My goodness, I cannot believe it's been 5 months since I started this.  I didn't realize that I wouldn't be able to add to my blog as often as I'd originally thought.  But I'm hoping that will change!

I've discovered the wonderful Managers books by the Maxwell family, authors of the Titus Two website.  I have included a link to their website if you'd like to look at this invaluable information!  Their 2 books that I have found to be a tremendous blessing are Managers of Their Homes and Managers of Their Chores.  The Lord led us here when we began to feel His prompting in training our girls for future care of their own homes.  I was also feeling at a loss because I was unable to manage a home, homeschool and care for my 4 girls - so the managing of the home didn't survive to my standard.  I didn't know where to begin but knew somehow I needed to start.  I purchased both books at the same time and was glad I did.  It took me 3 weeks to read through both books, but I devoured the information and was reading them with every spare second I could find.

As I read thru these books, I could truly feel the excitement building inside.  This was DEFINITELY what I had been looking for.  I was also grateful that I had read them together because it allowed me the benefit of planning my daily schedule AND planning our chore schedules together, so that I didn't plan one and find that I hadn't allowed adequate time in an area.

The other blessing?  FREEDOM!  What freedom I have discovered in having a schedule!  Sounds backwards, doesn't it?  But it is liberating - truly liberating!  My girls love it too - and my dear husband knows what we are doing and when.  Yes, I am flexible with it and don't get frazzled when we get off track, but the days that we are able to be on track, I can take my scheduled 45 minutes of "me" time and read the book of my choice, GUILT FREE!  And it re-energizes me to take on the rest of my day.  Now I can see many reasons why the Lord was prompting me and led me here.  He has, once again, blessed me tremendously and how I praise Him for it!

I love the chorepacks so much that I created one for me in addition to my 3 oldest daughters.  And they do them without complaining.  It is wonderful.  My husband even asked me to create one for him!

If you are looking for some way to incorporate a schedule and your chores, get your kids on board without fighting you and making it SO easy for you, then I suggest you check out these books.  No, I don't get any kickbacks from the Maxwells - although I'd jump at the chance to do a commercial for them!    That's how much I believe in these books!  There wouldn't be any false enthusiasm coming from me - it would all be genuine.

I even have scheduled computer time, which is something I needed.  My schedule has allowed me to add in the freedom of doing the things I enjoy, in moderation.  I am hopeful that with scheduled time, I can get to this area more often; making my posts not quite so long.   I need to change our chorepacks a bit and our schedule because the baby, now 10 months, has decided to change her nap schedule.  But, that is okay.  I am actually looking forward to taking on the task rather than dreading it because I know it will only help us.  And doing our chores is easy because the time to do them is scheduled.

I am jealous that others are winding down their school year and we are still going strong, but I must remember that we chose to school year-round because it provides our family with the most flexibility that we have discovered we really need.  My husband's work schedule can change every 3 months and in order to be able to keep up with school and then take time off around his schedule, we need to school year-round.  It really does work best for us, and we do take extended time off, just not along with everyone else.  I need to keep that in mind.