Showing posts with label 31 Days to Clean. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 31 Days to Clean. Show all posts
Monday, August 1, 2011
31 Days to Clean
Hey everyone! I know I've been slacking with the 31 Days to Clean on here and keeping you all posted BUT I was going to let you all know that
Thursday, July 21, 2011
31 Days to Clean - Day 12
Day 12 - The Thing We All Have in Common - Imperfection
No matter how much you think a person is perfect...no one has it all together. Not even your super organized has everything in their proper spot sister that you've been wishing to be like.
She is not perfect, and neither are you. And that's ok!
"We have Jesus' perfection imparted to us for all of eternity if we know Him" - Hebrews 10:14
Isn't that a sigh of relief?!
So why get our panties in a wad over having everything together. Life is just a huge step of faith that we take one day at a time. We all try our best as we fight against a sin saturated world that pushes hard against us. Give yourself a break though. You're not alone in your struggles or your feelings of failure. We are all there! You don't have to be good enough. Your worth does not lie in your ability to clean well; your worth and value lie in Christ ALONE!
Mary Challenge:
Think about some areas in your life where you have been striving to be perfect (or near perfect). Perhaps you are comparing yourself to another mom, or putting unnecessary burdens on yourself because of what someone else has said or written. Take these areas before the throne of grace and ask God to replace and lies you are believing with the truth.
Martha Challenge:
Living Room - Clean and organize shelves and electronics. Shine wood furniture.
No matter how much you think a person is perfect...no one has it all together. Not even your super organized has everything in their proper spot sister that you've been wishing to be like.
She is not perfect, and neither are you. And that's ok!
"We have Jesus' perfection imparted to us for all of eternity if we know Him" - Hebrews 10:14
Isn't that a sigh of relief?!
So why get our panties in a wad over having everything together. Life is just a huge step of faith that we take one day at a time. We all try our best as we fight against a sin saturated world that pushes hard against us. Give yourself a break though. You're not alone in your struggles or your feelings of failure. We are all there! You don't have to be good enough. Your worth does not lie in your ability to clean well; your worth and value lie in Christ ALONE!
Mary Challenge:
Think about some areas in your life where you have been striving to be perfect (or near perfect). Perhaps you are comparing yourself to another mom, or putting unnecessary burdens on yourself because of what someone else has said or written. Take these areas before the throne of grace and ask God to replace and lies you are believing with the truth.
Martha Challenge:
Living Room - Clean and organize shelves and electronics. Shine wood furniture.
Day 11 Results
I have to be honest...
I have never washed my walls OR dusted my ceiling.
This was SO foreign to me. I took a warm wet washcloth and wiped down all my walls and then took a swiffer duster and dusted the ceiling. I also took my duster and dusted ALL of the pictures I have hanging in my living room. Trust me...there are A LOT of pictures hung up. I washed the walls the other day when I wasn't feeling good but of course I wasn't sure how well I did it so I went over it again yesterday to make sure I did it right. I didn't dust the ceiling the other day because I didn't feel well enough to. But, now it's done and I feel better. I'm glad I'm going back and taking my time on the days I had before. I feel like it's really clean now.
I have never washed my walls OR dusted my ceiling.
This was SO foreign to me. I took a warm wet washcloth and wiped down all my walls and then took a swiffer duster and dusted the ceiling. I also took my duster and dusted ALL of the pictures I have hanging in my living room. Trust me...there are A LOT of pictures hung up. I washed the walls the other day when I wasn't feeling good but of course I wasn't sure how well I did it so I went over it again yesterday to make sure I did it right. I didn't dust the ceiling the other day because I didn't feel well enough to. But, now it's done and I feel better. I'm glad I'm going back and taking my time on the days I had before. I feel like it's really clean now.
31 Days to Clean - Day 11
Day 11 - Limitations (Life is Hard)
I will be the first one to agree with the fact that Life is Hard. With all the running around, taking care of kiddos, emergencies, depression, etc. we are very limited to what we can do with our days.
Last night I was dead set on going to bed at 9:30 with Stratton, waking up at 6:30 to take a shower and doing my hair and make up, getting Stratton up, going to get breakfast, drop him off at the sitters, and go to work. This didn't happen. Stratton didn't want to go to bed until almost 11 and just stayed awake kicking the wall. Groucho kept trying to sleep on my face and to top it all off I had the worst gas cramps from dinner. It was well past midnight when I think I actually got my eyes closed for good and yet I was still woken up every hour of so by our dumb cat trying to get comfortable. Before I knew it 6:30am came and went and I didn't get out of bed until 7. I didn't get a shower, we didn't get to get breakfast, but I did manage to get to work a few min early. But the fact is...that's life and Life Happens. We need to recognize that we have limitations and we just need to accept them. The more we with fight with our limitations the more we bang our head against a wall that isn't moving.
If you are someone who is struggling with pregnancy, depression, chasing after little ones, balancing a job and home, etc. just do something that is productive. Clean your kitchen, make your bed, do some laundry, vacuum, or even just put some flowers on your dining room table. This will help with that depression and keep your house looking good.
