31 Days to Clean Challenge: Day 5

I'm excited to be participating in the 31 Days to Clean Challenge over at Joyful Mothering.  You can get a copy of the e-book on Amazon
(just click on the picture on the left!)  I'm WAY behind, but I'm not stressing about it!

Today talked about priorities.  I thought I'd take a look back at the priorities I identified nearly a year ago and see how they've changed.  She also suggests rating them on a scale of 1 (needs work) - 5 (doing good) to track your progress.

1. Spiritual Life

   a. Daily walk (no change) -3
   b. Church attendance (no change) -4

2. Family Life  

   a. Husband - date nights, evening time -3

             b. Family Meal time (was "a") -3

   c. Home-keeping -3

 3. Homeschool/Education

   a. Maintain an educational atmosphere (no change) -4
   b. Be consistent with chosen curriculum (moved to an unschooling/minimalist approach)
   c. Karate classes (no change) -4
   d. Piano lessons for Jordan (at home) (no change) -2

4. Church
   a. Volunteering (Worship team, etc) (no change) -3
   b. Activities (no change) -5

5. Community
   a. Business events
   b. Karate Demos/events
   c. Cultural Arts Council
   d. CampSol volunteer-ism -3

I really like the way that she wrote a mission statement and action plan for each one.  I would love to do that!

31 Days to Clean Challenge: Day 4

I'm excited to be participating in the 31 Days to Clean Challenge over at Joyful Mothering.  You can get a copy of the e-book on Amazon
(just click on the picture on the left!)  I'm running a little behind, but I'm not stressing about it!


The Mary challenge today was a breeze for me!  My home feels MORE thank lived in.  It definitely is no challenge to me to have others over, let their kids run and play, and entertain.  This is my "sweet spot".  My only challenge in this area is I tend to over-think things.

I spent many years as an event planner, so I like to make things special.  For example: We have a group of ladies that get together once a month to play BUNCO.  We take turns hosting and each person sets a food theme and others bring dishes to share.  I can't just say "Mexican food".  I've set the theme as "Beach Blanket BUNCO"

It's a theme party, 1965 attire and beehive hair optional (but encouraged!).  The fare?  Beach Picnic Food.  I think this is fun, great fun!  The thought has occurred to me though, there are others who are not thrilled with theme parties.  They might not get joy out of figuring out something "Beach Picnic-Worthy".  I am sure there are some (many?) who won't find it amusing to dress the part.

So, in my effort to provide hospitality, have I caused grumbling?

The Martha challenge - I got off the hook again!  We're still in the kitchen, where my microwave and oven was throughly cleaned by the maids last week!  And, the microwave had a tough up yesterday when I boiled over while trying to make cream of wheat cereal for the first time.  I ruined it.  Twice.  I'll stick to oatmeal!

31 Days to Clean Challenge: Day 3

I'm excited to be participating in the 31 Days to Clean Challenge over at Joyful Mothering.  You can get a copy of the e-book on Amazon
(just click on the picture on the left!)


The Mary challenge this week was tough!  I interviewed each of my older children and my husband, individually. Here are there unedited responses to my question "As it pertains to the house, and what I do or don't do in it and for it, what makes you feel most loved?"

William (Husband):

• I feel loved when the floor has been picked up before I get home from work, so the area looks cleaner.   

• I like it when the kitchen is clean when I get home so I can serve my family by preparing dinner.  (I know - I'm blessed!)

• I felt really loved last week when I saw that ALL my laundry was clean at the same time.

Calvin (12 Year Old Son):

• I feel loved when you vacuum the floor and I don't get crunchies in my feet.  

• I feel loved when you clean my room. (he prepared for that one by saying "I don't want to tell you this one, because it will seem like I'm asking you to do it!")

Jordan (10 Year Old Daughter):

• I feel loved when you help me clean my room 

• When you tuck me in at night 

• When you help me when I'm doing something with Gavin or Aaron.  

• I feel loved when you remind me to pick up after myself.  

• I like it when you help me clean up after I paint

• When you help me with crafts and schoolwork.

The next thing I asked was "Is there anything that I do or don't do that makes you feel un-loved?"

William:
His answer was a furtive glance over my shoulder at my desk:

shame, shame, shame!

Calvin and Jordan both said they felt unloved when I yell at them :(

Wow - that was brutal!  I was afraid before I asked that they wouldn't be able to say anything that made them feel loved, because I'm NOT a great housekeeper.  I'm a lot of fun though ;)  (except when I'm yelling at my kids, apparently!)

After asking these questions, I reflected on what was behind the words, what they didn't say, or couldn't say. For William, I think he feels most loved when it is clear that we have prepared for his return for work.  For Calvin, he feels most loved when he feels served/cared for.  For Jordan, she feels most loved when we do things together.  If you've ever read Love Languages by Gary Chapman, you may see that these relate to the languages of Acts of Service and Quality Time.  I know that my husband's love languages are Gifts and Acts of Service.  My son's is Quality Time and Acts of Service.  My daughter's is Physical Touch, Quality Time and Words of Affirmation.

