. When I first knew I would be hosting the family, I started planning the menu. I made lists, lists, and more lists. My lists including everything from what needed to be cleaned, to the Thanksgiving menu, the menu for the whole week, when I would cook everything, and shopping lists. That way, when I was overwhelmed, or had a few spare minutes, I could look over my lists, and take things one at a time. I think the best list was when everything would be cooked. Things that would last longer or freeze well were cooked earlier in the week such as cinnamon rolls, some parts of dishes could be prepped the night before, like the corn bread for the dressing, and other things were made fresh that morning, like the green bean casserole. Now, one dish did hold me up, but that was because I hadn't made it before, and didn't know that it could be made the day before, or that it took an hour to bake. Next year I'll know. So, I spent much of Wednesday and Thursday in the kitchen, but I was able to take it one step at a time, and enjoy it. I was even able to take a 30 minute break Thursday to treat a migraine. Not too bad.
One more thought there, my lists were flexible. Hubby suggested the first dish I was going to work on Wed. might wait, while I did other things, because it takes so long in the oven. I thought on it, and he was right! So my lists did shift around a little, but I still had, in writing, what I needed to get done. And, oh the joy of checking off the list!!!!
Weeks ago I got the whole family involved in cleaning the house, top to bottom. Then, for the week, very little deep cleaning had to be done. My kids were able to jump in on Wednesday, look at my cleaning list, and choose something to do. I even had a "Clean Bathroom" list posted in the bathroom, for the one who really likes to clean. Now she knows what "Clean" really looks like, and I didn't have to go behind her each step of the way.
Because I had planned so thoroughly, I was able to sit back on Friday, and enjoy the day. I planned a simple dinner, and spent most of the day playing with the kids and hanging out with the adults. Payoff!

So, the moral of the story is, plan ahead, use lists, be flexible, and enjoy the time we're given with family!

Step #4

So, by now, if you have been picking up trash and laundry every day, you should find yourself not needing 10 minutes for each. At this point, it should be a natural part of your routine. In fact, if you have trash in your hand, just throw it away. If you take off a piece of clothing, put it where it goes right away. You should also be doing a load of laundry every day. I know this is not an easy task. It doesn't happen around my house every day, but I try to do it more often than not. The weeks that I am able to keep up with the laundry are much more plesant than when I let the laundry pile up around me. So, try to do just one load of laundry every day.
Step 4 brings us back to the front door. grab a bag, basket, or box. This time, as you make your way through the house, this 10 minutes will be spent gathering dishes. Anything that belongs in the kitchen goes in the basket. Don't stop to think about it, just get to it. When 10 minutes are up, take the dishes to the kitchen and put them away. Don't stack them on the counter, put them where the belong. Add this task to your daily routine. There you have it. If you stick to these steps daily, you should see a difference in your home. In return, you should also see a difference in your heart, and in you family. After all, there is something peaceful about a house that is less cluttered. Enjoy!

Step #3

Okay, every day, you should be 1) collecting trash and getting it OUT of your house. 2) Collecting clothing of all sorts and putting it where it goes. When these become a daily routine, it will really make a difference to your home! Now, today's step can be easy, sometimes I enjoy it, but the thought of it is always daunting. Here goes:
LAUNDRY. As I have written before, there is never and end to laundry. Just when you think you have it all done, someone adds one more dirty piece. It can be overwhelming to think of. But, it CAN be managed! Every day, after you collect trash and clothing, do just one load of laundry. Put it in the washer. If you're home long enough, set a timer for 45 minutes, or however long one load takes. When the timer goes off, IMMEDIATELY go and put it in the dryer. Set your timer again, and IMMEDIATELY get the laundry, fold it, and have the owners of the clothing put it away. If your kids are big enough, get them involved in the folding of the clothing as well. Now, after you have done that for a few days, your mountain should be shrinking. Also, you will develop your own system of laundry. For example, I get the clothes from the hamper to the washer, and from the washer to the dryer in one day, then fold the clothes from the previous day, while today's clothes are drying. They often stay in the dryer overnight. As long as you can handle a few wrinkles, that's okay, it's up to you. But, whatever you do, DO NOT LEAVE THEM IN THE WASHER! Clothes will stink after just a few hours in the washer. So, do yourself and your family a favor, and don't leave them there.
So, to recap, Step #3 is to do one load of laundry every day. Happy folding! 

