January Organization Challange: Organizing Papers Week 2 Manuals and Warranties

Before I get to week 2 on this months challenge I feel the need to update where I am so far on the first week.  Organizing Mail and Bills was the 1st challenge, and while I didn't feel like this was an area I struggle with, as my current system of handling mail as little as possible, and my bill paying set up work for me, I did decide that it was time to purge the file cabinets. I am now using a Three Tiered System with my files.  Those I need immediate access to are at my desk, reorganized with any personal information I no longer need in a laundry basket that is currently overflowing with papers to shred, that is the first tier. The second tier is papers that I may need to access that are located in a separate filing area. Again, they have been purged as well.  It is amazing how much paper I have kept that I don't need any more.  Receipts for restaurants, and items purchased dating all the way back to 13 years ago.  The good news is the filing cabinets are cleaned out, labeled for easy access and papers not needed are being shredded before being added to the containers at my daughter's school where they earn money for the weight in recycled papers.  Win-win, if you ask me. The third tier is papers that we want to keep long term but do not need to access. These types of papers, mainly school paper and kids art work is already stored away in their closets and the attic.

Week 2's challenge: Manuals and Warranties

This is an area that I've been wanting to tackle for a long time, but honestly since I keep a binder of warranties in a closet, and the manuals in drawers I haven't thought about it much.  After reading the tips this week on Delightful Order
http://delightfulorder.blogspot.com/2013/01/january-challenge-organizing-papers_7.html?spref=tw

I feel a new resolve to get this area organized.  The first step of course is weeding through those items that we no longer even own.  From there I plan on using the different areas she suggested: Home Manuals, Misc Manuals, and Electronics Manuals, Computers, Printers, and Scanners, but I am intending to use these sections in the top of my now almost empty filing cabinet.  I feel this will be a cheaper solution, as I have lots of file folders that are not being used, and they will still be organized, out of the way, but easy to access should we need them. 


I'm hoping to have this job done by the weekend!


After writing this I finished organizing the manuals and warranties in 15 minutes. They are now safely in their folder in the filing cabinet.  Although, I am considering as money is available getting 4 large binders, and separating them out in clear plastic sleeves in the binders, just so it would be even quicker to find them. 

Book Review: Book 1 and Book 2

The goal for this year is more than 55 books, so far I've managed to read 2!



Book 1: Design On A Crime by Ginny Aiken

This was a nice read to start off the new year.  I was able to download it for FREE on my Kindle, at some point this last year.  Although, I did just look when uploading this picture and it is still FREE!  The story is about Haley, who has gone through something traumatic in the past.  Due to this experience she had taken up martial arts and finds that these classes help to give her the strength she needs to handle stressful times.  She used to rely on her faith to do that, but after having gone through so many struggles she finds her faith to be lacking.  When she becomes the main suspect in a murder case, she is forced to deal with her lack of faith in a whole new way.  Through her journey to find the real killer, she discovers what she really needs to make it through difficult times. 

Normally, I find that I figure out the twists and turns in a book to quickly.  This one, however, kept me guessing. Just when I thought I had it figured out I discovered I was wrong!  I found myself reading as much as I could to discover who really had done it and was really surprised by what the outcome was.  The truth of the matter is, that none of us have led sinless lives, and when we don't learn how to deal with the sin in our lives appropriately, we never know what we could find ourselves involved in.  The book was not only an interesting read from an entertainment standpoint, but it was also allowed my mind up to think about what I've done in my life that I might like to forget, and how to use my past to help build my future.

I would give this book 5 stars!


Book 2:  Get Organized! Your Twelve Month Home Clutter Killer by Colette Leigh

I'm addicted to Organization books.  I've read quite a few of them, and this one I would say is geared towards the beginning organizer.  It contained many good tips, some of which I feel I will implement over the course of this next year.  The title however, I feel was misleading.  When I downloaded the book, again at the time FREE, on my Kindle, I expected it to have 12 chapters, 1 for each month. Instead, it had a 12 month plan in chapter 1 and then the remaining chapters were tips and strategies.

All organization needs to start with the idea of keep, toss or give away.  This tip was included right at the start and it is a great first step.  I liked the idea of having a clutter collector that you walk around the house with to put all the things that have migrated into, and then once a week emptying it out to where they really go.  I do this already, a bit, when cleaning or gathering things up.  The next tip that I found myself thinking more about is the Essential Three Tier System.  This tip talks about things in our lives being in 3 tiers. Those we need and use daily, use regularly-but not daily, and those seldom used. It discussed organizing things based on that. For instance: keys, and phones are used daily, whereas an umbrella would be regularly.  The keys and the phone should be immediately accessible and should have a spot where they can always be put that is easy to remember and logical.  The umbrella also needs to be able to be found, but it does not need to be left out.  It could be stored on a hook in a closet, instead of the entryway.  I believe I will look through my home and determine if I have 2nd and 3rd tier items out in the way, when they really could be stored for when they are needed.

I also liked the kitchen and laundry room suggestions. Going through both rooms this year I feel will lead me to decide what I really do need out and available, vs. what could be put away, or even given away.

This book was helpful, and I believe I will refer back to it when I get to different areas of my home.

I would give this book 4 stars!

January Organization Challenge:Organizing Papers

Challenge Week 1:
Today the challenge is to organize mail and bills. The tips shared on http://delightfulorder.blogspot.com/2013/01/january-challenge-organizing-papers.html are good.  When I start into a project, like reorganizing my home, I do it with a rule I learned from a book called Creative Correction by Lisa Whelchel. In the preface of her book she states something to the effect of  "if you think this book will fix all of your problems take it back right now."  As she continues she basically says that when you read a book on tips you need to take what you think will work for you and not stress about trying it all.  Some things just won't work for your family.

While I like all the printable ideas that the Delightful Order blog offers, I don't plan on changing everything I do.  I did click on the link to mail organizer and printed off the picture because I think it would work on our closet doors.  Not to organize mail, because I have a system, (I'll explain in a minute), but for having things ready to go out the door the next day so that they don't have to lay on the ledge between our entry and living room.

My Mail/Bill System 

Mail should be handled as little as possible.  Sometimes my family brings in the mail, in which case I find it on my kitchen table or counter, other times I bring it in.  Regardless, here are my mail steps.
1. Sort it as I'm walking to my office.
- I move the junk mail to the bottom of the pile and as soon as I'm in my office toss it in my paper recycling bin. (which I empty at my children's school when it gets full-they earn $$ for weight in recycling!)
- Bills I immediately put into our Money Matters folder at my desk
- Mail other than bills, but needing to be taken care of goes into my to do basket on my printer
- Magazines go on the magazine shelf in our family room.

Once it's organized I know where to find it when I go to work on bills, or my to do items.

I process bills a couple of times a month. The last day of the previous month or the first day of the next month I process everything I pay online that I have received as well as a few paper bills that are due at this time.  Everything once paid and logged on my Money Matters Software gets checked off on my log of all the bills that come in. My log includes those items too that are deducted monthly from our account.  I list them on my log to make sure I've entered them into my software monthly.  I use an accounts ledger that I've organized by title of the bill down the left side and the month across the top.  On this ledger I also have a section to check off each month once the account has been processed. I keep all paid bills papers in my Money Matters file with the authorization code on it, until the next bill arrives then I shred the previous month.  At the beginning of the month I also list the next bill pay date on my calendar, usually this is for only the cable bill and our Visa bill which are both due later in the month, and arrive later.  Once I've paid everything I can at the beginning of the month I highlight the squares representing the bills not paid (cable/Visa) so that one quick look reminds me what I need to make sure to take care of.