The challenge was to take what we learned and  apply or continue.  I have already begun implementing some "Welcome Home Daddy" type principles.  We stop about an hour or so before William is expected home and pick up our mess, make sure the counters are clean, the dishwasher is unloaded and try to straighten the Family Room.  I am going to try to make progress on my desk (bahhhhh - it would help if the other 4 people who can walk wouldn't put anything here too!)

In the last few weeks I've made a very concentrated effort NOT to yell, so that should help with the un-loved part for the kids.  For Calvin, I am going to spend more time vacuuming.  I really don't mind vacuuming that much, because it makes the house look so much better!  Plus, you have to clear the floor to vacuum, so that will kill 2 birds with one stone.  :)

For Jordan, I'm going to make a conscious effort to include her in my chores, rather than giving her something to do on her own.  Ever since she was a baby, she has been happiest when we were all in the same room!  When she started walking, she would drag everyone by the hand, one at a time, until we were all in the same place.  Then she would sit down and play quietly!

For the Martha challenge, fortunately I had a luxury last week:  2 maids came and cleaned!  So my cabinets are clean, even on top!

31 Days to Clean Challenge: Day 2

I'm excited to be participating in the 31 Days to Clean Challenge over at Joyful Mothering.  You can get a copy of the e-book on Amazon
(just click on the picture on the left!)


Today's task was to figure out how you can bring LIFE to your home TODAY.  I decided to refresh my mantle.  Here is the before:

"Before"

I hadn't changed it from the Easter decor.  I am hosting BUNCO at my house next week (Beach Blanket BUNCO with a 1960's beach theme!) so I planned to pull together my summer/beachy stuff and see what I could come up with.

Just as I took the before picture, Aaron (our 4 month old) wanted to eat.  I sat down and began nursing him.  A few minutes later, Gavin (our nearly 3 year old) rounded the corner with a box of cereal, upside down and open, leaving a trail behind that would make Hansel and Gretel very jealous!

follow the yellow (and green and blue and red and orange) brick road

"I eat it like a puppy mommy!"

yes, that is green cereal entrapped in booger

Turns out he was hungry too!  ARG!  So after snapping these pics and this video:

I pulled out the vacuum cleaner.  It wasn't working very well, so I took it apart to clean it.  Turns out that it was stuffed full of Styrofoam packing peanuts.  This was obviously from Jordan's (our only girl, aged 10) birthday party.  You see, when you go to sleep at 2 AM and leave a few well-behaved girls up with access to  caffeinated beverages, this is what you wake up to:

You can't really appreciate the amount of packing peanuts by this picture.  See that box in the foreground?  It was FULL (from my most recent Gold Canyon Candles order).  The girls decided to make snow.  They cut the peanuts into tiny pieces.  (by the way, does anyone know why packing peanuts have so much static cling? They hang around on EVERYTHING!)

So, after cleaning the vacuum, cleaning up the cereal, cleaning up the toddler, making lunch, feeding the (still hungry) baby, eating lunch and 4 hours of toddler-"I-no-wanna"-nap-wrestling... Here's the after:

"After"

Don't adjust your screens, there is absolutely no difference.  It turns out, I already have enough life in my house!

I've made this reminder of my personal mission statement to put on my computer desktop as my background.  That way when I'm tempted to waste time on the internet instead of clean, I'll have a personal reminder!

I had to take a sanity break and go get a coke. (OK, maybe I didn't HAVE to, I needed to.  Still too strong? I guess I just WANTED to run away have a coke)  While I was out, I got a call from my brother that he was in town and wanted to stop by.  Since I had cleaned up the mess already, at least my living room was ready to offer hospitality without grumbling.  So although I felt like I failed the Mary challenge, and didn't even attempt the Martha challenge, I did succeed in my personal mission statement!

31 Days to Clean Challenge: Day 1

I'm excited to be participating in the 31 Days to Clean Challenge over at Joyful Mothering.  You can get a copy of the e-book on Amazon
(just click on the picture on the left!)


Today's task was to figure out WHY you want a clean house.  I giggled when I read this, because I had just done this exercise with the kids last week!  We had fun coming up with the reasons.  I also added some other columns of how each item would save money, be environmentally friendly, benefit our family's happiness and save time.

As you can see, all these things add to the happiness of our family!  So to turn this into my personal mission statement:

I want my house to be clean to reflect my appreciation for my blessings, to honor my husband, to enjoy my children and to be able to offer hospitality without grumbling at a moment's notice. 

I've made this reminder to put on my computer desktop as my background.  That way when I'm tempted to waste time on the internet instead of clean, I'll have a personal reminder!



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