Time Management 911

Dear Lissy,

Life feeling like three gallons of crazy in a two gallon bucket?  Or maybe it's an overwhelmed friend dissolving in tears on your couch instead?  Dry those eyes, square your shoulders, and start in on Momma's Emergency Plan!

week one:  Without a list you're listless.
Write down the 5 most important things you need to get done today.  Do not just "think" them.  Do not make more than 5.  You may want to brush up on the most important household tasks before making your list.

• Going to any appointment or meeting counts as one item. 
• Only write things you can actually do.  Don't write "Dishes", but "Wash and put away dishes, scrub sink and counters."
• Up to 3 loads of laundry = 1 list item.  If you want to do more than that today, it will have to be done after you've completed the list

Do it.  Put on some zippy tunes, and get to work.  Don't go to the park with friends, take a computer break, read a book, or pull out a craft project until those 5 things are done.

Repeat.   Do this every day.  You're off to a great start!

week two:  Write a  morning and evening routine.

Take a sheet of paper and fold it in half.  Write down everything you do (or should do) first thing in the morning on one side and last thing at night before bed on the other side.  

• Do not add items you want to do someday like family devotions or exercise yet.
• Put "Write tomorrow's 5 To-Do" on the evening routine list, and "5 To-Do List" after breakfast on the morning routine.
• "Run Load of Laundry" should be on the morning routine.
• Put a bedtime and alarm time on each routine.

Post your routine where you can see it easily.  The front of the fridge is great.  So is your nightstand.  Don't put it out of sight in a notebook, though.

Do it every day, first and last.  Do your morning routine before you do anything else (even checking e-mail!), and don't go to bed without doing your evening routine.  

week three:  Establish a mealtime routine.

Here's your new mealtime routine.  Do or delegate, just get it done.

• Prep the meal.
• Serve the meal.
• Put away leftovers
• Clean all the dishes & pans now.
• Clean the kitchen and dining room, including a quick sweep/damp mop under the table and edges of the counter.
• Prep as much as possible for the next meal.

Keep doing your evening and morning routines (and writing that list!)

week four:  Write a Weekly Plan

Designate each day of the week for specific household tasks.  Here's our family's plan.

• Monday:  Regroup & Plan
• Tuesday:  Errands
• Wednesday:  Desk
• Thursday:  
• Friday:  Cleaning
• Saturday:  Car & Yard 
• Sunday:  Lord's Day

*Notice I left one day completely blank so I can either take the day off, or take another day off and slide that day's work onto Thursday.

Weekly plans are a powerful productivity tool with many applications, but for now: 

1. Set a timer and spend one hour per day on the category you've chosen.
2. Schedule to-do items for the day they most closely fit.  Take the suit to the dry cleaners on Tuesday, don't make a special trip on Friday.  If a friend wants to get together, suggest Thursday (but be flexible!)
3. Create some visible way to save reminders for things that need to be done on a particular day.   I prefer a whiteboard divided into seven squares on the back of the kitchen door, but an SMS or e-mail reminder sent to the day works fine, too.   Out of sight, out of mind:  be very wary of creating notebooks or folders that require you to open and use them.

Keep up with your morning, evening, and mealtime routine.  The list should be a habit by now, too.

This plan is rather bossy, and it's meant to be.  If you're feeling overwhelmed, you need a clear voice to cut through the fog and just say "do this".  I've included gobs of  background and philosophy for each of these steps in other letters.  

 Love and a big hug,
 Momma

linked up at newlifeonahomestead.com, raisinghomemakers.com, womenlivingwell.org, and Works for Me Wednesday

Lessons We've Learned From a Month of Hard Work (Part 1)

Dear Lissy,
Late in January we decided to re-organize and simplify our home.  The upkeep was overwhelming, and all of my organizational systems were designed for a home full of toddlers, not teenagers.  After a string of construction projects upended nearly every room in the house, we were all ready to tear our hair out.

I decided as part of my One Golden Day goal to redeem the afternoons.  I had fallen into the sloppy habit of using afternoons as "me" time instead of working.  I enlisted all three of you and we started cranking every weekday afternoon from 1-4 p.m.  Here's what we've learned. . .

There is ALWAYS a valid reason why you can't work
A string of valid problems -- the never-ending sinus infection, a leaky ceiling in the sewing area, a broken foot, ministry demands, and a hundred other less worthy excuses --  meant that a lot of the normal work that needs to be done to keep a family running smoothly had been left undone during the past couple of years.  During this 28 day blitz I worked through with a head cold, a demanding school schedule,  the winter round of doctor/dentist/orthodontist/optometrist appointments, additional ministry responsibilities, and a bunch of drop-in company.  The most important lesson of this month for me:  You make time for what's important to you!


