Posted in Organizational Planning

Starting tomorrow I have three whole weeks - 21 days before I start summer school.  I am taking it upon myself to get back to some old habits that were productive and some new habits that will help me get out the clutter and overwhelming junk from my life.  I know you have heard it all before but with school it is always a mess by the end of a semester due to neglect and lack of time.  I am making a plan even as I write this to...

*   I need to get back to exercise and get these last 12 pounds OFF!!!  Swimsuit season is just around the corner - ICK!!!
*   My laundry is out of control
*   The toys are out of control
*   My desk is out of control
*   My scholarship stuff has to be done THIS WEEK
*   I have an outline to turn in to chef before Friday and I have to make a trip to school to pick up all my semester stuff
*   My home is overrun with clutter and I am overwhelmed every day of my life with the junk! 

Why does it come back so quickly? 

Starting tonight...
*   Going to bed before 10:00pm so I can be up at dark 30 for morning exercise
*   Making the ultimate to do list for the 1st week.
*   Laying out all clothes that will be worn tomorrow
*   Folding and putting away all clothes that are currently sitting in laundry baskets in my bedroom clean
*   Making the quick clean list for getting to the bathrooms, the floors and the kitchen so I feel like I have accomplished something by the end of tomorrow.
*   Menu plan for the week so I can get back to good eating habits - I have been skipping meals and not getting water over the past two weeks and I feel miserable

For tomorrow
*   Keeping the daily Bible, journaling and reading that I started in January - I have been good with doing this and will continue it.
*   Early morning exercise
*   Shower and dressed to shoes
*   Eat a GREAT FOR ME breakfast
*   Chores for the morning
*   Eat a GREAT FOR ME lunch
*   Afternoon chores, reading and tea time
*   Cook and eat a GREAT FOR THE FAMILY dinner
*   Get that kitchen SPOTLESS before bed
*   Lay out clothes for the next day
*   Make a to do list for Tuesday
*   Get to bed before 10:00pm

Do it all over again on Tuesday and make changes as needed along the way.  Get ready for some TACKLING IT IN MAY posts...

Posted in Organizational Planning

MONDAY

FlyLady sets her timer for 10 minutes to work on each of 7 ways to bless your home:

Vacuum
Dust
Mop
Polish Mirrors and Doors
Purge magazines
Change Sheets
Empty all trash

Since I did vacuuming, sweeping and mopping on Saturday I am adding clean bathrooms today, too.

Posted in Organizational Planning

Some days will be full and some days will be short. Today is a short day...

I have a full afternoon and evening with Restaurant Night at school.  We are doing the usual with schooling and lunch and naps and everything, too.  I am sharing some different bread recipes over on my food blog, too.  It is National Bread Month and that is what I do... make bread.  So, that is what I am sharing mostly this month on the foodie blog.

WORKS-FOR-ME-WEDNESDAY

A bit about Mommy Conferences

We have moved our conferences to Sunday nights and here is what I am doing with the kids...
*   They have to bring me all their work (which was checked on Fridays quickly) from the last week
*   and all their textbooks in their crate.
*   We take a look at everything they completed and mark their chart for the week, punch holes in it and put it into the notebook under their name as completed work records
*   I, then, make up another worksheet for the week and plug in the assignments we are going to be doing for the week and then they can put their things away
*   I print the schedule and we work off that for the coming week.
*   We put everything on there including piano and instrument practices and extra-curricular stuff like scouting and gymnastics.

An example would be...

Emmy completes lessons 51-55 for last week in Math so we check that off and make sure she has made corrections on anything she missed on each page and note if she needs extra practice on something.  Then I write in lessons 56-60 for the next week's schedule and she is ready to go in Math.  We do this for each subject so we have a record of all they have completed for our lesson plan book and I spend time with each child to make sure they are getting what they need. 

Does it always work that we finish the whole schedule?  Not always, but we just make corrections for the next week if we need to keep working on something. 

It works for us...

For more on my Mommy Conferences...
The Mommy Conference - pt.1
Mommy Conferences - pt.2

Posted in Organizational Planning

As October is nearing my thoughts are turning to the coming holiday season.  We don't do Halloween (we study the Reformation and Martin Luther instead) so I am already contemplating Thanksgiving and Advent and food and music and, and, and...

So, here are some links that might help with the planning for the season. 

Menus4Mom Holiday Planning List

Organized Christmas

Organizing Christmas

I will be doing more on Thanksgiving and Advent as we get closer but these are great sites to get us started in making a less hectic and stressful time this year for our families and our selves.

Posted in Organizational Planning

...brought to you by 5MinutesforMom.com...

I have tons of things I could be cleaning today  but I really need to sew up the last two pairs of pants for school.  I finally bought the fabric for them last week and got it washed so now it is time to cut it all out and get it sewn together.  I will start on those this afternoon and see where I get with it.  I can usually sew up a pair in about two hours from laying out the pattern, cutting, sewing and finishing to wear.  We shall see...

Here is the fabric and the pattern




Stay tuned for the finished product...

UPDATED WITH FINISHED PAIR OF PANTS...



Note that chef pants are quite baggy and I still may need to take them up in the length a smidge.  I am a shorty!

Posted in Organizational Planning

I will make a confession right now.  I do NOT like to shop.  Oh, it's not the buying things or the new stuff.  I like that part.  The part I hate is schlepping four kids around to shop and putting up with the constant correcting and telling them not to touch or to get out of the clothes racks and all that jazz.  I must admit they are getting better but we do it as infrequently as we possibly have to. 

