A Heritage from God

"Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord:  and the fruit of the womb is his reward."

Psalm 127:3

Our precious baby girl was born a week ago today.  She truly is a gift sent straight from God to be in our lives.  I've thought about the above scripture a million times over the past week.  

Her•i•tage-(noun) property that can be inherited or passed down; a gift.

When you think about a heritage it is something usually of great value and meant to be passed down from generation to generation.  God knew her before we even thought about her (Jeremiah 1:5).  When I think about the fact that He looked down and saw fit to pass her down to us even for a season I feel so humbled.  However, He has also given us a responsibility and that is to teach her His word and His way so that it can be passed from generation to generation.  His plan from the beginning of time wasn't for us to build up a nice college fund for her or even to provide her with a huge house but to keep His Word on our hearts and teach it to her diligently.  (Deuteronomy 6:6-9)

I think today's  "society" has underrated the role of motherhood today.  It's seen as a "second job" or something you do on the side.  However, to me it is the most important job I'll ever have and because of that it is a priority in my life.  The impact I have on my children is one of if not the only thing that will last an eternity.  What I teach and show them  will be carried on through them and through their children and so on.  What an impact Moms really make!

So while I look into those newborn eyes I know I'll make mistakes, but I'm thankful for the plan God has laid forth.  I'm thankful for his grace, mercy and forgiveness that will be there as I need it.  I'm thankful He chose me to be their Mom.  I'm thankful for those moments when "Miss Priss" is whining,"Sunshine" is crying, the dog is barking, phone is ringing, and someone is knocking at the door (yes, we've already had those) and He whispers sweet peace to me amidst all the chaos!  He lets me know that my "job" is the most important one I'll ever have and that since this is His plan He'll equip me with whatever I need!

So I just want to give a word of encouragement to all of you Moms out there!  You're doing a great work, day by day.  You're shaping a soul that will have an eternal impact!  You have been blessed with a heritage and that heritage will be passed from generation to generation.  God has placed this precious child in your hands to mold and shape.  I want to leave you with two of my favorite quotes from a book study I'm doing right now The Mission of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson: 

No matter what you do in other areas of your life, when you have a child it is a calling of God. A calling to use your intelligence and skills and your mind and your heart and your time in such a way you have the privilege of shaping children whose souls will last an eternity.

I have come to believe that being a mother encompasses all that is best within me.  To embrace the mission of motherhood requires that I understand God and his design for life and can relate deep theological issues to the everyday minutes of my life. It requires that I become a mature counselor, ready at any moment to make decisions judiciously.  It also requires that I develop skills in hospitality, nursing, intellectual prowess, diplomacy, leadership training, and more, and that I stretch my creativity to the max.

For more on this book study check out Mom Heart.

Linked to:

A "Monumental" Message!!

"Footprints in history are not made sitting down.  I cannot wait to show you this movie.  This is the most important journey of my life.  America is worth fighting for and so are our families.  But I cannot do this alone. I need you to join me in reclaiming America's true national treasure."
                                             Kirk Cameron




Last night I was able to go see the movie "Monumental".  It was a one night live presentation to kick-off what I hope to be an awakening across our country!  I know it certainly was for me!  I was amazed at how little I really knew and had been taught about the Pilgrims and how our nation has twisted and just flat out destroyed the truths in which our founding fathers believed would create a strong nation.  They even laid out the plan for liberty for us.  Yet we are SO far from what they envisioned and spent their lives establishing.  Here are just a few things that I didn't know prior to the movie:


1.  The Pilgrims started the seperatist movement because the Bible was translated into the English language and they begin to read it, study it and understand it for themselves.  They soon realized that the true "church" was not based on a rich monarchy but quite the opposite it should consist of humble servants.  However, to break away from the church also meant treason at that time.  Thus they searched for a new land.

