HOMEmaker’s Challenge Day 3

 

Here’s my before and after pictures of my fridge and freezer cleaning that I did on Tuesday.

 

 

 

 

This was the easy part of the challenge (Day 2).  The Mary Challenge was tougher.  And apparently tomorrow’s Mary Challenge is even more difficult.  It’s all for a good reason though.  I am looking forward to it.

 

Day 2 starts with this quote from Barbara Mouser’s book Five Aspects of Women:

Life-giving is about receiving from God in order to give to others.

 

I haven’t read the book.  I know I am a life giver; I gave birth to 7 babies, I get that.  The deeper question is: how do I give life to my family and my home in our day to day lives?  I didn’t have any answers.  So one of the other participants said to read ahead to Day 3 for some suggestions and this is what I finally came up with:

 

1. I can bring life to my home by clearing the clutter and finding homes for the things we choose to keep.
2. I can bring life to our home by adding pretty things.
3. I can bring life to my husband by watching that my tongue and my attitude are positive and caring.
4. I can bring life to my husband by planning special times for just the two of us.
5. I can bring life to my children by ridding myself of angry words and overreacting to accidents.
6. I can bring life to my children by instructing my children in life skills and the 3R’s.
7. I can bring life to my community by being hospitable and friendly, in my home and while out and about.
8. I can bring life to my community by participating in community events.
9. I can bring life to myself by taking time for me, doing the things I love.
10. I can bring life to myself by taking pride in making my house a home.

 

Right now I feel like my family and I are just existing; we are just moving from day to day to day with no direction or focus.  I have been trying to and wanting to change this for a couple of years now.  It’s such a long process!  A while ago I read a book that I wanted to make a point of re-reading / skimming to add special touches to our home.  I think I will have to pull it out again; I’m so glad that I purchased a copy.

 

I am on such a journey.  I am reading The Surrendered Wife and what I am learning there goes hand-in-hand with this challenge.  Having a mission statement, is so wonderful.  It’s such a great tool.  I used my mission statement today to relax when things when crazy around suppertime yesterday.  I boiled over the chocolate sauce for our pancakes and I made a huge mess.  I remembered that I wanted to maintain relationship / intimacy with my children (and DH) so I didn’t freak out.  Maintaining that relationship goes right along with my mission statement – to be kind, gracious and joyful when working with my children.

 

 

Today the plan is to ask my family what makes them feel most loved in regards to caring for our home and scrubbing some cabinets.

 

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,