Spring Cleaning Part 1

Many of you asked me what my process is with Spring Cleaning and how I go about it, so I thought I would write a series on it.

First thing I do is determine the slowest month of the year, for me the month is January. Holidays are over, people are putting away holiday gifts, decorations need to be put away....you get the idea. If you are a teacher this might be July, regardless chose the month of the year that you will not have distractions.

After you chose the month, grab a pen and paper. You walk through your home to determine what needs to be done. Below is an example from one room in my home. You then proceed with making this list in every room in the house.

KITCHEN
Pull food from freezer, wipe freezer out
Pull food from fridge, wipe out, check dates on condiments
Cupboard 1 pull out items, box items we don't use, label shelves, wipe shelves, replace items
Cupboard 2 pull out items, box items we don't use, label shelves, wipe shelves, replace items
REPEAT for all cupboards
Clean light fixtures, check bulbs
Clean oven
Pull out fridge, stove, dishwasher and clean behind them, and under them
Dust ceilings for cobwebs
Clean patio door inside and out
Bleach trash can
Polish cabinets
Polish floor
Wash rugs
Touch up paint the walls, magic erase spots on walls
Check pipes to make sure they are tight and not leaking
Clean toaster and tray


This is a partial list but her are some tips
Be very specific on items and things to do
Box items to toss for garage sale or to donate
If you label your shelves make sure labels are specific enough for people to put items where they belong
Make a list of items that need replacing

Once you have a list compiled for every room in your house you will be ready for the next step.

Spring Ck

The Day is Young, Forgive Someone!

I was listening to Nancy Leigh DeMoss on Reviveourhearts.com where she talks about forgiveness. Have you ever assumed something? Have you ever thought something that was based on inaccurate information? Have you ever acted poorly towards someone without knowing all the facts? I am sure every one who is honest with themselves can say they have done this. Do not forget to get all the facts before assuming! A person who does not get all the facts and acts poorly based on inaccurate information is no better than the person who wronged them.

Nancy, talks about forgiveness and the importance of ones actions when being hurt. She talks about how a person should make a list of how someone might have hurt them and how they responded. Then question did you respond the right way or the wrong way? There are many times when we respond inappropriately to hurtful or wrongful things that are done to us. She talks about the importance of responding the right way in all situations.

Unresolved forgiveness leads to a hard heart and bitterness. Are you strapped with bitterness towards someone? Try forgiving! The day is young!

Looking for Quiet in the Raging Storm

Do you find yourself saying, "I have no idea where the summer has gone. Life sure is busy! It seems life just gets busier and busier. I have no time!" The reality is there is all kinds of turmoil, activity and busy-ness around us. It seems the more technology advances the busier our world gets. Are you someone who struggles with this or strives with this?

 

Finding peace amongst the turmoil is critical! Do you find yourself struggling with time management? Over booking your schedule so you do not have a moment of free time? Feeling guilty because you need to say no, because you were invited to six things on the same day? When was the last time you really unplugged (no phone, no internet, no texting, no computer, no technology)?

 

I was talking with my grandmother about life and how it is getting increasingly busy for people. Her advice was once again wise. Most likely, there are not enough hours in a day to complete everything you wish to complete. The to-do list will always be longer than shorter. You will need to say no to people to have time to think, reflect and meditate. You will need to unplug.

 

Have you found your quiet in the storm?

Treasure the Elderly, They Have Lived Through More Than You!

Have you ever taken the time to appreciate the elderly? Have you taken the time to sit, have coffee and listen to their stories over and over? Have you taken the time to spend an afternoon helping an elderly and learning from them?

I LOVE the elderly! Think of all the things you studied in history, now imagine hearing a personal account of that event in time. That is why I LOVE the elderly! I remember sitting in Andover, Massachusetts with my Great-Grand-Aunt listening to her tell me about so many historical events from her point of view and how she lived during those times.

Imagine hearing about the following from direct information instead of the biased opinions in history books:
1. The Great Depression
2. Immigrating from Quebec Canada
3. The Korean War
4. The Cold War
5. Desert Storm
6. The Vietnam War
7. The Holocaust
8. The invention of the computer
9. The invention of the internet
10. WW1
11. WW2
12. Abolish of Slavery
13. Women's Right to Vote
14. Cubin missile crisis
15. Hiroshima
16. JFK Assasination
17. Marriage, Divorce and Death of Princess Diana
18. Martin Luther King Jr
19. Watergate
20. Three Mile Island
21. Development of AIDS & Cancer
22. Various natural disasters
23. Y2K
24. Chernobyl
25. 9/11
26. Many revolutions resulting in independence and breaking or forming of countries
27. The fall of the Berlin Wall
28. Various High School and College Shootings
29. And so many more things

Take some time to treasure, listen and love the elderly, they have lived through a lot of history and have tons of information to share that could make you see, live or love your life differently.

Go Buy Some Stamps!

I was reading an article the other day from the Revive Our Hearts Series (http://www.reviveourhearts.com/). In this article they were discussing the importance of buying stamps in our technologically advanced world.

Do you remember when you were a child and you would race to the mailbox every day to greet the mailman and see if there was any mail for you? When I was young there were a few things I would receive in the mail: my weekly "Books by Mail" from the library (I wish they had that here!), a monthly letter from my, pen pal, Auntie in Massachusetts, and 4 times a year (birthday, Christmas, my brothers birthday, and Valentine's Day) when my Auntie would send us a package in the mail with gifts.

I remember the excitement and anticipation of running to the mailbox to see if there was a surprise for me, to have the momentary rejection if there was nothing but "junk" or "bills" that did not pertain to me. I continually got excited day after day, and the moment of rejection lasted a few seconds, because I always thought "there is always tomorrow!"

Can you remember the last time you mailed a handwritten card? A personal thank you to someone? A letter of encouragement? Imagine how much a handwritten note means now when everything is done electronic!?! The childhood thrill remains in today's technologically advanced world!

There is something permanent about written word. I was helping my grandmother clean some boxes out a couple weeks ago, and she had letters that were written to her nearly 35 years ago from a variety of people. We were reading the letters, talking, sharing, smiling and reminiscing....an awesome moment! Think of looking back at letters, cards, and photos with your children and grandchildren thirty years from now and telling a story of times gone by.

So, go buy some stamps and surprise, encourage, or love someone today!

The choice of happiness or being miserable!

This week I was reading a book titled Traits of a Lasting Marriage by Jim & Sally Conway. I find this book fascinating and would recommend it to anyone who wants to take an active role in their marriage! My husband and I are taking a class at our church in which our Pastor is teaching on topics from this book.

In the book the authors talk about a lot of excellent topics, but one that I found stood out and could apply to single, married, widowed, etc. "Happiness is a choice....you choose to be happy or you choose to be miserable." How true is that! Do you know "that person" who always seems to have something wrong and focuses on it? Do you find yourself questioning is this person every happy? I am sure we all know someone like this, otherwise we would live in a perfect world.

When I read this portion of the book about happiness, a woman I know came to mind. She is a single mother with a couple kids, works two jobs, does volunteer work, is a woman of her word, and ALWAYS has a smile on her face! She has had a rough road, life is not always easy, but whatever lemons in life she is handed, she always handles it with a smile. I respect this woman a lot because of her positive outlook on life no matter how bad it gets. She chooses to be happy in life, no matter what.

So, are you a person who chooses to be happy or miserable?