My system could still use some tweaks, so I'm looking forward to reading more about paper organization this month.

Becoming More Organized in 2013

Yes, the new year always brings about a start of new ideas and new goals.  Something about starting over with a fresh slate that just gets under almost all of our skin.  I had decided that this was going to be the year where I finally finished off projects that I've started throughout the house, and also scaled down our stuff and got more organized.  (Funny, I can see my best friend rolling her eyes at me!) I admit I am addicted to books, magazines and posts about being more organized.  In fact that is what is drawing me to write this blog and accept the challange for the blog that I'm linking to.  Want to join me?  Want to get more organized in 2013?  I'm accepting the challenge, consider accepting it with me.

My Reading Challenge

In 2011 I decided it was time to start reading again. Not that I hadn't been reading, I just hadn't been taking the time to have "me" time which would allow for finding a good book to sink into.  My goal back then was 12 novels.  I read, or at least logged 44 books that I read during 2011.

This year, my goal was to read even more.  I know I read several books between January and March of this year, but in March I purchased a Kindle Fire and the reading took off.  Between March and yesterday, I read 55 books!!  I can't believe it.  What's even better is I didn't pay for any of those books.  I found 2 great links to follow that offer FREE kindle books on a daily basis. One is ereadernewstoday.com and the other is inspiredreads.com. I also found various pages to like on Facebook that also offer FREE books!  In fact at this point I have over 400 books on my amazon kindle list and I've only paid for 5 of them! 

With the goal of reading more than I did this past year, I also have the goal of writing up book reviews of what I have read.  Hopefully, 2013 will allow me to find the time needed to write a quick review after I finish a book.  To get started I've created a list of the books I read in 2012.

Happy Reading!!

2012 Book List
Mother Daughter Book Club
Mother Daughter Book Club (MDB) Much Ado About Anne
MDB Pen Pal
Stars Collide
MDB Pies and Prejudice
Longing
MDB Home for the Holidays
Confessions of a Shopaholic, Takes Manhattan
COS Ties the Knot
COS Shopaholic and Sister
COS Shopaholic and Baby
One Minute Organizer Plain and Simple
Chasing the Rainbow
Organized Simplicity
Always the Wedding Planner never the Bride
Girl Talk
The Rockstars Daughter
Must Love Dogs
My So Called Life As A Proverbs 31 Wife
Plan On It
Always the Baker Never the Bride
Always the Designer Never the Bride
Cool Beans
A Good Wife's Guide
Suddenly a Spy
Creative Chaos
The Last Good Man
Sweet Baklava
Search Committee
Chocolate Beach
Truffles by the Sea
My Stubborn Heart
One Crazy Summer
Stirring Up Trouble
Georgia On My Mind
The Perfect Blend
Dream Kisses
Around the World in 80 Dates
Head Over Heals
The Thirteenth Stone
That's My Teenage Son
Delivered with Love
In Between
North of Superior
More
Her Best Catch
Thirty Days Hat
200 Best Kindle Fire Apps
The Wedding Wager
Leave it to Chance
Her Minnesota Man
The Last Bride of Ballymuir
Winning the Clutter War
Across a Moonlit Sea
Think About Love

Life Flying By

While I hate to write this, summer is 1/2 way over. It seems hard to believe, but lately I've realized how fast life is really moving along.  I remember back, now 11 years, when people would stop me and say "enjoy them while they are young they grow up so fast" and I would think "if only they would!"  Usually, my reason for feeling that way was that it had been a difficult day with a toddler, or we were in some stage such as the dreaded potty training years.  Now, while I don't really want to revert to the toddler years I find myself thinking "Life is Flying By".

Both of our kids went off to camp this summer for a week.  Child #2 enjoyed a week of Horse Camp, while child #1 headed to camp with the Youth Group.  Youth Group?!?!?  How is he possibly old enough to be in Youth Group?  Not only did he go to camp for a week he came back as tall as I am.  Seriously?  I realize I'm not very tall, but still there is something about seeing your 12 year old look you in the eye that just makes you realize that time is Flying By, and life just keeps rolling along with it. 

I had goals this summer and am thankful that even with how fast summer is moving along that I've been reaching them.  So far we've managed to declutter mulitple areas of our home, as well as with just a few small purchase improve areas as well.  I've found a great website, imom.com, where I've discovered mulitple ideas that are helping the house run smoother.  Including screen time tickets!  The kids have been earning them for doing their summer reading and instrument practice as well as chores.  The best thing is, the house is getting cleaned without them realizing they are helping me as much.  Which is freeing me to do other things.  Week 1 has gone well with them, so only 2 more weeks to go to make it a habit.

Speaking of habits, we are also getting into the habit of making healthier choices.  Food wise, exercise wise, and reading wise.  It's not easy to make good choices, but it's the right thing to do.  The hardest part is the society we live in that feels a small soda should be the size of what was a large soda when we were kids.  Portions are out of control.  Which is why we, as a society, look the way we do.  So learning to stop it is the next goal for our family. 

Goal setting helps give us direction and helps us to really think about what is important.  As I look my son in the eyes these days, and watch my nephew go off to college (not sure how that happened either), I realize that with Life Flying By making our moments count is so much more important.  Yes each day offers a ton of things to get done, but by concentrating on the 10 things on the to do list only and ordering what really needs to get done each day, I've found for us that we can achieve those things and still have time to relax, and just spend time together.  Also, that times comes with less stress over "when am I going to get the things done", because the list each day is not overwhelming.

I guess these are just the somewhat random thoughts I have for today.  Now since Life is Flying By, I need to get out there and enjoy it!

When Life Gets in the Way

Funny how LIFE can just sneak up and get in your way! I don't really mean day to day life either.  We all have day to day life, cooking, laundry, making sure kids are not injuring each other as they display wonderful characteristics of sibling love. (yes, I'm being SARCASTIC! on the kid thing).  It's the other things though.  The extra things that swoop in and steal your time.  The truth of it is that they aren't always bad things, just things none the less.

I was crusing along through the first week of summer vacation.  Fridge, Freezers, closets...etc were cleaned out.  A small pile began to appear on the hockey table of things that we as a family do not need anymore.  When a friend who might need them came over I passed them on. Things were going along at a great speed.  I was feeling good about the fact that each morning I was spending time with God, getting a bit of exercise each day and spending some quality time with the kiddos that didn't involve raising my voice.  Then this week came along.  Sports Camp week!  Now, Sports Camp is one of those things that I choose to help out with.  It was not neccessary for me to function, but it was a bit neccessary for the outreach ministry to function for me to volunteer.  Could they have made it without me.  ABSOLUTELY! Just the same when the church asks you to consider giving up some time, that is a good thing.  How you do it though, is what I mean by "When Life Gets in the Way".