Step #2

So, yesterday and today you should have taken a trash bag and collected trash for 10 minutes, then taken it out to the trash outside. Continue to do that every day until all of your rooms are free of trash. Then continue on "Trash Patrol" daily, but it should only take a couple of minutes.
Today begins step #2: Clothes. Grab a box or laundry basket, and a timer set for 10 minutes. Again, begin at the front door. Today you are going to pick up every piece of clothing that you see. Don't put it away yet, just put it in the box or basket. Shoes, jackets, shirts, socks, whatever you come across, snatch it up, and toss it in the basket. Do this for 10 minutes. Now, when the 10 minutes are up, take the items where they belong, and put them away. Yes, this is a little more time-consuming, but it is soooo worth it! If the clothes are dirty, put them in the laundry hamper, NOT in a pile by the washer. If you don't have a hamper, designate a box, basket, or some other container as a hamper. It may overflow for now, that's okay. Just focus on what you collected, and get it put away. That's it for today. Trash & clothing. Work on making this part of your daily routine. A little at a time, you will see a difference, as long as you work at it every day. You can do it! 

Where to Begin?

So I realized recently that some of you may not know where to begin. Perhaps you've never known what to do with your home. You know something needs to be done with the mess, but you just don't know where to begin. I know that it can so overwhelming, that you just freeze up, and don't even know what to do. You feel uncomfortable in your own home, you don't like people coming to you home because you're embarrassed about the mess, but what to do? Hopefully the next few entries will give you help, and hope.
     So, where to start? First of all, please realize that no one is perfect, and you can not go from mess to clean over night. It is a process that takes time. Start slowly, do a bit at a time, and look toward better, not perfect.
     Okay, that said, you need to grab a trash bag and a timer. Just a regular kitchen bag, or a couple of grocery sacks. Now, walk to your front door, and stand, facing your entry way. Pick up the trash that you see. Fast food bags, soda bottles, old newspapers, broken things, whatever you see that you know you can just throw away. For 10 minutes, walk through from your front door, through whatever the first room is in your house. Fill up the trash bag, or at least two grocery sacks. Work for the full 10 minutes on just picking up trash, filling that bag. Now, when the timer beeps, take that bag or sacks of trash outside to your larger garbage can. Don't leave it in the house. Whatever you do with your weekly trash, the bag needs to go there. Now, while you're at it, go back to the kitchen and bathroom, and take the trash out of the cans in those rooms as well. Replace them with new bags. If you have a small can in the bathroom, a grocery sack will fit perfectly in the can, so next time you can just grab the sack and go out to your large trash can. Every time your kitchen trash can is full, don't pack it down. Take 3 minutes to gather up the bathroom trash, grab the kitchen trash, and TAKE IT OUT. Don't clutter up your life with the garbage. GET RID OF IT!
     So, that's the first step to a cleaner home. Not so bad, was it?  Check back here in a couple of days, and I will have the next step for you. Meanwhile, take 10 minutes every day to rid your home of more trash. Boxes from things you bought, you don't need those anymore. More soda bottles on the floor? Get rid of them. When you finish one room, move on to the next. Just do it, every day, for 10 minutes. More to come later. Now, as for my house, it's time for me to take the trash out. The Garbage Truck comes tomorrow. See you soon! 

Bathroom Checklist

After peeking into the kids bathroom (I survived, barely), I came up with another list. Yes, this will be view-able by anyone who comes for a visit, as this is the main bathroom in the house, but that's okay. We have kids, we have a messy house, but are trying to teach our kids how to help keep it clean. At least once a week I send in a kid to clean up the bathroom, but until now, they've had no real guidelines. So, here goes!

A Clean Bathroom

ü   MIRROR shiny

(Wipe down with damp cloth)

ü   TOOTH BRUSHES lined up in the corner, TOOTH PASTE beside it

ü   SINK clean

(wipe with damp cloth, inside, on top, and faucet)

ü   TOWEL clean

(get a new one once a week)

ü   SHOWER clean

(wipe down tub, line up BOTTLES neatly, no extra stuff in the tub)

ü   FLOOR clean

(wipe whole floor with cloth, don’t forget behind the toilet!)

