Making Your Home a Haven - Day Five

Refresh Your Spirit (5 minutes)

Today I read James 2 -3:12. I really needed that today, all of it. But one verse especially hit me. Growing up Catholic, I have a hard time with my sin being the same as someone who was a murderer or anything "more major" because I was taught that there are "levels" of sin. That has been the hardest thing for me to grasp since switching to a Protestant religion. I hesitate to point out differences, because what matters is that we are Christians, but this teaching is not biblical at all. What makes it difficult is that Satan is always right there, justifying what I would like to believe. Oh, I just gossip. I just overeat. I just have a very hard time with forgiveness. (There's more, trust me, there's more.) That's not at all the same as a murderer, is it??? But of course it is. God sees every sin equally. And whether it is difficult for me to grasp, it's the Truth. I don't even think it is difficult for me to grasp...I just don't like to think about it and don't want to admit it to myself. All this came from a simple verse "...whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free." (James 2:12) I fall so short of the glory of God, yet I know that I am forgiven...and that is a powerful thing. I still have a lot of transforming for God to do, but that's the wonderful part of Jesus...I am a work in progress and it's within His power to change me.

Take Time to Make a Plan (5 minutes)

Here's my list for today:
Kitchen (Steve was home with the boys last night, so I have some work to do!)
Upstairs Landing
General Pick Up

I have more I want to do, but I am keeping it realistic. We also have Steve's Christmas party tonight, so I know I won't get as much done as I have to get everyone ready for the sitter and go get the sitter.

Do Something:
Seeing as I'm all about efficiency, we're combining today's regular Frugal Friday feature with our current Making Your Home a Haven Challenge.

Today, instead of the usual challenges we've been doing all week, I'm encouraging all of you participants to make your home a haven by taking some time to spend as a family or spend some time doing something for your family. Have fun with your family! It's one of the best ways to make your home an oasis.

I have eaten breakfast with just Aidan and I this morning. It took half an hour just to eat a bowl of oatmeal, a plate of pickles, and a glass of milk (no, I'm not pregnant...that was Aidan's meal...I just had oatmeal and coffee), but what Aidan and I really enjoyed was having that time to ourselves and not having anyone else around. I think that's why he dilly-dallied so much this morning!

Since we do have the Christmas party tonight, we can't have a family night tonight, so I am grateful that I already had a 'family weekend' planned. This afternoon when Austin gets home, though, I am going to sit with him on Club Penguin (which is an awesome little site) and help him win some coins to upgrade and deck out his igloo. It doesn't sound like much, but I am trying to meet Austin where he is at and this is what he loves to do.

Aidan has requested that Daddy, Mommy, and Austin make colorful cookies for Santa, also. No babies, though, please....we will lock them out of the kitchen. (What he said, not me. I suggested waiting until they were napping; he agreed.) I was not planning on doing a lot of Christmas baking this year...I felt like I didn't have time. But now I see how important this is to Aidan, so I am going to make time. So I guess we're doing that this weekend, too!

Have a very blessed weekend everyone!

Making Your Home a Haven - Day Four

Today's Challenge (Let's hope I do a better job of accomplishing this today!)

Refresh Your Spirit (5 minutes)
I encourage you to pick a special verse to meditate on today while you're going about your homemaking tasks and write it down on an index card and put it in a central location as a reminder.

Today I read my verses for Bible study tonight. When I was finished with that, I was flipping to Psalms and my Bible fell open to Proverbs. The very first verse that popped out at me was "A wise woman builds her home, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands." (Proverbs 14:1) This spoke volumes to my soul today. I don't literally tear down my home, but I certainly don't do a very good job of building it up most days. Our home itself and everyone in it. I can be short with Austin and Aidan, not spend enough time with either of them, short with Steve, and I can just plain not feel like cleaning that day, so it doesn't get done. If I don't consciously think about dinner, it's usually spaghetti because that's easy. I am trying very hard to change this part of my life and be more conscientious about my daily living and make our home peaceful, presentable, and a happy place to come home to. I want everyone to feel welcome here, and most days I don't feel that it is very welcoming.

A verse to meditate on today for myself is:
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

Take Time to Plan (5 minutes)
In addition to writing out a short to-do list numbered in order of importance today like we did the past few days and thinking ahead to what you'll have for dinner tonight, take a moment to plan some special way to bless your family this weekend. Maybe it will be something like breakfast in bed for your children, or a treat for your husband, or a special family activity. Think of something out-of-the-ordinary which will show your love practically to your family.

To Do List:
Pick up all the toys. (Done)
Spend time alone with Aidan when the babies take their nap. (Done)
Help Austin with whatever he needs when he gets home.

For Supper:
Turkey, mashed potatoes, and broccoli.

I actually get a good one for this weekend, because we already planned it. I am not going to clean at all this weekend, and neither is Steve. We are going to go get our Christmas tree and cut it down. Then we will decorate the house. We are taking Austin and Aidan to see Bee Movie, also, this weekend.I also have been meaning to write a letter to Austin for a long time now, and I am going to do that this weekend.

Making Your Home a Haven - Day Three

Refresh Your Spirit (5 minutes)
If you have a chance, I encourage you to think of three things you are thankful for. Write them down and express gratitude to the Lord. Focus on the blessings in your life, not on the things you wish you could change.

Do I really need to admit that I didn't read anything again today? But, at least I did do the next part.

There are so many things that I am grateful for, but these are the three that I am most grateful for today:

1. Steve
Having a husband who is loving and Godly is a huge blessing in my life and I am so thankful to God for bringing him into my life. I cannot imagine a day without him. I still get excited and look forward to him coming home every night (and no, not just to help out with the kids, but because I want to be with him). We are very comfortable in our lives and I feel like I truly have a partner in this marriage and neither one of us is doing all the work. We both equally share the load and I am so grateful! His sense of humor can really help to lighten my stress and he knows just when to use it!

