Having a Joyful and Cozy Home

It has been a while since I have posted anything, so I thought I would try something new.... Video Blogging! Check out my video and see what you think.

Having a Joyful and Cozy Home (Decluttering)

Homesteading in Your Neighborhood

 Come on a tour of our home to see how we homestead in the city. Then check out my article on Molly Green about creative ways that you can be a homesteader even if you live in an urban area. 

We have a small area in our yard that is suitable for a garden. We make the most of what we have with a raised garden. 

This is my line I use to hang some laundry. I also have a free standing  drying rack.

This is our shed. 

The climbing tree. 

This is the fun area where the kids like to play. 

The "river"

The "river"

I enjoy setting outside, drinking coffee and watching birds or a storm roll in. 

I love this sunny room. We use it for our pantry and various Farmhouse Decor. 

I make my own laundry detergent and dryer balls.

I enjoy making bread as well.

Various projects I am working on. 

The boys playing piano. 

Reading in our book nook. I am thankful that they enjoy activities other than computer games and TV. 

I love this picture of our home in the snow with the boys out playing. 

Thank you for visiting and I hope you enjoyed my article for Molly Green.

A Cozy Home of Peace and Rest

The sun is setting and you are snuggled on the couch with your family. You are reading from the Bible and sipping hot chocolate as the fire flickers and bounces shadows on the wall. It’s been a hectic day but a fulfilling one. You have accomplished most of what you wanted for the day, so now it’s time to relax together as a family.
Is this what the normal end to your day looks like? Or are you rushing around after finally getting the kids in bed and cleaning the house, only to fall into bed exhausted?
I want my home to be a place my family gathers at the end of a hard day for peace and rest. But how can your home be a place of peace and rest when you are not rested or you don’t feel at peace? Grab a cup of coffee and head over to Come Fill Your Cup to find out. 

62 Day Bible and Cleaning Challenge

Join me HERE for the 62 day challenge. 

Are You Mary or Martha?

*The following post contains affiliate links.

Having a Martha Home the Mary Way: 

31 Days to a Clean House and a Satisfied Soul. 

Luke 10:38-42 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Martha and Mary

³⁸ Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. ³⁹ She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted with ^[a]all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” ⁴¹ But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; ⁴² but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

I have always loved the story of Mary and Martha. There is almost a bit of comedy in Martha tattling on Mary to Jesus, “No fair! I am working and she is doing nothing!!!” And I will admit that I used to be very much like Martha. I would put aside prayer and Bible study because I needed a clean house in order for my brain to rest and for me to function. But what if I could be like both sisters? Maintain a clean orderly home and be able to spend time with God?

This book helps me do both.

The author makes the point that the ultimate goal is not for you to be a perfect homemaker, but to have an inviting home filled with love. And she does it in a very gentle way.

The book contains daily challenges. One challenge is called a “Mary challenge” which is a Bible challenge for the day.

Then there are Martha challenges. An example of these challenges would be to clean and organize your bookshelves. Some of the challenges tell you how you can get your children involved, and some even tell you to go eat a cookie! J

These are all very doable things—things that you can do even if you have small children, homeschool your children, and/or work.

I am going to be doing the challenge along with my friends starting on April 4^th. We are going to make it a 62 Day Challenge so that we have extra time.

This book will be a great way to help motivate you to get things done that you have been meaning to do. Watch my blog and Facebook page for more information on The Mary/Martha Challenge.

While it is not essential to get the book in order to join the challenge, I recommend that you do because it is a great book that will encourage you!!!

Find the books in these locations:

Sarahmae

Amazon

Christianbook.com

Blessings in Unexpected Places.

 Sometimes we can find blessings in places were we least expect it. This is one of my favorite posts about one of those times. 
The Blessing of Being Without a Dryer.

How to Have a Productive Day

I originally  published this in January, but it is so helpful for me I wanted to share again.

Routines are very important. Even if you do nothing else all day, routines help you feel grounded and accomplished. 

·         Why I needed a daily routine:

1)      I wanted to start and end my day with a plan already in place.

2)      It freed my mind to focus on other things.

·        What daily routines I have:

1)      Morning Routine

2)      Afternoon Routine

3)      Night Routine

4)      Homeschool Routine

5)      Children’s Routine

(The boys’ routine is posted in the hall. It helps them to be able to do things on their own and to keep focused. )

·        How I decided what to include in my daily routine:

1)      I made a list of what I thought would be great to accomplish every day.

My list includes things such as:

Bible Study

Prayer

Exercise

Laundry

Family Time

Reading a book

2)      Then I decided when it would be the easiest to accomplish each thing.  For instance, I knew I wanted to pray every morning and read a Psalm or Proverb so I assigned that to my   morning routine.                           