That being said, I have a TON of things I have been waiting on to do because of payday.  We have sufficient funds and I must get these things done now.  That would include a trip to the community college to register kids for fall gymnastics, a trip to a commercial kitchen place to buy school supplies, a trip to the fabric store for more pants fabrics, a trip to Sam's for some essential groceries, a run to the post office to get some packages mailed off and a trip to a local grocery store for roasted chilis.  The lists have been made, the car has been fixed and gassed up and today we are tackling the errands!!!

Stay tuned for some pictures of the gathered wares...

Posted in Organizational Planning

Works for Me Wednesday

We recently returned from a camping trip.  I had been struggling for storage in our little trailer and got a bit overwhelmed in taking stuff to cook on the road.  I found these little Glad containers at the local Walmart and filled them with all the spices and baking essentials I needed to cook for a week in the trailer.  I just filled them and labeled them and put them into the little drawer just below our trailer refrigerator.  They traveled without spilling.  They were easy to keep track of.  They did not take up tons of space.  They were wide enough to get my measuring spoons into so there were no mishaps.  Since we have been home I have used some to send in lunches with Dan with things like parmesan cheese and salad dressing for his lunch.  I need to see what else will travel in these great little containers. This was totally a workable idea for us...

Here is the picture of the spices ready for travel...

Posted in Organizational Planning

Good morning...

We start our conferences today.  Here is a rough idea of what will happen...

*   We are a Charlotte Mason style school and here is a link to a curriculum guide we try to follow each year from Simply Charlotte Mason.com.  We use our own texts and not their's but we do follow the schedule pretty closely.  We will start here and decide the schooling schedule for each day for each child.  Each child takes a different amount of time to get done with their school each day.  We also take time to do morning Bible reading and chores before we get started so we start around 9:00am.

*   Each child has to bring me 10 books they want to read during the year.  I add my own selections to that but they, at least, get to read what they want from time to time.  I am talking chapter books here.  Picture books are another story.  We read from those every day around here.  We will keep a record of what each child has read, both Bible and books. 

*   We expect our children to work around the house to be team players.  Here are a few places you can go to find age appropriate chores for your children.  We are making a list for each child as we do our conferences.

 - About.com Housekeeping
 - Family First Age Appropriate Chores
 - Printable Checklists
 - Stages of Responsibility

*   We are gathering calendars from all the organizations we are involved with throughout the semester and making a master calendar. 

*   We are also setting up a Center for Information called "The Brain" and a "Launch Pad" so we can have everything accessible and there will not be confusion and lack of knowledge on what everyone is doing, where phone numbers are and other important information. 

*   Finally, a list of all that still needs to be done and purchased to get started.  We are officially starting school on Monday when I go back to school.  We will have a tight schedule but with everyone pitching in and taking responsibility and with a centralized location for information I am hoping and praying that it will run pretty smoothly.  We will be learning and correcting as we go but this is a start...

Our school hours are from 9:00am to 3:00pm with snacks, naps and lunch in-between.  JoNathan will actually have the afternoon schedule but the smaller children will be done by noon each day unless they procrastinate.  ;)

My job is to supervise, instruct and plan.  I am the Family Manager.  That includes the household as much as the schooling.  I was inspired recently by Kathy Firkins at a women's conference and this is our year to get it all together.  I have been thoroughly convicted over all of this - the home, the schooling, my weight, my time, etc...  I want to teach my children how to run a home and family before they leave home someday.  They need skills!!!  In our home, everything is school.  We are always learning and growing and changing.  This year is no different.  :)

Business hours???  Not sure how I am going to work this but I am thinking I can bake on Fridays for customers and have them pick up or deliver on Saturday mornings.  I need to set up business files and clear a space to work and build menus and customer lists.  I am opening myself up to personal chefing and home meal replacement services if God calls me to that. 

I still have quilting and sewing that need to be done and crocheting when I have time to sit and watch a movie with the family.  That seems to be the best time for me to crochet.  I am praying over it all...

As for television... we have strayed abit this past week and I have watched the finale of Hell's Kitchen, Dan watched a football game and I let the kids watch a Jimmy Neutron they had recorded from their Aunt Vera.  We are off for the remainder of the week.  We are watching the Netflix as they come and we borrowed the remainder of the Horatio Hornblower Adventures from Blestwithsons.  We are NOT watching television just some selected movies for the remainder of the month. 

I noticed when I watched the Hell's Kitchen (recorded it to watch later) the business really bothered me when the commercials came on.  I could not take the noise and the chaos of it all.  Just three weeks of not watching and I have gotten used to the natural noises of my home (the children playing and singing, music from their practice times and reading aloud and conversations with family).  I realized that the radio bothers me too and I find myself turning it all off more often.  This has been good for us!!!  I don't think we will be turning it back on much anymore...

Posted in Organizational Planning

Since our oldest has been in Boy Scouts we have discovered something called "the Scout Master Conference".  I have been pondering this idea for some time and have decided that the idea is something that might work in our home.  With four children I need to have some one on one time with each child each week and coming up with a "Mommy Conference" time is just the right prescription.  Over the next three days I will be having a time where I sit with each child and

*   Go through their school books to place them in their crates for daily use
*   Decide what chores they can do and develop their own personal chart for each day
*   Decide what chores will be shared and rotated
*   Decide what their responsibilities will be on the nights that I am in school to help Daddy out.
*   Calendar all their activities and extra curricular events
*   Make a booklist that each child will be responsible for the month of September and the remainder of August
*   Schedule daily music practices and scripture memory time
*   Decide what their Bible reading will be for each day.  (Emmy is still in John and Davy is reading a Toddler Bible aloud to me each morning.)
*   We will also discuss bedtimes and rising times as well as play and exercise times for the week. 