Mary Challenge:
Let grace cover the areas you cannot change. Don't beat yourself up or think you aren't doing enough. God knows where you are at; His grace is sufficient.
Martha Challenge:
Living Room - Wash your walls and dust the ceilings.
I will be the first one to agree with the fact that Life is Hard. With all the running around, taking care of kiddos, emergencies, depression, etc. we are very limited to what we can do with our days.
Last night I was dead set on going to bed at 9:30 with Stratton, waking up at 6:30 to take a shower and doing my hair and make up, getting Stratton up, going to get breakfast, drop him off at the sitters, and go to work. This didn't happen. Stratton didn't want to go to bed until almost 11 and just stayed awake kicking the wall. Groucho kept trying to sleep on my face and to top it all off I had the worst gas cramps from dinner. It was well past midnight when I think I actually got my eyes closed for good and yet I was still woken up every hour of so by our dumb cat trying to get comfortable. Before I knew it 6:30am came and went and I didn't get out of bed until 7. I didn't get a shower, we didn't get to get breakfast, but I did manage to get to work a few min early. But the fact is...that's life and Life Happens. We need to recognize that we have limitations and we just need to accept them. The more we with fight with our limitations the more we bang our head against a wall that isn't moving.
If you are someone who is struggling with pregnancy, depression, chasing after little ones, balancing a job and home, etc. just do something that is productive. Clean your kitchen, make your bed, do some laundry, vacuum, or even just put some flowers on your dining room table. This will help with that depression and keep your house looking good.
Mary Challenge:
Let grace cover the areas you cannot change. Don't beat yourself up or think you aren't doing enough. God knows where you are at; His grace is sufficient.
Martha Challenge:
Living Room - Wash your walls and dust the ceilings.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Day 10 Results
Finally I feel like a normal person again! Yay!
Last night I cleaned the windows and blinds...again. I definitely could tell I wasn't feeling well when I cleaned the first time. I'm usually pretty OCD when I clean and my OCD was not kicking in that first time. Probably because I was too concerned about not throwing up instead of getting all the dust off of my windows and blinds. They look much better today and I can tell a little difference. I took a few pictures but you couldn't tell so I just opted not to post them. I hope everyone is having a good week so far. It's half way over!
Last night I cleaned the windows and blinds...again. I definitely could tell I wasn't feeling well when I cleaned the first time. I'm usually pretty OCD when I clean and my OCD was not kicking in that first time. Probably because I was too concerned about not throwing up instead of getting all the dust off of my windows and blinds. They look much better today and I can tell a little difference. I took a few pictures but you couldn't tell so I just opted not to post them. I hope everyone is having a good week so far. It's half way over!
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
31 Days to Clean Day 10
Day 10 - Feeling Overwhelmed
I am just going to start where I ended off. I cleaned for the last few days but just to make myself feel better I'm going to go back and clean them again just to make sure it was really done right. I haven't felt well since Saturday and I think I may have had a stomach bug. I've been sleeping on the couch for the last 3 nights but I feel better today. Thank the Lord.
Here is day 10 of my 31 Days to Clean
When your house is a mess, there are dishes all over your counter top, toys everywhere, papers piled up, laundry all over the place, and you have that "I'm so behind in life" mentality. It's very easy to get overwhelmed. You feel like every time you clean something it just gets blown over by the tornado you call your family. When I look at the piles of laundry in my bedroom I see Mount Vesuvius. I feel depressed, and I have NO idea where to start on the massive chunk in front of me. I feel so...OVERWHELMED!
After talking about the Curse I can see at least where this piling up comes from and I have a better understanding of why we do housework. I can see not only the day to day reasons why we should do cleaning but also the eternal reasons for taking care of my home and family. The immediate gratification of keeping my house clean and tidy is the cherry on top of my feel good sundae. But, what girl doesn't struggle with the feeling of being overwhelmed form time to time?
Here are some things that can be quite helpful when it comes to being overwhelmed:
1. Only work on one room at a time.
My mom always told me this and I never understood why until I had my own house. It's SO much easier to stay on track when you only have one room to clean at a given time.
2. Be generous to your trash can.
Purge! Purge! Purge! Throw things away! The more things you realize that you just don't need the less stress you will have in your life.
3. Get rid of toys.
We still have toys of Strattons that he doesn't even look at any more. We just need to take them to the thrift store and LET THEM GO!
4. Do the 15 min thing.
Put a time on for 15 minutes and go to work. Doing everything you can in that time frame. It is helpful, especially to those who like a challenge.
(The only problem I have with this is that I like to take my time when I clean. So, this may not be good for me but it most certainly could be good for you)
5. Just get moving!
We spend so much time fretting and being overwhelmed that we stay stagnant. Which leads to feeling worse and then ultimately...laziness and a why bother attitude. GET UP! DO SOMETHING!
6. Envision the big picture.
You know that feeling when you walk into your home and you can take have that only sigh of relief. That is the kind of home that I want. A clean, friendly, and inviting home that isn't so sterile that people think we are doing surgery in our home. I want to envision a nice tidy, clean, inviting home and make that my big picture.
7. Get off the computer.
Seriously, this is probably the best advice out there...unless your work is on the computer obviously. But for me, the more I'm on the computer, the more depressed I get and the less I do. Shut it down friends. Shut...it...down.
