Home Sweet Home! Is anything better?!

Hello, Dear Ones! I've been in the process of "finding my schedule" here at home.  It was different initially because I had houseguests for about six months and now I have only my dear family. I will say this, I heard once that is easier for a woman to begin time management in her home early in her marriage and I yell a marked "AMEN!" Not one single day goes by that I don't thank God for being a homemaker (I still LOVE using that term!!!!) but it's a little overwhelming when you've been in an office for over 27 years! At home, I have to battle such laziness and I'm in a constant battle to conquer self. Home used to be where I'd walk in and relax! While I still relax, I find myself having to remember that this is also where I "work". It's a balancing act.  And truly, I'd rather have the Lord God as my "boss" than anyone else!

Where I'd like to be most of the day!!!

Coming home later in life has also shown me things I didn't realize about myself: I'm exceedingly self-centered (not God-centered), selfish and whiny. As I clean house, I am noticing spots I never saw in my own soul.  Dusting the plant shelves, I'm also dusting out selfishness and laziness. I knew these issues about myself while I was working but when one gets out of God's way and starts doing things His way, these defects become more obvious. I've also heard it said that the closer you get to God, the more conscious you are of your sin. That is definitely truth!

I've been starting each day with a devotion time which is a blessing. My day goes much more smooth when I do. I've also been doing baby steps on FlyLady which helps me.  Listening to Nancy on Revive Our Hearts is another blessing.  There is a great series on homemaking here.  Do you have a favorite homemaking podcast?  There aren't too many out there.

I hope you're having a wonderful day! 

We certainly have it easier than homemakers before us!

P.S. I found an awesome Christian homemaking podcast.  Homemakers by Choice and their link on iTunes is here.

Easter, Equality and Egotism

Hallelujah - He is risen!!   I hope you all had a glorious Easter!

It has been a beautiful Easter weekend for myself and my family. My youngest child, Danielle, became a Christian on Good Friday - how amazing is that?!? She is planning on being baptized and I have been thanking the Lord. *Does the happy Snoopy dance*  Happy tears were shed by this thankful mother.

I'm so grateful - what more could a parent want for their child?

On another front - I've been trying, sometimes not succeeding, in staying out of the debate on Facebook regarding "marriage equality".  I don't understand why Christianity has to be attacked this way if everyone is for "equality". I realize Christ foretold we would have tribulation but it doesn't seem fair that everyone - no matter what persuasion- is entitled to equal/religious rights except Christians. Let me honestly say - I have NOTHING against gay/lesbian people and have many friends who are gay.  I may disagree, but 
I don't hate gay people.  However, marriage is supposed to be a picture of Christ and His Church.  I'm not opposed to their having civil unions and equal beneficiary benefits. 

But it shouldn't be called "marriage."  Just my humble opinion.

It annoys me how Christianity is being attacked as "hypocritical".  I've seen hypocritical gay/lesbians as well and hypocrisy is not limited to the Christian faith alone.  *Steps off soap box*  Sorry.  Just wanted to be honest about what I've been struggling with. 

So I've been upset about that and trying to simply 'hide' my most vocal friends' posts so I don't get dragged into it.

In this same vein, I was reading Acts last night and came across a verse that has stabbed me with conviction:

The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.  Acts 5:41

The apostles in the above verse had just been flogged.  Yet, they were rejoicing because they had been "counted worthy" to suffer because of Jesus.

Every little complaint, murmur and petty pouting that I've done recently burst forth from my mind after I read this about five times.  Wow.  This sincerely puts my never-ending-trying-to-hide-under-being-a-good-Christian pride in its place.  If I had been flogged for Christ, I'd be sorely tempted to think of what a loyal and faithful believer I am for suffering for the faith.  (*wince*)

This verse is going to challenge me this week.  If the apostles can REJOICE because they are counted worthy of being flogged - surely I can rejoice at my little inconveniences and chronic illness.

This is what's happening with me!  How are you doing?  What are your thoughts on marriage equality?