Less is More
We've gotten rid of so. much. stuff.  I've ousted furniture, toys, books, clothing, knick-knacks and artwork, kitchen gadgets & appliances, linens, and serviceware.  Our newly streamlined house has a spaciousness that puts us all in a place of grace.  Deep peace and power accompany simplicity.  There is also an insane desire to redecorate -- I'm hoping that will pass.

In All Labor There Is Profit
I tend to be hyper-organized and knew that 2011's "Just Do It" philosophy was going to be important for this project.  Each day I chose a few places to hit, and at the end of the month, every room was simplified & organized.  Because we all pitched in and worked hard, the job got done.  It got done a bit haphazardly, but it was done before our finish date.  In the past I would have spent hours making checklists, and detailed to-do lists for each person.  Good ol' fashioned, callous-making, backbone-breaking work got the job done just fine.  The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.

Starting is The Hardest Part
There was more than one time during the past few weeks your Dad kissed me on the forehead and demanded I stop working and go to bed.  Once I get started, I'm the Energizer Bunny.  But, oh, the getting started nearly kills me every day.  The accountability I had to the three of you to keep up with the plan was often the only thing that got the ball rolling.
I got especially overwhelmed by areas that needed a lot of work rather than a quick re-do.  Often I would have one of you pull everything out of a squirrel's nest, sort it into categories, and wipe down the containers and area you had just emptied.  I'd come through once you were done, purge out everything we didn't need, and replace the rest into the newly-cleaned area.  Splitting up the job that way made it much easier for all of us.  The old saw is true:  Well begun is half done.

It's Far Easier Keeping An Area Tidy Than Getting It Tidy
Each day we went back through the areas we had already blitzed and made sure they were still neat and organized.  When an area that we had organized wasn't working, we changed it so it would.  By the end of the second week, it was taking us 15 minutes to get the whole house looking its best.  Now the four of us can have everything spifferoo in 5 minutes if we keep up with our regular mealtime and laundry routines.  It will always be a lot of work to keep our 130 year old home clean, but we've made it easy-peasy to keep it clutter free.  We've all learned during the past month that it's easier to keep up than to catch up.


We've been richly enjoying the freedom that comes with discipline, the joy that accompanies obedience, and the wisdom that comes with doing what you know to be right.  I wish the systems I set up when we moved here 12 years ago had still been humming along nicely so that we didn't have to do a big overhaul, but I'm glad you've been part of the process and learned how to simplify and organize.  It will continue to be a process of growth for us in the weeks and months to come, I'm sure.  I have several more lessons I'll send you in another letter.


Simply loving little you!
Mom

Plan B

Dear Lissy,
Well, I've done it!  Daddy's convinced me to take a few hours a week to bake artisan bread for a new restaurant opening up in the historic district.  I'm excited and nervous all at once.  I  know it will be easy to take my focus off our home as I start something brand new (bread) and return to our schoolwork in a little over six weeks. Time for Plan B.

How to Plan, Part 3: Life is Just so Daily

Dear Lissy,
We've finally arrived in March, but we still have almost 3 feet of snow in the yard.  All of us have cabin fever, and your brothers are fighting influenza this week, too.  I think we'll probably take a drive over to Grammy's house tomorrow to water her plants, feed the birds, and clear off snow and ice from the last storm.  She's invested many hours of time and energy into our lives it's a pleasure to be able to be a blessing to her.

We've already talked about a weekly plan and keeping focused on the work at hand.  It's time to dive into the heart of time management, the daily plan.  You will find that you have demands on your time and energy coming from at least a dozen different sources: house, church, school, mail, community groups, family, friends, and the list goes on.

You cannot possibly accomplish everything that is asked of you.  You have to make decisions on what to do, and what to leave undone.
God has given you the task of managing your home, and loving your husband and children.  That is your top priority.  You and your husband must take the time together to decide where you will spend your time and energy.  If you decide home education is a priority for your family, for example, that is going to substantially reduce the number of other things you can take on in the church, community, or even for your extended family.

When you say "yes" to one thing, you are automatically saying "no" to something else.
A wise woman carefully considers the not just the value of the additional task she is taking on, but the value of the task(s) that will remain undone, too.  She also knows that her heart, longing for acceptance and praise, may gravitate towards doing things that will earn her the praise of others at the expense of her family.  A daily plan gives you a concrete tool for deciding whether or not you truly have time to add another item to your to-do list.  It also lets you see in black and white what will have to be amended or sacrificed in order to make the additional commitment.  It allows you to consider the additional commitment in light of your family's eternal goals.