JoNathan will be first tomorrow
Emmy on Thursday
Davy on Friday

It will be an ongoing thing and we will try to do one every week and a big "Family Conference" time as often as we need or once a month.

What do ya think???  If it works for us then it will be my WFMW at some point with more details...  ;)

Posted in Organizational Planning

    I LOVE this time of year. It is another new beginnings place for me.  I get to start a new school year and redo schedules.  It is a chance to refocus.  The summer always brings a bit of chaos and disarray and this summer has not been different.  So, here we go with the new! 

We are buying a few new clothes for the kiddos.  It is not as imperative because they do not have to dress formally or try to impress other children with their clothes.  I remember those days of getting the "right" outfit for the first day so you looked good.  I am so glad we do not go through that each year. 

We get to buy new supplies, make new schedules, build new menu plans, add new activities or resume ones left behind from last year.  We are NOT doing AWANA this year.  It served it's purpose for us for awhile but the church we were attending has really let their program go downhill.  We decided to drop it last Christmas and have been doing study and scripture memory with the children at home.  It is working for us...  It also frees us up to be more active in our own little church community and we need to do that. 

We get to read new books and crack new textbooks open.  We get to write in new handwriting books and use new crayons and glue.  Can you smell the new???  Pretty soon the air will have a bit of crispness to it and the landscape will be changing.  I LOVE AUTUMN!!!

Anyway, the new is upon us and it is like a breath of fresh air.  It is like starting over...  I have begun my morning routine with getting up early this morning for a walk and Bible reading before I had to make breakfast and clean up.  I sat and listened to Emmy read from the book of John this morning before the boys were up and making noise.  Davy did not get his done today but the schedule is up and they are going to know what is expected each day.  It will take a bit of getting used to because we are adding a structured chore chart this year.  That will be new and I can stop telling them what to do all day - hopefully, very soon.  They can just know what to do with their assigned jobs for the week. 

I have also lost four pounds and am starting on the Sonoma Diet.  It will be a nice structured program that will keep me on track.  It is basically what I have been doing already only with a plan and I won't have to think so hard every day to know what I am eating.  My MIL is on it with me.  We are still posting and encouraging one another over at the One Weigh blog for anyone interested. 

I start classes next Monday and am still sewing on my uniform as I have time.  I have my spiral and pens ready and will buy books after the first day of class, probably.  I may check to see if they have them at the end of the week to have them early but we will see. 

The house is slowly getting better and we are working on the schoolroom all this week.  I have given myself a deadline so I won't procrastinate so much. 

We start with piano lessons in a few minutes.  Davy is starting in Tiger Cubs tomorrow.  Gymnastics picks back up in September.  Dan has his first full day of students today.  I made a date with my quilting friend for Fridays so we can get back on track with our projects.  It is all in full swing. 

I LOVE A CLEAN SLATE!!!

My friend Dana posted on this, too.  She beat me to it... LOL  I swear, I have a twin in Florida!!!

Posted in Organizational Planning

 I am armpit deep in schedules today.  I have everything written into my calendar that I can find a schedule for and am now going through the Manager of Their Homes and Managers of Their Chores books to put some structure back into our lives.  I have cleaned in my bedroom and done laundry today, too.  More serious cleaning is on the way and I am almost done with my Tackle-It-Tuesday project.  Got a new start post for Monday and the menu planning is next...

Stay tuned and have an awesome weekend...

See ya on Monday!

Posted in Organizational Planning

    Several things are happening in our home and if you are an avid reader here you probably know what is going on but I just thought I would pop in and report on a few things.  So here goes...

No Television

We are currently fasting from TV for the month of August.  Nancy Leigh DeMoss is hosting this event at her site.  We have had the television off for 13 days (we started July 29th when we left for vacation).  I must admit that we were not close to a television (or shower or indoor toilets) for the first week but that was not a problem for us.  We spent the evenings roasting marshmallows, making S'Mores and playing games.  We also went to bed early while we were in the mountains.  I was wiped out by the time 9:00pm rolled around. 

Since we have been home it has not been a huge challenge to keep it off, either.  I have only had to remind the children one time not to turn it on.  They usually watched Clifford while I got a shower first thing in the morning but I have not been relying on the television to babysit them for that half hour while I get ready.  Quite honestly, it has NOT been a problem.  JoNathan has been watching the baby and the other two start their chores and piano and it works. 

I have only caved one time and that was to watch *gulp* ... Hell's Kitchen.  Ok, it is a cooking show - a weakness, I admit.  The potty mouth garbage drives me crazy but I like the cooking aspect.  I recorded it and watched it after the kids went to bed.  I am going to do the same with the season finale next Monday.  Not the best show but I like to watch the process of working and running that kitchen that I have not gotten from other shows.  We are also recording the Mystery shows on PBS but that is it.  No football, no Food Network, no PBS kids or cooking shows, no NOTHING!!!  I really only miss my Food Network and PBS cooking shows. 

When it comes to season premieres I am thinking there is not much we will be watching this year.  They keep taking all the shows I like away... ;) 

Things that have changed???  The kids play better together.  They are not always asking for videos.  They have rediscovered their toys like Legos, K-Nex, dolls, blocks, playing outside, making messes all over the house with those toys, etc...  They enjoy more games and talk time.  We have been listening to the Focus on the Family Dramatizations of the Chronicles of Narnia.  We just finished The Silver Chair and are starting the Horse and His Boy tomorrow night.  They sit and listen for nearly an hour a night!  It is AMAZING!!!  Life is better without all the television.  Now, I need to cut the radio and computer off and see what happens.  Now, if I could just get to bed as early at home as we did at camp them I would have tons of quiet and exercise time first thing in the morning.  I am working on it...