2.  The Pilgrims weren't just some weak, ignorant men that landed without knowledge of how to plant corn.  They endured MUCH suffering and many set backs along the way.  Yet their faith in God stayed strong and they knew they had a greater cause and for this they did not give up!  They sacrificed SO much so that their children and the next generations could be able to worship the true God in Spirit and in Truth.

3.  We've been told that our founding fathers wanted seperation of church and state.  That God has no place in our government.  That God in schools is NOT something they would have wanted.  Yet, (brace yourselves for this one) the first Bible ever printed in English in America was printed in 1782 by Congress for the purpose of "an addition of Holy Scriptures for the use of our schools".     It didn't end there.  They not only wanted Bibles in schools but in homes.  The signers of our Consitution funded a family Bible in 1798 so that the Word of God could be distributed to individual households.  Why did they want families and children to be studying and learning the Bible?  Because they knew that if they wanted their new country to be successful then it must start within the individual.  There must be moral values instilled in the citizens.  When that desire to please God is present THEN you will have a successful country.  Here's a short clip from Monumental and Wingclips on this:

4.  Out of the founding fathers that signed the Declaration of Independence not only were they Christians but over half of them (29 of 56) held seminary degrees.

5.  The National Monument to the Forefathers lays out what our forefathers believed would work to establish a successful government.  I'd never even heard of this monument until this movie.  It holds SO many strong truths and you can see as we have strayed from these truths and the "formula" they believed our nation has started falling apart.  

I don't want to spoil the whole movie so I'll stop there.  I knew as Americans and as a country we were far off track but I had no idea how far off track we'd become until watching these truths.  Somewhere along the way we've been deceived and I feel as Christians we've failed to find the facts and to stand up for what our rights are.  Not only for what our forefathers and founding fathers wrote and established in their agreements and declarations but what they sacrified their lives for. 

I am inspired and thankful for the stand Kirk Cameron has made.  Not only in doing this movie but on the stand he has taken on other issues in the media.  I loved what he said at the end of the movie as he talked about how everyone places the blame on someone else whether it be Washington, Hollywood, the Church, or elsewhere. Yet he said

"The answer doesn't begin at the White House, it begins at my house.” ~ Kirk Cameron. 

I think that's exactly what are forefathers realized that in order to have a successful government it must start with successful individuals and in order to have a successful individual you must have a Godly influence and strong morals. 

So as an individual I plan on holding myself to an even higher moral standard.  To truly study God's word for myself and do my best to follow it in my life.  I plan on being more aware of what's happening and studying some of these truths I've just been shown even further.  I want to pass along what I'm learning to others that may not realize it and most importantly to my children who probably won't be taught these truths in school.  There's still hope out there for America but it must begin within us and within our families.

Is there more you want to do?  See the movie?  I don't believe this is all we've heard on this movie.  Kirk Cameron plans on releasing this as a DVD, creating devotionals, homeschool curriculums, etc.   Here's a few more links for additional information:

Monumental Movie Website
Clips from the movie
Demand the Movie in Your Area
Monumental Facebook Page
Pilgrim Monuments


And I leave you with one final quote from John Adams our 2nd President and Signer of the Declaration of Independence:

"Suppose a nation in some distant Region should take the Bible for their only law Book, and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited! Every member would be obliged in conscience, to temperance, frugality, and industry; to justice, kindness, and charity towards his fellow men; and to piety, love, and reverence toward Almighty God ... What a Eutopia, what a Paradise would this region be."

Linked to:

 

_{--Diary and Autobiography of John Adams, Vol. III, p. 9.}

31 Days to Clean: Maintaining by Planning

This week (Days 21-25) the Mary tasks are all about planning and organizing your home.  To me the actual cleaning is not the difficult part of managing a home-it's keeping it that way!   A major key to that includes planning and organizing. The first time I did 31 days I made a detailed cleaning plan in which I never used. I'm talking about it didn't even last 2 days!! 

However, there are 2 things I wanted to share that have really helped me in managing our home:  a simplified cleaning schedule and my Home Managment Binder.