When things in Life come up, when extras start to fill your time, how are you reacting?  I could be sitting at my desk right now completely stressed out about the fact that my daughter's room is still not finished being reorganized (and trust me...it still needs it!), or that the family room really could stand a deep cleaning.  I could be stressed about the fact that this week, due to the heat from being outside everyday, my workouts have consisted of walking the dog and walking kids to and from first aid and the bathroom OR I can make another choice.
In Phillipians, 4:6 it says. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

My request this week is that I would see the benefit of helping out and giving of my time.  That I would get done what needs to get done at the house and feel the freedom to let the things that I would like to get done, but don't HAVE to get done wait. That I would find moments to relax and unwind even though the house is not what I would like it to be. Has it happened?  Have I not stressed out about the other things, I'm happy to say it has.  I decided to join up with some other Moms on a reorganize the house mission this summer.  Each day there is a suggestion for what we should clean or do.  Last week, no problem got it done and then some.  This week I have felt the FREEDOM to read the suggestions and think those sound like great ideas when I have the time to do them.  I don't feel guilty that the other  moms are getting them done and I'm not, I don't feel that I've let them down. It's not a competition, it's a way to help us all move forward.  Twice this week our family has shared meals with friends.  Does the floor need vacuumed, yes, is there stuff to do, yes.  Just the same I relized that this was a good week to kick back and rest and relax some because being out in the 90+ degree heat is draining, and that my family needs to use summer to reconnect with people not just reclaim the house.

Life will continue to happen.  Next week kids are at camp and the love of my life and I get to spend time together without them.  Good time to deep clean the family room huh?  NO WAY!  He and I need quality time, and that involves talking, and walking not vacuuming.  I'm not saying that I won't do my weekly cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping and other weekly must do chores. I'm just saying that the Moms in the reoganize group will have to continue to move on without me, because my relationship with my husband is far more important than whether or not the baseboards have been dusted recently.  Will the baseboards get cleaned this summer, will those extra jobs that never get done be accomplished.  I hope so.  I plan to become a little more like Martha with each passing day, getting a little extra done and done right.  I just don't want to turn my back on Mary and realize that I missed what was really important when I get down the road further in this life.

May you too find your priorities this summer and learn to accept where you are on the journey.  Making it better as you go, without stressing yourself out as you move forward.  Time to go grab the comforter out of the washing machine!  Kids both have friends sleeping over, so getting a few extras done as they sleep then it's off to SPORTS camp for the last day!

Week 1 of a Very HAPPY Summer

Summer is moving along.  Hard to believe we are on day 4 of being out of school. It feels good.  While not everything is going perfectly, yes my kids are still fighting, I've decided to try my very best to choose joy and be clothed in humility.  I could grumble and complain about all there is to do around the house. I know friends who would come over and ask me how I can say that, as our house "appears" neat, but trust me the mess is there, whether evident or not.  We all have mess, we all have responsibilities, we all have things that we want to do or should have done.  So, why grumble and complain.  In fact God is very clear in Philippians about doing everything without grumbling or complaining.  I certainly don't do that very well, but I'm working on it. 

Since my last post I have managed to clean our main bathroom.  The floor still needs done, and the tub rechaulked (aren't you glad to know that), but the cupboards are reorganized, the mess is thrown out and the surfaces are cleaned.  Also got the pantry, and linen cabinet done. The kids have been asked to go through t-shirts and pjs, and I checked, they did pretty good. Today is DESK day.  We all are going to go through our desks.  Kids aren't so happy about it, but that's just part of summer too.

Fun wise, we've camped in the backyard, went to the beach, went canoeing, bought a slip in slide for $6, made shakes, ate ice cream, and saw the new Madagascar movie!  Not bad for a list so far.  Even better we haven't spent all that much $$$ either. Today, as I write this at 10:15 am only one kid is awake, and she just woke up. 

We will continue to enjoy this summer, get stuff done and choose joy for our day.  It won't be perfect along the way, but we're going to keep moving forward.

Off to clean my desk, might even tackle my whole office!!! Then I'm thinking a walk with the dog sounds like a good way to take a break!

Summer 2012 is finally here!!!

Honestly, it seemed as though summer was never going to truly be here.  With temps in the 80's in March (of course before we had spring break!) we started the long journey of being teased with summer.  Yesterday it arrived.  Ok, not officially as it's not yet June 21, but really how do the majority of us recognize that it's summer?  WHEN SCHOOL IS OUT!  So here we are.  I guess the question now should be now what?!? 104 days to plot a course of action, to reconnect with the family and to capture memories. In reality though shouldn't we spend 365 days connecting with family and capturing memories?  Guess that's a topic for another time.  Today I'm launching into my families summer with some goals.
The goals:
1 Spend time with God daily!  Without this, I know that the summer, and my life would not be the same.  Spending time with Him helps me focus on what is really important. I read today in Haggai (yes, you can learn from these books too)  “Give careful thought to your ways. ⁶ You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” Haggai 1. Am I being consistent.  I might be planting, but am I remembering to maintain, to check back on it, to keep the process going by weeding out what isn't necessary and fertilizing the good things.  Or am I just putting the idea out there and hoping it will take care of itself.  Am I fueling my body and my families bodies with good things that will really keep us going?  Am I wasteing money?  These are lessons I learned from one small moment with God today.  He wants to speak to me so much more, but am I listening, and taking time to do that? 
2 Spend quality time with family This one should be easy.  Yet, it's not.  It is so easy to get caught up in all that needs done and not really listen or know what my  husband and children would like to do.  Sometimes this costs money to find the right activity, but just last weekend we had a wonderful 2 hour time together walking a trail in the metroparks for FREE! Some creativity is in order, but especially since it is summer finding time to just stop and do what they are doing is important.
3 Reclaim the house If you know me, you are most likely going to say that the house is in good order.  If you lived here, you would know that I'm just good at hiding some of the mess.  This past year I worked practically full time, and got lazy when it came to time at home.  So this summer I want to get things put back together, know what needs to get put on the "what needs done" list and come up with a doable plan for keeping the house running whether I'm at work or not.

Those are the 3 main goals.  There are other things I hope to accomplish too, write more, read more, scrapbook more, exercise more...the list could go on and on. These are my starting point though.  I could spend another ten minutes writing about what is going to happen first, but there is a load of laundry to move to the dryer, two kids to try to get to go on a bike ride or walk with me, and then our main bathroom is going to get some attention.

Happy Summer!  Time to get moving!

Homemakers Challenge Day 13 Fighting Fatigue...well HELLO?!?!? (31 Days to Clean)

Seriously, Day 13 Fighting Fatigue? It is a grey and gloomy day here in Northeast Ohio where we have entered the gloomy zone. That would be the zone between the end of September and beginning of May when we often go stretches without seeing the sun. Sometimes this really, ok a LOT of times this really, affects me, especially at the beginning of the season of gloom. I need natural light and therefore I don't adjust well for awhile to not having it. So, add that into the fact that this weekend I went to bed at 12:30 or after every night, and due to other obligations played the part of single parent all weekend, so today I'm feeling extremely fatigued. God in His great wisdom did not have a sub job come my way this morning so I was able to meet my best friend for a mocha, conversation and prayer. As I was waiting for her to arrive I thought I'd read today's Homemakers Challenge and BAM the topic as you can tell smacked me in the face.

YES I wanted to yell, simply by reading the title alone I am fighting fatigue. YES I know I am not alone, but why are so many of us continually fighting it. The answer? We don't ask God for help. We seek Him in the big things, health issues, financial struggles but we think we can handle the daily stuff. The laundry that is piled up again, 2 loads to fold myself right now, the dishes that seem to never get done the things that weigh us down.

He tells us "come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I WILL give you rest" Matthew 11:28-30 I personally don't see anywhere in the scriptures where it says we can't be heaven laden with taking simply by taking care of the things in life. In fact I know it says to consider it pure joy when we face trials of any kind, not IF we face trials, which means WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TRIALS! The problem is, we, in our human nature, put everything on a scale. Person A is dealing with health issues, that's not as bad as me dealing with being over committed so I should just suck it up and deal with it. NO, I should go to God and ask for His guidance to deal with my issues too. Yes, for us over committed types we are going to have to learn from Him that we can say No (practice it now...NNNNOOOO) We are going to need to seek Him to prioritize our days and to truly become the givers of life to our homes that he wants us to be.