I am also reading a book called Better Off:  Flipping the Switch on Technology by Eric Bende.  It is very telling about how technology handicaps us and hinders creativity among a bazillion other things.  I am really enjoying that book!

Boy Scouting

Tonight is the "After Camp Dinner" where the boys get their badges and awards.  JoNathan's troop won best troop and he earned several badges and things so we are cooking and taking food for the dinner to enjoy the rewards of JoNathan's hard work.  We are so proud of him.  (most of the time - ;) ) 

Davy starts Tiger Cubs pretty soon and he is getting very very VERY excited about that.  Now, if we can only get him to wear his socks he will make a good Scout!  LOL

The Losing Weight Thing

I am doing good.  I have stayed with my eating plan.  I am not exercising very much yet.  I still feel so tired every day.  I am not sure if Vegetarian is the thing for me.  I find myself needing an extra protein kick every day.  I may have to add meat back in at lunch or dinner.  I am still eating eggs, cheese, beans and nuts and seeds.  Maybe I need to up those.  I am completely off milk except for small amounts of cheese and yogurt.  The yogurt does not seem to make my stomach upset like milk, cheese and ice cream do.  I think it is the fermenting process that helps.  I am eating goat's milk yogurt instead of cow's milk, too.  I am drinking rice milk on cereal instead of milk.  I have currently lost 3 pounds but am not noticing much difference in how I feel or how things fit yet.  I think around 10 pounds I should really see a difference.  You can keep up with my progress and 19 other ladies as we diet together at One Weigh or Another.  Come join us...

Schooling

We have almost all we need to get started.  We are doing unit studies this year along with Saxon Math, Bible study & scripture memory, Easy Grammar, Italic Handwriting, Daily reading, Journaling each day, copywork and Spelling Power.  I need to choose our chapter books and order some unit study stuff to get started and Davy needs his math books.  We are also doing scouting, piano and instrument lessons, Friday art and games and daily chores and responsibilities.  It will be a full year.

I am also starting school on August 21st and am taking two classes.  I have to take basic food preparation and sanitation and safety first.  They look like good classes and I have a great local restaurant owner for one of them.  I cannot wait!  :)

Bible study and Exercise time...

Oh, I am so off my schedule since all of our traveling.  I am currently trying to decide what I am going to be doing for the fall.  I am not going to be able to attend a formal study with other women because of my crazy and very strict schedule for the semester.  I mentioned that I need to be getting to bed earlier so I will have that study and walking time in the morning.  I will let you know what I am doing once I decide.  Something inductive I am thinking...

Other things on the agenda...

More Bible study
More books and reading
More book and music reviews
More scheduling
More schooling
More organizing
More cleaning and purging
More reading
More writing
More recipe book work
More crochet
More quilting
Some knitting skills
More ministry stuff

See, life is very full.  I promise to blog on any and all of this at some point.  I could try to put myself on a blogging schedule but you know how that has worked in the past.  NOT so good...  LOL  So, I will blog when I can.  I am considering a small computer fast for next week to get everything done.  I will let you know...

Thanks so much for reading!!! 

Blessings,

~Leann

Posted in Organizational Planning

Here is my project a bit early because I plan on being offline more tomorrow.  So, if you come to my home I am not so embarrassed by opening the door for you now.  You won't trip over anything anymore or break anything walking in.  Let's see how long it stays that way.  I am planning to move around the house this week cleaning little areas each day.  I think I will take some pics for later in the week as I go and make it a Tackle it week... 

Here is the before...







And now for the reveal...



We have a clean swept and mopped floor!!!

and...



Tomorrow, I am sewing all day...  Except for the times I will be baking bread and cooking some wonderful Halibut that my friend Patty and her hubby and son caught while they were in Alaska last week.  They froze it and brought it frozen packed back to us.  I LOVE HER!!!!!  I will share recipe and pics iffn' ya like... and some sewing pics, too.  See ya tomorrow...

Posted in Organizational Planning

JoNathan and Dan built me a new shelf for the bedroom.  There is another one coming but this is the one that I am working with first.  I had stuff scattered throughout the bedroom for all my sewing, crocheting and beading and now take a look...

The new shelf...


Being tested by all...


In place and loaded...


I may still do a bit of tweaking but it is sufficient for now.  So, what do you think?  :)

Check out more Tackle-It-Tuesday participants at 5MinutesforMom.  Thanks for reading!!!

Posted in Organizational Planning

Posted in Organizational Planning

I just got off the phone with Blestwithsons.  We were chatting about lots of stuff but the last thing we addresses was the matter of too many toys.  She will probably be doing a very literate and well thought out post on such things later but I wanted to share something I found for those interested in this topic.  I will be blogging about it more later, too.  We talked about John Rosemond - I really like him and have read several parenting books by him.  He is very practical in his approach and is featured in Better Homes and Gardens Magazine from time to time.  No matter what you think of him this is really good information...

Too Many Toys?

Family Values

A great book by him:  Six Point Plan for Raising Happy Healthy Children

another author writes in this topic...

Too Many Toys!