Simple Cleaning Schedule 

After my detailed cleaning schedule being a total flop; I realized I needed something simpler and more flexible.  I ran across Courtney's (Women Living Well) schedule and liked it so I modified it a bit for me.  I've been using it for about 3-4 months and so far it works great!

Monday-laundry. This is not the ONLY day I do laundry but I do make sure it's all caught up, folded and put away.
Tuesday-toilets and tubs (bathroom)
Wednesday-whatever day!  Catch up/get ahead or maybe something else that's not necessarily on my weekly schedule but needs attention!
Thursday-Dust/clean kitchen

Friday-Floors. I sweep all floors and mop our living room and kitchen every week. Then I alternate mopping the spare rooms and bathrooms and our bedroom/bathroom every other week.

Home Management Binder 

A Home Managment Binder is simply a binder you use to keep important information, schedules, and lists that help you manage your home.  There are ALL sorts of schedules and lists you can print out to include in this.  (Simply google Home Managment Binder or Home Managment Binder Printables).  You can even buy books to teach you how to construct one. 

I did not make one of these the first time I did 31 Days.  However, after utilizing my Untangling Christmas Planner I realized how much simpler it was having everything organized in one spot right at my fingertips!  It helped so much through Christmas that I was lost without it at the first of the year! So I simply took another binder, some pocket tabs, a zipper pouch, monthly calendars (I print off 3 each month), sheet protectors and some notebook paper.  Then I customized a notebook that works for me.  I have good intentions of decorating the outside and making it a little more attractive but I have yet to get that far! 

In the very front I have a zipper pouch in which I keep any important loose items.  For example, right now mine has a few receipts I needed to keep and some doctor appt slips.   Then I have the binder divided into sections using my pocket tabs.  Here's an outline of my tabs and what I included in mine:

1. Schedules (1st Tab)
1. Family calendar-I use one calendar each month and write down any important dates the whole family needs to know about
2. Hubby's Softball Schedule (so I'm actually still waiting on Curt to give me this one-but I have a spot for it!
3. Hubby's School Schedule
4. Tot school schedule
5. My Cleaning schedule
6. My Morning and Evening Routine
7. Before I bought my mini dry erase board I also kept my 6 list here.
2. Menu (2nd Tab)
1. Monthly plan-I only buy groceries once a month so at the end of each month i'll make a menu for the next month on the second monthly calendar I've printed.  I'll place this in the pocket tab.  I don't stick to this to the exact day but we do usually end up eating these meals sometime during the month!
2. Sheet protector-If I run across a recipe I want to try then I'll stick it in this sheet protector until I get a chance to try it out. If it's a keeper then I'll move it to my recipe binder.
3. Notebook paper-for my grocery list
3. Tot School - (3rd Tab)
1. Monthly calendar-my 3rd and final monthly calendar I print with an overview of our weekly theme.
2. In the pocket tab I'll also place ideas I see from magazines, blogs, etc.
3. Notebook paper- for more detailed plans and ideas
4. Budget/Finances - (4th Tab)
1. Sheet protector-When we get the couple of bills we have to pay by snail mail I'll place them in this sheet protector until we pay them
2. Monthly Budget
3. Notebook paper-for keeping track of how much we actually spend each month on things that aren't set amounts (gas, groceries, etc).  I'll then total these sheets to see when we've reached our budget.
5. Inspirational- (5th Tab)   All I have on this section is the pocket tab and notebook paper.  I use this to write down quotes I like, scriptures, my goals and resolutions, a list of books I hope to read, etc. 
6. Crafts - (6th Tab)
        I have the pocket tab, a sheet protector and notebook paper in this section. If I see something online or in a magazine I want to try to make then I'll place it in this section. I also use it to make lists of materials I need for the crafts.
7. Projects - (7th Tab) This section also just consists of notebook paper and I use it to plan and organize any "projects" I have going on. For example the tea party we organized around Valentine's Day.  Right now I also have a couple pages on 31 Days, nursery,  and a few other things I'm working on!