8. Keep your eyes on the goal.
Getting you work done while pushing through the "I don't want to do this" stage will reap such great eternal rewards. You and your family will be less stressed and more comfortable when you press up that huge mountain of house work. Just think of the view from the top ad how much better you will feel knowing that you have conquered that mountain.
9. Get something new for your home that brings a smile to your face.
Buy or find something to put in your home that makes the vision you have in your head come to life that much more. It can be something small and unique that you found at a garage sale to something strange you found in a thrift store. Whatever it is, find it, place it and ENJOY IT!
Mary Challenge:
Light a candle, find a cozy spot somewhere quiet (only for 10 minutes - send the kids outside, wait until naps, or pop in a DVD), sip on your favorite beverage, close your eyes, and envision your big picture. Think about your home and what you want it to be. Do you want it to be a place of refuge? Inviting? Warm? Fun? Picture your home in all it's clean and organized glory, and then burn the image into your brain and heart. Now grab your journal (or notebook, or scrap of paper) and write down your big picture. Ask God to help you physically create the vision for your home life.
Martha Challenge:
Living Room - Clean your window treatments and wash the inside of your windows.
I am just going to start where I ended off. I cleaned for the last few days but just to make myself feel better I'm going to go back and clean them again just to make sure it was really done right. I haven't felt well since Saturday and I think I may have had a stomach bug. I've been sleeping on the couch for the last 3 nights but I feel better today. Thank the Lord.
Here is day 10 of my 31 Days to Clean
When your house is a mess, there are dishes all over your counter top, toys everywhere, papers piled up, laundry all over the place, and you have that "I'm so behind in life" mentality. It's very easy to get overwhelmed. You feel like every time you clean something it just gets blown over by the tornado you call your family. When I look at the piles of laundry in my bedroom I see Mount Vesuvius. I feel depressed, and I have NO idea where to start on the massive chunk in front of me. I feel so...OVERWHELMED!
After talking about the Curse I can see at least where this piling up comes from and I have a better understanding of why we do housework. I can see not only the day to day reasons why we should do cleaning but also the eternal reasons for taking care of my home and family. The immediate gratification of keeping my house clean and tidy is the cherry on top of my feel good sundae. But, what girl doesn't struggle with the feeling of being overwhelmed form time to time?
Here are some things that can be quite helpful when it comes to being overwhelmed:
1. Only work on one room at a time.
My mom always told me this and I never understood why until I had my own house. It's SO much easier to stay on track when you only have one room to clean at a given time.
2. Be generous to your trash can.
Purge! Purge! Purge! Throw things away! The more things you realize that you just don't need the less stress you will have in your life.
3. Get rid of toys.
We still have toys of Strattons that he doesn't even look at any more. We just need to take them to the thrift store and LET THEM GO!
4. Do the 15 min thing.
Put a time on for 15 minutes and go to work. Doing everything you can in that time frame. It is helpful, especially to those who like a challenge.
(The only problem I have with this is that I like to take my time when I clean. So, this may not be good for me but it most certainly could be good for you)
5. Just get moving!
We spend so much time fretting and being overwhelmed that we stay stagnant. Which leads to feeling worse and then ultimately...laziness and a why bother attitude. GET UP! DO SOMETHING!
6. Envision the big picture.
You know that feeling when you walk into your home and you can take have that only sigh of relief. That is the kind of home that I want. A clean, friendly, and inviting home that isn't so sterile that people think we are doing surgery in our home. I want to envision a nice tidy, clean, inviting home and make that my big picture.
7. Get off the computer.
Seriously, this is probably the best advice out there...unless your work is on the computer obviously. But for me, the more I'm on the computer, the more depressed I get and the less I do. Shut it down friends. Shut...it...down.
8. Keep your eyes on the goal.
Getting you work done while pushing through the "I don't want to do this" stage will reap such great eternal rewards. You and your family will be less stressed and more comfortable when you press up that huge mountain of house work. Just think of the view from the top ad how much better you will feel knowing that you have conquered that mountain.
9. Get something new for your home that brings a smile to your face.
Buy or find something to put in your home that makes the vision you have in your head come to life that much more. It can be something small and unique that you found at a garage sale to something strange you found in a thrift store. Whatever it is, find it, place it and ENJOY IT!
Mary Challenge:
Light a candle, find a cozy spot somewhere quiet (only for 10 minutes - send the kids outside, wait until naps, or pop in a DVD), sip on your favorite beverage, close your eyes, and envision your big picture. Think about your home and what you want it to be. Do you want it to be a place of refuge? Inviting? Warm? Fun? Picture your home in all it's clean and organized glory, and then burn the image into your brain and heart. Now grab your journal (or notebook, or scrap of paper) and write down your big picture. Ask God to help you physically create the vision for your home life.
