Spring Cleaning: Timely Tips on Tuesday

I have learned that the key to finishing any large task is tackling small chunks of it at a time. Though I am not fanatical on Spring or Fall Cleaning, I do like to do a deeper cleaning yearly.  Here is a non-comprehensive list of tasks which I try to accomplish at least once a year, either in the fall or spring (this list is from memory, so I might forget some of the jobs, and I will have to add them later):


Kitchen:
Wash the outside of my cupboards
Clean the oven
Wash the curtains
Wash the windows
Clean out the Pantry cupboard
Wash out and straighten the silverware drawer, the spice drawer, and any inside cupboards which need it.

My Spice Drawer

Living Room:
Wash the valance
Dust the woodwork
Vacuum the registers
Wash the cloth on top of the piano


Family Room:
Thoroughly dust the Computer center area, the hutch, decorations, bookshelves.
Clean out and organize the two cupboards beneath the other two bookshelves, and straighten the books.
Rearrange the furniture, and vacuum the cushions, and underneath and behind the moved furniture.
Dust the woodwork
Vacuum the registers


Bedrooms:
Wash the curtains.
Change and/or wash the bedding:  bedspreads, comforters, replace or clean pillows.
Straighten drawers underneath our bed.
Dust any cobwebs in corners or behind bedstands, etc.


Bathrooms:
Wash outer shower curtains.
Replace shower curtain liners.
Wash out and straighten the medicine cabinet.


I am nowhere near getting done with all these jobs:)  It usually takes me all spring, summer and into the fall to get them all done, and often I don't make it, but it gives me "something to shoot for," as my husband always says.

My Kitchen Pantry

Do you do Spring Cleaning? What jobs are on your list?

What I Am Doing Now

I decided to post one of those "What I Am Doing Now" posts, but with a twist.  For me, January is a month that's a mix.  First, we live in Minnesota, so it can be gray and very cold, and I used to get somewhat depressed during January, being all cooped up, and not seeing the sun.  But I have realized in recent years that January is one of two months in the year--the other is July--when I have almost nothing on my calendar, and if I don't recognize that and use the month well, I've missed a golden opportunity! 


I now look at January as though I'm sitting at the top of the roller coaster of the year.  I'm about to go down and things are going to pick up speed rapidly!!  So, in January, at the top, I try to look ahead and see into the distance, and prepare.  Having to stay at home has its advantages:  it saves a lot of money on gas! And, you can get a lot done when you stay home.  Here are some of the things I'm preparing for, and questions I'm asking myself to try to be on top of things when spring comes!

• Figure out Baby gifts--I know of about half a dozen babies being born in the next few months, so I'll be on the lookout for sales on baby clothes, both boys and girls, and stock up my gift shelf. I usually choose 12 months or older. I also love to give great children's books, which I already have on hand.
• Graduation and wedding gifts and cards--there are always quite a few of these.  I have already stocked up on wedding gifts by ordering from Mikasa's online clearance site, when they had free shipping, and I got some really nice things for great prices.  So, now for grad cards and gifts. 

Will I make cards by hand, by computer, or buy them? I do have stamps, but I recently purchased a year's membership to American Greetings, so I can make printable cards.  It's really cool, because I can edit the cards, change the font, add pictures, personalize the card, and even rewrite some of the writing inside, if I want to!  Lots of things you can print, like invitations, too.  With a box of parchment paper, and a box of greeting card sized envelopes, which I already have, I'm set.  So, I'll probably do that.
Will I give money (much easier) or find something inexpensive, but special, that will actually be cheaper and more personal than cash? I'll keep my eyes open online.

• Packing away all the Christmas decorations

(Yes, I'm still doing that--I like to leave them up, except for the tree, way into January, because I love them! and they add color to my home), I'm trying to see if there are areas that need decluttering, or maybe it's easier to see and clean an area now--like the cloth on top of the piano and the valance over the window--because I've removed everything.

• Cleaning and DeCluttering

That Kitchen Pantry cupboard needs to be cleaned out once a year--maybe now?
Clear off the top of my cupboards and clean what's up there? Nothing attractive about an inch of dust!

• Year-end Financial and Budget

Put a new checkbook register in my checkbook, and print out all the statements to have in one place.
Finish checking off in the checkbook all the checks that have cleared, and look for any discrepancies. My husband takes care of the finances, but he has me pay the bills, and carry the checkbook.  He took care of all the financial over Christmas vacation, but I just like every box checked and to have a feeling that I kind of am on top of things:)

• Make a Record of Expenditures in a Spreadsheet

Become more responsible with my spending, and start a spreadsheet to record daily spending, especially in certain areas, where discretionary spending, though within acceptable limits, could be less.
Though we studied it in school with the kids, Kelsey never had to really do her own budget herself, so I'm having her make a spreadsheet, too, to keep track of spending and probably a budget later.
My husband doesn't like to keep track of every penny in areas such as spending on clothes--I'm not a big spender in this area, so he doesn't feel he needs to--but I really think it would be good to know just how much I am spending.  This is difficult to track, because it gets lumped in with so many other purchases on the credit card, and our kids buy much, if not all, of their own clothes.  So, I made a spreadsheet with this and other categories where I think we could cut some spending, and I will try to figure it out.  Could I save money in this or any other area?