We need to lay our lives at His feet, daily, hourly, moment to moment. We are told to pray without ceasing, which I believe means to be in continual communication with God. Thanking Him for the time with my girlfriend, and the mocha (which he allowed someone to create, that helps with the tired feeling too!), but also thanking Him that when there when there is the time in the day to spend with her and have a mocha and when there is NO time in the day period, He is still there.

In 31 Days to clean she gives some helpful hints for fighting fatigue, have a snack, get moving, get the rest you need but not too much, and indulge in caffeine! (love that one) I would add drink water. Read at the dentist once that as Americans we are often dehydrated which can lead to feeling tired.

Mary Challenge: try some of the suggestions for a week. ( I can live with that) and see how you feel.

Martha Challenge: steam clean the carpets in your Living Room. Adding that one to the sometime this fall list : )

Homemakers Challenge Day 8-12 (31 Days to Clean)

Wow! I know I seem like I'm playing catch up. Truth is I've been reading and following the steps in 31 Days to Clean but have found NO time to blog, as I've also been back to work this week! Yea! So one giant blog is going to have to do, and I'm going to have to train myself to be ok with that as being a type A person, I feel like I've let myself down for not blogging each day.

The first day this week was Day 8 Overcoming the Curse. How do we do that. I think the key is to figure out why we are doing something. I know I keep going back to those silly lunches I hate to pack, but why am I packing them? When I switch my focus to the kids, and my love for them I suddenly think about the importance of them and not the task at hand. We can use this time of challenge in repeating tasks to seek God and realize what He has for us each day. In James we are told to consider it pure joy when we face trials of any kind. So from now on I'm going to try and look for the joy in the laundry, dishes and the silly lunches. It may be the joy of being able to provide clothes for the family and food to eat, or it may go deeper. I'm sure it will depend on the day and the way the rest of the week is going, but that is the plan.

Mary Challenge: Think back to a time when God refined your character through difficult circumstances. One time comes to mind instantly and I am choosing not to write it down for privacy reasons. But God really taught me to be consistent in who I am for Him. When I do that others will see my true character.

Martha Challenge: clean out and organize the kitchen drawers. Yea for me, did that when I did the cupboards!

Day 9 Confronting Laziness

Too tired, too busy, too crazy I think should have been added to that too. It is really hard to be motivated to get anything done when we are too busy to get the whole job done. There are just not enough hours in some days. Just the same God wanted this many hours so there must be enough to get done what should be done today. The problem is our lack of purpose, self control and motivation. Where am I in the struggle of these problems. Usually I have a purpose, but sometimes if I haven't looked at my list in a while, or gone through and made a new list for those extra things I need to do, I can easily do a bit of this and a bit of that and never really get anything completely accomplished. For me it's about making the list and then training myself to be ok with only getting a few things done. Some tasks take longer then others, and if they got accomplished it's one less thing to do tomorrow, and one less thing is ONE LESS THING.

Self control is a hard one. We have so much technology pulling on us every day. I'll just check FB, twitter and my email, but then I've lost a few hours of time! So, make a plan and try to stick to it. Only check what you can in 5 minutes every hour, or after a task is completed allow yourself some time. Guess what, the world will not self destruct if you didn't check FB or Twitter today!

Managing our time is a self control issue, but so is getting to a point in your day where you decide I'm not getting anything done so I might as well get nothing else done. We need to be persistent in seeking our goal. Some days we might trudge along, but overall we need to keep moving forward. Satan likes to tell us we'll never get anything accomplished, and on days like that we need to look back and take 5 minutes to write down everything we have done in that day. Very rarely do we get truly nothing done.

Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, do it wholeheartedly as though you were working for your real master and not merely for humans. Amen! Do it for a reason, and do the job well the first time. Even if it means getting a little less done, do it right. BUT don't go to the extreme and demand absolute perfection. Doing the best you can is all that should be asked of you.

Mary Challenge: Anytime you say "I will do it later" stop and pray to God for diligence then go to work. Love it, now need to do it!

Martha Challenge: Sweep, vacuum and mop kitchen floors and add some flowers to brighten the day. Oops, it's day 12+ weekend and I need to still do this!


Day 10 Feeling Overwhelmed (oh how we can relate to this one!)
Sometimes it seems like we just finished something an have to start again. I agree with Sarah Mae in 31 Days to Clean, when the house is a mess start in one area and work until that area is done before you move on. Then you can feel a sense of accomplishment. This works with purging too. Do one room at a time, and then at the end of every day just walk through the completed rooms and quickly pick anything up that is in the wrong place. Lots less to do when you've gone through a room thoroughly to begin with.
One of my favorite books of all times that I still refer back to often is The 15 Minute Organizer by Emilee Barnes. Great tip, and usually we can find 15 minutes to do something.

Mary Challenge: Light a candle and consider your home and what you want it to be, and then talk to God about where you are and what you need help with.

Martha Challenge: Living Room - clean window treatments and wash the inside of the windows. Still need to do this too : ) but it is now on the list!

Day 11 Limitations (Life is Hard)
I love the Mother in law game idea! 15 minutes before someone is due to come over what would you clean! Go...for me it would be straighten every room and wipe up the baths. Some things would just need to not be done.
I also really agree with Sarah Mae, sometimes life is hard. Days don't always go as planned. As a very type A organized person I've had to learn to go with the flow. Decide what has to get done no matter what and what can wait. Usually, if you really look at the list, it all could wait if it had to with no guilt. Letting go and letting God's grace be enough for today is not easy, but it is sometimes the best place to be at.

Mary Challenge: His grace is sufficient! AMEN!

Martha Challenge: wash the walls and ceilings...ummm have you seen my walls and ceilings in my living room? I'll have to think on that one, or find a really big ladder!

Day 12: The think We all Have in Common-Imperfection
Love this quote "when you aim for perfection you discover it's a moving target" George Fisher.
Should we try, absolutely, but if we miss we need to just keep going.
Like this whole challenge thing. I wish I could say everything was done on the right day and all jobs were done because that would make me feel so good, but...truth is I worked this week on top of dealing with hockey stuff, gymnastics stuff, pta stuff and family stuff so... this did not get done and you know what. That is OK. I'll do the best I can and keep on moving on.

Mary Challenge: Think on areas in your life where you are striving to be perfect, then give theses areas to God.

Martha Challenge: Living room- clean and organize shelves and electronics. Shine wood furniture. Also on the list!

