This weeks assignment is the following…..

Assignment: How do you keep energized so you can get it all done? bouncy music? treat it like a workout? Do you use a schedule?, a housekeeping binder system? luck of the draw system?.. or is this an area where you need encouragement? Do you need God’s help to keep order and beauty in your dwelling place? Take this week to tell us how You diligently keep going with your housekeeping chores.

The number one thing that I strongly require is my daily bread from Jesus each morning.  I diligently try to wake up earlier than my children.  Of course, there are some days that I can’t manage that, but for the most part, I wake up around 6:15-6:30 each day.  I have a disciple notebook which includes my devotion, prayer journal, and etc.  My coffee is set for 6am and my quiet time place is all set out ready to go.  This is a routine for me.  I highly adore and long for this blessed time each morning.

Second, I have a daily planner sheet that  I fill out each day that I remove from my household notebook.  I designed my own to meet my needs.    This helps me stay focus and to hold myself accountable each day.  Also, I use motivated moms cleaning schedule lightly. I am a notebook queen, too.  I have a notebook for everything.

Third, I have several hobbies that I enjoy that I try to do in the afternoons while the children are playing and watching PBS.  I enjoy reading, crocheting, and sewing.

Fourth, I sometimes have to remind myself what is imperative and what is not.  Remember:  God first, husband second, children third (includes homeschool), and maintaining our homes is last. This is not to say maintaining our homes is not important.  We need to be somewhat organized so we don’t waste our time locating items rather than doing God’s work.  You just need to draw the line and stick to what works for your family.  In another words: consistency is the key for my household.

Our homes are a blessing from the Lord, instead of complaining that I have so much laundry or dishes to wash ~ I try to focus on the blessings God has given me ~ I wouldn’t have so much laundry if I wasn’t blessed with 5 wonderful boys or Thank you God for the dirty dishes that we ate our breakfast on.  It’s all about choices ~ we can accept our God given gifts and duties or we can choose to be miserable and miss the joy that comes from the Lord.

I love to listen to this song when I am cleaning…

Blessed Be Your Name
by Matt Redman
- - -
Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

Listen to it here.  I'm not so bloggy savvy yet!  I don't know how to post GODtube, yet.