The tools for a simple, flexible daily plan

A calendar
Whether your family uses Google calendar on your phones, a framed wall calendar, or a Day Planner system, you need a place to write down date-sensitive information.
I choose to enter ONLY appointments and work schedules on our calendars. 
Anything that doesn't have to be done on a specific date at a specific time doesn't belong on the calendar.

Routines  "She looketh well to the ways of her household."
Routines are simply sets of tasks that have to be done everyday, and are best done by a certain time.  These are the lifeblood of home management.  If you are transitioning to home after working, it is sometimes difficult to go from a calendar centered life to a routine centered life.  Just remember, Hon, progress not perfection!
Too many people make routines into a complicated Everest of tasks carefully printed and placed into elaborately crafted notebooks.

You need two tools to have great routines:  time and eyes.






1.  Set aside enough time every morning to prepare yourself and your family physically and spiritually for your day.  
Have a benchmark in your mind of when you'd like to everyone washed, dressed, fed, and done quiet time.  At whatever time you choose, look at yourself and your children.  Are you completely dressed with your hair and makeup done?  Have you eaten a nutritious breakfast and tidied the kitchen afterwards.  Has everyone spent time in the Word and prayer?
This looks different in every family.  I despise having everyone hanging around in their jammies with morning routines half done.  I have good (and godly) friends who love a relaxed atmosphere and stay in their jammies until after lunch.

2.  Set aside enough time every morning, afternoon, and evening to enter each room of your home and make it "company" tidy.

You can easily see what needs to be
done in this room.  You don't need a list!

You really don't need sheafs of to-do lists for every room.  Start in the same room every morning, set a timer if you need to, and quickly pick it up/wipe it down.  Start a load of laundry after you've gone through all the rooms.  Afternoon is a quick pick-up with the kids so that Dad doesn't walk into a cluttered, messy home.  Evening routines can set up for the next morning by choosing outfits, packing school bags and lunches, and preparing breakfast.

3.  Set aside time every day for weekly and monthly chores.
You took the time to think through your week, make sure you take time to actually implement your plan.

4.  Set aside time every day, even if it's only 15 minutes, to maintain your storage areas.  
Pick a place that's gotten seedy, and plug away restoring organization in that one spot.  Ideally you've already assigned your "stuff" a particular area and used storage containers to make it easy to restore order.  If you haven't, now is a great time to begin.

5.  Set aside time every day for meal preparation and clean up.
I like to set aside time in the morning to marinate/defrost meats, make salads, and prepare breads and side dishes.  I plan 45 minutes for lunch prep/eat/cleanup, and 90 minutes for dinner.  We rarely need that much time, so that gives me a few minutes for odd tasks.

Ticker File
This set of 43 manilla files allows you to manage anything that has to be done by a certain date and gives you a home for papers you need on a particular date, like tickets, permission slips, and bills.

Ticklers have been used by administrative assistants for over 100 years and are an extremely powerful tool.
To set one up, label 30 left cut folders from 1 to 30/31. Right cut folders can be turned inside out to create additional left cut folders if necessary.   Inside the folder labeled 23, write "Check upcoming month folder."

This diagram uses left cut for months.  I prefer center cut.

Label 12 center cut folders with the months.  Label one additional center cut folder with the word "Future".

In a 6" open-topped file folder box or a file drawer in your desk, place all of the month folders of the current calendar year starting with NEXT month in front.  Place the "Future" folder behind December.  You may have several months for the next calendar year which should be placed behind the "Future" folder. This month's folder should be the last folder in your box.

Now place all of the dated folders in the front of the box with tomorrow's date in front.  Place any date folders for next month (1 - ?) behind next month's folder.  I like to turn Sunday date folders around backwards so I don't accidentally put anything in them.
That's it!  Every day, take out that day's folder, empty it, and include the information on your daily plan. File the folder into next month, and re-file any permanent to-do and reminder cards into the next date you'll need them to pop up.  On the 23rd of each month you'll empty out the folder for the upcoming month and file the papers into the appropriate date folder.
I'll write you another letter with dozens of ideas for how to use this tool at home because almost everything available is for an office situation.

Running To-Do List
This is a list of all of the things you simply need to do at some point in the not-too-distant future.  It may include calls, purchases, or even research you need to do.







Writing Your Daily Plan
I like to do this on the computer and just print it out, but do whatever feels most comfortable for you.  It's ideal to do this the night before, but as long as you get it done first thing in the morning it will still serve you well.

My to-do list after a day in my pocket.  Items in red were
tasks Dad asked me to do for him.