Homemakers Challenge Day 7 (31 Days to Clean)

The Curse! Ah ha! It all makes sense now, why the laundry never really gets done, the dishes continue to need to be washed as well and the kids still think that any table surface is where they should leave their stuff. Because of the fall we have been cursed with toiling the ground (or our area of work). OH! So the house, my main area of work, will continue to cause me to toil, and thorns (laundry) and thistles (dishes, dust,...you get the picture) will continue to grow. And who says the Bible isn't relevant to our lives today?! Boy are they wrong! It is so true, the things we have to take care of are never truly taken care of the list is never truly done, and yet we're are continually surprised by this. If only we would stop, breath and trust in God for His help and guidance to endure the circumstances we are in and help us to find JOY in those circumstances. So often we think of trusting Him only for the big things, health issues, life changes, but HE doesn't see our problems as little or big, He doesn't see our sins on a scale either. Sin is sin, problems are problems. Run to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I WILL give you rest. Are we weary and heavy laden with laundry? dishes? keeping the house running? Life in general? Yes. Part of that is our fault for taking on to much or not delegating, but still He wants in.
Truth be told I decided to try the Homemakers Challenge/31 Days to Clean, not because I thought it would draw me closer to God. I was drawn in to try it because I am an organizational nut always looking for ways to make my crazy life easier. DUH, come to Me all who are weary and heavy laden! Yeah, I know I can think recite it but doesn't mean I always do it. I'm on day 7 now, yes things are cleaner, I discovered the awesomeness of baking soda, but more importantly, and I praying this continues into the future, I've drawn near to God and He, as promised, is drawing nearer to me. There has been more peace in our home in the last 7 days, because the "I have to get it all done..." feeling is slowly leaving.

So, how do we live in with the Curse. "work is not the Curse; unproductive work is the Curse" (31 Days to Clean). We have to learn to be more productive. I could read every word of every organizational, cleaning book out there and apply it all to my life and boom I'd be fixed. NO! That's the trap, we need to go to Him, ask Him to help guides us and show us what works for us. These books are filled with GREAT ideas, and plans and thoughts. Many God inspired, but not everything works for every person. Just like not every parenting book will work for you. One of my favorite openings for a book is from Creative Correction by Lisa Whelchel, it goes something like this "if you bought this book thinking it would fix all your problems return it now". Basically, read it, glean some new ideas, find the ones that work and get rid of the ones that don't. Love it. So, I'm not making myself crazy doing everything that is suggested but I'm trying to see what will work for me. Trying to be more productive.

So far what's working, list of 6 or sometimes 10, doing one load of laundry a day, keeping a master list of jobs that should typically be done each day, keeping a list for jobs in the volunteer areas of my life and tackling 1 item from that group of lists a day, keeping a to do file on my desk and reviewing it daily. Sounds overwhelming, but it is working for me and that is helping our family.

Today's challenge from the Homemakers Challenge, Organizing one spot maybe a month that would help make your life and family run more smoothly...being the organization junkie that I am I can check that off my list as I'm working a little each day on reviewing my house and seeing what needs to be handled to make it run more smoothly.

31 Days to Clean

Mary Challenge: Romans 8:20-21 The hope from the Curse is eventually we will be released into Glorious Times ahead! AMEN!

Martha Challenge: Clean out the pantry! YEAH, it's already done! God is so good.

Homemakers Challenge Day 6 (31 Days to Clean)

Six simple steps that's all you need six simple steps then you'll succeed! Sorry but the Agent Oso song 3 Simple Steps is running through my head this morning as I read today's message. You Tube it, I guarantee you'll start singing it too. Regardless, today's message on the Six List is so true. I love lists, can't really live without them. In fact when I'm on vacation and haven't made a list in awhile I get kind of crazy. I to, like the example in the challenge today put things for me on my my list otherwise, honestly it would never get done. I used to make huge lists, and go through the day like a crazy person trying to get it all done and then the guilt when I didn't get it done was insane. Then I read somewhere that you really can't be expected to accomplish more then 10 things a day. Obviously, the size of those items can make the list of things to be accomplished go up and down, and some days it's more then 10 and others it's way less. Generally, though 10 is a good rule, which makes 6 and even better rule!
We put so much pressure on ourselves to get things done. While some pressure is good too much makes us crazy people. I started using Wunderlist.com. It's a list system that I can use on my phone and also quickly type up from a computer and then access it on my phone. I have lists for all the things I'm involved in...PTA, Hockey Board, Creative Memories, Home Life etc. I also keep a list for each day of the week and the chores that should be accomplished that day. It sounds confusing but it really isn't. At the end of the day I add no more then 10 (now it will be 6) things to the list for tomorrow. The next morning I have my new "today" list ready to go. I also give myself permission to move something from today to tomorrow if it isn't going to get done. There is such freedom in the list.
I don't know that I will write it on the Six List paper, but I certainly will keep doing what I'm doing, because it makes me less crazy and the important things get done each day. Ok, most days.

Off to do today's Martha Challenge and clean out the kitchen cabinets. Also a good time to listen to my chronological bible on YouVersion Bible App. Multitasking is awesome!

Homemakers Challenge Day 5 (31 Days to Clean)

Today's topic Priorities!
That's one of the things in life that can so easily get out of whack. I try to have at least a mental list of my priorities, God, Husband, Children, Friends/Family, Work, ...myself. Yet so often one priority tries to take over the top three and then you wind up stressed and grumpy. The question is why does that happen. I think for me the answer is I have a hard time saying no to other things, as I don't want to let anyone down. The truth is though when we say yes to things sometimes it means others aren't getting the opportunity to say yes and we are letting family down by being over committed. Last night was a good example. I was asked to go to a PTA district meeting as I'm on the PTA board at our school. We had nothing on the calendar so I said yes, don't want the other PTA moms to think I'm not doing my share, however Katie really needs one on one time. She thrives on quality time and feels unloved, and not cared for when she doesn't get it. Tonight I have to be gone from 5:15 to bedtime, tomorrow night I have an obligation as well and Friday she and I are going somewhere with a friend and her daughter, but that won't be alone time. Solution, I emailed and cancelled out of the PTA meeting. While PTA is a good thing, the best thing for my daughter was for me to be home, to bake cookies with her, play a game, supervise homework and have time to read. By the time she went to bed she was in her snuggley, you're the best mom, mood. Which if I had gone to the PTA meeting she wouldn't have been in, and I would have missed out on a great opportunity to speak words of encouragement to her, and have quality time with her. So glad I stopped and figured out what mattered.
It's a work in progress though, so what is the next step? Each day finding time to spend with Jesus first will help focus and get me on the right track. Also, getting into a routine so that I can get as much done on days I don't get called into work as possible is essential for our families well being. I'm not perfect, but I'm going to run the race God has called for me to run, even if it is at a turtles pace.

Martha's challenge for the day: cleaning the kitchen window treatments and windows. After yesterdays miracle work on the stove, today will seem like a piece of cake.

Homemakers Challenge Day 3 and 4

So it was a holiday weekend. Does anyone really know why we celebrate Labor Day? I honestly don't. I'm sure there is a good reason, besides the end of the summer cookouts, but just the same I don't know what it is. Regardless, we spent the weekend both relaxing and then laboring to get the house put back together after having it waterproofed. I was reminded again and again this weekend how amazing it is to have a husband who is willing to see what needs done and then help do it. That as crazy as it sounds, used to really bother me. It used to make me feel like I wasn't getting done what I should and so he felt he needed to help. When really what he's been saying is "I love you, so let me share the load!" I love that man!!!

Anyway, with the holiday on a Monday I didn't start Day 3 until today. Here is what I learned. I need to choose Joy. I again think I know this in my relationships, and in my life but somehow life and taking care of the home seem like two entirely separate things. The challenge today included verses from John 15:11 telling us how God wants our joy to be complete. Not our joy to be when we are away from the laundry and the dishes and the PACKING lunches (it's getting better!), but to be complete. All the time. No life is not going to suddenly be perfect, or suddenly always be happy. Just the same we can have joy in knowing that He is with us always.
"The fruit of joy is cultivated only to the degree that I am connected to Jesus"
Am I connecting to Him? Am I taking the time I need to focus on God, to pray for my family, my day, to let Him in first before the "DAY" takes over. God wants us to abide in Him because He knows only when we abide in Him will we be able to see the joy and peace through our circumstances. Some of us have harder circumstances then others, but God sees our burdens as burdens whether they are the laundry or something way more serious and He wants us to go to Him with them. It's a choice, we need to Choose Joy, and Choose to be with Him daily.