 

How To Be A True Homemaker or My Boss is a Jewish Carpenter

Hello Everyone!

It has been a BUSY and hectic time at my house.

I feel like I'm in God's Boot Camp and failing miserably!  Let me explain.

We have three house guests who have been living with us since Thanksgiving.  My best friend is sadly in the midst of a divorce.  She and her two adult daughters moved to Florida and have been looking for a home.  So there are extra mouths to feed and and others to clean up after.  I welcome their presence because it reminds me that this is God's house and not mine.  Thankfully, they have found a home and will be moving in April but, like any change, there has been stress involved.  It has taught me to lean heavily on my Savior.  Heavily as in - daily.  All the time.

Also, my husband has been refinishing our floors from a horrid tile to gorgeous hard wood.  It is breathtaking and our home has literally been transformed.  When he had the boards out of the box, I came up with the idea to write Bible verses on the back of them that were meaningful to our family.  Thus, we are now literally standing on the Word of God! :)

This one is is in the kitchen: :)

These below are in the great room, among others:

I won't get into technical details but our home is two stories - bottom story is garage/storage...living area on the second floor.  The previous owners put tile on the second floor over plywood (!).  Thus my husband had to hand-remove all the tiles up and couldn't utilize a sander on wood - thus - all hand done! What a guy!

This fine dust was covering EVERYTHING: walls, plant shelves, furniture, paintings...everything.

It was a mess.  Ugh.

In the midst of this upheaval, God taught me a valuable lesson.  Being the sinful woman I am, I was grumbling, complaining and upset about the mess, the commotion, the stress, et al.  After all - this was my first month coming home! I was grumpy.  I wanted to say to Heaven, "Hello?!?  I'm brand new at this homemaker business!  I have enough trouble planning dinners and now this?"

The Lord kindly and benevolently didn't abruptly remind me that I had ASKED FOR and PRAYED to be a homemaker.

He simply explained to me gently, "Child.... I am teaching you the most important lesson in being a homemaker.  Homemaking isn't just about a perfectly clean house, home cooked meals and being a calm, happy helpmeet.  Making a home involves your attitude.  Your attitude affects your entire family.  Anyone can clean.  Anyone can cook.  You need to learn how to be a homemaker in a mess like this as well as when all the chores are done.  Your family looks to you.  It isn't so much about your competence as much as your attitude and your willingness to work for Me."

Oh.

Now I wish I can say that it touched me so much that I no longer murmured after this revelation.  For it was a shock to me.  I never realized that in coming home, I have a new Boss.  I have someone who is going to work on me....not just me working on our house.  In my career, I was too busy and exhausted to hardly pray or do a devotion.  Unfortunately, I have succumbed to grumbling since then however, I stop and remember what my Daddy said.  I remember that I am making a home....not the home making me.

My husband is nearing the end of doing our greatroom.  Things still must be put away and placed however, I'll give you a preview of how gorgeous it looks:

This flooring will be through our entire house and I cannot express how much better it looks.  I'll post more photos when it is done.

Here I've been fussing about organization, schedules, meal plans, money, etc.  I've been Martha...big time Martha and not enough Mary.

I only need to get my marching orders from Him and have Him remind me what this is really all about.  It isn't so I can post pretty pictures on my blog for pride/vanity's sake.  Nor is it to keep a perfectly clean home or cook delicious meals; not that those things are wrong.  Hopefully, He will help me attain those skills as well.

Homemaking is so He can bless my husband and my family  

through me.

Ohhhhhhhh.  Okay.

 

Out with the Old!

Holy Guacamole!

I used to say when we first moved in, "Oh!  I will be wonderful when we can replace this cracked tile in our floors!"

Be careful what you wish for!

It's been busy, busy, busy and messy, messy, messy at our house! My sweet and talented husband is putting down gorgeous wood flooring! Never - in a million years - did I imagine what kind of MESS this would make! Can we say 'dust literally all over everything'?!?!