• Thinking about my spending habits

One of the things about good habits is that you don't have to keep track of what you're doing as carefully! You just do the same thing as you've been doing, and you stay within budget.  However, checking to see if I could do better is something I have a little more time to do in January.

• Hospitality

Are there people that we've promised we'd have over, and haven't yet?  Call them, and set up a time.

• Books I Meant to Read?

Are there books that I wanted to read and didn't get to?  I really like to fuel my faith at this time of the year.  It helps to stave off the depression and discouragement from the weather and lack of sun.  I picked up an old book that I'd read before and that God really used in my life a few years ago, "Echoing and ReEchoing" by Faye Huntington, and have started reading it again when I have a few minutes.  She co-authored many books with Isabella Alden ("Pansy"), whose writing I love, but this is a book she wrote by herself. 


You can get other great reading for wintery months, or summertime reading, for that matter, at the Keepers of the Faith website (it's .com, not .net, or you'll get something totally different!) and then click on books.  Check out their site for all kinds of activities, and teaching skills kits, etc., to complement your family's homeschooling.
So, that's what I'm doing now.  I hope you're not too bored by my list!


So......what do you do when the weather forces you inside for awhile?

Timely Tips on Tuesday: Homeschool Planning, Tuesday Tag-Along and Oh, yeah, It's My Birthday!

I'm posting a normal post, but will check in later after I celebrate:) to see if you were here!!  Will you give me the gift of getting to know you, by following?  Thanks so much for celebrating with me today!

Kelsey and I had the enjoyment and privilege of visiting with our friend recently, a young mom who happens to be from India.  She cooked a wonderful Indian meal for us for lunch.  What a joy to be with her and her children.  She is a Homeschooling mom and wanted me to help her with planning for her school year.

(Though I no longer Homeschool because my children have graduated, I will speak in the present tense about the tools and planning which were in place when I was Homeschooling.)

I showed her my school notebooks (one for each year), and my goal sheets for the year, and my weekly schedule, and other forms which help me:  my Master Grocery List and Menu Plan (monthly).  Though I don't rigidly follow my schedule, it is an indispensable tool for planning the school year.  Perhaps you've already begun your school year, but if you haven't thought about your goals in light of what God wants you to accomplish this year, and what character He wants to build or work on in your lives as a family and individual, then I would take a step back, and pray about that. Set some goals, and tweak your schedule, or rewrite it to reflect what the Lord wants for you this year. Plan ways to accomplish the goals you've set. (For example, if your husband wants your family to be serving others more, plan a weekly community service project, or time of ministry--see the ideas below.)  Integrate your goals into your assignments.  This is not as difficult as it sounds.  Let me show you!  If you're working on the character quality of humility, you could plan for that word to be part of your Language Arts program by looking up the meaning, writing out Bible verses relating to it (in your best penmanship), looking up synonyms for humility.  The older children could write a paper on, or read about, someone in history who exhibited this character quality, or your whole family could study someone in the Bible who was exceptionally humble.  In our Homeschool we would work on certain character traits each month and evaluate our children in those areas at the end of the month.  You see how you can integrate God's goals for your family into your school, and weekly schedule and assignments.  Then set up periodic "check points" when you'll evaluate how you're doing.  Perhaps you'll set new character goals, as we did.  Meet with each child at those times, and have them evaluate themselves on the character trait(s) they've been working on.  Give praise.  Write down the praise and progress that's been achieved.  If there are recommendations for the future, write them down as well.  Keep good records of what you've done in your school.  We made out a monthly report on what was accomplished academically, but I kept a daily notebook, with assignments for each child, as well.  Write a list of the books you've read, adding to it whenever you take books out from the library, or listen to a book on tape, or read as a family.  Record the places you've been, the pages in the textbook completed, the skills learned or practiced, etc.  You'll be amazed at how much you've accomplished!  No matter how you do it, just make sure to record your daily work--you will be greatly encouraged when you look back at all you've done!

I told her to do these things (I am adding some, so if  you're reading this, Vijaya, here's more to think about!):

• Pray (First and foremost, pray and ask the Lord what He wants for your year!)
• Set goals for each child in the following areas:

1. Spiritual:  For example: Read through the Bible in a year; or, memorize Psalm 23; or, memorize specific salvation verses to use in witnessing ("Romans Road" verses).
2. Academic (list each subject area, and write a goal, even if it's just to "complete the book")
3. Skills (these might be anything from learning to tie your shoe to learning to type 45 wpm with 1 error, to learning to keep your room clean on a regular basis.  Make the goals specific, and measurable.  "Be able to type 45 wpm with only 1 error" is measurable, while "learn to type faster" is not.)
4. Community Service (helping in your community or ministering: delivering Meals on Wheels, helping distribute Fare For All, serving at the Local Food Shelf, Singing at a Nursing Home, helping at Operation Christmas Child--these are all things which our family has done.  Your family may also enjoy helping at a Gospel Mission:  distributing meals to the homeless, helping with Bible studies, or music, etc.)
5. Character Goals: e.g. humility, patience, punctuality, orderliness, obedience, respect, discernment
6. Mental:  e.g. Books to Read: How many and which ones
7. Physical:  this doesn't have to be sports related, but can be
8. Hospitality:  Families to Have Over; how you will reach out and when
9. Ministry:  What will your family be involved in and how will your children serve

• Once you have your goals set, write out a General Weekly Schedule (use pencil, you will be erasing a lot, until you find what works best on paper--then you will be tweaking as you actually live it out!)