Day 3 Thoughts from 31 Days to Clean
Clutter causes stress...I knew it, which is why I go nuts when the house is a mess.
Our homes also reflect our mental/emotional/spiritual health. How true this is, when I've taken time to be with God, and stay in tune with Him things get done. Not perfectly, but I make progress and I feel more at peace so I'm nicer to be around. Funny how it all ties back to Him. You'd think we'd get it, hopefully I can learn quicker than the Israelites did! Don't want to wander around this desert for 40 years!


Day 4
Today's questions are How do I invite people to put their feet up and how do my family to enjoy our home?
Hmm, I hope I do these things by allowing our door to be open to the kids friends pretty much anytime and our friends as well. It is usually clean around here in a visual sense even if it's not completely dust free. By keeping things picked up I feel more able to say come on over. I know people come to see us and not the home, but it helps me to feel able to let people in when things are picked up. I guess also trying to have spaces for everyone to relax both around the house and in their own rooms helps as well.

Making a house a home takes more than furniture polish and windex. It takes love, unconditionally, and freedom to make mistakes. Freedom to be who we are and who we are trying to become. Only through God's grace can we really find that kind of love.

31 Days to Clean- day one...and two

Here I am again trying to blog consistently. We'll see how that goes. More importantly is I'm trying to really seek out what God has to say about being a wife, mother and homemaker. I am crazy about organizational tips and books. I enjoy finding ways to make life run more smoothly. Yet I never really thought about why I wanted to do that.
What was my motivation, to have the appearance of a clean house, to keep order, to make people conform. No, as I thought about it the realization hit that it is to bring order and peace. When things are where they need to be there is no longer the stress of trying to find them, there is no longer the need to try and figure out what we will have for dinner or if the right supplies are in the house. There is also less of a financial burden as things aren't bought until they are truly needed. So my over all motivation is to keep things running smoothly. I'm also motivated not to make everyone crazy while I do that.
Day One HW-

My 'why' list:
peaceful feeling, health, less chaos, shows I care about my family, desire to be a Proverbs 31 women able to take care of many things.

My Motivation:
Biblically it seems that we are called to be responsibly for the home. To create an environment of safety, peace and love. We are also called to work cheerfully as unto the Lord. (dishes and packing lunches do not make me very cheerful!)

My Mission Statement:
My mission is to run my household as though working for God. It is to do the best I can at any task, enlisting my family members to come along side and work with me. It is to establish a peaceful, healthy environment where everyone feels welcome. It is to establish routines that will allow this to happen more easily so that we can spend quality time together.


Day 2 Created to give life. Wow! I never really thought about the fact that the way I run my house also fuels life. I know being peaceful is important, but do my kids and husband see me working cheerfully even if it is doing something like packing lunches (which I can't stand). Or do they see my working cheerfully only at tasks I enjoy like reorganizing something? How can I teach my son and daughter to work cheerfully at things if I grumble and complain. I'm not saying I'm going to start acting like the 7 Dwarfs and happily go about everything, but with a different attitude and my mind set on serving my family by taking care of them the grumbling should become less.

Questions for the day:
Am I cultivating the seeds of life for my husband and children, or am I bringing death? Am I actively seeking to grow in the fruit of the Spirit, or am I gratifying the desires of the flesh?

Profound that when it comes to running a house these questions do fall into play. I think so often I think these things are in my attitude towards my family members. Am I building up, am I supporting them. Yet they are also in the way I clean, and bring life to the home by taking care of it. Am I practicing peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, love, joy and self control today as I care for my family? The fruits of the spirit are not just about how we treat others, needs to be about how I treat my home as well, and how I am in my life 100% of the time, not just in one little compartment. I AM NOT PERFECT! Yet, my goal should be to improve.

Day Three- Monday, June 20 Destination Badlands, Wall Drug and Mount Rushmore

Waking up on Day Three was an adventure in itself. I love camping, although I have to say if there is one thing I don't really care for (aside from bugs), it would be the fact that you have to leave the warmth of your sleeping bag, and tent (or in this case covered wagon) and walk sometimes quite a distance to the bathroom. So on this particular morning I had begun waking up around 5am as the wind and thunder were making it harder to sleep. I laid there for a bit thinking, maybe I can just fall back to sleep and not worry about having to go down a hill, and across the prairie a little bit to the restrooms. Then at 6am Zach woke me up. He also had been hearing the thunder and had decided to make the trek to the bathrooms, but wanted me to know where he was going. At this point I needed to get up too, but unfortunately it was now not just windy and thundery (is that even a word?) it was also pouring! When you need to go, you need to go, so we grabbed umbrellas and headed out door of the covered wagon with a huge bang as it almost flew off the hinges. We were no sooner out the door then we realized the umbrellas were not going to do us any good and we were soaked! By the time we got back to the covered wagon from our journey we no longer needed showers at all. As I stood there dripping wet I began to think about Pa, and getting caught in a blizzard on the prairie. I realize this was rain, but if snow was falling and whipping around the prairie I could understand how someone could get disoriented and loose their way back home in such a storm.
The plan had been to cook up some pancakes (flapjacks) and bacon on the prairie as that would have been a somewhat common meal for the Ingalls family, but with the rain we decided to pack up the van and head out for the Badlands. It took a few hours to drive across the state to the Badlands National Park. It was a cold, wet day and while we did have moments of clearing as we entered the Badlands we decided to mainly just drive through, instead of doing any hiking. The last time I had been in the Badlands though was during a tornado when my father had just come up to the gate, found no one there and just drove on through, so I figured we were doing much better if this time we were only dealing with rain and wind!
The Badlands are breathtakingly beautiful, as we rounded each corner of the windy road it was hard to not stop and take another dozen pictures. The various colors of the stone against the grey sky were stunning. Luckily, as we drove through the rain began to slow down and by the end we were able to take pictures from the windows without trying to keep the cameras dry. One of our favorite places in the Badlands was Robert's Prairie Dog Town. In this area the prairie grass just has mound after mound of prairie dog homes in in. We watched for several minutes, and even with the rain were able to capture these cute creatures.
Leaving the Badlands we headed to Wall Drug. This tourist trap, is something you just have to stop at! We didn't stay very long, simply walked through 5 gift stores, but it would be easy to spend hours wandering through the stores inside this building. After picking up a few things we hit the road again hoping to make it to Mount Rushmore before dinner.
Mount Rushmore is up a windy road with needle like trees on either side. The drive up itself is beautiful. As you round the corner and see it for the first time you can't help but think about how much work went in to creating this sculpture in the store surface. We had purchased a National Parks pass at the Badlands gate, which did not cover the parking fee at Mount Rushmore. We were both shocked that they will also only accept cash for the parking area. Luckily, we had planned ahead, but I can only imagine how many people don't have cash when they get to the gate. We spent a couple of hours at Mount Rushmore, taking photos and walking the mile long Presidential path. The path had quite a few stone steps and we ended up hot and tired by the time we finished hiking it. It was still chilly out, with a forecast for more thunderstorms so after leaving Mount Rushmore we headed to the Custer Crazy Horse Campground to stay in a cabin for the evening. While I'm glad were were in a cabin, which I'm sure kept us warmer then a tent in 40* and wind would have, I wish we had camped at Custer State Park, which we would head to the next morning.
The sights of the day were beautiful, from God made to man made. Falling asleep in the cabin after a full day of driving and sight seeing we prayed that the weather and temps would improve and for another fun filled day to follow.

