Messy

Yesterday I helped hubby clean up the garage after he finished a project. There was sawdust everywhere! But it was cleaned up in no time, and the cars moved back in. It got me to thinking, when we're in the middle of a project, working on something, things get messy. Materials spread out everywhere, dust covering the everything, just messy. But, that happens while you're in the middle of making something special. Generally, the mess doesn't get really cleaned up until the project is finished.
My family is just like that. We have 4 kids. They are messy. We are messy. Our house is messy.  But, we're in the middle of making something special. We're right in the middle of raising our kids, focusing on helping them to be the best they can be.
So, when you come for a visit our house will be messy. Our kids will be messy. That's us. We're in the middle of a project. Working hard to make something great. So, excuse the dust, the dishes on the counter, the clothes on the floor. We're busy right now. Besides, I'd rather be busy in the middle of a messy project than to have the project finished and out of my hands. That will come soon enough. 

Spiritual Service

As I look over my lived-in, messy house, dreading getting up to clean up, I came across this in a book, "Service without spirituality is exhausting and hopeless. But in the same respect, spirituality without service is barren and selfish. We need to unite the two and do it all 'as unto the Lord.'"
What a powerful statement. I have just wrapped up a week of work, proceeded by a week of work and VBS, proceeded by ending the school year, proceeded by leading our youth at church thorough a Leadership program, etc, etc, etc.
While it all started out with spirituality leading me to do these things, sometimes that part of it gets lost in the hast to make sure it all gets done well. But, as Brother Lawrence, a seventeenth century monk discovered, even kitchen work can be spiritual. He joined a monastery in hopes of spending his days in prayer and mediation. Instead, he was assigned to the kitchen, cooking and cleaning. But, he eventually discovered that when he focused on the love of God, and used His grace to do his work, he grew closer to God even while mopping the floors and peeling potatoes. *
So, my challenge for you and me today is this: instead of looking at household chores and daily work as undesirable tasks, look at them as opportunities to grow closer to God, and to help those around you feel God's love through your positive attitude. We're not perfect, we won't do it perfectly, but a little better today than yesterday is a step in the right direction!

*Quote and story borrowed from Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, by Weaver, Joanna, Waterbrook Press, 2000.
I highly recommend this book, keep reading through it, the beginning is hard to hear, but the message unfolds beautifully!

Another Job Chart

My kids are getting old enough that they want to earn money, but not old enough to have "real" jobs. We don't give them an allowance, just never got around to making it a regular part of our routine. Besides, we never have cash on hand. We use our Debit card most of the time. So, I did some thinking. Right now, as kids 12 and under, their job is learning how to live. How to be responsible, preparing for adulthood. I get paid to do my job, so why shouldn't they?  So, while I've gone back and forth about household jobs, I've now decided that I'm okay with paying them for doing jobs around the house. So, being the visual person that I am, I made a chart:

When they have completed a job, I go back and check it, then give them credit for it. In the beginning it requires some teaching. My 8 year old wanted some money, so he chose cleaning the bathroom, a higher value chore. I have a list of how to clean it, but had to go back and show him what I meant for each area. I still gave him full credit since he was learning, but next time hope he'll be able to do more without me pointing out the dirty floor. Incidentally, he was grossed out by the pee that he had never before noticed on the floor. Perhaps he'll be more careful! 

The other piece of this is that I still don't have cash. So, I have a notebook that I use to record their jobs and income/expenses. If they need cash I'll come up with it, but for the most part, they still shop with me, so I can just debit their account as needed. I'm sure the chart will be adjusted as the summer goes, but so far, it's working!

Pet Peeve - Check Mate!

You know the scenario. It's summer, the kids are playing around, inside, outside, all over the house. They run to the kitchen, grab a cup, fill it with icy cold water, take one little sip, set the cup down, and run off. The process is repeated all day long, each time a new cup. You're left with a dishwasher, counter, or sink full of "dirty" cups. And, your cups all look the same, so no one will claim any cup, or reuse it. One of my big pet peeves of summer time.
One year I bought cheap cups and wrote the kids names on them with a paint pen. Sounded good, but if their cup wasn't clean, they would still grab another one, and I'd end up frustrated.
This year, I have a new plan. My kids have those stretchy bracelets all over the house. Those thick ones with logos engraved in them. So... I collected one for each kid, flipped it inside out, and wrote their name on it. The band is small enough to fit on our small cups, but stretchy enough to fit on larger cups as well. So, now, before they fill a cup, they grab their band, slip it on, and the cup is theirs for the day. Problem solved!

Now each kid can claim their own cup for the day, even mom. And, if the band is left on the cup and it goes through the dishwasher, no biggie. It's washable!