On the top half of your paper, create a basic time schedule.
I have 8, 12, and 4 spaced pretty evenly down the left side of my paper.
Write or type in any appointments from your calendar.
Block off any time that you have already scheduled, such as work, school, church, or clubs
Block off times for routines.
On the bottom half of your paper, create a basic to-do/call list
Empty your tickler folder, clipping any papers you need throughout the day to your plan.
Check your running to-do list for any items that will naturally fall into the day's plans or that are getting close to needing to be done.
Look at yesterday's paper and see if there is anything that still needs to be done.
Now pencil your to-do list into time slots on the top half of the paper.  When are you actually going to do the items on your "to do" list?


This is an outline of how you anticipate your day going.  God may have other plans.  Your husband may have other plans.  Graciously accept that, and re-schedule or simply leave things undone.

Make a commitment that you won't change your own plans without careful prayer and perhaps a phone call to your husband or an older mentor.  The things on your list represent your desire to faithfully serve and bless your family by managing your home well.  Changing the timing to accommodate an impromptu trip to the park with friends isn't a big deal.  Ditching the whole list to go to the beach for the day may not be the wisest decision.  But there are times it will be, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit and your husband are crucial to knowing the difference.

It has been said if you mind the minutes, the hours take care of themselves.  I think the same is true of days.  If you faithfully manage your home each day, the weeks, months and years care for themselves.  You will have far fewer crises, and many more opportunities to bless and serve your family and friends.

I love you to the moon and back,
Mom

How to Plan, Part 2: Dont Lose Your Focus!

Dear Lissy,

We've put a foundation under our home management by planning our week.  Each day now has a few minutes dedicated to working proactively on the tasks that can create crisis, chaos, and emergencies if we leave them until they have to be done.

Daily planning requires three dimensions of management skills.


2D:  A day without at least a basic written plan is liable to get squandered.  Your weekly plan is one piece of the puzzle.  A Calendar, routines, and a tickler make up the other three sources for writing out a daily plan. I'll cover these in your next letter.


3D:  A home that doesn't have well-defined, well-maintained storage swims in clutter and the time required for basic maintenance is overwhelming.  I'll cover this in a letter, but most of my practical knowledge comes from Julia Morgenstern's book, Organizing From the Inside Out and Deniece Schofield's Confessions of an Organized Homemaker.


4D:  A homemaker who isn't able to focus and complete tasks in an orderly fashion frustrates herself either by being busy all day without accomplishing a normal amount of work or getting caught up in leisure time and not leaving enough time for managing her home.  I want you to get focused before we cover paper planning because learning focus cuts your lists by about 80% over typical homemaking systems.

4D management consists of finding tools and techniques that motivate you to stay focused.   For many homemakers focus, not planning or organization or hard work is the real problem.  I personally struggle with ferret-brain. I work haphazardly from room to room, project to project without ever completing one, stopping to look at the computer every time I walk by.  Soooo....

I use the timer.  I like working, and don't need to reward myself for it.  If you have a task or routine you despise, consider bribing yourself!

If you know you have a tendency to lose focus, set a timer for each room you tidy that only leaves enough time to clear and clean the surfaces.
For routine tasks (wiping down the bathroom, for example) I set a time (7 min in this case) that forces me to work very quickly and not get sidetracked.  7 minutes is the exact amount of time it takes me to wipe down the tub and shower walls, clean the mirror, the sink, the commode, doorknobs and lightswitches,and straighten towels and rugs.  That doesn't give me time to re-organize the medicine cabinet, clean out the overflow holes in the sink, or mop the floor.  It also doesn't give me time to run your hairbrush and barrettes on the side of the sink back to your bedroom.  I have to put them in a pocket or caddy and take them with me AFTER the bathroom is tidied.

If you have a big project, set the amount of time you have to work on it for that day, and work JUST ON THAT PROJECT during that time. 

1. Almost no one has hours to work on a big project like an attic, basement, or even an over-run closet.  Setting a timer for 25 minutes and taking a bite of the elephant is almost always do-able, though.  
2. Kids respect timers.  If they know you have a set time you're stopping and can help them or play with them, they'll generally leave you alone while you work.  Honor your word and stop to help them when the timer beeps, or this effect will quickly fade.
3. This greatly reduces the tendency to leave the work site for a drink, e-mail check, social network fix, or a phone call.

If you have time set aside for leisure or research, set a timer to remind yourself its time to get back to work.

Good books, computers, television programs, sewing projects can all cause a time-warp effect that puts us into emergency mode for the rest of the day.  

If you have an all-day project, break your work into a minutes on/minutes off pattern.