I am not exaggerating when I say that EVERYTHING in my kitchen, dining, and living room must be dusted. From washing down the walls to floors and every item in between. The inside of my home truly resembles Ground Zero in NYC after 9/11.

I think it is God's way of saying: "Okay - let's start from the ground up. We're really beginning with a clean slate!" 

I've taken photos but I don't have a computer at my house right now and I can't send them to my blog. So, I will post pics soon but suffice it to say - I'm getting a vicious crash course in homemaking! :) How is your weekend going???


 

A Quiet, Homemaking Friday

Happy Friday!!!

Good news!  Today is a much better day physically!  I'm recovering from the flare-up and I'm making up for yesterday.  I'll have to learn how to incorporate the odd 'sick day' into my routine.  It doesn't happen too often - just enough to keep my humble.  ;)

I found a wonderful homemaking website that many of you are probably familiar with!  At Home Sanctuary, I found help for the fibro homemaker that is me!   Rachel's Minimum Maintenance seems to be a Godsend.  I have tried it this morning and despite my sweet hubby re-doing our floor, three houseguests, four cats, one dog and a bearded dragon - it looks better!  I love the idea and even on bad days, five minutes in each room is something I can accomplish.  So check her out if you are feeling a little challenged keeping up!

I'm off to the store this afternoon for a few things.  I gotta tell you - this is one of my biggest joys about being a homemaker.  I always dreamed of going to the grocery in the middle of the day.... when you work full time outside the house and need to shop on weekends, its exhausting. 


Tonight's dinner is a meatloaf and potatoes.  Have I said that I'm living my dream???  :)




 

Fibro Flare

Today was one of those days as a homemaker where it seems you did nothing of value.

I was downed today with a 'fibro flare'.  I suffer from fibromyalgia and today it felt like my shoulders were literally burning.  So I thanked God for the pain and got up to do what I could.  I was able to take my daughter to school, do dishes, run errands this morning and that was about it.  My precious husband took care of dinner for my children and the three guests we have who are temporarily living with us.  Can we say 'grateful'??? 

I don't like to talk about my fibro much because, well, frankly I didn't believe it was a genuine disease for years.  Even though I've suffered from it for years.  I thought if I ignored it, the pain would go away.  Right?!  Eventually it got so bad that I fessed up to my neurologist.  I was recently 'diagnosed' with fibro and the pain was part of the reason I'm home, but it wasn't the main reason.  My husband & I decided to trust God and have me come home.

On a day like today, I'm extremely thankful.  Previously, I would have worked 8+ hours, come home and gone straight to bed.  Nothing left.  Goodness, I had so many days like that!

At least this afternoon, I watched a couple of silly movies in bed with my daughter after school.  We shared laughter and at one point, she paused the movie and said, "I'm so grateful for my life.  I love my life."  Wow.  From a 15 year old girl, that is a great gift.  So the day wasn't a total failure. 

I'm going to spend the rest of the day researching on my homemaking schedule and hopefully, tomorrow I can start implementing it.

How was YOUR day????


 

Time Management for Homemakers??

A plea for help!

Hi Friends! I need the assistance of those of you seasoned homemakers. :)  I'm finding that I'm not sure  How do you handle your days?  I'm trying FlyLady but for example:

• Do you use a menu plan such as 'Monday/Pasta Night, Tuesday/Pizza Night' etc.
• What is your cleaning schedule?  Do you dust the entire house on one day or simply clean by room?
• Do you do your devotion in the mornings or during the day?
• Do you set aside a pay bill/office day?

Can you give me any hints, advice, links for time management for homemakers??

 

Simple Woman's Daybook - March 5, 2013

 FOR TODAY
 

Outside my window...birds are singing and the sun is shining,  It's a gorgeous cool morning.

I am thinking...that coming home is going to mean so much  more than housework.  I thought I would be serving my family.  I did not count on God wants to clean my heart!