ü   TOILET clean

(on top, behind the lid, under the lid, under the seat, in the bowl, outside the bowl, around the base)

Yeah! It’s clean!!!!!

I Had to Admit It...

This week I had forgotten my #1 Rule: Give Yourself (Myself) a break. My house is getting cluttered up again, and my dear hubby was driving our van on a field trip, with another teacher as well as students. I caught myself getting upset with everyone because the house and car were not clean. Laundry had piled up, dishes were stacked up, the table was covered with "stuff", and there were crumbs and toys all over the van. I was getting stressed out.
But, when I stopped and finally realized why I was stressed, I actually felt better! I gave myself permission to be okay with clutter, for that moment. The weekend was coming, with few plans, I knew I could catch up. Most of all, perfection is not something I should be stressing out about. It won't happen, and even if it does for a second, life will continue on, and stuff will pile up again. So, for my sanity, and yours, remember the #1 rule. Don't be so overwhelmed that you get stressed out. Take one moment at a time, and know that your friends will not think less of you because there's a random sock laying under the couch. We all have them! (And, remember, those who appear perfect, really aren't, deep down!)
So, sit back, enjoy life, take a moment at a time, de-clutter when you can, and remember to relax along the way!

Funny!

Just as I sat down to write this post, I saw a commercial that is so my house! Okay, not this bad, but.... it is a cleaner commercial. Dad is helping daughter with a science project, the ever popular volcano. The first eruption is great, looks like ketchup running down the side. A second later, however, it starts to spew red goo all over the kitchen. Just then, mom walks in the house. Of course, they want you to think their product will save the day, but I can sooo see that happening in my house! Just as things are under control, life happens, and all chaos breaks loose. Do you ever feel that way? If only there were a "magic" cure, like the product suggests. But, we all know, it takes elbow grease to work things out.
So, what to do? Go back to earlier posts... 1) Give yourself a break. Nothing, and no one, is perfect. I'll probably write more about that soon. 2) Get a routine, and stick with it. 3) EVERYONE helps out. They help make the mess, they can help clean it up! 4) Use lists to keep yourself and the family on board with creating peace. 5) Take advantage of spare minutes. If you need a moment of peace, take it. If there's a mess to be addressed, do it. Make every moment count.
Messes happen, how do you keep them under control?

Lists!

So, by now, you may have noticed that I'm big on lists. I just have too much going on to keep up with it all, without writing stuff down. Saturday is my shopping day. I sometimes get up early, to leave the house for the grocery store before the kids are dressed for the day. Hubby stays home, while I hit the store. I just works better that way. I stick to my list, and get in and out much quicker when I'm on my own.
So, back to the lists. A few years ago I got tired of forgetting to get stuff that I needed at the store. So, I made a list of the stuff I use regularly. It took me a few weeks to get everything on the list. I used the computer to make a list, using 3 columns in a Word document. I even sorted my list by where everything is in the store, and my usual pattern of shopping. I even included lines for things I think of during the week, for each section of the store. I made several copies and hung them on my fridge. Then, whenever I think of something I need, it goes on the list. Saturday morning, before I leave the house, I grab a highlighter and mark the things I need this week. Now, the stuff that I need every day don't get missed. Now I have an iPod touch that has a shopping list app, so I do basically the same thing, without the paper. I spend a couple bucks to get an app that lets me sort my items by departments in the store. That way I don't end up criss-crossing all over the store. I just go down my list and grab what I need. This has been a HUGE time and money saver for me. No more going back to the store during the week for the one thing I forgot, then buying a whole bunch of stuff that I don't need. I've also trained my family to understand, "If it's not on the list, momma doesn't buy it!" They've learned to ask me to put it on the list, or not complain if we run out. Lists are great!

Laundry??