Martha Challenge:
Living Room - Clean your window treatments and wash the inside of your windows.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Day 9 Results
Since the cleaning was just sweeping, vacuuming, and mopping my floor I didn't feel it necessary to take pictures of my floor. Yesterday and today have been taxing for me because when I start it literally takes the life out of me. I could fall asleep at 3 in the afternoon and not wake back up until 8am the next morning. But, I moved my table and chairs out of the kitchen, swept my floor, vacuumed my floor, and then mopped. After that I went straight to bed. I prayed while I cleaned because my back hurt so bad and I really needed a little extra strength to get me through the mopping part because I have to bend over with my swiffer sweeper. God provided and I pushed through and got my floors clean. I'm glad that laziness was the topic from yesterday. It really hit home and made me realize I need to get off my butt more often and stop being so lazy. Tired is a different story. I'm glad I have been sticking with it and I can't wait to see what is to come.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
31 Days to Clean - Day 9
Day 9 - Confronting Laziness
I have to admit .... I can be lazy every now and then. I just love not doing ANYTHING. Especially when I'm at home and have the best couch to be lazy on. That being said...laziness is the snare we willing step into. It's hard not to be lazy when you work full time, go to school, cook, clean, raise your kids, etc, etc... We all have to confront this daily. I know I'm not the only one that struggles to be productive every day. If you find yourself struggling with being lazy, the first thing you need to do is confess that sin to the Lord. Allow his grace to wash over you as you seek to have a spirit of diligence and reliance on the strength of Jesus.
Colossians 3:23 is a great pick me up verse
"Whatever you do, do it wholeheartedly as though you were working for your real master and not merely for humans."
Mary Challenge:
Every time you find yourself saying "I will do that later," You need to stop and pray, asking God to give you a spirit of diligence. Then with an obedient heart, go to work. If (and when) you fail, allow His grace to lift you up and being again. I know you can do it!
Martha Challenge:
Kitchen - Sweep, vacuum, and mop floors. Add some fresh flowers to brighten your day.
I have to admit .... I can be lazy every now and then. I just love not doing ANYTHING. Especially when I'm at home and have the best couch to be lazy on. That being said...laziness is the snare we willing step into. It's hard not to be lazy when you work full time, go to school, cook, clean, raise your kids, etc, etc... We all have to confront this daily. I know I'm not the only one that struggles to be productive every day. If you find yourself struggling with being lazy, the first thing you need to do is confess that sin to the Lord. Allow his grace to wash over you as you seek to have a spirit of diligence and reliance on the strength of Jesus.
Colossians 3:23 is a great pick me up verse
"Whatever you do, do it wholeheartedly as though you were working for your real master and not merely for humans."
Mary Challenge:
Every time you find yourself saying "I will do that later," You need to stop and pray, asking God to give you a spirit of diligence. Then with an obedient heart, go to work. If (and when) you fail, allow His grace to lift you up and being again. I know you can do it!
Martha Challenge:
Kitchen - Sweep, vacuum, and mop floors. Add some fresh flowers to brighten your day.
Day 8 Results
I only have two drawers in my kitchen and one is for my silverware. I keep that clean and wiped out so I didn't have to do anything to that but I have the dreaded
JUNK DRAWER
Here is all the junk that was in it.
It doesn't look like much of a change between the before and after but I threw a lot of the junk away. I really need to get some drawer organizers for it but I haven't had time to go by target to find any. Once I find them I'll take another picture. But now I can actually see what's in the drawer.
JUNK DRAWER
Here is all the junk that was in it.
31 Days to Clean - Day 8
Day 8 - Overcoming the Curse.
Yesterday we talked about the Curse and horrible it is. SUCH a downer. Not one of the best pick me ups for the week before Aunt Flo comes to visit and I'm already starting to get the "I hate cleaning" feeling back. But, I've pushed through both problems and have stuck with it. Even though I didn't get to post on time the last few days I have actually been keeping up with both the 31 Days to Clean challenges as well as keeping what's already been cleaned organized AND doing my laundry (yes mom I have even been putting it away when it's done). The Curse leaves us feeling the way you do when you have the cleaning blues. Here is how to overcome this and help keep us motivated:
Keep you eye on the eternal value of your work.
If we look to Christ in everything we do, then not only does what we do have value here on earth, but it holds it's value for eternity. That means this will literally last forever!
James 1:2-4 tells us:
"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
How we take care of our house - how we stay on task - is all about your response to God. God gave us our house. He also gave us (women) the ability to give LIFE to them! We have to chose what our response to Him will be. We shouldn't respond grudgingly and feel hopeless because it's just another "rule" to follow. Which is exactly how I used to feel about house work. But, we should thank God for the goodness and blessings that he has given us. He knows our weaknesses, and He's not looking for you to be perfect. He already sees us as saints if we are covered in the blood of Jesus. Taking care of your house is something to be joyful about and that we should take honor in. It is ultimately something that will lead us towards a Christ like character and humility.
Mary Challenge:
Think back to a time when God refined your character through difficult circumstances. Write it down and thank Him for His faithfullness.
Martha Challenge:
Kitchen - Clean out and organized your drawers.