Depending on your home and tasks you may need different categories so customize yours and make it work for you!  


So that's a couple ways I stay organized around the home!  Heave you found anything that's made managing your home simpler?? Please share!!!

*By the way, if you haven't already purchased 31 Days to Clean you can get the PDF version 50% off with code SPRING! 

Cleaning Style, "Green" Cleaning Products and More!

I 'm not sure where last week went but before I knew it the week was over and I hadn't blogged at all!  I didn't intentionally take a "blogging break" but obviously it wasn't a priority for me last week!  The good news is that I did get a lot of other things done!  Including sticking to my 31 Days to Clean.  Ok-so maybe I haven't done EVERYTHING on the EXACT day I was supposed to but I have doubled up a few days so I'm still on task!  Isn't that what Sarah Mae means by imperfection and "do something"??? 

Hopefully, at least a few of you are still with me even though I failed to blog last week!  Hang in there b/c we're already at the 1/2 way point!!

I don't know about you but something about clean windows, baseboards and ceiling fans (along with this 80 degree weather) makes me feel like Spring is here!  Living room and kitchen are completely done. The bedroom is almost done and I've gotten out a few spring/Easter decorations.  The winter quilts have been packed up and the spring bedding is out!

 If you need a little motivation then clean out your couches and see what you can find!  I found all sorts of "treasures" while vacuuming out the couches:  hair bows, ponytail holders, colored pencil, 1/2 box of cereal "Miss Priss" apparently spilled when I didn't realize it, a pearl earring, and a black necklace I've never seen before (the hubby got questioned on that one!)

Seriously, Sarah Mae has lots of tips to motivate us this week and a survey to discover our cleaning style.   My cleaning style was "supportive".   I enjoy having someone guide me and would do best with a program to teach and guide me (imagine that-another reason I'm loving this book!).   She recommends the Fly Lady for my cleaning style which I hope to check out more of soon!

Finally, I'm curious do you use any "homemade" or "green" cleaning products?  I've done a little research on this and it's amazing how you can take just a few simple household items and create cleaning supplies.  You're not smelling all the harsh chemicals, so it's better for you, the environment and it's cheaper!  For example, vinegar has become one of my favorite things to use to clean. I've always mixed it with water to clean my floors (hardwood) but I'm discovering more and more ways to use it.  One thing I'm hoping to try fairly soon is some homemade laundry detergent!  Here are a few links with some tips and tricks.  I'd love to hear yours and how this challenge is going for you!

http://homemakerschallenge.com/2012/03/16/journey-from-regular-cleaning-products-to-green-clean/

http://organizedhome.com/clean-house/pantry-recipes-homemade-cleaning-products

http://eartheasy.com/live_nontoxic_solutions.htm

My Secret to Getting it “All” Done

There’s one thing I learned from 31 Days that I still do nearly every day and that’s make a “Six List”.  The Six List has been a lifesaver for me in managing the house (and in everything I do)!   There have been those moments when I felt SO overwhelmed and behind that I thought I’d never get it done!   However, one six list a day and before I knew it I was caught up!  Here are a few reasons I LOVE the Six List:

1.        It’s Simple: It only takes me about 2 minutes every night to make the list. I used to write my list on paper but then I found this dry erase board at the Dollar Tree and I’ve been using it every since (and yes it came with the marker and even a string to hang it-for $1!!) Every night I simply erase my list and create the one for the next day.  (I also keep my prayer list at the bottom of the board just as a daily reminder J)

2.       It’s Short:  Since it is only six things I almost always finish it. This makes even those big tasks manageable and gives me a sense of accomplishment!

3.       It Helps Me Stay On-Task:  It’s easy to get distracted when you’re at home all day! And some distractions are alright but some aren’t!  So having the six list in front of me all day helps me remember what I need to get done that day and stay-on-task. 

4.       It’s Efficient:   If for some reason I don’t finish a task then I move it to the next day and since I get tired of writing the same thing over and over I’m less likely to procrastinate! Instead I get it done so I can check it off!