3)      Then I figured out how long it would take for me to accomplish my goals that I had set and adjusted my bedtime and wake up time accordingly.

·        How my days have changed:

1.      I am more intentional with my day.

2.      I get more accomplished.

3.      I have more energy.

4.      I have more patience.

5.      Our home is more peaceful.

6.      Our home has more consistency.

7.      Our home is more organized.

Extra Tips:

·        It is good to add fun and/or relaxing things to your routines.  For instance, I found that stretching a few minutes when I wake up and before going to sleep really makes me feel good.  So I added that to my routine. I also have lots of books that I want to read, so I added a few minutes of reading time each day. 

·        Make sure to write your routines and keep them in a place that you will see them. This will get you in the habit of doing it every day.

·        Try to schedule the same routine around the same time each day. This will help with consistency.

·        If you have a baby or toddler, you can still have a routine.  You just might have to be more flexible with it. I always felt better having a plan in place when I had little ones, even if I could not follow my plan exactly. You can add activities such as :

1.      Reading a book to your child

2.      Playing together with toys

3.      Free play

4.      Mommy/baby exercises

5.      Craft/or bake with your child

I am glad I decided to add daily routines in my day. Even when I do not get around to my to-do list for the day, I know I have accomplished a lot just by completing my daily routines. Also, with routines you are also living each day to its fullest potential!

What are some activities you will add to your routine?

Put Some Spring in Your Cleaning Step!

It has been a really cold, dark, and dreary winter! Even though it is springtime, the cold weather is probably not finished with most of us.
I am guest posting at the Multi Taskin' Mom today!

Click here to find out how I make cleaning more fun on these dreary days!

Kids Using Chore Money to Serve Others

                                   

                                   
                                         Using Chore Money to Serve Others

One Sunday a missionary visited our church to speak about the work he was doing in another country. At the end of his lesson, my children looked at me and said, "Mom, would you give us some money to give the missionary?"

On another Sunday, an announcement was made that a children's home needed food and household supplies. My children looked at me and said, "Mom, can you give us some money so we can buy something at the store to help?"

Their questions got me thinking. What are some ways that they could earn their own money to help others?

I decided to print chore cards.

 

I cut the cards out and separated them between their normal daily chores and extra chores they could do to earn donation money. I covered the cards with contact paper, punched a hole in them, and put them on a ring. I printed the tickets that can be found on the page linked above. Then I bought colored pocket pouches. The left pouch contains all of their tickets.

 

Every time they complete an extra chore they move a ticket from the left pouch to the right pouch. At the end of the week they get 10 cents for every ticket they have in the right pouch. 

                                

          They put their money in special jars that they decorated for the donation money.

Every week when they get the church bulletin, they see if there is a need at church or in the community. They write down what they would like to buy or give for that need .

Sometimes they put their money together and sometimes they donate to different things individually.

 The amount of money they get is not a lot; but, it is enough for them to know they are working for their own money in order to help others.

*They were getting $1 a week prior to this. But they had already designated that money to church contribution, savings, a charity, and spending money. Their $1 a week is now used to teach about money management.

Me, A Treasure?

                                               

                                                      Me, A Treasure?

We can see many verses in the Bible that talk about the importance for a man to find a good wife. 

 An excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
But she who shames him is like rottenness in his bones ( Proverbs 12:4 NASB).   

The wise woman builds her house,
But the foolish tears it down with her own hands ( Proverbs 14:1 NASB).

He who finds a wife finds a good thing
and obtains favor from the Lord (Proverbs 18:22 NASB).

A foolish son is destruction to his father,
And the contentions of a wife are a constant dripping.

 House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers,
But a prudent wife is from the Lord (Proverbs 19:13-14 NASB) .

 But Proverbs 31 has always seemed the most intimidating. 

 An excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far above jewels (Proverbs 31:10 NASB).

It seems like a lot of women look at this first verse and stop trying. But, have you ever turned this verse around on yourself and considered what a treasure you actually are? Have you thought about how important and valuable you are for your husband? Or if you are yet to be married, how valuable you will be?  Have you thought about yourself as a rare treasure that is hard to find?

As we continue the next few weeks, we will discover that it is not going to be an

effortless task to be the “excellent wife”, but it is an obtainable goal. We don’t have to be perfect by any means, but excellence should be something we are striving toward and something that is well worth the effort we put into it!

I want this study to be interactive. Every week I will ask a question. I would like for you to either comment on my blog or on my Facebook page ,  https://www.facebook.com/LookAtWhatYouAreSeeing , so that others can follow along and we can talk about this together. 

This week’s discussion questions:   Do you think you are an “excellent wife”? Why or Why not?

And for those who are not married, do you think you will be an “excellent wife”? Why or Why not?

Hearing your comments will help us as women gain a lot from this study.