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!

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.

Update

Hey everyone...

I'm still alive. I have been super sick since Saturday night and haven't felt like doing anything on the computer. I have been keeping up with my cleaning and I promise to catch up either tomorrow or Wednesday. I am leaving work early today to go home and nap and hopefully feel better by this afternoon. I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.

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.

Friday Confessions

I confess that as gross as Derek thinks it is for me to change my feminine products in front of him, (which I don't out of common courtesy) I think it's twice as repulsive when he comes into the bathroom first thing in the morning, pees standing up while I'm brushing my teeth and farts while he scratches his butt.

I confess I have been struggling with keeping up with my 31 Days to Clean the last few days because I have been SO TIRED.

I confess I freeze Derek out at night on purpose because I find that he doesn't snore as bad when it's cold.

I confess I have been trying to stop biting my nails...and have been failing miserably.

I confess I can not WAIT until this afternoon when Derek and I get our pictures taken by Ashley Lancaster. She takes amazing pictures and it's for such a great cause. She is bringing home her son very soon with the help of everyone that gets their pictures taken by her. Check out her Love in Photography Blog.

I confess I have been stressing a lot lately because of school for next semester. I am going to be taking 6 hours of studio classes, doing my foundation review, and taking the WP003 test. The studio classes I'm taking are Ceramics I and Intro to Web Design. The foundation review consists of putting out all of the artwork that I have done in the last 4 years and putting it out on display to be judged to see if I can keep going as an art student. The WP003 test is just a 3 hour writing exam that I have to take on a random Saturday so I can graduate. Fun Fun Fun!

I confess I will probably be a zombie for like 5 months starting Aug 22.  Studio classes are the worst!

I confess I am ready for the WEEKEND! Happy Friday!

3 Long Years

So today is the 3rd anniversary of when I started blogging.

When I first started blogging I had no idea it would become such a huge part of my life. I love posting on my blog and reading others blogs. I love the blogging world and all the wonderful people I've met and stayed in contact with because of my blog.

I started blogging because I wanted to remember everything that I was going through while I was having some MASSIVE life changing moments. I didn't really know how else to deal with the emotions that I was going through other than blogging about them. None of my friends were going through what I was so it was nice to get it off my chest. Now I've met some really great friends through blogging and I have SO many more people to talk to about my life experiences. Not to mention it's so nice to get encouragement from others when you're trying different things in life.

I'm so happy to have been blogging for 3 years and I hope to have many more to come in the future!

If you would like a blast from the past please read my first blog post ever!
First Comes Love Then Comes...

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.

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.

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.

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!