Yesterday we talked about the Curse and horrible it is. SUCH a downer. Not one of the best pick me ups for the week before Aunt Flo comes to visit and I'm already starting to get the "I hate cleaning" feeling back. But, I've pushed through both problems and have stuck with it. Even though I didn't get to post on time the last few days I have actually been keeping up with both the 31 Days to Clean challenges as well as keeping what's already been cleaned organized AND doing my laundry (yes mom I have even been putting it away when it's done). The Curse leaves us feeling the way you do when you have the cleaning blues. Here is how to overcome this and help keep us motivated:
Keep you eye on the eternal value of your work.
If we look to Christ in everything we do, then not only does what we do have value here on earth, but it holds it's value for eternity. That means this will literally last forever!
James 1:2-4 tells us:
"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
How we take care of our house - how we stay on task - is all about your response to God. God gave us our house. He also gave us (women) the ability to give LIFE to them! We have to chose what our response to Him will be. We shouldn't respond grudgingly and feel hopeless because it's just another "rule" to follow. Which is exactly how I used to feel about house work. But, we should thank God for the goodness and blessings that he has given us. He knows our weaknesses, and He's not looking for you to be perfect. He already sees us as saints if we are covered in the blood of Jesus. Taking care of your house is something to be joyful about and that we should take honor in. It is ultimately something that will lead us towards a Christ like character and humility.
Mary Challenge:
Think back to a time when God refined your character through difficult circumstances. Write it down and thank Him for His faithfullness.
Martha Challenge:
Kitchen - Clean out and organized your drawers.
Day 7 Results
Since I don't really have a pantry I decided to clean the pot rack we use on a regular basis that is in our kitchen. There was SO much junk on it and it's always such an eye sore with all the stuff that is always littering it so it felt really nice to get it clean and looking nice again.
Check out the results!
Check out the results!
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
31 Days to Clean - Day 7
Day 7 - The Curse
Sorry I didn't get this posted. I will post results from day 7 tonight as well as day 8 and day 8 results. I wasn't feeling 100% yesterday so I cleaned and then went to bed.
Anywho...
Day 7 we talk about The Curse. What is the curse you ask?
Lets start this way.
Have you ever...
Wondered why it's so difficult to keep your house clean and to keep on task?
Wondered why you feel like no matter how much you clean or how hard you work, things always seem to just get messy?
Wondered why you feel depressed and overwhelmed at the work the just keeps getting bigger and bigger?
Friends, that right there....is the curse.
If read Genesis 3:17-18 it tells us about the curse that God put upon us.
"Then to Adam He said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat from it'; Cursed is the ground because of you; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. "Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; And you shall eat the plants of the field..."
Because Adam sinned (it's his fault, not Eve's, because he was supposed to be responsible for life and work in the garden before us girls were created) our homes go against us as we have rebelled against God. Everything is heading to decay, and we are striving against it. No matter how many clothes we wash, there will always be more to be cleaned. No matter how many times we dust, it will always become dusty again. These are all parts of the Curse.
Work is no the Curse, unproductive work is!
Characteristics of the Curse include the following:
-everything is working towards death, decay and disorder.
-unproductive work destroys your labor
-pollutions pictures sin
-evil is temporary and abnormal
Mary Challenge:
Read Romans 8:20-21 and find what the hope is in the Curse
Martha challenge:
Kitchen - clean out and organize your pantry.
Sorry I didn't get this posted. I will post results from day 7 tonight as well as day 8 and day 8 results. I wasn't feeling 100% yesterday so I cleaned and then went to bed.
Anywho...
Day 7 we talk about The Curse. What is the curse you ask?
Lets start this way.
Have you ever...
Wondered why it's so difficult to keep your house clean and to keep on task?
Wondered why you feel like no matter how much you clean or how hard you work, things always seem to just get messy?
Wondered why you feel depressed and overwhelmed at the work the just keeps getting bigger and bigger?
Friends, that right there....is the curse.
If read Genesis 3:17-18 it tells us about the curse that God put upon us.
"Then to Adam He said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat from it'; Cursed is the ground because of you; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. "Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; And you shall eat the plants of the field..."
Because Adam sinned (it's his fault, not Eve's, because he was supposed to be responsible for life and work in the garden before us girls were created) our homes go against us as we have rebelled against God. Everything is heading to decay, and we are striving against it. No matter how many clothes we wash, there will always be more to be cleaned. No matter how many times we dust, it will always become dusty again. These are all parts of the Curse.
Work is no the Curse, unproductive work is!
Characteristics of the Curse include the following:
-everything is working towards death, decay and disorder.
-unproductive work destroys your labor
-pollutions pictures sin
-evil is temporary and abnormal
Mary Challenge:
Read Romans 8:20-21 and find what the hope is in the Curse
Martha challenge:
Kitchen - clean out and organize your pantry.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Day 6 Results
Day six was cleaning and organizing my cabinets.
Since I only really have 2 cabinets that have food in them I kept my Tupperware/Pots and Pans cabinets for today (Day 7). I had no idea how easy it is to go through your cabinets and just organize them. It literally took me all of maybe 15 min for each set of cabinets. It was so simple to do. I made sure everything was still good and not expired and I organized everything so it's easy to read what the item is. Then I just put it all back in there the best way I could. I think they look MUCH better than they did before. Check it out!
Click on the images to enlarge them.
I felt like I had so much more room once everything was actually organized and not just throw in there. Whew! What a relief!