When you were little, I worked a 45 on/15 off so that you weren't deserted on days I was baking for the freezer or spring cleaning.  As you got older, I switched to a 55/5 to give myself a chance to get a glass of water and check e-mail or just sit for a few minutes.  Right now in 2011 the Pomodroido app on my phone is set up for this system.  Whether or not that will still be available when you read this, there should be something similar.

Learning to focus and completely tidy a room before you leave it, clip away at a portion of a long term project, control your leisure time or crank on an all-day work-a-thon will take your home management out of crisis mode and into cruising mode.

My timer's just gone off.  I'll write more about the daily plan in the next week or so.

Focus on Christ!

Mom

How to Plan, Part 1: Weekly Schedule

Dear Lissy,
As I sit and sip my morning coffee, I'm planning a busy two days for myself.  I've realized that this is a skill I wouldn't have had when I first started homemaking.  I need to reiterate that I don't expect or want you to do things "my way" for the rest of your life.  I'm not writing a housekeeping Bible. But these are methods that work, and work well.  Start out with a tried-and-true method, and you'll soon develop your own systems and routines that fit your personality and lifestyle.  I have my weekly template, so I just fill in a few blanks.  You're welcome to ask me, and I'll e-mail it to you.

The foundation of a productive day is a Weekly Plan.

During moments of insight, when life is quiet and calm, I know that I have certain tasks that have to be done on a weekly basis in order to keep our home running smoothly. During the “game” however, those items are usually far less urgent until they become bona fide emergencies. So, in order to give myself margin, I discipline myself to accomplish the weekly routines over the course of the week so that I am not left with emergencies or the Day of Unending Housework. Some people like to have a particular weekday off. I'm more motivated by splitting my housekeeping up into about 90 minutes a day so no one day is a killer.

Monday:

All rooms go! I do not do bangerang!or tidy on Sunday. Monday morning I spend about 45 minutes going through the whole house and setting it straight.

Menus, Shopping List, Fridge/Freezer, Pantry: I spend about another 45 minutes getting together a great shopping list so I only have to shop once during the week. I'll jot out my menus and put those items on the list. After straightening and cleaning out the fridge, freezer, and pantry, I go through with a master list and make sure I have everything I need for the week. I usually peek ahead at my Junior church lesson to make sure I have all the little doo-dads I need for their lesson. 

Mom & Dad Laundry: This is the second half of my “no load left behind” philosophy. I do a load a day as habit every morning. On Monday, anything left in our hamper, or clothing that needs to be laundered coming out of storage is done. By Monday afternoon, our hamper should be completely empty.

Tuesday: Errand Day

You will give yourself hours of margin if you plan one day to do all of your errands. Most husbands are thrilled to help you out in this area by giving you lists/items to be taken care of if they know about it ahead of time. I like to e-mail Dad toward the end of the previous week to ask for any errands, and then follow up on Monday morning. (As Dad's personal assistant, I keep my schedule flexible for him. If he needs three bags of mulch Friday afternoon, I don't whine about Tuesday being errand day – I go get the mulch.) I find that if I take just 5 minutes to list where I'm going, I can make one giant circle instead of running all over town. Pack a snack and drinks and take a break either at the park or in the car at the halfway point if you are bringing kids.

Household Laundry: All the household linens are laundered on Tuesday. Fresh, sweet beds are one of the big three for any wife/mom. (Clean clothing in drawers and closets and nourishing meals are the other two.) I only do comforters and mattress covers once a month. They can be done seasonally if no one in your house has a deathly dustmite allergy.

Wednesday: Desk Day

I need an extra dose of grace on Wednesday. This is one of those “I can put this off” items unless I just make myself sit down and do it. I don't mind paperwork, it just is so easy not to do. So I pay the bills and file paperwork for taxes, prep my Junior Church and Cub scouts, and write thank you notes or a note of encouragement to someone in our ministry. I can often psych myself out by getting a special treat on Tuesday for while I work on paperwork Wednesday.

Water Plants: Does this need an explanation?

Thursday: Weekly Cleaning

Dry Rooms: On Thursday, I take about 90 minutes to “Speed Clean” the bedroom and living areas. If you haven't ever read Jeff Campbell's little book, it's worth its weight in gold.

Kids' Laundry: All of the kids' clothing has to be washed, dried, folded, and put away by the 4 pm “Transition”. They are old enough to do much of this themselves. Again, with my “load a day” habit, I rarely have more than 1 extra load to do.