Our oldest went to a friend's home the other day.  The mom is another one of my personal Titus 2 friends.  She is 52 and the mother of 6.  Her youngest is JoNathan's age and her oldest is now a teacher in the public schools.  JoNathan came home from their house and raved about how they only had 5 things each and that their home was clean and easy to live in because it was NOT full of toys and stuff.  He actually asked if we could live like that.  Carlene and I visited at the swim meet on Tuesday and I mentioned it to her.  She laughed and said that it had not always been that way.  She said that her home was like our home when all the children were small but I know her and know it was neater.  She did encourage me to find a balance and let the children pick their favorites - the things they actually play with - and just get rid of the stuff that is not sentimental and box up the things they may want when they are grown.  Since that day I have been slowly coming to terms with the fact that we ALL need to have fewer toys (Dan and me included).  The rest of the summer will be spent making our home clutter free.  We are purging as I write... :)

Posted in Organizational Planning

*   I buy books
*   I buy yarn
*   I buy fabric
*   I buy kitchen gadgets
and now I
*   register for classes in CULINARY SCHOOL!!!

I officially registered for my fall classes today!!!  I am so excited.  I am taking a non-credit Italian Cooking class this summer but the degree plan starts in September.  I am a bit scared.  Can you believe at nearly 40 I am going back to school???  It has been 12 years since I was officially in school.  That is a LONG time...  Now I will be saving my bread money to pay for my classes.  I NEVER dreamed the day would come.  Once I have this Culinary Arts degree under my belt I am planning to get a certification in nutrition and then the rest will take shape.  I love it when God gives me a vision!!!  It will not be easy.  Dan and I are already working on getting the house and the kids ready for the changes and we are praying all the way...

...just sharin' 

Thanks for reading!!!

Posted in Organizational Planning

Posted in Organizational Planning

    Don't you love it when God says, "Yes, my dear child, you are on the right track and here is some reinforcement to show you."  Do you ever feel like God sends a personal message just for you?  I did...  Here is what He asked me...

Got this article in the my e-mail today...

Is all this material stuff really necessary?

I had to laugh and cry in the same moment!!!  God is so very good all the time!!!!!

Posted in Organizational Planning

    In our efforts to purge the house this week I have been going through old cassettes - you heard me, old CASSETTES.  You know the things we used to listen to from back in the 80's?  LOL  I threw a bunch out but there are a few that my children have been forced to listen to this morning as we do our work.  Nothing bad, I promise...

We put in the old Hooked on Classics original and the kids are dancing all over the house.  They love it!  What is even cooler is that JoNathan is playing NAME THAT TUNE and getting most of them right!!!  Is that not cool???  See, all those music lessons and music history tests have paid off... LOL  He can recognize Mommy's old music...*snickering*  I need to get these songs on CD now. 

I also found my old Chicago, Earth Wind and Fire and Credence Clearwater Revivial stuff, Vangelis' Chariots of Fire Soundtrack - huh?,  and even some of the old vinyl albums of stuff like the soundtrack from Grease and Andy Gibb... *ok, stop judging me* ;)  What is this???  Barbara Streisand???  trash...  Madonna??? ...also trash... don't need the material girl influence in this house...

There is also a good old fashioned collection of Christian hits from the 80's.  I have every Sandy Patty cassette she ever made - back from my "really wanta be a Christian artist" days and then there is the Imperials, Larnelle Harris, Sweet Comfort Band, Rez Band, and Petra. 

What in the world is this???  COUNTRY AND WESTERN STUFF?!?! - Kenny Rogers, Larry Gatlin, Alabama, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, ELVIS *sputtering*, Hank Williams Sr. ?!?!  Oh yeah, *takes a deep breath*  that is Dan's drawer... he can clean that one out.  ;)

I have also come across some old play clothes that I gave Emmy and some old jewelry and some toys and blankets from when I was a wee one.  I just will not be getting rid of that stuff but it does need to be stored and the playclothes will get used and worn but the kids are having such a time with them.  We are getting ready to purge books - as much as that hurts we will be giving them away.  We are keeping all the classic literature stuff and getting rid of duplicates where we find them.  I am having a hard time bringing myself to get rid of old college textbooks but I will because they are out of date for the most part and not useable if I went back into the workforce - which I am not planning until all children are on their own - and even then... ?

We are overrun with coffee cups and collectibles.  I don't think I could drink that much hot beverage in my lifetime!  I have boxes full of fabric that I need to find a goal for.  Some of the fabric is classic 70's stuff but so fun for that RETRO LOOK.  I will be taking my old maternity clothes scraps and putting them into a quilt at some point.  I made all my own maternity stuff, for the most part, and would love that quilt as a sweet reminder of those days.  I also have a box of old ties that belonged to Dan's granddad, dad and some of his old ones from younger years that would make a wonderful quilt wallhanging for an office someday. 

The sunroom is in dire need of toy purging and I am planning to get some wicker furniture once it is cleaned out and shined and polished. 

Allergies are being stirred up again by all the dusty stuff I am going through but the pills are working to keep it at bay.  Off to finish up a few boxes and some morning school...  Then it is LUNCHTIME AND PIANO LESSONS!

Later...

Posted in Organizational Planning

For January I planned on learning to crochet and I did that.  I have been working on three projects and have completed two of them.  I also planned on doing a quilt square but put it on hold to finish up a prayer shawl.  I still have to finish up the apron but am planning on working on that again tomorrow. 

 

As for reading I have had ABSOLUTELY NO FREE TIME to finish a book.  I am a slower reader and just have this thing about reading only when everything else is finished in the way of chores and housework.  That means that I have not done much reading because I am in full cleaning and clearing mode lately.  I just HAVE TO  get on top of this house.

 

I did get the books of Genesis, Exodus and started Leviticus for January and will continue on my plan to read through the Bible in 2006.  I am also still working through our study on prayer by Ken Hemphill.  It will be another 8 weeks on that I do believe. 