1. On your weekly list include everything, but only in general terms. "Morning List" for me means getting up, making my bed, washing my face, brushing my teeth, showering, doing my hair, etc. Quiet Time and Family Devotions mean time with the Lord in Bible and prayer, both as a family and alone.
2. Plan your weekly schedule to accomplish your goals:  if you have a goal of weekly hospitality, and want to invite a family from church over for dinner each week, then decide when and put it on the schedule. You may decide to do it at a different time, but the time is slotted for it in your week.
3. Place each thing on the schedule so your goals are accomplished naturally. If you're having people over on Sundays, now you know you will have to schedule the cleaning and grocery shopping to be done before the weekend.
4. Write down the most important things first, such as time in the morning with the Lord, and also, the things which are unchanging, such as piano lessons, and church services.
5. Remember Titus 2 instructs us to be "keepers at home," so plan most of your time to be there.
6. Put on the schedule your cleaning, and cooking time, and grocery-shopping, as well as your school subjects (Math, Language Arts, Science, etc.), and blocks of time to do them.
7. Plan for the preparation time needed to live and manage well.  Place on your weekly schedule a time for school planning, and time for your family to spend together just talking or being together, doing nothing special.  Plan when you will buy the birthday, shower and anniversary cards and gifts, etc.  Think ahead seasonally: is there a time on your weekly schedule for buying Christmas presents?  Do you have a time written down on  your weekly schedule for planning and thinking: make sure there's enough "margin" in your schedule for projects that will need to be done, whether it's fall cleaning, or Christmas shopping, or doing the crafts you love, like scrapbooking. Put it on your weekly schedule.)

• You can make a small child a chart with pictures or drawings of what they're to do, and have them put stickers on when they complete; make it colorful and teach them how to follow a schedule.

• Make a Master Grocery List and a Sample Monthly Menu (very flexible) on the computer (excel sheets)
• Don't be afraid to tweak this schedule as time goes by:  it is a tool to serve you

Did I overwhelm her?  Probably.  I realized as I was telling her these things, that being a "keeper at home" and following order and schedule in our homes, tells and teaches our children a million things, including:

• That God is a God of order
• How a wife is supposed to treat a husband
• How a family acts, and what it means to be one
• How to problem-solve, as a Christian
• As we pray and ask Him for guidance, they, (and we) learn that everything we do is in dependence on God; we are not acting in our own strength or wisdom.
• As we begin our day with the Lord and commit it to Him, they learn that everything we do is for His glory and in response to His commands or instruction.
• That God gives each family goals and purposes to accomplish and how they order their home and lives is a reflection of that: how we schedule and plan and carry out His purposes for our family may be different from another Christian family's, but should still be orderly, exhibit peace, showing God's love to others--and there are certain commands and instructions which will cause all of us to look somewhat the same.   Because we are sisters and brothers in Christ--there will be a family resemblance.
And a myriad of other lessons about life are taught without saying a word!  Just by being a "Keeper at Home," loving your husband and loving your children.

Psst! It's not only Tuesday Tag-Along......it's my Birthday:) If you want to make my day even more special, leave me a comment and follow!  Hope you have a wonderful day!

Wendy's "Helpful Hints", (Part 3): Timely Tips on Tuesday

First Aid and Meds Storage,
Address Book Organization,
Library Materials Record-keeping,
and Sundry Other Items
My apologies for the length of this one, but it's jam-packed with "Helpful Hints" and it's the last of the three.
(Click here to read "Helpful Hints" Part 1, and "Helpful Hints" Part 2)

22. Keep a box (a shoebox, tackle box--various sizes are available--or a Rubbermaid container work well) in the bathroom cupboard (or higher up if you have small children) with common medicinal products which you use, such as Tylenol/aspirin/Advil, cough drops/cough medicine, medicine droppers, medicine dispensers, different kinds of thermometers (labeled), etc.

23. Keep a properly stocked first aid kit near the main bathroom (you can go the Red Cross website for info on what to have on hand) with supplies such as assorted kinds and sizes of band aids, salves, ointments, gauze and tape, ipecac and the poison control center’s #; also keep an ice pack in the freezer and an ace bandage and heating pad on the shelf with your first aid kit.

24. After you no longer have small children in the house, hang on to that small wooden stool they used and store it in the bathroom closet or cupboard for guests with small children and your (present or future) grandchildren.

25. Keep your bathroom bag packed with travel size toiletries and supplies, to make packing for an emergency or a special getaway quick and easy. Keep it, and an overnight bag, on a shelf in your bedroom closet.