Friday: Weekly Cleaning

Wet Rooms: Friday I clean the kitchen and bathrooms thoroughly. I usually plan about 15 minutes for each bathroom and 45 minutes for the kitchen; but I can zip through the jobs in half the time occasionally. I purposefully keep Friday's housework light so I can double up and do Saturday's work if we're going on a family outing.

Saturday: Weekly Cleaning and Lord's Day Preparations

Entryway: I give my porches and entry halls a thorough cleaning on Saturdays.

Car: I clean out and vacuum my vehicle every Saturday. I also check all the fluids and the tire pressure. A lot of husbands do this, so you may not need to even have this on your list.

Manicure: Last thing on Saturday, I give myself a manicure so my hands look nice on Sunday. Vanity, vanity  *grin*

Sunday Dinner Prep: Sunday mornings are a lot less hectic when the meal is mostly prepared on Saturday.

Sunday Clothes: Clothes are set out for everyone in the family so I have no “surprises” on Sunday morning.

Sunday: Day of Rest

Want to start a fight? Ask a roomful of Christians what are acceptable Sunday activities.

The first group feels justified in engaging in any activity, provided they are reasonably faithful to church services.

The second group will argue that only “restful” activities are acceptable, and only before or after church services.

The third group will contend that Sundays are to be “set apart”. They are God's, and are given to him as the “firstfruit” of the week. Only activities that are specifically designed for worship or fellowship are acceptable to this group.

If we truly desire to give the Lord the first day of our week, are we even seeking his will for that day? Do you ever pray and ask the Lord how he would have you spend the Lord's Day? 

A Weekly Plan is the foundation of a productive and well-run home.  We'll build the four "walls" later:  Using a Calendar, Using a Tickler File, Establishing Routines, and The Daily Plan.  The roof:  Good old-fashioned, callous-making, backbone-breaking WORK!  

The simple fact is even a homemaker with no plans or routines can keep a simple "roof of protection" over her family if she's diligent.  The converse is also true:  A homemaker with great planning and organizational skills won't be able to protect her family from even the normal wear and tear of life without a good bit of labor overarching all of her carefully made plans.

Your dear Aunt Tori has been ministering in Zambia for many, many years now, and most people cite her work with the AIDS orphanage and school.  The truth is much of her work for the Lord has been through her hospitality.  God hasn't chosen marriage or children for her (at least not yet!) but she still depends heavily on her home and her homemaking skills to fulfill God's plan for her life. 

You're a hard worker and love being busy.  I know wherever God has placed you, you will use your home to bless and serve others.  

I love you, my little French horse!

Mom

Dangers of Deep Cleaning!

Dear Lissy,
I'm on a mission to rid this house of dust and grime this week.  Two years ago I spent almost 12 weeks fighting a sinus infection that sapped my energy and left me in extreme pain.  Last spring the Lord had other work for me -- heart work -- so the deep cleaning didn't get done.

This February vacation week I'm focusing on just the cleaning.  Decluttering and re-organizing are going to have to be done piecemeal throughout the spring, or not at all.  And that is the number one danger inherent in deep cleaning:  


Disappointment:  I will only be happy with perfection.


The fact is, the Lord has given me the strength, purpose, and time for a nice thorough cleaning of every room, top to bottom, and time to re-seal the floors and oil the woodwork.  That's it.  There's a LOT more I'd like to do, and a lot more that needs to be done.  But you know what?  I'm thrilled I have the time, health, and energy to do that much.  My health was poor two years ago.  My time was short last year.  This year I have both in abundance, and I will rejoice!

The second danger is one I didn't expect, and it broad-sided me yesterday:

Discontentment:  God hasn't given me the house I need, want, or deserve.


Martha Stewart couldn't clean this old stove!  I hate it!  It doesn't even have all the burners working!
I've had these same stupid kitchen curtains for 15 years!
If I don't get a new floor in this kitchen soon, I'm going to snap!  They have better kitchen floors in CUBA!
These rooms HAVE to have a new coat of paint NOW!!!!!
Why can't we just replace these three panels around the shower?  That isn't rocket science.  They're broken down, nasty, and a bear to clean!
How am I supposed to clean a wall WITH A HOLE IN IT????  How hard is it to fix this?  We've got 17 partial buckets of sheetrock mud booby-trapping the basement, let's just pop ONE of them open and get to work, shall we?
When this barrage of  thoughts comes, only the Word of God will suffice:
I Timothy 6: 6-10
6 ¶  But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
9  But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Your house -- your home -- isn't about the walls, floors, and furnishings.  It's about the ministry of love that you are using to encourage your husband and friends, nurture your children, and reach out to a lost and dying world.  Not one of those groups really cares what condition your kitchen floor (or walls, or light fixtures) are in if your home is clean, warm, and welcoming.