Have you done a load of laundry today? Not the whole mountain, just one load? I intended to get "all" the laundry done this weekend, but of course, it didn't happen. And then, my dryer is slowly giving up the ghost. I don't really want to shell out the bucks for a new one, so we're nursing it along. But of course, it normally takes twice as long for the dryer, and now it just takes forever. So, we're good to get one load from dirty to clean and dry every day. Join me on this venture. It is satisfying to not have the hamper overflowing all over the place. I don't always fold and put away today's laundry, but I do have some semblance of a laundry routine. Routines are good...

Revisit

This morning, as I was buzzing around the house getting ready for Bible Study, I was reminded of an earlier post, "Seize the Moment." I almost set my car keys down on my dresser, a place I NEVER put them, just out of habit. But, I stopped myself. I took two seconds to walk over to my purse and put them where they belong. I may have saved myself long moments of panic later today or tomorrow, when I would have been frustrated and running around the house looking for them. So, a gentle reminder to you, my readers. Seize the Moment. Don't drop things where you are, don't step over things where they don't belong. Take a moment and put things where you can find them when you need them. Pick up that piece of paper where it blew onto the floor, and put it where it belongs. When the mail comes in, take 5 minutes to throw out the junk, put the bills in a box or basket where you pay them, read through the important stuff, put it where it goes, and put the rest in the trash or recycling bin. If you take 2-3 minutes now, to put stuff where it belongs, it will save you sooooo much time later. Just try it for a couple of days, and see what a difference it makes. Then come back and comment, share what you think! 

And This Week ... We Survived

So, the week before last was Fall Break. Nice and relaxing, got lots of housework done, took it easy. This week we jumped back in to school and work. One kiddo was sick Monday, but the rest came home from school with all the fun stuff. Homework, missing assignments, notes from teachers about bad behavior at school, projects over due, you get the idea. Our week pretty much rolled on from there. One thing after another, making it from one to the next, etc. I didn't get laundry done, to the dismay of the kids when they didn't have clothes for school Friday. But, they didn't tell me Thursday that they needed more clothes, so, oh well! We did survive the week.
 Here's the point. Sometimes, we do well to just make it through. The good part is, we have worked hard to have routines that the kids now know to follow. Homework first, helping with chores, etc. I had done enough cleaning and prep last week to get us through the week this week. Sometimes it pays off! Yes, today, I started laundry before I even ate breakfast, got my grocery shopping done, one kiddo cleaned the kitchen, no one complained when it was time to bring in groceries and pick up around the living room. They do still complain when I ask them to fold laundry neatly instead of wadding it up and shoving it in the dresser, but they're learning. We will survive! 

Patience

I've been reading James along with my Life Group. I have to respectfully disagree with what most people say about James 1:4. Most people will say to never pray for patience. Their reasoning is that if you pray for patience, you will be put in situations that let you practice patience. And who wants that? Hang with me here, it does have to do with being a working mom, whether you work at home or outside your home. We can all use an extra dose of patience as we deal with co-workers, children, spouses, people in general.

James 1:4 struck me recently. "Let your patience show itself perfectly in what you do." (New Century Version).  I checked several different versions. Most of them use similar phrasing. LET your patience show ITSELF perfectly. Here's what I'm thinking. It's not really up to me. I should not be the one in control of if I am patient or not. It's really up to the Holy Spirit showing through me. I have to move myself out of the way and let the Holy Spirit live through me. This actually came as a relief to me. I am so far from perfect, but guess what, I don't have to be! God, and His Spirit within me can provide the perfection that James is talking about. Now, verse 6 is another topic for another day!

For today, let God's Spirit provide the patience that you need with those around you, especially those you love most!

Recipe!

For a change of pace, I thought I'd share with you my newest favorite reicpe: Potato Soup. It's easy to make, and great on a chilly day. It's great left over for a couple days, and some of my kids even like it (with 4, it's hard to find something everyone likes!) Here goes:

4 cups water
4 chicken bullion cubes
4 cups peeled, cubed potatoes
1/4 cup chopped onion
dash pepper
1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt
8 oz. cream cheese (The low-fat stuff is great too!)