2. My boys
I am so thankful for God's blessing me with each of my children. Austin is such a blessing in so many ways everyday, even though we have many challenges. I believe those very challenges are what make our relationship stronger. Aidan is such an enrichment in my life and brings such joy and humor to it, even when he is being strong willed and ornery. Nathanial is such a peaceful little man and makes you feel peace every time you hold him, even when I have to chase him down. Ethan is so sweet and so funny to watch, even when he's stealing all his brothers' toys. Noah is so loving and cuddly, even when he's needy and whiny.

3. My Bible Study Group
I have needed to get out of the house for so long now and just spend time with other women, without children and discussing and challenging my faith. This prayer was recently answered with the start of a new Bible study group with women I know. Thank you Kasey for inviting me and thank you Deb and Taunya for starting this!!


Take Time to Plan (5 minutes)
In addition to writing out a short to-do list numbered in order of importance today like we did yesterday, I encourage you to plan what you are having for dinner. Make it your aim to have dinner completely made or almost completely made by lunch time. This will make for a much more peaceful afternoon and evening.

To Do List:
Clean:
Living Room (done)
Dining Room (done)
Kitchen (done)
Bathrooms (done)
Our Room (not done)
Babies' Room (not done)
Playroom (not near done!)

Since I knew I would be cleaning all day and I knew I wasn't going to be in the mood for making supper, tonight's dinner was Casey's pizza. And, it was free! I had enough coupons to have our free pizza!!

Do Something! (15 minutes or so)
Today we're going to focus on the laundry and laundry room. Your goal by the end of today is to have all of your laundry finished, folded, and put away.For those of you with a laundry room or laundry area, take some time to organize and clean up this area. Wipe down your washer and dryer, check for socks and other articles of clothing behind and on the sides of your washer and dryer, and clean out your dryer lint.

Hahahahahahahahahahahaha....THAT is hilarious!! Right, well, I think not. First, 15 minutes would not get near what needs to be done in that room. And after everything else I did today, the laundry room was the last room that I had time for. So, on to tomorrow's list, I guess. I hate putting stuff off, but I really don't have a choice with this one!

Making Your Home a Haven Challenge - Day Two

Refresh your spirit (5 minutes)

Again, late start, so I didn't read much. I did pray quite a bit today, but I always do that. I need to get better about setting time aside for myself, which is part of why I wanted to do this in the first place.

Take Time to Plan (5 minutes)
Do you have a plan for today? A few minutes of strategic planning before you begin your day can not only help you to be much more productive, but it can also save you a lot of time. If other things come up which are more important, be cheerful and flexible.

To Do List:
Go to Waterloo early in the morning. (Didn't happen - we didn't leave until 10!)
Pick out fabric for the boys' blankets for Christmas from Granny and Grandpa Charlie.
Target - general neccesaties (diapers, wipes, soap, etc.); Christmas presents for nieces and nephews.
Lunch
Home for naps. (Didn't happen = VERY grumpy babes)
Pick up Austin from school (Got home just in time to meet his bus and pick him up.)
Clean living room. (Again, didn't happen.)
Time with Aidan alone while babies take naps. (Obviously, didn't happen.)
Get supper made and eat together.

Do Something! (10 minutes)
Since we tackled our entryways yesterday, we're moving on to our living rooms today.

This clearly didn't happen today, with everything else we had going on.

Oh, well...there's always tomorrow!

Making Your Home a Haven Challenge - Day One

First, I wanted to thank Gina (Everyday is a Precious Gift) for posting this on her blog. I have felt that our home and life is chaos lately...well, not even lately, since the pregnancy and birth of the triplets. I am so ready to get into a schedule in my life and feel more in control of things. Gina is a true blessing and her posts couldn't have come at a better time! So, for the next while, I will be doing the challenge with Gina and the women at Biblical Womanhood (www.biblicalwomanhoodonline.com/blog.htm). Here goes!

(All italics are Biblical Womanhood's words.)

Day One of the Challenge

Refresh Your Spirit (5 minutes)

Take five minutes, brew a cup of tea or coffee, and sit down and be still before the Lord. Pray, read a Psalm, thank the Lord for His goodness and blessing in your life.

Not that this is an excuse, but I didn't start the challenge until a few days late, so I unfortunately did not do this.

Take Time to Plan (5 minutes)

Today's planning project is centered on a morning routine. Write down five things you want to do in the same order every morning. Keep it simple and only stick to five things. If five things seem overwhelming, start with three. Starting somewhere is better than not starting at all!

My Morning Routine:

1. Take a shower!

2. Coffee and spend time with the Lord.

3. Breakfast for Aidan and the babies.

4. Get supper planned and meat out to defrost, if needed.

5. Put in a load of laundry; fold and put away everything in the dryer.

Do Something! (5 -15 minutes)

Each day I'm going to be giving you a simple organizational task to complete in your home. And today we're going to start at the very beginning - a very good place to start! Then go to your front door and pretend you are a first-time visitor to your home. Walk in and take a look around. What is your immediate impression of your home? Is it calm and clean or cluttered and chaotic? Take five to fifteen minutes to clean, de-clutter, and beautify your entry area.

This is the view as you walk in looking straight ahead.

Before:

After:

The view to the right of the door.

Before: After:

This is the view to the left of the front door.

Before:

After:

It is bad enough posting the before pictures, but it really does make me feel better and feel like I actually accomplished something. That's rare these days.