You and your brothers have been wonderfully understanding as I've ripped apart every room for cleaning.  You've played together, kept the laundry running, and even helped with a few of the big projects.  And that brings us to the third danger of deep cleaning:

Selfishness:  This is my time and my project.  Help or stay out of the way. 


Funny thing, husbands and children still expect food to appear three times a day during spring cleaning.  They fail to see the fun in bobbing for laundry.  They actually want it folded and in their drawers!  They demand to use the toilet and shower you JUST cleaned.  Argh!  Your husband and children are obviously selfish barbarians who have no appreciation for a home that sparkles and shines.
Remember, this is something you are doing to serve them.  This is still their home.  And while it may send you flying around the room on your broom when you see them spill a bag of chips on the floor you just polished,

You do not get a pass to speak in clipped, angry tones during cleaning week.


The fruit of the Spirit in word and deed are required now more than ever.  Don't soil your heart with ugly thoughts and words while you wipe the dust and fingerprints off the walls.  Use the time to meditate and pray and ask God to do a little spring cleaning on your heart while you spring clean your home.

Love you lots,
Momma

Sometimes You Fall

Dear Lissy,

I have a good plan for Sundays.   

Clothes, crisp, hanging on the backs of your doors by Saturday night, ready for church on Sunday.  Shoes polished and set beneath.

A nourishing dinner in the oven by 8 a.m.  Fresh bread.  The once-a-week dessert carefully prepared and waiting in the fridge.

Junior church tote bag and special music set by the door before I go to bed on Saturday night.

The house tidy, waiting for Sunday afternoon fellowship.  The car vacuumed and re-stocked with a fresh trash bag, full gas tank, and Kleenex.

 I didn't do any of it.

I wasn't busy on a project, or spending quality time with you.
I wasn't helping a friend.
I even forgot the snack for the boys Sunday School Class.

I didn't do any of that, because I didn't "feel" like doing anything at all yesterday.


Instead of heading to a quiet place and praying out my ennui to my Savior who could have filled me with the power and motivation for maintaining the household rhythms, I frittered away my day, waiting to "feel" motivated.  Then I went to bed.

Part of wisdom is knowing and doing the next right thing...


I repented to the Lord, and apologized to your Dad that I had neglected my tasks.
I got up early, and ironed clothes.
I gathered my props for Junior church, and made the boys' class a bag of popcorn.
We had to get gas on the way home from church.
The car and house are feeling a little grungy around the edges today, and will stay that way until tomorrow.
I planned a quick, nourishing lunch which I put together after church.  I made up box brownies as soon as lunch was over (after all, we only have dessert once a week!)

We didn't skip church.
We didn't skip our family dinner.
We didn't go out to eat, and destroy a carefully planned budget.
I didn't try to make up my housework on a day God has set aside for rest and fellowship, even though that means I probably won't get to take Wednesday off this week from housework like I usually do.

Sometimes we fall.  

When you do, run to Jesus.  Humble yourself before those you've failed.  Correct what you can, and learn from what you can't.  Accept the consequences with grace.


Pr 24:16  For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again


In His unfailing love,
Mom

Managing Your Home and Time Wisely

My Dear Lissy,
Another storm has gone, and we're digging out from about 15" of snow.  We're expecting two more storm systems in the next week, so we'll be getting plenty of exercise!  We're looking forward to dinner with friends and then a missionary speaker from Israel at church tonight.

I wanted to share my philosophy of home management with you today.   Home management in my mind occurs in three dimensions.
2-D management is how you plan your days and work on paper.
3-D management is how you organize your physical space and belongings.
4-D management is how you utilize your time and energy.
These three interlock to create a system of checks and balances so that our home runs smoothly.

The basis of 2-D management is a set of tools that includes a calendar (virtual or paper), a tickler, a weekly plan, and a scheduled to-do list  These require very little discipline or time to create and maintain -- literally minutes a day.  Without them, life becomes  helter-skelter.  The bigger and busier your family, the more you'll depend on each of these tools.  When they are faithfully used, they free up a great deal of time, save substantial amounts of money, and allow you to serve and bless your husband, family, and community.

The basis of 3-D management is the acronym S.P.A.C.E. created by Julie Morgenstern.  SPACE (Sort, Purge, Assign a Home, Containerize, Equalize) describes the process of keeping our belongings from overwhelming our homes and lives with clutter.  There is a great deal of discipline, work, and time required to keep your belongings thinned out and in their proper place.  The rewards are time and tranquility, both of which are of great value to our family, as well as the opportunity to bless other families who may have a genuine need for an item that we no longer wear or use.