26. Use a large cloth bag to carry library books back and forth to the library (click the link to read "Going to the Library") and when you bring library books home from the library, always put them in the same place: a large basket on the floor of the living room, or one shelf of the bookshelf works well. Train your children to always return the books there when they’re done looking at them. Record all materials checked out in a log for this purpose (write the date due both on this log and books due on that date on your calendar) before you leave the library. (If you don't get the books recorded before you leave the library, don't allow anyone to look at any of the materials until you have done this once at home.)

 

I know many of you rely on the online library's site for a report of checked-out materials and their due dates. If you like this method, may I encourage you to also make a separate spreadsheet itemizing the materials you've checked out? Some advantages:

• Being able to look back at a record of all the books you've read, for years.
• Knowing the title and author, and library where it's located, of that great book you read two (or five) years ago.
• Knowing, and tracking, how much you're spending in fines each year!
• The ability to recommend, and give a printed copy, of good materials on a given subject.

Limit the number of items each child may check out (keep it consistent) and let them know what this number is—increase the number with increased age/or responsibility shown. Require that the child pay out of his own money (or if he is too young, he can do "jobs" for you to pay off his debt) for any materials lost, damaged or overdue.

27. When you go with your children to the library, or any such public building, for that manner, clearly spell out what behavior is expected and before entering the building, stop at the door and remind them (“Ok, no running—walk—speak in a whisper, stay by me/or sit at this table/stay in this area (etc.)” and tell them in a calm, but firm, voice, what to expect if they disobey: “If you disobey I will take you into the bathroom and spank you and you will not be able to check out any books” etc. (If you're thinking I'm a "mean" mother, please remember that the tone and demeaner is loving, but firm, and this is clearly the example God used with His children: If you obey Me, you'll be blessed, if you don't, these are the dire consequences. You choose.) Occasionally, without warning, reward good behavior with a "treat," however, the reward of good behavior is that you all enjoy a wonderful time together as a family at the library, being together. The reward is relational, and intrinsic. Do not allow them to ask for a reward. If they ask (this is to beg) then they automatically don't get the reward, even if you were planning on giving one. Let them know this. Then follow through exactly as you said. Library visits will be one of your most enjoyable and anticipated activities together!

28. Before a young person may get their drivers license (or permit), make a requirement for them to memorize and recite a whole book of the Bible (James is good because it is filled with wisdom—or selected chapters of Proverbs.)

29. If you have a credit card: record your purchases on a log sheet (kept in your purse or notebook) just as you would when writing a check and write a memo to indicate what the purchase was for, such as “clothes-W(endy)” or “gas” or “entertainment/restaurant.”

30. If you buy things at home parties, such as Pampered Chef or Tupperware, keep the receipts, along with a current catalog, in a two-pocket folder on a shelf by your computer. This makes it easy to make online orders, or email your hostess or consultant about a particular item or order. Also keep the product care and use cards there, and staple or paper-clip the consultant’s business card to the folder. If you have hosted a party, keep all the information relating to your last party: invitation list, addresses, phone numbers, whether the invitee came and/or made an order, the food you served, etc. This will simplify things the next time you want to have a party, and allow you to particularly invite those who enjoy attending these events.

31. Keep a “Master Address Book” with the names and addresses of everyone you know and update this every 5-10 years. Store this Master List on a shelf in a cupboard of your kitchen, with other Directories. When you are unfamiliar with how to get to a person's house, keep directions on a sticky note by the entry for that person in the Master Address book. When they move, all you have to do is throw away the note. Also, when visiting the person, you can take the sticky note with you to help you get there, and return it to the Master Address Book when you return home. You will also be able to make any changes to the directions, or clarification needed, as you're driving there.

32. Other Address Lists: Keep a separate Christmas Card address list, noting whether you sent a card/letter/photo and have a check-off box for each year. Keep this in your Christmas Planning Notebook (click on the link to read about "Christmas Organized" Planning Forms, etc.). In the notebook you carry with you, keep a reduced-size copy of the church directory, and your most-used addresses and phone numbers. If the directions are short, and not likely to change, write them right by the person’s address, otherwise use the system from tip #31.

33. Do your cleaning each week on a schedule spread out over several days so it’s not so overwhelming. Assign the same child the same job for a period of time; then you know who to praise when it is done well, and who to blame when it’s not:) and they will get more skilled at it because they get to practice doing it often. Once each child has been trained in each job, if one child especially likes one particular job, make it his, but don't allow the favorite/least favorite job to always fall to the same child.

At the Well: Scheduling

Today, At the Well, we're talking about one of my favorite subjects: planning and scheduling!  Next to becoming a Christian, I think this has changed my life the most.  I am naturally extremely spontaneous. Following a schedule is still a "flexible" event for me, and though I still like a little spontaneity in life, I have found that scheduling brings peace to my life and home, and that it advances my spiritual life.  Let me explain.

God is a God of order and gives commandments in His Word.  As a Christian, thinking about His priorities (His goals) for my life and my family, is necessary before I can really even begin to think about making a schedule. Thinking about His goals is a process which causes me to humble myself before Him and submit myself and my schedule to Him.  And attempting to follow a schedule causes me to be more consistent in reading His Word and memorizing it, in praying, and in doing those things involved in being the "keeper at home" and helpmeet that He designed me to be.  When I am more consistent, I experience less guilt, I am able to hear from the Lord more easily (after all, I'm spending time consistently with Him at the beginning of each day, when He has my undivided attention!) and I am a much more Christ-like representative to the world because when I and my life are exhibiting more peaceful order more consistently, it is totally opposite to what the world experiences. My wild fluctuations on a regular basis don't bring Him much glory!