Day Two- Sunday, June 19th Destination Ingalls Homestead, De Smet, South Dakota

Headed to the Little House on the Prairie!




Day Two started at 6 am. Vacations are meant to be a time to relax and sleep in, but when you have at least 6 hours to go before your next destination it becomes necessary to get up and get moving. It was hard to pull away from the Fisher's house. Seems that we let too much time pass before talking to each other, each with our own lives and schedules and then visits are also too far apart. We had a wonderful evening catching up and now we were off again. Our plan had been to go up the western side of Iowa into South Dakota, but we were alerted to the fact that several places along the highway we would have needed to travel were flooded so instead we headed north into Minnesota and then west to South Dakota.
The morning started off with a very heavy fog. Once the fog was lifted and we were in Minnesota we saw mile after mile of wind farms. I know that people say they are ugly, but there is something almost majestic about these towering windmills along the highway. They are peaceful and against the farm land even beautiful. Not only did we see the windmills we also saw a lot of flooded farm land. In one place, after crossing into South Dakota we even saw an area of road that appeared to be raised up between two small lakes. The only problem was that they were not two small lakes but rather fields that were simply under water. It brings to mind all the people that depend on farming for their livelihood and how weather certainly effects them.
The other thing you begin to see as you are traveling into South Dakota are signs for Wall Drug. They have many different messages and were quite interesting to read as we went along. Around 1 pm, after a picnic lunch stop in Minnesota, we arrived in De Smet, South Dakota home of the Ingalls family. If you are familiar with the books at all it is in De Smet that they spent the long winter in the Surveyor's house when Pa had gone west to work on with the railroad. The Surveyor's house is still there and we were able to tour it as well as a replica of the school Laura would have first taught in, and the actual school where Carrie got in trouble for rocking the bench. We also went through the family's home. Hearing about the family first hand, and what really happened in their lives was intriguing. I'm interested in seeing if I can find any more of the books about the family, the Caroline years as well as the Rose years from the library. I always loved the television show, so knowing that life wasn't quite like that is always a bit hard to understand. Having read the books though, as a family, we realized that many of the things that happen on the show were added to make a good television series and not because they were true to life.
After visiting the museum and house tour we continued to the grave sites of Ma, Pa, Mary, Laura and Almanzo, Carrie and Grace and their spouses. It was sad to think about the fact that the family line ended there in De Smet with no one left to carry on the Ingalls name. A short ways away from the grave site we arrived at the site of the original house on the prairie. It is now the Ingalls Homestead and offers camping, in either tents, their bunk house or in covered wagons. This tip I had gotten from our good friends the Perry's and so I had secretly reserved a covered wagon for the night. The kids were so excited! It was a really neat experience to be out on the prairie in a covered wagon for the night.
The Ingalls Homestead http://www.ingallshomestead.com/information.html, is a neat place to visit. The kids were able to ride miniature horses, and in a buggy, make corn cob dolls, rope, and do laundry with wash tub and ringer. As a family we were able to explore a dug out home, a barn, and a replica of the house they would have lived in. We also took a covered wagon ride across the prairie and visited a school. In the school the kids dressed up and the teacher led them through a sample lesson. Katie absolutely loved the horses! I know she would like to have one someday, but I don't foresee that happening! The main area of the Ingalls homestead is open to 6pm and while we did see the majority of the things we had wanted to we had not had a chance to look through the house before that time. Just the same the lady who was dressed as Ma, stayed an extra hour to show us around the house and teach the kids about life on the prairie. While we cooked our dinner the kids had a chance to try to wash clothes again and then we settled in for an evening on the prairie. The wind was whipping around so shortly after dinner, and of course some smores, we settled into our covered wagon for the evening. It had been another long day, as we had gotten up at 6am and it was now close to 10pm.
The prairie was beautiful, the prairie grass swaying in the wind, the birds and crickets chirping. As I cooked dinner I could hear cows mooing in the distance, and you could just feel the vastness of the space around you. The sky was huge. Clouds were starting to roll in and as we drifted off to sleep it was hard not to think about Laura and her family and all they went through living out in this area.

Day One- Saturday, June 18th

Day One- Destination Johnston, Iowa and the Fisher Family

The journey started at 4 am this morning. In actuality it stated much before that. Really it began when our good friends Amy and Ted told us about their adventure in following the Louis and Clark trail a while back. From there we began thinking about how neat it would be to travel to the Laura Ingalls Homestead in De Smet, South Dakota. Of course when you begin to think about driving all the way to De Smet, you begin to realize that if you're going to go that far, you might as well go to the Badlands, and Mount Rushmore. From there you realize that if you've already traveled that distance the Rocky Mountains are beautiful as well, and what about the Grand Canyon? Suddenly, you realize you've created a whirlwind trip and wonder if it is even possible.

After much discussion we decided that driving and camping on a two week adventure was feasible and so the planning began. We created a list of places we wanted to see and then determined, thanks to randmcnally.com what order to visit these places. Lists were made, just part of who I am I guess. Supplies were gathered, and the van was packed. Everyone went to bed early on the night of the 17th, and so when the alarm went off at 3 in the morning on the 18th we were mostly awake and definitely excited to get going.

At 3:30 am we woke the kids, gathered the last items out of the house, locked the doors and headed off. Praying in the car before the journey we asked for traveling mercies, for everyone to get along and for an exciting time. At 4:15am we approached a rest stop along the Ohio turnpike. What a welcome site to find that Starbucks was already opened. We grabbed peppermint mocha's to go with the muffins we had made at home and continued on our journey. The rest of the day was spent driving from Ohio across the I's. Indiana, Illinois and finally into Iowa! Drive was the word of the day. We tried to make our stops as quick as possible and after 11 hours and one lost hour due to a time change, we arrived at the home of the Fisher Family!

We were so excited to see them, as it had been 2 years since the last time we were able to be together. We spent the rest of the day catching up with their family, and also took a run over to the home gym of Olympic Gymnast Shawn Johnson.
While we missed her that day, we did get a few pictures of Katie in front of the gym.

Following our run to the gym we picked up some very yummy bbq for dinner as well as a giant ice cream cake to celebrate Father's Day. It was a great visit, and while we certainly wished we could stay up all night catching up we knew that the next day we had more driving to do before arriving at the next location. We headed to bed around midnight, which was really 1 am for those of us that had woken up in the Eastern time zone at 3 am! The next day was on the horizon so we tried to get to sleep as quick as we could. If we could do this leg of the trip over again we'd try and plan a bit more time in Iowa. Seeing the Fisher's every 2 years just isn't enough!

Randolph Family Out West Adventure- opening log

5063 miles and 14 days later I find myself sitting in my office reflecting on the Randolph Family Out West Adventure. It was a journey, perhaps of a lifetime. It was filled with incredible moments, and to be honest moments where we needed to exert our parental controls with a firm voice, but non the less it was filled with MEMORIES. The saying goes Life is not about the destination it is about the journey, so now at the end of the journey I find the need to go back and journal the trip and reflect on the time spent with the family.

