Did I really just say that?

Wednesday Book Club

The reason why I love this book is that the author Lysa, shares so many honest stories about motherhood at her home.  She starts out this chapter by sharing a story about how she lost it with her kids one day (and we have ALL been there) because she was trying to do everything, and yet everything she did was in her own strength.  She was running on empty, and so after the umpteenth whiny voice, and dirty spill, and complaints from her children she let them have it with her words.

She went on to tell them to go to bed and let the Holy Spirit tuck you in tonight because I am DONE!

The minute the words came out of her mouth she knew she had gone too far.

"Did I just tell my kids that the Holy Spirit would be tucking them into bed? What kind of mother does that?  A tired, exhausted, empty one, I answered myself.

Have you ever ran on empty?
Tried to do all the mommy tasks, but without any regard to how much you NEED Him?

Oh this is so what I needed to re-read today.

I've been running on empty physically because Micah has been waking up twice each night to nurse, even though we have decided he does not need nighttime feedings.  Have you seen the size of my baby's thighs? Trust me he has enough chubb on him to last him for weeks.  We have been sleep training him for weeks now but he is really struggling to sleep through the night.  He usually wakes up around 12 or 1 and again at 3 or 4am.

So not only am I physically tired but then I try to do it all the next morning before doing my quiet time in the Bible with the Lord.  And then I am just a hot cranky mess.

Lysa reminds us that we need to be filled with God.  He is our portion.  When we are full we can pour out blessings on those around us.  When we run on empty we have less to give to others.

Lamentations 3: 22-24 says "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him" 

 Another great verse is:

Psalm 73:26 "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

So to all you wonderful moms out there.  You are not alone.  This tired mommy knows just what it is like to have 3 needy kids and a very tired body trying to serve them.  God is constantly reminding me to look to Him to be my portion through out the day.

I am so thankful for Bible Study Fellowship on Wednesdays.  I get to spend all morning reading the word and talking about the word, and singing hymns, and praying with my fellow sisters while my children attend their own bible classes.  Also, the homework they give us needs to be spread out throughout the week so it has helped me to be disciplined in being in the word.

"We will all have days when our attitude is not what is should be.  We all fall short."

Our emotions may run wild but we can rest assured that God is always there to be our portion and our strength.  We are not alone.

Will you rely on God's strength, power, control, and provision today?

Cleaning Schedule (Back on Track)

My Personal Cleaning Schedule

Yes, I still have a woman who comes to my house every few weeks to help me clean. (It's quite wonderful).  And yes, I'm still the person who cleans like a mad lady before the cleaning lady comes (it's a disease people).  But as all of you home makers know...even if you have help twice a month...that still leaves about 28 days in the month that YOU are required to do the cleaning! So, here is what works for me...to each his/her own. I can not function with a mess or clutter (during homeschool I'm learning to...but even that's hard for me).  This is how I keep mess and clutter to a minimum...a little bit every day so that when it's the weekend I only have the typical 30-45 minutes of cleaning and the rest of my time can be used to play with my kids and/or gaze into John's beautiful blue eyes!

You will notice I tackle at least one room a day. This means I can really focus on getting that room up to par and sparkling and then throw in a load or two of laundry and am done...I also ask Julia and Mark to help me when we clean the play room and do laundry, they are also good at helping me gather all the garbage pails from each room.  And bless their little hearts because they are always willing to help me pick up Micah's toys, which now seem to have taken over the living room!  They help me on laundry days by emptying the hampers and sorting the lights from the darks.  And since the play room is their domain, I guide them as they organize their toys and make sure they put them in the right bins.

I live in my dining room (home-school table) and kitchen (cooking 3 meals)  so these rooms get the most action throughout the day...therefore I am constantly cleaning these two areas.  We do one dish washing load each night and empty dishwasher first thing in the am.

Saturday-2 loads of laundry, downstairs bathroom, sweep the entire back yard deck, sweep the front porch
Sunday-1 load of laundry after dinner time, and put garbage out for collection, vacuum dining room
Monday-2 loads of laundry, organize and vacuum playroom
Tuesday-both upstairs bathrooms, dust and vacuum laundry room
Wednesday-1 load of laundry, empty all garbage cans around the house, vacuum living room
Thursday-vacuum basement steps and hard wood floor, wash kitchen floor
Friday-vacuum upstairs and bedrooms, 1 load of laundry

This list is printed out and is on my refrigerator as a reminder.  Yes, I get teased about it...and no, it does not bother me one little bit!!!