Bring water and bullion cubes to a boil in a large sauce pan. Dissolve the bullion cubes, then turn water off and let cool a few minutes. Add potatoes, onion, salt & pepper, return to a boil. Boil on low heat, about 20 minutes, until potatoes are almost soft. Take 2 cups of potatoes out, and set aside. Use a wisk or stick blender to make remaining potatoes and water smooth. Return separated potatoes to the pot of smooth mixture. Add cream cheese, stir, return to medium heat, and cook until cheese is melted. Serve, garnish with crumbled bacon, cheddar cheese, green onion, sour cream, however you like your potatoes! Goes great with sourdough bread.
*The first time I made this, I was sad that I didn't double the recipe, because there were no leftovers! I have used red potatoes and didn't peel them for extra texture and nutrition. I'm also experimenting with putting it in a slow-cooker, but haven't perfected it yet. Please share your ideas! 

Butterflies

A couple of months ago I was sitting in a conference, during the one not-so-engaging session. My mind wondered, and I had a thought. The conference was focused on children with Autism, and how we, as family and educators, can best help them cope with the world. The organizers of the conference had butterflies on their name tags. There's a reason for this.

Children are like butterflies, escaping from their cocoon. If you have ever watched a caterpillar, now butterfly, emerge from a cocoon, you really want to help it out. The butterfly has to struggle and fight against it's home, now prison, to emerge as a butterfly. It is a battle, and I'm sure if the butterfly could talk, it would tell you it didn't know if it would make it out, and why didn't you help it. But, here's the thing. If you help the butterfly, and open the cocoon, the butterfly will die. You see, the struggle is a necessary part of life for the butterfly. That struggle pumps blood into the wings of the butterfly, allowing the wings to come to life. If this does not happen, the wings never become useful to the butterfly, and a butterfly without wings will die. So, the struggle is a God-given part of the life-cycle of the butterfly.

In the same way, our children must struggle to develop their own wings and fly. As much as we want to protect them, it doesn't help in the long-run. Let me give an example. Years ago, we knew a family with a very protective mom. The kids, reaching college age, weren't allowed near the stove, because they might burn themselves. They weren't allowed to do their own laundry, because they might ruin something. They weren't taught how to drive, cook, do laundry, and an assortment of other life-needing tasks. The oldest went off to college and was taught by roommates to do all of the necessary skills. She ruined some laundry and got a few burns, all a couple thousand miles from home. She eventually married a guy who's a much better cook than her, mainly because his mom taught him. I don't know about you, but I'd rather be the one to teach my kids how to do laundry and use a stove, under my care, not some random roommate, many hours from home. Mistakes happen, kids aren't perfect, but neither are we, the parents. We all have to struggle to develop the strong wings that will carry through life.
So, the next time you kids want to help you in the kitchen, or are sitting around watching TV while you rush around taking care of the house and folding laundry, engage them in your tasks. Teach them how to sort laundry. Teach them how to chop and onion and fry up a pound of beef. Sit with them while the search the internet for a fun recipe, then stand beside them as they make a cake that might not taste too great. Then, eat the cake with a smile, and give gentle tips about how they could make it better the next time, and make sure there is a next time. After all, you're the parent, help your child grow strong wings!

Secrets Revealed!

I'm sitting down to take a break. I have this week off from school, but am not really resting. You see, my husband and I volunteered to host Thanksgiving this year. Yes, it's still just the first of October, but here's the deal. We both work full time, and have 4 kids. Our house shows that. We have dust bunnies who have become over-crowded. We have stains on the carpet, and plenty of clutter. So, this week is dedicated to evicting the dust bunnies, at least for today. I just cleaned off the top of the fridge. YUCK! My allergies are acting up from all the dust we've kicked up as we're cleaning. But, this brought me to a realization.
You know how you go to someone's house, for a dinner or some other nice event, and you marvel at how wonderful their house is. The bedroom doors are open because the room is perfectly clean, and the bed is magazine-cover perfect. As you wonder through the house, the bathroom is spotless, and you could eat off the kitchen floor. You all know what I'm talking about. You spend the evening in awe, feeling horrible about the condition of your own home. Well.... the secret has been revealed, here and now! Show up unannounced on any random Thursday night, and you won't see that same spotlessness! One of a couple of things has happened: 1) The house is always that spotless, but only to the demise of the family. The kids spend hours cleaning, and don't get to enjoy living in their own home. The hubby isn't allowed to put his feet up, and the wife has ulcers from the pressure of feeling like her house should always be spotless. Sound like fun and peace? That's a clean, but not peaceful home. 2) The house is lived-in. The hostess spent hours or days before the event cleaning up and making everything shine, but it won't look like that tomorrow! The kids are allowed to play, hubby can put his feet up, and wife even joins him, ignoring messes on occasion. She realizes the importance of cleanliness, but is able to enjoy her family as well.
I feel at peace when my house is clean and not all cluttered, but I'm trying hard to balance a clean house with a happy family. The spots on my carpet are a memory of the times we gathered in the living room and watched a movie together, sometimes spilling kool-aide. Or of having so many friends over that the kids have to eat in the living room, occasionally letting their hot dog roll off into the floor. I could get upset about all of the messes, but what good would that do? The spot will still be there, the culprit will feel even worse for their "crime", and the guests will feel uncomfortable to move around in the house. Who wants that? So, I just pass out rags to clean up messes, and move on with a smile. After all, I enjoy being with friends and family, don't you?

