Project: Get This House in Order! Part 2

Just to review, this is a blog post of many that will document my continued battle housekeeping. Last month, November 2011, I decided the get my house in order and create an atmosphere of peace and harmony for my family to live in and for myself to work in as owner of LC Mills, Inc.

So here's a list of thoughts, ideas, or systems I've put into place to help me in my mission to get my home in order:

1. Begin a system of daily routine. Although I may fail to do all of this all the time, just having the system in place makes a difference.
• Unload dishwasher
• Do a load of laundry
• Load dishwasher throughout the day
• Reboot laundry into dryer
• Start dishwasher at night
• Fold and put away laundry at night
2. I've started a behavior chart for the boys. Teaching them to, at the very least, pick up and put away their toys and dirty clothes has been a easy. They enjoy using the chart and earning a prize from the treasure box.
3. Implement PICK UP AS YOU PASS. As I move from room to room throughout my day, If there is something in the wrong place, I pick it up as I pass and put it in it's place. You would be amazed at the difference in my home just by doing that.

Today's new practice is to stop the negative thinking. I will practice acknowledging my negative thoughts and changing them.

Again, this morning, I purposely woke up late. My alarm was set for 6:00am and as I set it last night I knew I wouldn't be getting up before 6:30am. That is, if the boys don't get up before I do.  If everything ran smoothly and the boys did everything I told them to when I told them to do it, Sampson might just make it to Chapel on time before his Pre-K class actually starts.

With this in mind, I rushed Sampson and Wyatt to get dressed and felt myself become frustrated when they didn't move as fast as I thought they should. I began to raise my voice and make threats. This is just another example of how I set myself up for failure. But this time I caught myself and I've noticed that I'm becoming more and more attentive to my behavior.




When I began to see what I was doing, I said within my mind, "Take your time. Do what you can do. The boys are more important than the clock and it's your fault we're running late anyway." Because I did not prepare, I was tempted to ruin the morning just out of my frustration. That's not fair to my children or to myself. It's all about how you think. When you start having negative thoughts, acknowledge them and correct them. I'm my own worst enemy but when I discipline myself, I'm my own best friend. My spirits are lifted, my attitude is brighter, and I enjoy the smallest things with my family.

I know my boys will remember the times I fall short and have my "grumpy pants" on. But I hope they'll also remember how much I love them and how hard I try to better myself for their benefit. I don't want them to look back on their childhoods and recall how grouchy their mother was all the time.

Jesus, I ask that you help me to be gracefully in my times of frustation. Help me to see and acknowledge my negative thoughts or behaviors, and help me change them. Let me love my children as you love us, because you gave your life for our peace and salvation. Thank you, Lord. In Jesus' Name. Amen

Dying in the Happy Place

 "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in." ~Matthew 25:35

Amidst all the running around, cooking, cleaning, and grumbling I did during our family's Thanksgiving week, there were quiet moments. And for some reason my mind kept thinking of those less fortunate than myself. These were not just mere images of people floating through my brain with blank faces living far away from me. These were friends, family, and neighbors. Then my mind went further. There are more than just these that I know. They have faces, they have pain, and they are in need. Children fatherless, sick, abused, and neglected. The elderly cast off and despised. The poor hungry and ignored. But because my life is so busy, it's easy to avoid these uncomfortable thoughts and keep my mind in it's "happy place".

My happy place is comfortable, secure, neat, tidy, and utterly meaningless. To ignore the pain of others, to ignore the sufferings of this world you become a prisioner in your own mind, never truly living life to it's fullest and sharing your talents. I guess it would be easy to simply die in that place. Death, to me, would be having lived and yet not fulfilling my calling. We are called to love, to help, and to share the gospel.

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed." ~Luke 4:18

More than anything I hope that somehow I can teach my children to love. I want them to love others as God does and be willing to help those in need even when it's inconvenient for them. Even if the need is so small and they know there won't be a "big marching band" announcing their good deed. I need them to understand that whether it's helping someone move, fixing someone's TV, visiting the sick, or simply picking up a few extra groceries for someone else, whatever the need - show love by helping. The only way I can ensure that they learn these things, is to do them myself. I don't want my life or my children's lives to be lived in vain.

When we offer our support to others, we offer love. We are actually offering Jesus and his plan of salvation. We are giving peace, healing wounds, and lifting up the Christ's kingdom.

"Jesus answered, If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.'" ~Matthew 19:21

Recognize and change.