The basis of 4-D management is routines and that scheduled to-do list.  Routines are lists of tasks that you implement every day or week at about the same time.  While they take discipline to implement, they require very little effort to maintain.   A to-do list should contain one-time tasks (or tasks that repeat very infrequently).  I know a few diligent homemakers who because of their discipline and motivation at the 3-D and 4-D level are able to devote time to providing additional income or ministry opportunities for their families, just as the virtuous woman did in Proverbs 31.

A homemaker is much like a clock.  A clock has dozens of gears spinning in all directions simply to keep the two hands moving in a prescribed rhythm day after day, year after year.  Our families, our communities, our entire society rely heavily on that structure.  Even in places where there is no man-made clock, God has set the sun, moon, and stars to determine the rhythms of life.  God has given us the task of managing our homes under our husband's loving leadership.  We are to provide the structure and order that allows our family to live lives that are glorifying to God.  It is an awesome responsibility, but can often seem (when our faith is small) that we are simply "going around in circles".

Once again I've used up my time.  I have so much I want to share with you!  I'll try to expand on these thoughts in the days and weeks ahead and link those letters back to this one when appropriate.

I love you just because you're you,
Momma

Five "To Do" list hacks

My dear Felicity,
Sometimes it is the little things that help us the most.  Following are a few simple hacks for the humble "to do" list that take it from mundane to magnificent.

1.  Only put tasks on your to-do list that can actually be done.  
This seems like a no-brainer, doesn't it?  But glance down your to-do list and you might see the nebulous "Car Inspection".  Do you seriously intend to personally perform a 54 point inspection, emissions testing, and slap a new sticker on the windshield?  Of course not.  In reality, you have to get the city & state registration stickers  and touch base with your hubby before you can schedule an inspection and bring your car in to the mechanic.  The to-do list should have the next do-able task:  "Register Camry @ town office", and "e-mail Dagbert re: possible car inspection dates"  Those are single tasks that can actually be done and checked off.

When you're scanning your list, a project (several small related tasks with a single outcome) short circuits your brain...there's not actually something written there that can be done, and you end up passing it over time and again until it's at a critical level where you have to deal with it.  Take a look at your lists, and learn to only write tasks on your to-do list that can actually be done.  If you have a multi-step project, figure out the next do-able step, and write that on your to-do list, not the title of the whole project.
~ concept from Getting Things Done by David Allen

2.  Assign each item on your to-do list a time slot.
It's easy to overestimate your own awesomeness.  I can't tell you how many times I have had fifteen 30 minute tasks planned for a 4 hour afternoon!  Prayerfully assign a rough time slot for each task you have on your to-do list. Once you get in the habit of scheduling your to-do lists, you have a much more realistic picture of what can actually be accomplished.
~ concept from the Girltalk website, Carolyn Mahaney

3.  Keep a "running" to-do list.
These are simply tasks that need to be done during this week, but not necessarily today.  When an item pops into your head:  "Ooo!  I need to pick up lion noses at the party store for my Sunday School lesson this week", it goes on the running to-do list.  Each time you make up your to-do list for the day, check the running to-do list to see if there are any tasks that could or should be added to your list.
~concept from many sources, including Denise Schofield's Confessions of an Organized Homemaker

4.  Don't put routine items or things that can be done in less than 2 minutes on a list.  Just do them.
Do dishes.  Run laundry.  Make bed.  Honey, if these things are popping up on your to-do list, you took a wrong turn at Albuquerque.  Routine daily household and personal grooming tasks should not have to be written down to be accomplished.  Get off the phone.  Put down that book.  Do your job!  Unless you have toddlers, in which case you get a free pass until they're 5.  You may want to pencil in a shower before you forget....
Very often I can take just a few moments and accomplish a task before it goes on the list.  In the example in #1, I'd text or e-mail Dagbert about the car inspection rather than write it on my list because it only takes seconds.

5.  The Timed To-Do
A quirky but effective idea is to have lists of tasks that only take 5 or 10 minutes. When you find yourself with a few odd minutes, head for these lists rather than wasting the time.  Ideas abound on the internet and include everything from rounding up pet toys to chopping celery.

Remember Sweetie, "only God gets his to-do list done".  A list is simply a tool to keep you focused and bless your family. It's pretty easy to overwhelm ourselves with everything we think we "should" be doing.  I hope these few hacks will help you learn to tweak your to-do list so that it serves and motivates you rather than discouraging you.

Love and a big hug,
Momma

P.S.  Your daddy used to say "If you don't have a list, you'll be listless"  He made it a habit to make a list for the day, and encouraged me to do the same when my energy and motivation were low.