Clean Room

Okay, my dear daughter had an assignment this week, and we let her find and print pictures on her own. We were around, but she didn't ask for help. So, now, my printer doesn't work. Hmmm.... Anyway, until I get back to work (Currently on fall break, yeah!), I can't print out the "Clean Room" list. I will attempt to paste it here. Of course, it will be different for every child. My child has a habit of stuffing clothes all over her room, even though the hamper is just steps away, on her way to the bathroom. Another child tends to stash all of her belongings in her bed. They've grown past the stage of having toys all over, though I will put that on the boys' list.  I haven't given this a test run yet, so no promises, but if it works out like the others, it should work, with time. Also, I didn't put pictures in with it. I would put pictures of a clean bed, dresser, closet and floor from the actual room, but that's hard to come by in my house! I'll add those later. Why don't you add some from your own home? Enjoy!

A Clean Room

Everything has a place!

ü Bed Made

o  blankets neat

o  no extra stuff in the bed

ü Clothes put away

o  closet

o  dresser

o  hamper

ü Dresser cleaned off

ü Dresser drawers closed

ü Desk cleaned off

ü Closet cleaned up

o  clothes on hangers

o  hangers on bar

o  floor clear

ü Nothing behind the door

ü Shoes put away

Reality

Just so you don't think I'm the perfect wife, mom, and housekeeper, yesterday was a challenge! My family spent much of the day Saturday on the run, from one event to the other, ending with a nice, relaxing time with friends. But.... I had made a salad that I left in the fridge instead of taking to dinner, the dishes used to make the salad were still on the counter, and by the time we got home, we had 4 sleeping kids in the car. Sunday started with kids protesting showers (usually done the night before), facing a messy house, and having to prepare for worship. I hit the ground running with having many tasks to do at church, including teaching the entire preschool  department. It ended up fine, the kids were great, but I was stressed thinking about it before hand. During worship I, again, helped behind the scenes, focusing more on the mechanics than on worshiping God. I came home tired, but realized that I couldn't stand the clutter in the house, and would have to do something about it before I could relax. So, while the kids played outside and the hubby napped, I cleaned the kitchen, did some laundry, make Sour Dough Bread, dusted the ceiling fan, and cleared out some cobwebs. Shew! I was frustrated with the condition of the house, but felt a little bit better.
So, the morals of the story are many. First, I'm not perfect! I can't stand a messy house, but it is messy so often! I'm learning not to vent my frustrations at the family, but instead tackle the dusty ceiling fans. Another thing, as I reflect back, I get so frustrated with worship sometimes. I don't like the songs, or the order of songs, etc, etc, etc.... But, worship isn't just for me. It's for the God I love and serve, and for the group of people there, as a whole, not just me.  I often learn more from the lessons I teach my little preschoolers, my children at home, or my children at school. I've learned that I can't let my mood or outlook revolve around one session at church. I'm learning a little more each day. I'm far from perfect!

Lists!