This time of year is a great time to start scheduling, if you've never done it before, because no doubt you have already been thinking about what God might want you to change and some goalsetting and prioritizing may have already taken place in your mind.  I'm not going to share with you my present schedule, because I'm in the process of looking ahead to a new year and new goals, which will involve changing my schedule. When I have it all written out, I will plan on sharing it with you.

When planning a new schedule, the first priority must always be prayer and Bible Study.  Fasting, for a day, is helpful.  I prayerfully look at my life (the big picture and also the day-to-day) and ask God to show me the areas He wants to change.  I write down ideas in the major areas: Spiritual, Mental (Academic/Intellectual), Physical.  I take a look around at my home and my physical environment.  Does this prompt any ideas for change?  What's working? What's not?  Are there major areas of disorganization?  Cleaning needed?  Repair?  I think about relationships.  God comes first.  Then my husband and family. Then my church and friendships. What changes need to be made? Are there relationships He wants me to end? To start? Is there building, forgiveness, or restoration needed anywhere? I pray with a notebook and pen to write down the promptings He gives me.

Sitting down with a blank calendar and a blank lined sheet of paper, I place my life and schedule back on the altar.  I think about what God has spoken to me about: what He wants included in my life, and I schedule that first. The Spiritual goals come first: in my life, in my thoughts, in my schedule, in my day.  If you're having trouble getting everything done, it's probably because you're not spending enough time in the Word and prayer at the beginning of the day.  Some women, in order to find time in God's Word, have even set an alarm for the middle of the night, in order to have undistracted time with the Lord.  If you are serious about spending time with the Lord, He'll show you how to make it happen.  Don't set unrealistic goals in this area.  Start with a goal of small, consistent amounts of time: 15 minutes, rather than an hour a day--you can always work up to an hour, or spend longer when you have more time, but the goal that is important is to be with Him every day, and to hear from Him.

Then I think about pleasing my family (my husband first), and their needs.  If I'm not fulfilling my responsibilities at home, changes have to be made. The other things don't have to be done, no matter how much I think they do. My family is my first priority. If disorder in the home is a problem, I can schedule consistent times to work at cleaning and organizing--putting it on the calendar is an appointment I make with myself to do important things, and it helps to get it done.

I pencil in the approximate amounts of time needed for the different activities I know have to happen.  Then, what are my other responsibilities?  How much time do they require? I pencil that number in next to the activity.  I add in the travel time, the preparation time, everything.  Adding all the amounts of time together, am I trying to spend more time than there is in a day?  Are there any activities/responsibilities that God is prompting me to remove from my schedule?  I try to remember that the "good things" are the enemy of "The Best."

Also, it's wise to remember that there are "Seasons" in life!  You may not be able to do now that thing which is dearer than life to you--and you "just know" that it is the will of God for you!  Remember: when God called people in the Bible to do something for Him, often there was a long delay before they were able to accomplish it, while God took them through a "Preparation Period."  Think of Abraham, Sarah, Moses, and even Jesus!  The "thing" or "ministry" you so dearly desire to do may be years off, and having to obey God now in the humdrum day-to-day of dirty diapers and daily dying to self (or whatever training ground He's taking you through) is the training He knows you need to go through to make you ready to be used in a mighty way.  How can you do great things for the Lord without first learning to be obedient in the small things He's giving you now?

So, what are those things that God has spoken to you about?  Everyone has the same 24 hours every day.  If you are frustrated by not having time to do what you know He wants you to do each day, ask Him to show you where you're going wrong. Ask your husband to look at your schedule and offer suggestions.  Be prepared to be humbled.  A husband has a way of seeing, and ruthlessly slashing away at, a wife's "favorite" time-wasters, and wrong priorities.  See your husband as God's messenger to help you:)

Set goals.  Only set a few. Set them carefully, and prayerfully. Set them according to, and based on, what God has said to you in your time in the Word and prayer. Make sure they're do-able.

Finally, pencil into a seven-day calendar with days of the week at the top and time in 15-minute increments on the side, all the main categories of things that you have to do.  It takes me multiple calendars and many changes to finally come up with this rough-draft calendar.  I know that, once I begin to use this calendar, my week will not look exactly like it, but doing this exercise shows me two things:  It shows me if I'm trying to do too many things, and it shows me I need the Lord.  No one can accomplish, without the Lord's help, all that He wants them to be and do!  Isn't that great to know?!  With small children, you especially have to be flexible, and remember, no matter who you are, your schedule isn't written in stone!  We don't know what the Lord is going to surprise us with in the future, or what changes are going to take place in our lives.  Make "Lord-willing" a common phrase in your vocabulary.