Since I only really have 2 cabinets that have food in them I kept my Tupperware/Pots and Pans cabinets for today (Day 7). I had no idea how easy it is to go through your cabinets and just organize them. It literally took me all of maybe 15 min for each set of cabinets. It was so simple to do. I made sure everything was still good and not expired and I organized everything so it's easy to read what the item is. Then I just put it all back in there the best way I could. I think they look MUCH better than they did before. Check it out!
Monday, July 11, 2011
31 Days to Clean - Day 6
Day 6 - The Six List - The $25,000 Piece of Advice
Today we talk about "The Six List"
The six list started in the 1920's and was developed by a man named Ivy Lee. He shared his "six list" wish another man...Charles Schwab, the owner of a steel company. Lee charged nothing of the "six list" but told Schwab to try it for 90 days and to pay him what he thought was appropriate for the idea. Schwab paid Lee $25,000 (fyi: the income of an average worker during this time was $600....a year)
So, how can you use The Six List?
Before you go to bed, make a list of the top six things you need to accomplish the next day in order or importance, but list NO MORE than six. Then go through the list the next day in order and cross off what you do as you go.
To read The Six List Story click HERE
Mary Challenge:
Make a six list and use it for six days in a row. Put the most important things first, and then finish them in order (do not skip around). Why you don't accomplish on that days list put at the top of the next days list.
Martha Challenge:
Kitchen - Clean out and organize all your cabinets.
Today we talk about "The Six List"
The six list started in the 1920's and was developed by a man named Ivy Lee. He shared his "six list" wish another man...Charles Schwab, the owner of a steel company. Lee charged nothing of the "six list" but told Schwab to try it for 90 days and to pay him what he thought was appropriate for the idea. Schwab paid Lee $25,000 (fyi: the income of an average worker during this time was $600....a year)
So, how can you use The Six List?
Before you go to bed, make a list of the top six things you need to accomplish the next day in order or importance, but list NO MORE than six. Then go through the list the next day in order and cross off what you do as you go.
To read The Six List Story click HERE
Mary Challenge:
Make a six list and use it for six days in a row. Put the most important things first, and then finish them in order (do not skip around). Why you don't accomplish on that days list put at the top of the next days list.
Martha Challenge:
Kitchen - Clean out and organize all your cabinets.
Day 5 Results
Day 5 of cleaning was the MOST frustrating day so far. I hate cleaning blinds. I actually wound up breaking 3 panels off of them. It doesn't help that the blinds have probably been there since the house was built so I went to Wal-Mart last night and bought some new blinds. Unfortunately I didn't have my cell phone with me when I went and I forgot to ask Derek what size they were. I bought what I thought looked right and took them home...to find out they were 6 inches too short. I will be going back today to exchange them for the right size.
I also cleaned all the windows in my living room, kitchen, and the back sliding door that is in our dining room. They're all pretty well together so I figured what the hey.
Here are my results. You can't really tell that the blinds are any cleaner but you can see the damage I did. Stratton even helped me out throughout the whole thing. He is such a good help.
Love my little helper.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
31 Days to Clean - Day 5
Day 5 - Priorities
Today we talk about priorities. This is huge for me. I have always tried to have my priorities in line. There are 7 simple priorities that 31 Days to Clean tells us about.
1. God
-Work in progress goal: Get up early each day to sit at His feet. If this doesn't happen, I won't beat myself up, I'll just try again the next day.
2. My Husband
-Work in progress goal: Respond to him lovingly and intimately. Make an effort to serve him first. Be careful not to nag. Show respect. Give him and myself tons of grace when we mess up.
3. My Child
Work in progress goal: Work hard at getting my home in order so that I can be freed up to spend time with him, not worrying about all I have to do. Gain control of my time and schedule so that I have adequate time to plan activities/schooling for him.
4. My Home
Work in progress goal: Work hard, putting off laziness, and putting my family before myself by taking care of the home God gave me.
5. Gifts
Work in progress goal: Use specific gifts to continue to facilitate bible studies.
7.Personal
Work in progress goal: Take time for things I enjoy!
Mary Challenge:
Come up with my own list of personal priorities for myself and my family. Rank them 1-5.
Martha Challenge:
Kitchen - Wash your window treatments treatments and/or clean your blinds. Wash the inside of your windows.
Today we talk about priorities. This is huge for me. I have always tried to have my priorities in line. There are 7 simple priorities that 31 Days to Clean tells us about.
1. God
-Work in progress goal: Get up early each day to sit at His feet. If this doesn't happen, I won't beat myself up, I'll just try again the next day.
2. My Husband
-Work in progress goal: Respond to him lovingly and intimately. Make an effort to serve him first. Be careful not to nag. Show respect. Give him and myself tons of grace when we mess up.
3. My Child
Work in progress goal: Work hard at getting my home in order so that I can be freed up to spend time with him, not worrying about all I have to do. Gain control of my time and schedule so that I have adequate time to plan activities/schooling for him.
4. My Home
Work in progress goal: Work hard, putting off laziness, and putting my family before myself by taking care of the home God gave me.
5. Gifts
Work in progress goal: Use specific gifts to continue to facilitate bible studies.