To encourage the kids to help out, without always nagging them, I've made a list of our morning routine. For me, it includes getting dressed, putting dirty clothes away, making beds, eating breakfast, packing backpacks, and brushing hair and teeth. I put pictures with each of them for my non-reading kiddo, put it in a page protector, and stuck it on the fridge. Yes, I stole this idea from a friend (Thanks Margaret!) and it works! Once the kids got used to it, now all I have to do (usually) is ask the kids if they've done the list. They either say yes, or walk out of the room to do whatever they missed. Now, I have to follow up sometimes. They're kids, and they like to take short-cuts. But, once in a while, I go behind them and double-check. The TV does NOT come on in the mornings before school, and the kids don't get to do anything else in the mornings until the list is done. Now, we generally only follow it on school days, I let them slack on weekends, but when I ask them to brush teeth, etc, I don't usually get any protests. After all, it's on the list! This has really helped with us getting out of the house on time for school without a lot of protests and me nagging.

Now, my next task is a "clean room" list. Kids don't naturally know what a clean room should look like, and one teaching session just doesn't do it. But, perhaps, a list to follow a teaching session will help. Here's hoping! 

One Lasting Thing

Here's a tip from my mom that I've heard before, but struggled to follow until recently. Do one thing that lasts every day. Cleaning the kitchen, doing laundry, picking up after the kids, we do all of that over and over, and the stuff builds up just after we're done. Find one thing every day to do that will last around a week or longer. Here are some suggestions:

• Wash the rugs from the bathroom & kitchen, 
• clean the window that you look out of most often (for me, it's the double glass doors leading from the kitchen/living room to the deck),
• clear off your dresser (but, you have to keep it clean after that!),
• wash the car, 
• mop the floor,
• dust, 
• vacuum out the couch, 
• vacuum the steps, 
• sort through the magazines, 

now that I'm writing, I'm coming up with lots of ideas! The point is, do something for yourself and your family that will have an effect for more than 5 minutes. So, when you sit down at the end of the day, you can look at the shiny floor, clean window, clean dresser, etc, and feel some satisfaction. Otherwise, you'll see the dishes on the counter or overflowing laundry hamper and be discouraged. And, it's much better for you and your family to end the day with a feeling of accomplishment than a feeling of defeat. And, don't forget, before you fall asleep, take some time for you. Read a book, or do something you enjoy, if only for five minutes.
What do you do around the house that has a lasting effect? Please share!

Take Time

From the same Focus On The Family broadcast as my last post, I learned something else that I don't do yet, but want to start. It's this: take a Sabbath Day's rest. I think the speaker followed Jewish laws regarding the Sabbath Rest, and I'm not saying that is required, but I do know that I need to do a better job of resting on occasion. For me, I can't dedicate a full Sunday, I teach Bible Class, sometimes help with the computer during worship, wrestle with my kids during worship, and lead a youth program once or twice a month. So, rest is just not on the agenda for Sunday. But, I do think I can dedicate Saturday and Sunday evenings to slowing down, setting laundry and housework aside, and focusing on what's most important. If I don't take time to renew myself, I won't have anything left to give to my family. I think I see a pattern developing. What do you think?

Somebody To Lean On

I heard a Focus on the Family broadcast on the way to a dr. appt. today (just a follow up for a kiddo, all is good!). It was about being a working mom. I am horrible with details, but I'm sure you can search it to find details. Anyway, one main point that I was reminded of, was that we can't do this without God. Without Him, there is no life, so we certainly need Him to lead us through our tough times, and praise Him for the good times. Many books have been written, in fact, the lady on the radio had written one that I'd like to read soon (I'll have to search it for myself later!). But the point is, we have got to take time out of our day to pray and meditate, if only on one verse, for just a few minutes. You may have heard the old story about rushing through the day too busy to take time for God, but later being so busy, you HAVE to stop and pray. It will help, and you may even take more and more time ach day. Right now my Life Group is studying James. The verse I'm currently meditating on is James 1:4 "but let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." What verse are you thinking about today? Please share!

All Hands On Deck!