The wonderful thing about a schedule is that you can change it and revamp it to solve problems that come up.  For instance, if you're finding your family is exhausted and too harried and hurried every Sunday morning, and it's causing you to miss church, or not to be able to worship Him properly, eliminate all activities on Saturday nights. (We very rarely planned anything on Saturday nights when our children were small. We still try to be at home or get to bed at a decent time every Saturday night, even now that our children are grown, so that we'll be ready for Sunday.)  You may want to plan an earlier bedtime for all of you, and block out half an hour, or whatever's needed, before bed to get the clothes and diaper bag, Bible, etc. ready for the next day.  Or, if your husband is upset every workday morning because you're ironing his shirt as he's walking out the door, plan 15 minutes, 3 times a week, to iron (or one hour once a week--you get the idea).

Look at your schedule as your friend.  Don't let it strangle you or handcuff you or make you its slave.  It is a valuable tool.  Let God use it--it may just change your life!

Timely Tips on Tuesday: Being a Prayer Warrior at Heart

     One of my life goals is to be a "prayer warrior." On paper, I solemnly wrote this goal, as well as others, after becoming a Christian at the age of 19. It's a goal that's dear to me. Recently I was encouraged to better organize my prayer life, when I heard the story of a real prayer warrior and Godly mom. According to this woman's son, who wrote honoring her shortly after her death, this Godly woman was accustomed to praying for literally everyone she knew on a weekly basis. While going through some of her belongings after her death, he found his mom's prayer journal, and was struck by the faithfulness and endurance of her prayers. If someone had shared a request with her, she would pray daily for that request until given leave to stop or the prayer was answered. Someone had shared with him that, referring to something they'd asked her to pray about some time ago, she wondered if it would be alright if she were to move that request from her daily to her weekly list. At her funeral, virtually every person in attendance was listed personally by name on her prayer list.

     How did she do it? The first of the things we can learn from this Godly prayer warrior was that she was faithful in praying for requests daily, so she must have had a set and dedicated prayer time.  Also, her son noted that, in her prayer journal, she divided her long list equally among the days of the week. She seems to have kept an organized record of requests and answers, as well.
     My prayer organization has a long ways to go--I'm not in this Godly woman's league yet--but here are some of the ways I'm attempting to be more organized and faithful in this area, some of which are based on her example. (If you have found a way which really works well for you to record prayer requests and answers, please let me know.) I realize that this post may be a little intimidating, but please realize that you can implement as much, or little, of this as you can handle. The way I think of it in my own life is, if I follow this even partially, I'm praying more regularly in each of these areas and I am able to blanket these areas in a "cover of prayer."  I never completely follow this prayer schedule, and parts of it are still "under construction," (as I am), but the goal is always before me and makes me a more disciplined pray-er as I aim towards the goal of becoming a "prayer warrior."
     First, I divided up "everyone I know" (or at least everyone I intend to pray for on a regular basis) into the weekdays. Our church printed up a cardstock bookmark with each family listed next to a number 1-31, in order to facilitate praying for them. I keep this bookmark in my Bible, and during our Family Devotions, I try to remember to look at it and pray for the family or families according to the day. During my personal prayer time, I can look at this or our church's directory and so I only had to write down those names not associated with our church, according to the first letter of their last name. I pray for them according to this schedule: Monday: Last names beginning with A-E, Tuesday: F-J, Wednesday: K-O, Thursday: P-T, Friday: U-Z.
     I pray a lot for our teaching Elders: the men who lead our church, and their families. But, lest I slip in this area, on the day of the week (Monday, Wednesday and Thursday) that relates to the first letter of their last name, I have a time slot written down to spend time praying for them and their families.
     Besides praying weekly for all the families in our church, I would like to focus on one family each week of the year. (This is a Prayer Goal for 2010.)  Some ideas for making this more personal are: Ask the "Featured Family" for specific prayer requests; put their picture on the fridge or in a prominent place as a reminder to pray for them throughout the day; invite them over for dinner to get to know them better, if they live near enough; send an encouraging card or note to let them know that they're going to be prayed for during the upcoming week, or that you've been praying for them that week.
     Next, there are eight missionaries that we are especially interested in, supporting and/or praying for and I have assigned a day of the week to each of them. On two days of the week there are two missionaries to pray for, but they're grouped together either because they are related by family--we pray for one missionary who's a retired widow and then, also, her daughter and her family, who are carrying on the work--or they're related by the focus of their mission work: (two of the missionaries work specifically with pregnancy resource centers, so I pray for them on the same day, even though one is in Israel and one is in Minnesota. (Speaking of which, the PRC in St. Cloud, MN is having a Pie Auction tonight at 7:00 p.m.!  Many of our church's moms and daughters contributed pies for this event, which will benefit the Pregnancy Resource Center.  Please pray for this event, and attend, if you live in the area!)
     Next, I pray for the salvation of our neighbors, family and friends. There are eight neighbors who we know and are praying for, who I've divided up on the days between Monday and Friday. On Sunday, when I have an extended time for prayer, I pray for our unsaved family and other friends.
     One day I realized that there are 50 states in America and 52 weeks in the year, and that this fact would make it easy to pray for my country in a more focused way throughout the year. There are many ways you can do this. I chose to pray alphabetically through the list, but you could also pray by region, or if you prefer, you could pray for 2 states per day, thereby praying through the whole country every month. On the back of the bookmark I spoke of earlier, I have written all 50 states, alphabetically. Praying for the states might encourage you, as an individual, or as Homeschooling families, to study more about each state. I usually pray for the leaders: governor, mayors, senators, etc., for their salvation, for wisdom, that they'll receive Godly counsel and that they will make decisions that will be according to God's will.  If I know of specific issues in their state, of course I pray for those, too. And I pray that the decisions and laws which they make will allow Christians under their authority to "lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty." (1 Timothy 2:2)
     I have yet to institute a schedule of praying for the countries of the world on a regular basis, but you can do this alphabetically, or by region of the world, or by people groups or by religion--there are many ways to do this, and also, this would be a great Homeschooling project. We prayed for many of the countries one year as we studied World Geography, by studying and finding out about the people in each country we were praying for, studying them alphabetically within regions of the world, and using Operation World (www.operationworld.org) as a jumping-off point. Go to this link www.infoplease.com/countries.html (*click "skip the ads" to go back to the country's info once a country is selected), for more information about each country, including what its flag looks like, a map of the country, its geography, history, population, president, and facts, figures and articles.
     Each week I also pray for these specific areas: Sunday, I pray for widows and orphans (James 1:27); Monday, the National Government and Tuesday, our State Government (1 Timothy 2:1-2); Wednesday, Missions around the world; Thursday, Our Church; Friday, Persecuted Christians around the world.
     So, I made a chart to help me keep track of who and what to pray for each day. I haven't figured out how to paste an Excel or Word Document into my blog, so I'll do this a different way. This is how it looks:

