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Jul. 8, 2008
The Homekeeper's Woes - If Only I Could Keep This House Clean for 20 Minutes!
Do you ever wish that you could keep something in your house clean for more than 2 minutes?
Do you ever wonder why the kids can't keep their sticky hands off of the walls or their muddy shoes off of your newly mopped floor?
Are you ever incredulous as to why your husband has to rifle through the neatly organized sock drawer looking for a pair of socks that were on top to begin with?
I know that we have all thought these thoughts, as homekeepers, at least twice every day! I've been there myself many times. However, how can we think like that if we realize what we have and what rewards we are reaping in the process of this entire homekeeping experience? Think of Proverbs 14:4 "Where no oxen are, the manger is clean, But much revenue comes by the strength of the ox."
Labor has its rough, unpleasant side, yet it ends in profit. So also, the life of contemplation may seem purer, "cleaner "than that of action. The outer business of the world brings its cares and disturbances, but also "much increase." There will be a sure reward of that activity in good works for him who goes, as with "the strength of the ox," to the task to which God calls him.
(from Barnes' Notes)
What if we had no "oxen"? Yes, our homes would be neat and clean. We'd be able to sit down with our cups of coffee or tea and read a good book for hours each day. The floor would only need to be mopped once a month. And, come to think of it, sock drawers would never again have to be organized because we would always keep them the way we had so meticulously arranged!
What if the Lord had not given us a husband or children? What would our lives be like anyway? They would certainly be much different. Would you really trade all that for a clean floor, clean walls and a bit of simple organization? I wouldn't dream of it!
I know that someday I will wake up to find that God has closed my womb. My children will have grown up and gone to raise their own families. Yes, my house will be clean and tidy. Yes, I can take a coffee break any time I choose. Maybe I'll still be taking care of my husband and meeting his needs in the area of keeping our home, but maybe he will have gone to Glory ahead of me
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We never know what the future holds. We need to appreciate the tasks set before us NOW by God! We need to take pride in our God-given roles of wife and mother! When we get discouraged, we really need to focus on what life would be like without our precious children and husband. I doubt that any of us would truly be willing to sacrifice all that we have for a little relaxation and ease. Think of our reward when we have raised Godly children for Jesus and helped our husband, as God had called us to do! How great is our reward!
Remember...."Where no oxen are, the manger is clean, But much revenue comes by the strength of the ox." Proverbs 14:4
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Jul. 5, 2008
The Metzger's Homemade Salsa & Independence Day Photos 2008!
Jul. 3, 2008
What's Your Homeschool Schedule with 8 Kiddos? How do you do it?
The most-asked question our larger-than-average family gets is this: "How do you handle all those kids AND homeschool?" Well, to be completely honest, we probably get the "How many kids do you plan on having anyway?" one even more often, but you'll have to ask God for the answer to that one. :) I, however, will attempt to explain how we do all that we do with soon-to-be 8 kids, all while keeping the peace and order in our humble abode! So, here we go!
Mark and I have 7 kids (#8 on the way) ages: 16, 8, 7, 6, 3 1/2, 2 1/2, and 8 mos. Below is our usual schedule, but with a baby, toddlers and life in general this can all change at a moments notice. Overall, I like having a schedule so that the kids know what to expect and when, but I do NOT let it rule me. It's just a guide. It helps tremendously that we school year-round! It allows for extended holiday breaks and breaks throughout the year when I feel "burnout" coming. :) I am also a firm believer that just because a schedule works well for one family it might not work well for another, so keep that in mind when trying to create one of your own!
Our Schedule
7:00 - wake-up, make bed, tidy up rooms, put away night clothes and eat
7:45 - kitchen chores (95% done by children) and teeth brushed
8:00 - seatwork (kids sit at kitchen table and do math/language/typing)
9:00 - older kids teach younger ones preschool (it is really neat to have the older ones learn to teach their siblings...it develops their abilities in so many ways!)
9:30 or 10:00 - finish seatwork
Whenever seatwork is done - Mystery of History, Bible, Science (to see curricula it's on the right hand side of my blog) and Ellie naps
12:00 or 12:30 - Lunch and wake Ellie
After lunch - outside play time/educational games/reading/educational DVD's or YouTube unit studies (this varies according to my whim...ha)
2:30 - Julia and Ellie (2 1/2 and 8 months) nap
4:00 - Kids are inside and doing their afternoon chores
5:00 - Get ready for Daddy's homecoming (vacuum, set table, ready dinner, etc.) and wake Julia and Ellie
Dinner
Kitchen Cleanup by kids while Mark and I discuss our days (this is GREAT therapy for Mommy)
Nighttime routine is here, although we have added family worship to this, which is directed by Daddy. He reads a few verses, asks the kids what they think it means and asks for life application of that verse. Then we sing a few songs and pray before bed. That takes about 10-15 minutes at the most and that has been a WONDERFUL addition!
When do you feel as though you've actually ACCOMPLISHED all that you need to accomplish?