So I challenge you to give it a shot! See if it doesn’t make your life simpler! 

How’s the challenge going for everyone else?  I must confess we were out of town Thursday and Friday so I’m a little behind myself and have some catching up to do!

For the complete history on the Six List click here.

31 Days to Clean: Day 2

There are a lot of things I've shared on this blog that I thought I never would!  And today this is one of those-my messy refrigerator!  Our cleaning task for Day 2 is to clean the refrigerator.  Lucky for me at least it's the end of the month and I only buy groceries at the beginning of the month so at least there wasn't QUITE as much in there but it was still a mess!!!

Here's a few before and after pics:

Before

Dirty shelves :(




Clean Shelves :)



 

After

I love accomplishing something like this early in the morning!  I feel like I can tackle anything today now.  So how are your first two days going?  Take some before and after pics and share!

31 Days to Clean: My Mission

"It's not so much how busy you are, buy why you are busy.  The bee is praised.   The mosquito is swatted."  Mary O'Connor (taken from 31 Days to Clean)

Are you ready to be challenged spiritually and physically?  Do you long for a housecleaning routine that you felt didn't take up ALL of your time?  Does your home need a good "spring cleaning"?  Then I have a challenge for you.  Today I'm starting the 31 Days to Clean Having a Martha House the Mary Way.  Call it an early start to spring cleaning or nesting, but since it's been almost a year since I've done it the first time I've decided to tackle it again. 


My goal is to blog about this challenge at least once a week. I'm hoping that blogging along with a few friends joining me, like Abby from Trusting in Him, will help hold me accountable!  I also hope that we can share hosekeeping tips and tricks along the way to make all our jobs easier!  Then by Easter my house will be in order and I can enjoy a couple weeks before the new baby gets here!

 So today's just our first today and we'd love for you to join us too!  Each day Sarah Mae gives you a spiritual (Mary) and houscleaning (Martha) challenge.  We'll be doing this Monday through Friday and taking the weekends off.  Simply purchase and dowload the e-book here and let's get started! 


Today our first Martha challenge is to think about why we want a clean house and create a mission statement.  Each year I taught I always had my students to create a mission statement at the beginning of the year.  Why it's never cross my mind to do one myself until I read this I don't know??!  However, it's great to sit down and really think about why cleaning is important to you.  You're a lot more motivated to do it if you have a good reason and understand why it's important to you! 


For me I want my home to be organized and clean so that we can enjoy it as a family!  It's hard for it to be a "happy place" to come home to if it's a mess and disorganized!  I want myself, my husband, children, and everyone to enjoy walking in my home not feel stressed or uncomfortable!


I took my mission statement from where I did this last time.  Here it is:

 

My mission is to create and foster an environment that puts God first.  I want to strive to make our home our "happy place!"  Not only to us but so that others will find it welcoming.  I want to "look" for ways to encourage and make a better life for my husband, my daughters and all those around me.

Unfortunately, last time I never got around to actually displaying it so this time I doctored it up just a bit by adding some scriptures (Joshua 24:15 and Proverbs 31:27) and words to describe how I wanted my home to feel.  I typed it in Microsoft Word using some Word Art and placed it in a frame.  I wished I had a prettier frame but I'm all about using what I already have and I had this simple black one so here's my finished product:

I'm going to place it in my kitchen window so that I can constantly be reminded of my mission!  So will you be joining us? Do you have your mission statement yet?  How do you plan on displaying/remembering it?  Please share!!

Bringing Christmas Into Your Home

Oh there's no place like home
For the holidays, ‘cause no matter
How far away you roam
If you want
To be happy in a million ways
For the holidays, you can’t beat
Home, sweet home

                       

Robert Allen - Al Stillman

                Let me begin by saying I’m not by any means an interior decorator as you will soon see!  Actually, I don’t even have all my decorating done and started to hold off on this blog.  However, I’ve said it before this blog is about what’s REALLY going on in my life not just a bunch of words.  So there you have my confession(s)…I’m not a decorator and I don’t even have all my decorating finished according to my “schedule” but I’m close! 