• Sunday: Pray for 1 missionary; Salvation of family and friends; Widows and Orphans; the State and Family of the Week; and (optional) Country of the Week.
• Monday: Pray for people with Last Names A-E; the salvation of 2 neighbors; one missionary; one Elder; the National Government; the State and Family of the Week; and (optional) Country of the Week.
• Tuesday: Pray for people with Last Names F-J; 2 missionaries; Salvation of 1 neighbor; the State Government; the State and Family of the Week; and (optional) Country of the Week.
• Wednesday: Pray for people with Last Names K-O; 1 missionary; 1 Elder; Salvation of 2 Neighbors; World Missions; the State and Family of the Week; and (optional) Country of the Week.
• Thursday: Pray for people with Last Names P-T; 2 missionaries; 1 Elder; Salvation of 2 Neighbors; Our Church; the State and Family of the Week; and (optional) Country of the Week.
• Friday: Pray for people with Last Names U-Z; 1 missionary; Salvation of 1 Neighbor; The Persecuted Church; the State and Family of the Week; and (optional) Country of the Week.
• Saturday: Catch up and pray for other requests and things the Lord lays on your heart.

     You may also wish to fast and pray one or more days a week for a more concentrated time of prayer on these and other things which are near and dear to the Lord's, and your, heart.

At the Well: Housekeeping Helps

Come, gather at the well today!

     Today "At the Well," (click on the link above to participate and read) we're discussing the woes of Housekeeping!  When I read that title, I immediately groaned and became depressed! Housekeeping, though, is not going away in this lifetime, and we all have to do it...So, let's put this subject in a more pleasant perspective!
 
Let's remember:

1. Housekeeping is Temporary, not Eternal!
2. Housekeeping is due to the curse--Even We Will Return to Dust!
3. Housekeeping is an opportunity to serve our Lord and our family.
4. Housekeeping is God's training ground of our character and it's All About Attitude.
5. Housekeeping is an opportunity for God to train our children through us: a) We need to train them by our attitude towards housework and b) We need to Train them in the skills to do it.
6. Housekeeping is more difficult because we are Blessed with (too) many Belongings.
7. Housekeeping is more difficult because we have bad attitudes.
8. Let's Be Thankful for the riches God has given us: People to clean up after, and Things to put into place (and take care of and use for His glory).
9. Let's Be Thankful for the body He has given us to do the work (and if we are able to do any work, let's thank Him for every bit we can do)!
10. Let's Be a Good Steward of the Time and Possessions that God has given us, remembering that everything we have is really God's, and we will be called upon to give an account: a) By Learning ways to do the work we have to do more quickly and efficiently; b) By Using the things we have, or giving/selling them to someone else who will (or throwing them); c) By Taking care of the things we have so they will last longer.