Even with the youngest of kids, everyone must pitch in and do their part. A little one who can sit up and throw toys can also sit up and, hand-over-hand, put toys in a basket. It's never too early to start getting our little ones to pitch in around the house. You don't create all the messes, don't be the only one to clean them up. Now, I know my 6 year old can't fold my clothes the way I like them, but he can pitch in and fold his own clothes with some coaching. It will be worth it in the long run. And won't his wife appreciate him if he can pitch in with his own family! They won't be perfect, but they can learn! As I type this, my little ones are working on folding a basket of laundry. After all, it is their clothes. Yes, they need prompts to get it done, and the first few times I asked them they complained, but now they know what I expect. Now my rule is, I ask you once to put your stuff away. after that, I donate it to charity. My kids have too much stuff anyway. So, while it is tough teaching them to help out, it is so worth it to teach your kids to clean up after themselves. It is an investment that will have a big return!

Seize The Moment

So, right now, I'm conflicted. One thing I try really hard to do is to take advantage of any down time that I get. I don't just sit and watch TV, I usually fold laundry, clean the kitchen, or work on school work while the hubby enjoys whatever is on. On the occasion that I'm home with a sick kiddo, I try to do extra house cleaning instead of that oh, so tempting, nap. And usually, that's good. But this weekend changed that a bit. I went to a conference that tought me that I need to be more fully present for my kids. Yes, I'm usually there for them, but I tend to be preoccupied. I have forgotten how to be still. To just sit, and enjoy whatever moment I'm in. I have come to feel like I HAVE to always be busy. I think I have made myself ADD.
So, I'm not sure where I'm going with this, except this: it's about balance. If all I ever do is play with the kids, the house will be condemmed from filth, and we'll have no clean clothes, etc. But, if I spend all my time on the house, I'll be exhausted, and my kids will be out of control. So, I have to allow my house to be a little dirty, and teach my kids to be a little independent. I have to take time for my kids, myself, and the hubby and house. I think that has brought me back to the first post. Give myself a break, and set priorities. What's most important in the long run, and at the moment? For today, since I'm home with a sick kiddo who loves those annoying shows, I'll sit with him and fold laundry. But, if he needs me, I'm here. When the laundry is under control (it's never done!), I'll read a book. But, I'll put it down when the rest of the family comes home.
Balance, it's all about balance....

Priorities

To follow up with my last post about giving myself a break, I have to set priorities, remind myself of them, and honor them. Right now, I have 4 kids at home, and a wonderful husband. I am also a department chair at work, and lead three departments at church. I also think my house should be clean, my children perfect, and everything in order all of the time. WRONG! It won't happen that way. I must decide what's most important. No one else will make that decision for me, except that they will insist that they should always be #1. WRONG AGAIN! So, I have my priorities. To borrow from the Marine Corps: God, Family, Country. In my case, "Country" is everything else, behind God and my family. Many books and blogs have already been written about priorities, so I won't repeat them here. I just remember, set priorities, and live with them. Say "no" to everything that conflicts, and give myself a break about it. When you come for a visit, my house will not be spotless, in fact there are spots in my carpet and dishes in the sink. Too bad. There will be time for that later. Right now, my kids need me.

#1 Rule

As I reflect on how I survive day after day, going to work, coming home, helping 4 kids with homework, getting dinner on the table, kids cleaned up, relax a few minutes, and off to bed, only to do it all over again the next day, I have come to find one main rule. I must give myself a break. I am not perfect, and neither is anyone else. I cannot have a perfectly clean house, perfect kids, perfect meals, and be perfect at my job. At least, not all at the same time. But here's the thing, neither can anyone else. So, I have to learn to give myself a break, and decide what's most important. Give that my best effort, and everything else will fall in line, or not. And if not, that's okay. I gave it my best, and at least the one thing that I determined to be the most important for the day was improved upon. The point is, give myself credit, and a break. Don't expect perfection from me, or anyone else. There is only one perfect thing in this world, and it's not me!

Welcome!

Welcome to Working Mom's Word!

This blog has been rolling around in my head for a few weeks now. Several weeks ago a friend asked me how I do it. She was heading back to work after staying home with her two boys for the past few years. I have four kids and work full time. While I often don't feel like I have it all together, apparently it seems that I do more often than not. So, while I don't feel like an expert in any way, perhaps I do have a bit of wisdom to share. I hope you enjoy this blog, feel free to comment!