Book #5 and Book #6

I like to read books that have more than one book in the series. It allows the story to continue when you get to the end of the book, without it just being in your mind. This latest series was suggested by a parent on my son's hockey team, whose son was reading it for school. The book is called City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau. Apparently, it is also a movie, but I have not seen that yet, and I'm not sure I will since I really enjoyed the book.
It is an easy read, being a juvenile series, but just the same it is very captivating.
Book 1- City of Ember takes place in the underground city of Ember. Although at the time the inhabitants don't know that the city is underground. What they do know is that their city is no longer working right. Power is going out, supplies are running low. At the age of 12 the citizens must take on jobs in the city. Lina and Doon, have just turned 12 and as fate happens are also reconnecting with each other as friends. Doon is sure the city is doomed, and is desperate to fix it. Lina, only begins to realize the problem when she discovers a mystery letter. Will they get out in time? Only by reading it will you find out.

Of course, that's not entirely true since I also read book 2 The People of Sparks. Sparks is an above ground city. In this city the people are learning to live again after war, and disease has destroyed so much of their world. They are on the very of finally having enough when 400 new people show up. Should they take them in? If they do, should they help them forever or just for a little while? What if their food runs low, or they don't get along? The people are not sure what to make of the strange visitors, and not sure how to best help them. Of course everyone is feelng the stress of the living situations and when stress rises so do tempers. What will happen to the people of Sparks and their visitors? Who will be able to stop the inevitable downfall of the people?

Time to check these 2 books out to find out!

Book #4 Unlocked

Book #4 is Unlocked by Karen Kingsbury

This is the story of a young man who is locked behind the wall of autism. The onset of his autism happened around age 3. At that time his Mom became his primary caregiver, and after trying desperately to unlock his son his father left the area to battle the seas of Alaska as a fisherman. His mom not only lost her husband to Alaska, but her best friend as well, who didn't know how to deal with this precious little boy changing and being locked inside his own world.
Fast forward to high school and suddenly Holden, who is very interested in music is fascinated by Ella Reynolds who has been cast as the lead in Beauty and the Beast. Life at the high school is not an easy thing. The football players rule the school and they don't like kids like Holden who are different. Will the bullying continue, what will the cost of it be? Who will take a stand?
The story unfolds to show us that we are all locked up in some way. Some of us are locked up emotionally, some of us are locked into who we are seen by others to be. Hardly, any of us know how to deal with everything going on around us. Will that change?
I could tell you more details of the book, but really you just have to read it to find out!

Book #3 Made to Crave

I've been doing an online Bible study called Made to Crave by Lysa Terkeurst. It's a really good book that has given me some valuable insight into eating better, and why I should even bother. The bible tells us that everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. 1 Corinthians 10:23. Yes, I can have fries, and a burger and a pop. Will it fuel my body and help me to run the race that life has in front of me. Maybe briefly. But there are better choices that will fuel my body for longer. It doesn't mean I can't ever eat those things, but for my life I need to avoid them as much as possible.
We spend so much time thinking about "have to" I have to do this, I have to do that. That sometimes we've missed out on the want to. Want to's don't have to be selfish. I want to take care of my family and create a smoothly run home. I want to have less stress so that my family does not feel as stressed. Those are good want tos that will find me making sacrifices such as doing laundry a little everyday, or reorganizing the cupboard or getting up early to make things run more smoothly. Having a want to attitude can help change how we focus on food and exercise as well. I want to get in better shape so I'm going to sacrifice time I could be watching tv to walk or run on the treadmill. I'm going to sacrifice time to make myself lunch instead of run though the drivethru. It's not always an easy choice, but the more the have to changes to a want to the more driven I am to do what I should.
If you're looking for a Bible study that will draw you closer to God and help motivate you to eat healthier this is a good one to look into.

Book #2 Reshaping It All

Reshaping it All by Candace Cameron Bure is an amazing book. Yes, I started to become interested in it simply because I followed her when she played DJ Tanner on Full House. Then I started following her on Twitter and watched how even with her busy "actress" schedule she always was talking about her family, and her beliefs. Not many Hollywood people do that. In fact, most talk only about themselves. Seeing how I've decided to make 2011 about getting back in shape and healthy it seemed like a good time to pick up her book. Which, was a reward to myself for losing my first 15lbs!
The book isn't about "look what I did" it's about look what God has allowed to happen in my life, the path He has led me on, and what I can do because of Him. It's about living the way God intended us to live. Do we all need to be a size 2, no, but we should all strive to life a life pleasing to God and the holy temple that is inside of us when we have Him in our lives. Satan wants us to look at ourselves and say "guess I might as well give up since I've been like this for so long", but God wants us to pursue Him, and in the process we will most likely crave wanting to be more then we are.
She gave recipes, and insight to what has worked for her in her battle with eating well and food. She talked about choices and how what we choose reflects back on God. Whether it is a food choice, a work choice or how we raise our kids. The book talks about nothing being forbidden in terms of food, but that we need to make the choice of what is best for our bodies. Yes, you can have the brownie in moderation, but a pan of them is not good for you. It touched on the fact that our culture is supersized. That we eat more then we should, because portions are just out of control and that we need to learn to stop when we are satisfied, not when we are full. That is truly a difficult process.
Perhaps my favorite thing I've taken away from the book is whether or not the sacrifice I make today is worth it. If it's not fine, don't sacrifice, but if taking time to work out, or eat healthy is a sacrifice I'm willing to make I might miss out, in the world's terms, on something, but I will gain so much more in God's terms. Which do I want to live by God's or the world's?
I highly recommend this book. Even if weight and working out isn't a struggle for you. Maybe there is some other area that you just need to reshape, and start fresh with.

Book #1 The House that Cleans Itself

Book #1 of 2011 is finally finished. It was a great book, but self-help type books just take longer to read. I'm always drawn to the organizing section of the book store, ask my best friend! Just the same you could also ask her and she'd tell you for the most part it's not something I really need help with, at least to the normal observer. To me, it's always something I can improve.
The House that Cleans Itself by Mindy Starns Clark was a book that I picked up because I knew it would help me improve in some way. It is a great book of ideas, and for some I'm sure the ideas and steps are intended to be followed step by step. For me, I felt I just needed to pick and choose my way through the book and pull out things that would help me. I was happy to know some of the suggestions I already use. For instance, not putting the mail down without doing a quick sort. I have been doing this consistently. As I walk in from getting the mail I put the things I need on the top and the things I don't need on the bottom. I walk straight to my desk and dump the junk mail in my recycling bin. Then sort the rest of the mail. If it is bills they go in my financial folder, the other items that need to be taken care of immediately go in my to do file on my desk. It keeps my desk neat and also helps things get into the right spot.
Another suggestion was finding the room that you feel horrible about when it is a mess. For me it's the front hall closet, my office and the kitchen sink. When those things are picked up and neat the rest of the house doesn't seem so bad. I've made it a point this year to reorganize the hall closet so it works for our family, and when hanging up my coat straightening it quickly at that point. I've made sure that each night before going to bed my office is picked up, supplies back where they go and if piles of projects are needed they are stacked neatly on my craft desk so I don't feel overwhelmed when I look at it. Lastly, either last thing at night or first thing in the morning I tackle any dishes left in the sink. That way I don't feel like they are staring at me during the day. There were lots of other great suggestions in the book, and I'm sure I will be refering back to it occasionally as I continue to improve the "mess" of our lives and reorganize the house to my standards.
I'd mark it as - great book, definitely needed for the person who wants to become, or stay more organized.

Next book- (can't wait to read!!!) Reshaping it All by Candace Cameron Bure