Resources to Help Us Get a Handle on Housekeeping:
(under Home Organization below)
"Sidetracked Home Executives/From Pigpen to Paradise" by Pam Young and Peggy Jones (This book actually changed my life.  Pam and Peggy, the SLOB sisters, showed me a way that it was Possible for Me, someone who's not "born organized," to have a clean and organized home and life and still be me and be happy. They encourage you with their own examples and stories, because they're actually worse than you are, or they were until they came up with this system. And they are so funny, you'll "laugh til the tears are rolling down your cheeks"--I promise.)
"Get Your Act Together: A 7-Day Get-Organized Program For The Overworked, Overbooked, and Overwhelmed" by Pam Young and Peggy Jones (Written by the same sisters who co-authored "Sidetracked Home Executives."  Please read the reviews on Amazon for this book--you'll definitely buy this book if you do!  I hope it will change your life as it has others!)
"Speed Cleaning" by Jeff Campbell (This is a great, compact "how-to" book to teach exactly how to clean your house in what order and what way--FAST! I learned how to clean my bathroom in about 15 minutes from this book.)
"Is There Life After Housework?" by Don Aslett (Known for his humorous and helpful look at this timeless topic, he tells you how to clean everything in your house. Also includes spot and stain removal tips.)
"Do I Dust or Vacuum First?" by Don Aslett (All of Aslett's books and videos are funny and informative, and I recommend having these as resources on your bookshelf.)
"Houseworks: Cut the Clutter, Speed Your Cleaning and Calm Chaos" by Cynthia Townley Ewer (This author's "Christmas Organized" forms and tips have helped me tremendously, so based on that I include her book here on organizing the Housekeeping area of your life, but if the reviews online are any indication, you'll be buying one for yourself and your daughter! Great shower/wedding gift idea!)
"The New Messies Manual: The Procrastinator's Guide to Good Housekeeping" by Sandra Felton (This is the new, updated version--My sister-in-law absolutely loved this book and couldn't stop talking about it! It gave her such hope! It will you, too!)
"Streamlining Your Life: A 5-point Plan for Uncomplicated Living" by Stephanie Culp
(Culp, a time management expert, gives ideas on how to declutter and simplify and the motivation to do it.  Examples of timewasters, how to eliminate them, and why. A no-nonsense approach and if you follow her advice, you'll be so glad you did!)

Tuesday Tips: An Organized Christmas--Is it Possible?

     I've decided to Organize my blog, and in accord with that goal I will be sharing on certain themes on certain days.  Tuesdays I will be calling "Tuesday Tips" (not very original or catchy, I know, but until something more "inspired" comes to me, that's what it'll be)!  Included under that theme will be Homeschooling Helps, Tips on any form of Home organization, Scheduling, Planning, etc.  So, for my first Tuesday Tips theme, some will think me crazy, others will think me late, but I am going to talk about Christmas Organization!  I promise I will return to celebrate Thanksgiving, and not skip over it!  But first, some planning ahead.
     Christmas is the busiest time of the year for me, and it threatens to overwhelm at times just thinking about its coming.  I don't want the celebration of my Lord Jesus' birth to become a dreaded time, so I was thrilled when a friend shared a site with me years ago called Organized Christmas.
     Quoting from their site,

"Written by organizing author Cynthia Ewer, the Christmas Countdown is a free six-week Christmas organizing plan from OrganizedChristmas.Com. Online since 1998, the Countdown is a tried-and-true road map for organized holidays."

You can go to their site and printout free forms that will help you to think through Christmas and all that you have to, and want to, accomplish, by breaking it down and spreading it out over 6 weeks.  I have used a "Christmas Notebook" for a number of years. The charm of this plan is that you can personalize it, printing out only the forms that you need--go into as much detail or as little as you want--and it's all free! There are even forms for keeping your whole Christmas Card Address List, with a checkoff box for three years of "Sent To" and "Received From."
     There are cleaning checklists, calendars and dividers, or if you prefer a smaller version to be able to take with you, you may choose the pretty Christmas pocket planner.
     I use the Countdown Planner. (I also have the Holiday Grand Plan printed out.  It's a plan, room by room, for obtaining a completely clean house by Christmas.  I doubt I will ever achieve that, but seeing the forms helps me to tackle weekly some part of the job, and every bit of cleaning and organization I do ahead of time helps make a less stressful Christmas season.)  In the Countdown Planner, you will find forms which ask you questions and give you thoughtful suggestions.  One of my favorite forms, the Holiday Values Worksheet, helps you evaluate your activities from the past year(s) to see if they are lined up with what you believe and consistent with your values. I appreciate so much the encouragement that it gives to evaluating and being intentional about our activities and choices.  It is so easy to just get caught up in the busyness, without even thinking about what we are doing.  My mother always laughs when we girls are talking about some tradition or other that we "always" did growing up.  Chuckling, she will say, "We probably did it twice."  But it's true, and is a caution to Choose carefully our traditions, when the children are very small, to make sure they are Biblical, and true, and emphasize the real meaning of Christmas.  Also, ask yourself before adding each new activity, will I be able to, or want to, continue this activity every Christmas forever?  Remember how strong the pull to continue traditions that we grew up with in our childhood.  The Holiday Values Worksheet asks several very helpful questions:
"Was your family spiritually invigorated by the holiday celebration? Did you participate in appropriate worship, service or giving activities?"
"Did inappropriate influences enter your home last year?  Were décor, clothing or gift-buying decisions motivated by competitiveness or insecurity?  Did the hectic pace of the season take precedence over family closeness, family values?"
These, and other, excellent questions, make this worksheet one of my favorites of the Countdown Planner.
     Some other favorite forms are the "Freezer Inventory" where you can record meals made ahead to ease the stress and lessen extra spending on eating out, (and also record baked goods you have made and stored there), the "Christmas debriefing" form on which you can honestly answer, "How did it go?" and the "Holiday Memories" form which makes it easy to record and remember happy and wonderful moments which you never want to forget.
     I hope you will visit this site and make your own "Christmas Notebook" and that, in using its pages, you will be helped towards a more Christ-centered, and joyous Christmas!