HOMEmaker’s Challenge–Day 5; The week’s recap.

And the week is coming to a close.  I’m so excited for Friday.  I love my weekends.  This weekend we are pretty busy – a dance recital, a funeral, a birthday party, church.  Okay, not so busy, but for us it is.  I love the weekends where we just sit at home or work in the yard.

 

Okay, back to the challenge.

 

I have finished all the Martha challenges.  My windows are clean in my kitchen; my curtains are so bright now!  My kitchen is cleaner than when I started, that’s for sure.

 

The Mary challenges were so much tougher.  I got my mission statement and I love it It is set as my screen saver.  I do want to print a modified copy of it to post on my wall.  It’s on a black background and that’s just not nice in print.  I didn’t ask my family what made them feel loved.  I know that me, not on the computer, working with them, is what makes them happy.  I was to invite people over and not fret about the state of the house.  Hmm, well, we do that all the time.  On day five, today, we were to list our priorities.  Although I haven’t finished this yet, I do intend to.  My priorities are sorely mixed up.  I’m working on changing this.  I guess that’s what this whole course / challenge is about.

 

My biggest struggle is my priorities.  My computer gets in the way so  badly.  When we didn’t have internet, my house was so clean.

 

I look forward to next week.  I will take the weekend to enjoy my family and think about  my mission statement and my priorities.

 

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

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,

HOMEmaker’s Challenge

I have not done many (any?) challenges on my blog this year.  So, I am joining my friend, Kim, and many other ladies in this homemaker’s challenge, in May.  We are working through a book by Sarah Mae of Like A Warm Cup Of Coffee.  If you wanna join us, you can sign up here.

 

I have the book but I need to print it yet and take a look at what I’m getting myself into.  I really enjoy Sarah Mae’s blog, so I’m sure I will enjoy her book as well.

 

Kim and I are going to nag each other so we get the work done each day.  My friend, Kathryn from Expectant Hearts, is thinking of joining me too.  I hope she does.

 

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,