7.Personal
Work in progress goal: Take time for things I enjoy!
Mary Challenge:
Come up with my own list of personal priorities for myself and my family. Rank them 1-5.
Martha Challenge:
Kitchen - Wash your window treatments treatments and/or clean your blinds. Wash the inside of your windows.
Day 4 Results
Day 4 was not something that I thought was going to be as big of an improvement as it was. My stove and microwave always seem to have food splattered on the outside of them. I clean it when it happens but sometimes you just forget to wipe that little spot that you don't think anyone will notice. The inside of our microwave and oven is completely different. I ALWAYS use a paper towel when I microwave anything. My husband on the other hand, not so much. The worst is spaghetti o's. They make SUCH a mess. My stove I never wipe up anything because as soon as it happenes it's always too hot to wipe it up right away and by the time it was cool I would forget about the spill on the inside of the stove. I never really thought about cleaning my stove until this 31 Days to Clean. Let me tell you. I had no idea how hard it is to get baked on food off of a surface. I took the advice of the book and boiled some water in the microwave before I cleaned. It definitely made a big difference in the amount of elbow grease I had to use to get the stuck on food off of it. I also used a damp sponge and a little bit of soapy water. On the stove I cleaned out the dirty old aluminum foil and put a new layer in. I also scrubbed the walls and back of the stove and the door. Check out my success!
If you have a hard time seeing any of these you can click on them for a bigger view.
This is how gross the bottom of our oven was. I'm surprised it never smelled burnt with all the burnt drippings on it.
While I was cleaning the door I kept thinking that I wasn't doing much. Man it's nice to have a before and after picture. I didn't realize how bad it was before.
If you click on the picture of the inside of the microwave you can really tell how bad the before is and how much better the after is.
The door was pretty dirty too. Now it clean and shiny.
If you have a hard time seeing any of these you can click on them for a bigger view.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
31 Days to Clean - Day 4
Day 4 - A Place to Put Your Feet Up
Today 31 Days to Clean talks about the inability to get comfortable when you go to someone's house that is "too clean." It's hard for you to get comfortable because you're afraid to touch anything. There is something about a house that you can come in to and just prop you feet up. I would like to think that our house is one of those kinds of houses that you can do that. Not because our house is a mess, but because we have huge comfy couches big throw pillows and a few really comfortable blankets/throws that scream "curl up with me."
Having a clean house isn't just about making your house spotless, or having every bed made or even making sure that everything is in your place. It's about making an environment that encourages people to feel welcome in your home.
Here are 5 ways I can make my house "Feet Propped Up Friendly"
1. Not having anything covering my that has the letters "poly" in it. (NO PLASTIC)
2. Add some more big comfy pillows and a couple more soft blankets.
3. Make sure my living room is clean but not untouchable.
4. Always have a soothing beverage ready to be made (aka coffee or hot tea)
5. Listen when someone is talking to me about their troubles. (or anything for that matter)
Mary Challenge:
I wasn't able to do my Mary Challenge because I had other things I had to do so, tomorrow for my Mary challenge I will have a friend over to enjoy my house and I can enjoy their company.
Martha Challenge:
Kitchen- Clean out my oven and microwave. Don't forget the exteriors.
Today 31 Days to Clean talks about the inability to get comfortable when you go to someone's house that is "too clean." It's hard for you to get comfortable because you're afraid to touch anything. There is something about a house that you can come in to and just prop you feet up. I would like to think that our house is one of those kinds of houses that you can do that. Not because our house is a mess, but because we have huge comfy couches big throw pillows and a few really comfortable blankets/throws that scream "curl up with me."
Having a clean house isn't just about making your house spotless, or having every bed made or even making sure that everything is in your place. It's about making an environment that encourages people to feel welcome in your home.
Here are 5 ways I can make my house "Feet Propped Up Friendly"
1. Not having anything covering my that has the letters "poly" in it. (NO PLASTIC)
2. Add some more big comfy pillows and a couple more soft blankets.
3. Make sure my living room is clean but not untouchable.
4. Always have a soothing beverage ready to be made (aka coffee or hot tea)
5. Listen when someone is talking to me about their troubles. (or anything for that matter)
Mary Challenge:
I wasn't able to do my Mary Challenge because I had other things I had to do so, tomorrow for my Mary challenge I will have a friend over to enjoy my house and I can enjoy their company.
Martha Challenge:
Kitchen- Clean out my oven and microwave. Don't forget the exteriors.
Day 3 Results
So day three to me was SUCH an eye opener. I had no idea how dusty my cabinets were! Even Derek was surprised how dirty they were below our sink. My fridge I knew was kind of a dust bunny grave yard because we never really dust it or clean it off. It's kind of the forgotten zone where we just shove stuff that we don't know where to put. So that was no big surprise. Here is a before and after of the fridge. The cabinets you couldn't really tell a difference so I'll spare you all those pictures.
This is how dusty the top of my fridge. Let me just tell you that this is really embarrassing for me to post this. But, what better way to get motivated to clean than to put it out there for the world to see.