Most of us are busy with our own lives and are just trying to make each day productive. But have we taken the time to search ourselves just to make sure our hearts are right? Do we grumble when we are asked to help someone with the tiniest of chores? Do we try to avoid hearing about the needs of others because it threatens to disrupt our "happy place"?

Jesus, search me. Let me see myself as you see me. Let me not be blinded to my faults, sins, and wavering. I want to see myself the way You see me so that I might recognize my sin and change it. Make my motives and intentions pure. In Jesus' name.

Get Involved.

If you're looking for a way to help the needy but you're just not sure what path to take, let me end this article with just a few pieces of advice.

• First of all, World Vision  is an organization that my husband and myself support. We sponsor a little girl who is 4 years old, the same age as my oldest son, Sampson. World Vision believes "the best way to change the lives of children is to change the world in which they live. And the best way to change their world is to foster self-sufficiency within their communities." We've never been so proud to be a part of something as we are this organization. Visit their site and see how you can sponsor a child and help strengthen their community.  http://www.worldvision.org/
• Secondly, use tools from the Internet like google or Facebook to get informed about what's going on in your local area. Find out where you can volunteer.
• Your home church is another great place to find way to help. Get with the church staff and let them know that you have a heart to help and ask where you are needed.
• Lastly, change your mindset. Live your life to please God and to serve others for His name sake. Opportunities will simply come your way and be careful not to dismiss them. Let God direct your path and listen to His voice by staying in the Word and in constant prayer.

Let me know what you think. Feel free to leave a comment or ask a question.

Project: Get This House in Order!

I recently posted a "note" on my facebook profile about my intention to gain control over my cluttered and disorganized home. I've come to realize that maybe continuing this journey through my blog might be a better way of updating and following my progress. So here's a copy of the Facebook note:

"There are many women out there who have no problem keeping their homes clean and organized for the most part. They know where things are and have a game plan each day to make sure things run smoothly. I am not one of these women. Our home is our family's refuge and is sacred. Having a disorganized home affects the way I feel about myself and everything around me. I find myself snapping at my children more, being impatient, and resenting my husband for the smallest most irrelevant things. It's an open door for Satan to attack you and your family. God wants our homes (spiritually and physically) to be in order. So...

I've made a decision! One that I have no choice but to stick with. Call it an early new year's resolution. But by this time next year...MY HOME WILL BE IN ORDER. My goal December 1, 2012. Some people may laugh at the idea of my needing a year to get my house together but let 'em laugh! I'm making a reachable goal for myself because I don't want to crash and burn. I'm hoping I get it where I want it before this date. :D

There is criteria to be met that will confirm my home is in order. I will write this down once I decide what that is. :)
I plan to take pictures as I progress through this mission of mine. Before and after. (Mostly after...LOL!)

Also, I will come up with routines that will help establish order as well. (http://www.flylady.com/) Flylady will help me with this.

Lastly, I will occasionally be asking questions and seeking advice from all my friends on Facebook. I would appreciate your responses and I'm excited to find out your secrets!

Well, that's it. My first post about Project: Get this house in order! Wish me favor....not luck!"

Since posting this on Facebook I've started with my first routine. These three chores are what I try to focus during my mornings (among all the other things like changing diapers, dressing the boys, and making breakfast).

• Unload the dishwasher: this helps to keep the counters and sink clean throughout the day. I run a cycle each night after dinner.
• Wash and dry a load of clothes.
• Fold and put away a load of clothes. (When I say "load" I mean just a basket full. No more.)

I plan to establish systems and routines through the year to make my home, business, and my life in general run smoothly. I want to enjoy this time in my life with my children and husband, not dread it. Having these routines in place will help me achieve this goal.

A Favorite Quote by C.S. Lewis

God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing."

Afraid to Write

My words have been used as weapons against me in times past and this has kept me from writing. Once written down, you can never deny the feelings that were felt at that moment. You certainly can't deny that those feelings were strong enough and important enough to even write down. You make yourself vulnerable.

This being said, I love to write. Becoming a target of criticism is to be expected. It's a price I guess I'll have to pay. A dear friend of mine told me once that God would use my words to help others and to bring glory to Christ. There is power in the pen...power in the written word. I, being a very emotionally open person find solace in being able to pen down my thoughts as a release. So, Lord, use me as you will. Help me to choose my words carefully and to be cautious as to where I cast my pearls.