I would say that I feel as though I have accomplished everything I needed to accomplish if I have homeschooled the kids, done at least 2 loads of laundry, done some everyday chores (dusting, vacuuming, counter tops, general upkeep, etc.), prepared a good meal, had the kids learn life skills of some kind, and basically "worked at home" all day. It varies so greatly what I do each day that I would say that if I felt as though I have been a worker at home, according to Titus 2. I am to be loving my husband, loving my children and being busy at home. If I've done that to the best of my ability, then I've accomplished a lot. However, it can get monotonous and it can feel as though I haven't accomplished much, BUT drudgery is part of motherhood and that's all part of God's perfect plan. See this post! The Proverbs 31 is an ideal woman, accomplishing A LOT. I don't believe that any woman could accomplish all that she did every day, and we need to keep that in mind or we'll drive ourselves crazy! BUT Proverbs 31 is a GREAT outline to use overall!
Any organizing tips or secrets?
Check out these posts:
Chores ~ How to Get Your Kids to Do them and WHY
Age Appropriate Chore List
Children's Bedroom Management
7 Ways to Leave Your Clutter
The ABCs of Order in Your Home
1. Never leave a room empty-handed. Always return something to its proper place.
2. 30 second rule....If it takes less than 30 seconds to put away, do it immediately!
3. Have pick up time before Daddy gets home and before lunch time!
4. Teach kids to do chores and to pick up as they go (30 second rule with them, as well)
Any tips on how to get the kids to clean up after themselves?
As I've mentioned time and time again, we are big on "chore training". My kids all have chores. We use this age appropriate chore list as a guide. Our kids have chores as soon as they can crawl and they will pass them on to a younger sibling when the younger sibling is ready. The younger sibling will become the "apprentice" and the older becomes the "master or teacher". The younger will watch the older do the chore between 2 and 5 times before they attempt it themselves. Then they move onto doing the chore themselves, with the older one watching and instructing PROPERLY (no bossing allowed...Mommy's listening in). After about 2-5 times of the younger doing the chore under the older's supervision and instruction, the younger will do that chore on their own. From that point on, Mommy checks up on them randomly to see if it was completed properly. If it was not, then Mommy instructs the younger on how to correct it. Of course, age is always factored in.....I don't expect my two year old to wipe the table the way I would. BUT, they should be doing it to the best of their ability.
How old should a child be when they begin having chores?
Our kids start chores as soon as they can crawl, and although it's tedious to Mommy in the beginning, I've found that it pays off BIG TIME in the long run!!!
What does God think about chores? Shouldn't kids just be kids?
Unfortunately, today's society has taught us that life should be easy, kids should be kids, take the easy way out in life, but in all reality I can't find where it says any of that in Scripture. In fact, Scripture says that LEADERS and SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE will work hard! Shouldn't we be training up the future leaders of tomorrow's familys and world?
Using the below Scriptures when teaching children about chores and hard work will mold their spirits now and train them for their futures! This is why we believe that children should regularly contribute to household maintenance.
*Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and never succeed. Proverbs 12:24
*He who works his land will have abundant food, but he who chases fantasies lacks judgment. Proverbs 12:11
*All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. Proverbs 14:23
*Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:22-24
What are the consequences for not completing chores?
IF chores are not completed with a good attitude and without being asked/reminded, they will either have reading/play time deducted, be given extra chores, sent to time out, or in extreme cases - spanked (for direct disobedience/continued poor attitude). This system has worked really well and, honestly, we rarely have an issue with attitudes or chore completion. They know that Daddy and I mean business. They also are used to having chores, because they start doing chores as soon as they can walk. In fact, the older ones are so used to doing their chores and do them with a proper attitude that the younger ones CAN'T WAIT to go into an "apprenticeship" under the older ones to learn the chores! Now, yes, chores get repetitious, but they do get done with correct attitudes and without being told (the majority of the time, anyway - no one's perfect).
I hope this was of some help and an encouragement to you! May you all be WORKERS AT HOME and follow God and His Word in all you do!
Lisa Metzger
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Jul. 3, 2008
Master World Geography in 7 Months! FREE! This is AWESOME!
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Jul. 2, 2008
The Star of Buffaloham!
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Trey is too cute! Watch the video as he tells us of the star the wisemen followed....The Star of Buffaloham!
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Jul. 2, 2008
Discovery Place Science Museum Photos!
Jul. 1, 2008
Homeschool Independence Day Activities!
Jun. 30, 2008
Trey Christian Metzger Graduates Heritage Christian Academy's Kindergarten Program!
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Trey Graduates Kindergarten
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Yeah! We are so proud! He finished Preschool and Kindergarten in a little over a year, AND he finished Kindergarten in just 6 months time! WOW! We love you and are so proud, Trey! ~ Daddy, Mommy and all the Siblings!
- Lisa
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Jun. 30, 2008
Tony Perkins Asks Barack Obama: When Does Life Begin?
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Amen and Amen! Obama is 100% pro-choice / pro-death and should NOT be our next president! He doesn't want to impose his supposed "pro-life views" on anyone else because it's deemed religious in nature. What about murder in general? Isn't that "religious" (remember the Ten Commandments)? Aren't you imposing your views on another when you think that murder is wrong? It is the same with the little babies in the womb! There's no difference at all between it being against the law when murdering your neighbor or when murdering a child in their mother's womb! You're always imposing your views, morals and values on a murderer when you tell him/her that she can't kill someone. I just don't understand the logic here...that's because there is none. Logic is absent when choice is convenient!
Lisa
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Jun. 29, 2008
Annalise's Tea Party Video!
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