 

FOR FEBRUARY:

 

*   I have another shawl planned

*   two quilt squares

*   Resurrection Sunday dresses for Emmy and me

*   Do 4 book reviews (finish and write up reviews)

*   Continue through the Bible

*   Continue in Prayer study

*   Clear the surfaces month... I will be getting rid of more clutter

*   Start typing recipes into computer to get rid of all the pieces of paper laying around the kitchen

*   Praying about a home-based business and draw up a plan as God leads

*   Start planting indoors for spring garden

*   Drawing up a plan for more kitchen storage

 

So that gets me started for February.

 

We are still waiting and watching with GiGi...  I will report when I have more news.  Thanks again for your continued prayers for our family.

 

Posted in Organizational Planning

Since reading Managers of Their Homes I have come to realize that if our life is in chaos and our home is a mess I am ineffective as a teacher to my children.  We have been really pushing to get this place in order and get workable schedules for the family so that we can focus on education.  It has been so hard getting this done...  I am still struggling every day to teach in the midst of a newly made mess.  We got furniture from a relative and now we are having to rearrange the house all over again.  We have completed two full weeks of school but I already feel behind...  We must get it together this weekend!

 

The book MOTH is helping but it is so slow going.  The baby not sleeping does make it difficult to get up and get moving in the mornings but I have been faithful to get that early morning run and Bible study time.  I look at that book and wonder if the Maxwell's ever have kinks in their days like we do?  There life seems so perfect and their children always seem to do what they are supposed to do.  Like I said, the book has helped but it has also frustrated me a bit because we are unable to stay with that schedule not just every day but any day.  There has not been a day go as planned, yet.  I have also wondered about being on mission with God.  I certainly do not want to be so tied to my schedule that I am open to the leading of the Holy Spirit throughout the day.  I feel like I am falling down all the time...

 

We have been homeschooling for more than five years and that has included giving birth to two children while trying to school the older two, moving into a new home, remodeling the new home as we have money and time (still remodeling and will be for the next ten years, I am sure...) and going through some serious job struggles.  It is so hard to school with all these distractions.  Are the kids learning what they need to learn???  Are we meeting their needs???  Some days I wonder...

 

That is where I am today - just venting and wondering if anyone else ever feels this way???  *sigh*

Posted in Organizational Planning

I must say that I am not an extremely exciting and energetic person. My life may seem busy but it is full of little simple things. This year I have even slowed life down a bit. I am not tied to my cell phone or my personal planner. I do have a calendar but it has some empty spaces in it, I promise. I do not commit to a great deal of stuff outside of being a wife and mommy. The question I ask myself all the time is, "Will it matter in the bigger picture of eternity?". If the answer is no I usually let it go. In doing my schedule for this year with the Manager's of Their Homes book I have gotten down to even more basics. Now, it may seem full but there is plenty of time for cuddling on the couch and sipping tea in the afternoon (Melissa ;-) ). There is time to sew and read and garden - all things I absolutely love doing. There is now time to blog and answer e-mail (I am becoming a better friend online and off). There is even time to have a quick chat on the phone from time to time. Here is a day in the life for anyone interested in knowing...

5:15am - Up and out the door for a good morning run - I need this for a bit of sanity. Exercise makes a huge difference in my mental health as well as my physical health. It also wakes me fully so that I am ready to spend time with God.

6:15am - a bit of watering and picking a few weeds. I have a vegetable garden and lots of flowers and fruit trees that need tending but it is also therapeutic for me to do these things.

6:30am - sit down and have my study and prayer time. I do tend to pray in lots of things throughout the day but this is a concentrated time where I actually journal my prayers. Right now I am studying in Joshua and reading Bondage Breaker along with a few other books that are ongoing.

7:30am - shower and ready for the day. Kids usually start getting up around 7:00am but they know that I am reading and praying until 7:30 so they are good to get dressed, make beds and get blinds open. They do get to watch a PBS program that comes on if they have it all done by 7:30.

8:00am - breakfast

8:30am - chores, piano and trombone practices for kids. I clean up the baby and do a bit of laundry and kitchen chores.

9:00am - school officially starts and we are busy until noon most days with lots of work - this is probably the most draining and tiring part of my day because it is constant teaching, answering questions and supervising work and such.

12:00pm - lunch

12:30pm - reading time and a bit more school if needed

1:00pm - Kids down for quiet time and naps (most days anyway) and then I get to work on me time. I do some reading, writing, sewing, blogging and planning during this time each day. I get about two to three hours a day for this time and I really like that part. If I am really tired it is not a rare thing for me to just make a cup of tea and sit in my chair in the bedroom and snooze for a bit. ;-) This is what we refer to as Mommy's Sanity Time. It gives me a break from the kids and some quiet time to think and be creative on my own.

4:00pm - evening routine starts - making dinner, picking up, a bit more yardwork while the kids play outdoors, readying the house for Dan to get home, etc...

5:30pm - dinner

6:00pm - more kitchen clean up and evening family time (games, movie, or anything else we might want to do together)

7:00pm - at this point it is time to get kids ready for bed so we start the routine - a quiet story or two, pajamas, brushing teeth, and prayer time. Everyone is usually in bed by about 8:30pm.

From 8:30pm to 10:00pm - Dan and I have time for us to watch a movie, read together, spend time talking or anything else we might want to do without kids. ;-)

That is it! That is a typical day. There are always the little glitches like an unexpected urgent phone call, an errand that needs to be run, some mess has been made (like right now - Davy is covered in dirt and needs an "extra" bath). You mommies know the drill...