                To me the way you decorate your house is one of the things that make it home.  I actually don’t want my home to look like an Ethan Allen showroom.  I want it to reflect us and look “lived in”.   Most of the things in my home are things that have been given to me, passed down by grandparents/relatives, and/or handmade and I LOVE it that way!  I love looking around my home and being reminded of the people and things that are important to me and I want it to be that way at Christmas too!  Of course, I also want to keep my decorating simple …so in addition to my nativities in every room that I’ve already mentioned - here’s a few ways/tips that I have used in decorating my home:

               

1.        Bring the Outside In (Did you know you have decorations lying out in your yard and they’re free?!!):

a.       Pine Branches – The first year we moved into our home I’d never really had a mantle to decorate so I didn’t have any garland or the money to buy any.  Instead, I went outside and cut some pine branches and covered my mantle in those.  Lord, knows we have plenty of pine trees around!  I loved not only the way it looked but the smell!  I did the same thing again this year.

b.      Gum Drop Trees – This was something we always did when I was little.  We would go outside and find a “thorny little tree” (This tree may have an actual name but I don’t know it!) and then stick gumdrops on the little “thorns”.  It made a cute decoration and is a lot of fun for kids (just watch the thorns!).

c.       Painted Branches – Even if all you have are dead branches in your yard, you can spray paint some of them, put them in a vase, and decorate as you want.

d.      Pinecones – I’ve also gathered pinecones from outside and put them in a pretty basket.

2.       Frame It

a.       Child’s Artwork – I always display “Miss Priss’” artwork on the refrigerator but I saw this picture on Kelly Prickett’s facebook page and LOVED it!  If you look in the frames, she took her daughter’s footprints and son’s handprints and made these precious Christmas trees.  I love the way she displayed them and how great will it be to pull these out every year and remember those tiny hands and feet!  I am SO stealing this idea next year! 

b.      Old Christmas Cards – Have a special Christmas card from a special someone?  Frame it!

c.       Favorite pictures of past Christmases – I have a picture collage on our mantle that says “Blessings” and I plan on changing out all the pics in the frame to Christmas pictures-some old and some new! 

3.       Use What You Already Have or Make it!   (Just to name a few..)

a.       Heirlooms- Just to name a few of mine . . .The star on top of our tree is the one my grandmother always used.  I have ornaments on my tree from her and from my parents’ first set of ornaments they received when they were married.  The quilt on our bed is more spring/summery so I take it off and put on a white chenille bedspread during the winter.  Then throw on a rose afghan my great-grandmother made on the end of the bed and use pillowcases with roses made by another grandmother.

b.      Reindeer –I have these cute little reindeer on either side of our front door that my Daddy made out of logs/sticks.  I don’t think I could make them but I don’t think they’d be too hard to make!

c.       Samplers/Cross-Stitching – I love signs/quotes/and sayings and a great way to display them is to stitch them out and frame them.  I have a couple that are specifically Christmas I’ve done. 

4.       Outside – Here’s a final picture of the outside of our home (still like putting the wreaths on the dormers).  I’m more of a wreath and candle in the window kind of girl (as opposed to lights) but whatever you prefer – decorate the outside!   I love pulling up and seeing all the wreaths and candles-automatically puts me in the Christmas spirit!

My only other tip about bringing Christmas into your home is light a candle (or in my case burn your Scentsy-Christmas Cottage is awesome) and put on some Christmas music!  One thing I’ve started doing when “Miss Priss” or I start getting cranky is taking 5 minutes, turning on some music (Our favorites are ‘Rockin Around the Christmas Tree” or “Let it Snow”)  and just dance and be silly! It’s a great 5 minute “picker-upper” and then we can go back to whatever we are doing in a much better mood!     Have you decorated yet?  What’s your favorite things around your home?