I bought a new vacuum yesterday so I got some serious cleaning done on the carpets. I use a sprinkle first on the carpets because it makes the whole house smell good while you clean then, I vacuum. I like the sprinkle because it helps get a lot of the dirt and dander from Groucho up too. I mopped the kitchen floor and got some more laundry washed, folded and put away. I woke up early today and once we were up I made the bed and took a tip from a friend and fellow blogger Ashley. She makes her bed every morning and prays for her marriage. I just that was really neat so I started doing that too.
I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend. I'm having a blast!
Friday, July 8, 2011
31 Days to Clean - Day 3
Day 3 - 10 Ways to Give Life to You Home
I don't want to give away everything in the book so I'm going to go off of the 10 things that Sarah Mae's sister in law Renee Behringer lists out for us and say how I'm going to give life to my home.
1. I'm NOT going to put anyone down for their short comings. I WILL encourage the good things they do no matter how small. I will also try my best to comfort those around me and help uplift those around me.
2. I WILL try my best to always offer "grace-filled and life-giving" words to Derek and Stratton.
3. I WILL try my best to not get angry but rather love and forgive when mistakes are made in my home.
4. I WILL decorate my home because it should be a place of beauty. "Beauty raises life above mere existence."
5. I WILL try my best to keep cleaning even after the challenge is over and I WILL try instill this into my son and husband because the messier my house is the higher my stress level will be.
6. I WILL face my downfalls (anger, fear, anxiety, depression). My home should reflect my mental/spiritual/emotional health. I'm going to look to the Lord to help me with my downfalls.
7. I WILL make time to get out of the house to make sure I stay rejuvenated.
8. I WILL plan fun things to do for my family when I can.
9. I WILL play music that is uplifting. Both when I clean and when I am in the car.
10. I WILL ask the Lord to help me to become aware of the areas in my house that cause myself and my family stress. I WILL also ask how I can bring life to these places.
Mary Challenge:
Ask my family what makes them feel the most loved when it comes to caring for our home.
Derek says he likes when I take care of the laundry and make the bed. It makes it nice to be able to go to bed and not worry about all the clutter around us before we got to bed. Also it is one less stress factor to wake up to something nice instead of a huge mess.
I like when my kitchen is clean. I think the kitchen is the heart of the house so I like to clean and keep my kitchen clean. I also think it makes your guests more comfortable when they eat over. It doesn't feel like they are eating dirty food.
I think if Stratton could tell what he likes the best about what I clean, it would be his bedroom. I would hate to have to sleep in a messy room and not be able to do anything about it. I think since he can sleep in a clean room it's relaxing for him.
Martha Challenge:
Dust tops of fridge, cabinets, shelves and also clean and shine the outsides of drawers and cabinets.
Two days down! I hope you all could see a little progress with my fridge. I know it's a little hard to tell. I will post pictures first thing tomorrow of my Martha Challenge for today. I hope everyone has a fun filled and relaxing weekend.
I don't want to give away everything in the book so I'm going to go off of the 10 things that Sarah Mae's sister in law Renee Behringer lists out for us and say how I'm going to give life to my home.
1. I'm NOT going to put anyone down for their short comings. I WILL encourage the good things they do no matter how small. I will also try my best to comfort those around me and help uplift those around me.
2. I WILL try my best to always offer "grace-filled and life-giving" words to Derek and Stratton.
3. I WILL try my best to not get angry but rather love and forgive when mistakes are made in my home.
4. I WILL decorate my home because it should be a place of beauty. "Beauty raises life above mere existence."
5. I WILL try my best to keep cleaning even after the challenge is over and I WILL try instill this into my son and husband because the messier my house is the higher my stress level will be.
6. I WILL face my downfalls (anger, fear, anxiety, depression). My home should reflect my mental/spiritual/emotional health. I'm going to look to the Lord to help me with my downfalls.
7. I WILL make time to get out of the house to make sure I stay rejuvenated.
8. I WILL plan fun things to do for my family when I can.
9. I WILL play music that is uplifting. Both when I clean and when I am in the car.
10. I WILL ask the Lord to help me to become aware of the areas in my house that cause myself and my family stress. I WILL also ask how I can bring life to these places.
Mary Challenge:
Ask my family what makes them feel the most loved when it comes to caring for our home.
Derek says he likes when I take care of the laundry and make the bed. It makes it nice to be able to go to bed and not worry about all the clutter around us before we got to bed. Also it is one less stress factor to wake up to something nice instead of a huge mess.
I like when my kitchen is clean. I think the kitchen is the heart of the house so I like to clean and keep my kitchen clean. I also think it makes your guests more comfortable when they eat over. It doesn't feel like they are eating dirty food.
I think if Stratton could tell what he likes the best about what I clean, it would be his bedroom. I would hate to have to sleep in a messy room and not be able to do anything about it. I think since he can sleep in a clean room it's relaxing for him.
Martha Challenge:
Dust tops of fridge, cabinets, shelves and also clean and shine the outsides of drawers and cabinets.
Two days down! I hope you all could see a little progress with my fridge. I know it's a little hard to tell. I will post pictures first thing tomorrow of my Martha Challenge for today. I hope everyone has a fun filled and relaxing weekend.
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