Something Very Exciting...

J(11) has a very soft heart for anyone who does not know Christ. He has been, as have we, praying for a family that we spend some time with that are not Christians. He felt that it was time for him to share Christ with his little friend Mitch because the boy had been asking him some questions about God and the Bible a great deal lately. The Holy Spirit orchestrated a wonderful happening!!! J(11) shared with his friend and prayed with him to accept Christ when Mitch said he wanted to become a Christian!!!!! How totally awesome!!!!!!!!!! Now, we are praying for the rest of the family to follow in this. I am so very thrilled that J(11) is listening to the Holy Spirit especially on this issue. Praise God we have a new little brother in Christ!!!!!!!!!

Posted in Organizational Planning

Boy I have been lax in posting here over the past few days.  I have so much on my mind and I am trying so hard to stay with one thing right now.  That one thing is getting my house in order - in more ways than one.  I need a clean house, an organized home, a well oiled machine.  I need for the children to share in the work that they make for me each day.  It is so great that I have a supportive husband that feels the same need at this point in our lives. 

 

I have wrestled with scheduling for years.  I recently purchased the book Managers of Their Homes by Steven and Teri Maxwell and I am really enjoying it.  It is simplistic but very practical.  I am hoping it focuses me this summer in order to have a more efficient year next year with our three school age children.  The only chapter I have taken issue with to date is the chapter on Scheduling Your Baby.  She is not obnoxious about it but does recommend scheduling even the nursing.  It is not that I believe a baby should not have a schedule but more that my own children have made their own schedule without my prodding.  They have all settled into a routine and then I build my schedule around that.  It has worked for us.

 

I am currently building my own schedule for the summer.  I am making lists of things that must be done daily, weekly and monthly.  It is time consuming but I feel very worth this effort.  We are spending this week doing some more purging and organizing of closets.  I need to know what the children have to wear and what they need.  I need to know what I can sew and what needs to be purchased.  Each day that I spend doing these things the closer I get to a more relaxed and organized mommy.  As I go to bed tonight I will be reading chapter seven - Scheduling in the Kitchen - my very favorite work area.  I will share more later as I read more. 

 

Blessings!

Posted in Organizational Planning

I have learned that:

 

* Routines are important - After some consideration, I have decided that the Flylady is correct in her assessment of daily routines. We all need them! I have built mine based on the specific needs of our family. I have a morning, afternoon and evening routine. I also concur that the evening routine is the backbone of the entire day. My day runs much more smoothly when the planning takes place the night before.

 

* Everything needs to have a place - This has been the hardest thing for me to achieve. I tend to collect and pile things and wish they had a place but alas I realized that I just had too much stuff. This required getting rid of and then making a place for everything that was left. Julie Morgenstern’s system addresses this in Organized from the Inside out.

 

* Cleaning is constant - this is something that those of who have been on diet after diet can relate to. Once you lose all that weight you want you think you can go back to eating whatever you want. Cleaning a house is often treated this way, too. You may spend an entire week cleaning the house from top to bottom only to relax and let it go again over the next month just to have to clean it again. This could all be avoided with maintenance. I find that the routines are the best way to maintain a clean home. If you just spend time each day cleaning up after yourself and teaching your children to clean up after themselves it will become habit and stay clean. You will have to eventually go through a closet to get rid of old clothes or worn out things but it will be a much easier task.

 

* Baskets and bins are essentials - I love baskets! They are great for organizing all kinds of things from crafting supplies to little Lego toys, underwear, kitchen gadgets and much more. I use them all over my house. If you can find beautiful decorative baskets they add to the beauty of your home while hiding your stuff.

 

* A great closet does wonders - It may cost a pretty penny but I totally recommend having a closet organizer help you design and build a closet unit to save space and add needed storage. This has helped us to get rid of excessive furniture in our bedrooms so there is more room for chairs and reading areas for each of us. It has also given my children more room to play in there rooms and not in the living room.

 

* Deal with the mail as soon as it comes - This has saved many hours of clearing paper clutter. I keep a trash can right by the door so that I can throw junk mail away as soon as I get it and then we have a drawer for bills, a place for catalogues, a file for letters from friends and loved ones and files for other important documents. I also have a file for food or other coupons that come by mail and we go through those every few months to get rid of expired ones. Everything goes to it’s place as soon as it comes into the house and I only handle it once except for catalogues. Catalogues are kept until a newer issue comes and then I throw the old one away. I keep catalogues for three months or until a new one comes so that I have them handy to order equipment, clothing or gifts that we need.

 

* Stop printing everything you find on the internet - This has saved me a bundle in printer ink and paper. I just save an article to the computer and read from time to time on the screen and then I can delete it or keep it depending on it’s usefulness.

 

* Kids need routines, too - My children thrive on there checklists. We are a home schooling family and we have to accomplish a certain amount of stuff a day to stay on track. Everything doesn’t always get done but the list stuff does. Each child has a list of chores and school work that has to be done each day. The children also have incentives to finish work so they can do other “fun” stuff like crafts, movies on Friday night, extra story times etc…

 

* Throw something away every day - This does not mean eggshells or wrappers and empty containers. That should be thrown out or washed out for craft projects or recycling anyway. What I mean is throw away stuff that has gathered that is not useful. Flylady calls this the 27 Fling Boogie. Go through something, a box, a drawer, a pile and throw some of the stuff away. If you do this everyday you will eventually get rid of the excess junk in your home. See www.Flylady.net for more details.