I am thankful...I am home and not in my nice office which felt like a prison.

In the kitchen...I'm learning.  I am learning to plan, cook and shop.

I am wearing...a sweatshirt and jeans.  Brrrrr!

I am creating...a new family life.

I am going...to go "into town" today for a few things and to mail a package.

I am wondering...if I will ever feel 'caught up'.

I am reading..."The Honor Girl".

I am hoping...to be able to look around my house and be satisfied.  Not with perfection, but just having it basically picked up.

I am looking forward to...going to Chicago with my daughter in July.

I am learning...to balance, prioritize and organize.

Around the house...my husband is redoing our floors with a gorgeous wood.  I guess it is normal that things should be topsy turvy.

I am pondering...my failures....how I can please God more..... I get tired of the same old sins.

A favorite quote for today...a place for everything and everything in its place!

One of my favorite things...is how much better I sleep at night since I've been home!

A few plans for the rest of the week: getting the house ready for my husband putting down the living room floor.  (Can we say 'disaster area'????)

A peek into my day...  I can't get my camera to work but here is an idea! NOT that I'm complaining but there is lots to do!  Off I go!

 

Simple Woman's Daybook - March 1, 2013

FOR TODAY

Outside my window... is a rare grey day in South Florida.  I enjoy these days because we don't have them often. It's cold and overcast.  Sometimes it is good to not see the sunshine.
I am thinking... that I am thankful to be a homemaker now.
I am thankful...for God's faithfulness.
In the kitchen...well I am a little nevous abouth that!  I have a beef stew in the crock pot.  I hope it comes out alright!
I am wearing...a yellow tshirt and jeans.
I am creating...a homelife.  What a blessed woman I am!
I am going...to research all the homemaker's blogs that I have always gone to, wished I were a homemaker and implement what seems good.
I am wondering...why we didn't trust God sooner.  Imagine!  God really knows what He is doing!
I am reading...'Blue Ruin' by Grace Livingston Hill.
I am hoping...that my efforts make my family's life easier.
I am looking forward to...taking my daughter to Chicago in July.
I am learning...SO much about God's promises, homemaking and faith.
Around the house...things are slowly getting better.  It's only Day 2 of Homemaking and I can tell the difference already.
I am pondering...how to best use my time at home.
A favorite quote for today... “So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten,
The crawling locust,
The consuming locust,And the chewing locust..." Joel 2:25  Thanks, Daddy!
One of my favorite things...was seeing my husband a little unsettled last night after work because everything was DONE and taken care of.  He just had to relax.  :)
A few plans for the rest of the week: studying up on saving money and cooking!
A peek into my day...  LOOK WHAT I DID!!!!  =0

SO Excited and Don't Know Where To Begin!

Today is my 'first day' on the new job! :) I'm so excited, nervous and thrilled that I don't know where to begin! The house is an utter and absolute WRECK.  It doesn't fill me with dread and depression but a desire to change the entire mood of my home.

I don't want to take on too much at once but I think we need to eat and wear clothes so I'm going to go shopping, do laundry and pick up. Can you tell I'm overjoyed?! I'm sure most of the women I know would think I was insane. Many of them, some Christian, can't stand the thought of being home all day....they all say, "I'd go crazy." I have always been an anomaly, I guess, because I have always wanted to be a homemaker.

This morning, I was up at 6:00 a.m. and actually steamed my husband's work shirt before he left. (I would have ironed it but he only gave me five minutes notice!) So I steamed it and before he left, he gave me a hug and wished me a good first day. Then I drove my high-school daughter to school. 

I returned and thought, "Wow, this first day I'm going back to bed!" But I was too wrought up to sleep like a child on Christmas Eve. I took a shower, scoured grocery fliers to search sales and I'm going out grocery shopping. 

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MORNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

ON A WEEKDAY!!!!! 

 If you see someone smiling broadly as though she is thrilled to be in the grocery store instead of an office - it's me. Have a great day, ladies!!!