The holidays are quickly approaching! I know that some of you don't think so, but they really are. And it is time, once again, to start the Holiday Grand Plan (HGP).

In case you are not familiar with the Holiday Grand Plan, it is a plan to thoroughly clean your house AND get ready for the holidays, all at the same time, in nice little steps. Since my house is small and I don't have as many rooms as others do, I'll get extra weeks to work on the rooms I do have.

This week is List Week and Clean the Front Porch.  Since I have a very tiny and uncluttered front porch, it will be easy for me to do this one. AND that is a very good thing because it is a very busy week.

• First, we had unexpected company, which is turning out to be a humongous blessing.
  
• Second, yesterday was Labor Day, making it a short week.
  
• Third, today was grocery/errand day, meaning we were not home for the majority of it. (My Aunt and Uncle were visiting my parents and they are leaving today, so we went by to say good-bye before they left. It was so good to see them. I only wish I'd take some pictures—this seems to be something I continually say—I'm going to have to work on this.)
• Fourth, my daughter is having a tea party on Thursday, so tomorrow will be a major preparations day and Thursday will be FUN!!!
  

• Finally, Friday is our Back-to-School Picnic with our homeschool support group. Unfortunately, we will have to drive for about an hour and a half to get there but I'm sure it will be worth it. Tiffany is looking forward to swimming at the picnic.

So, as you can see, it is going to be one very busy but very fun week!

Here is the link for the Holiday Grand Plan. It is great because occasionally they even tell you to make a double batch of something you are cooking for dinner and freeze it, to eat during the busiest weeks of the holidays. But, just like any curriculum, do not make it your master. Use it as a tool, to help you get organized but remain flexible and at peace, not thinking you absolutely HAVE to do everything listed or when listed. Take a few days to look it over and see where you can change things around, for your circumstances—like, I don't have 2 living areas so I get to use both of those weeks on my ONE living area. It is a great TOOL!!!!

I'd love to hear, if you end up doing this too. It is neat because I mentioned it to my sister about a month ago and she put it on her calendar to start this week too!

So, this week I am thinking about my front porch and trying to consider how to make it inviting. I will probably look into getting some kind of fall leavy garland or something for the railing and a nice mat in front of the door. Maybe hang my wreath outside, it is a big grapevine wreath but I think I need to spruce it up a bit. I will sweep the porch, clean the glass door, and sweep the side of the house to ensure no webs are dangling. The only other thing I can think of, is to find a place to store the new boots the kids got a few months ago. They are all laying on the front porch, neatly, but there all the same.

The other thing to do is start making all those lists!!!! Looks like I'll end up doing that on Saturday, the way my week is shaping up. OR I just may have to do it next week. BUT I could do it Thursday evening. We'll see! Remember, the HGP is a TOOL not a task master.

Have a great week!
Michele ºÜº