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!