 

* Stop with all the magazines - I have a hard time with this one, too. I tend to love and collect magazines. I always feel that if I can get a year for only $10.00 or $12.00 I am getting a great deal even if I do not read the thing from cover to cover. Sometimes my sense of a great deal overtakes my sense of what I actually NEED. If you cannot stop getting them, at least clean them out once or twice a year. Some people clean them out once a week or once a month. I prefer to do this about every three months or so, when the season changes. I use baskets to store most of the ones that I keep and the rest go in the trash. I have also learned that there are a few that are my favorite and more helpful than others and if I just get those and pass the others by I save quite a bit of money each year not buying them. I rarely buy them on the newsstand. If I really love the magazine I will subscribe to it and save money that way.

 

* Christmas gifts are overrated - This is a huge pet peave for me.

 

* Do not pile stuff on surfaces - Another tough one for me. It is so tempting to just set stuff down. Find a place for everything and put it there. See above: Finding a Place for Everything.

 

* Menu planning saves a ton of time and money -

 

* Once a month freezing is even better

 

* Establish accounts for specific thing such as medical, automobile, grocery and household, etc… - This has saved us on many occasions. If you anticipate expenses you can be ready for almost anything that comes up. It is crucial to get out of debt and prepare for your future. Those little expenses that come up can really set you back if you are not prepared. Just a flat tire could devastate a budget.

 

* Everyone needs a pantry - even if you do not have space in your kitchen make room in your garage and put shelving up to store canned goods. This is essential for once a month cooking. I also recommend an extra freezer besides the one above or below your refrigerator.

 

* It’s great to work to music - I have always loved working to music. Flylady mentions this on her site, too. It really helps me to get into a rhythm and to move through chores quickly. We choose to listen to Christian music in our home. It surely makes work more enjoyable to praise and worship as I go.

 

* A timer is a great motivator - Flylady mentions this one, too. This has been a tried and true method in many homes across America. It is one way to break all the overwhelming tasks into manageable bits. It is part of eating the elephant one bite at a time.

 

* I love great smelling homes - Fragrance can add such warmth to a home. The book, Family Fragrance is such a wonderful resource. I do not know about you, but I love walking into a home that smells great. Smells can come from dinner cooking in the oven, a batch of warm chocolate chip cookies, or they can eminate from a lovely smelling candle. There are many of those jar candles on the market now from which to choose. Personally, I love spices such as cinnamon or pumpkin in the fall and flowers and fruit in the summer. It just makes a home so inviting.

 

* Decorate with what you love - My home is full of the things I love. I have a quilt that comes from my Great-great Grandmother and another for which my Grandmother made the top. I also have a collection of bells that have come from many loved sources and some “antiques” that are only valuable to me but they hold such great memories. My home and my things are not worth much to anyone else but they are full of wealth to my family. All the expensive furniture and artificial treasures on all the stores shelves do not make our home nearly as warm and inviting to us as all the things that we love surrounding us daily to remind us of our heritage and past.

 

* Think of a room in stations or centers

 

* Take time for yourself every day - This is crucial! The more you take care of yourself, the more able you are to care for those around you. This includes daily time with God in prayer and study, exercise for at least 20 minutes a day, spend time doing something you love. I personally, love to write, read, work on calligraphy projects and other projects that nurture my creativity. When you feel stressed out take a walk (when someone can watch the children for you), listen to calming music, journal your feelings and prayers. Do what makes you feel great and then you will be able to give more to your husband and children. Learn to say no to the things that do not lift you and encourage you. Be obedient to the things God tells you to do and not what the world tells you to do. Love your family and spend time growing and loving with them.

 

* Make goals and follow them - I make a master goal list at the beginning every year and take a monthly evaluation and update. I revise as needed and change or delete what no longer seems to be important.

 

* Make lists and follow them - This always helps me to focus and get more accomplished each day. I never spend time wondering what I need to do next, I just look at the list. This also helps me get all the clutter out of my head. When I write it down it doesn’t have to sit in there festering anymore.

 

* Turn the computer off and get to work

 

* Cleaning house can be therapeutic

 

* If you haven’t used it in over a year you probably won’t need it (toss it!)

 

* A clean house is good for the pocketbook

 

* A great filing system is a lifesaver

 

* Everyone runs a home differently - you have to find your own style

 

* There is no one set method for everyone for organizing and cleaning

 

* A spring cleaning and a fall cleaning is good for the soul

 

* Your home is a reflection of your inner self situation

 

* Wire hangers are horrible - get some plastic ones and organize each person with a different color

 

* Notebooks, Journals and Binders are the best tools I own

 

Journals I use:

1. Writing

2. Family Manager

3. Spiritual

4. Sewing and Crafts

5. Home schooling and Lesson Plans

 

* You do not need to have cable television to survive!

 

* Used vehicles are much more cost effective

 

* Generics are great on just about everything

 

* Read magazines and then trash them - you can always pull out the article or pages you want to keep and have a notebook for them or file them in categories (if you do not use them within a year toss them)

 

* You do not need tons of make-up (only a day look and an evening look is necessary)

 

* Pack an emergency kit for the car (blankets, first aid, water and snacks, a transistor

radio, flashlight, umbrella, etc…)

 

* Purse essentials

A pen, notepad, sunglasses, driver’s license, change and some cash, nail clippers, brush or comb, Kleenex packet, granola bar or packet of raisins, water bottle, cell phone, lipstick or chap stick, a teabag,

 

* A Calendar is a Life Saver - a calendar where everyone has a column is the greatest

 

* Keep a notepad and pen handy at all times

 

These are random and I am sure I could have written lots more but I have to go and clean house right now.  Blessings!