The Proverbs 31 Model (And Evaluating My Days...)

I was studying the passage of Proverbs 31 this morning during my quiet time. I've read this passage many times in the past, but, lately, I've been feeling very overwhelmed with everything I need to do, so I wanted to revisit this passage and see what I could reap from it.


I have been feeling like I've been eating the "bread of idleness" a bit lately. Not that I sit around and refuse to do anything. But I do feel like I could be doing more, like I'm not prioritizing wisely or maybe not managing my time as efficiently as I could.

And I don't believe it's out of laziness. I think it's more like I have so much to do that I'm feeling overwhelmed and, as a consequence, stressing out in my mind and completely avoiding some of the very things that need done. I'm avoiding due to a mental state of feeling overwhelmed.

And I think that as wives, mothers, and managers of our homes, it is beneficial to step back every now and then and evaluate our days. Are we planning our days wisely? Or are we wasting too many moments doing things that aren't necessarily bad but aren't necessarily the best things to do?

Are we seeking God's guidance on each day? Are we asking Him to give us wisdom to organize our days, to prioritize, to plan the day's events? Or are we crawling out of bed each morning and doing our own thing, attempting to get everything done that we think needs done?

Are there things we could do differently? Could our day go smoother if we rearranged our schedule a bit?

Following are the notes I took on the Proverbs 31 passage this morning. I urge you to read this with the state of mind that you want to be motivated and inspired to be the best you can be (with God's help, of course) as a wife and mother and home-manager. I urge you not to beat yourself up because you don't feel good enough, but I do hope that you (like I did) will accept whatever conviction the Father may lay on your heart.

* Her husband is completely confident in her and trusts her fully. He does not worry that she will ill-manage her home or her family. (vs. 11)

* She provides for the needs of her husband. (vs. 11)

*She builds her husband up; she does not tear him down. She respects him and his decisions. (vs. 12)

* She works eagerly. (vs. 13)

* She is certainly not lazy. (vs. 13- 15)

* She provides food for all in her household. (vs. 15)

* Her husband trusts her with financial decisions. (vs. 16)

* She makes wise, well-thought-out financial decisions (rather than impulsive ones.) (vs. 16)

* She's a hard worker. (vs. 18-19)

* She helps the poor and the needy. She is generous rather than selfish. (vs. 20)

* She makes sure that her family has all that it needs. (vs. 21-22)

* She uses her gifts and her talents to contribute financially to the family. (vs. 24)

* She clothes herself with strength and dignity. (vs. 25)

* She does not fear the future, nor worry about it, but can look at it with hope and peace. (vs. 25)

* She is wise and can offer godly advice and instruction to others. She chooses her words wisely and watches her tongue. (vs. 26)

* She keep her home and her family organized and running smoothly and efficiently. (vs. 27)

* She is not idle, but makes the most of each moment of her day. (vs. 27)

* She loves her children and they love and respect her in turn. (vs. 28)

* She is loved and respected by her husband, as well, and he praises her for her efforts. (vs. 28)

* She fears the Lord. (vs. 30)


Okay, so don't feel condemned, ladies. I don't believe that God provides this passage of Scripture because He wants us to be superwomen. Rather, I believe that He provides it to give us an example of how we can live an organized, efficient, full life.

Do you feel full and at ease when your days are haphazard and unorganized? When you don't accomplish all that you set out to, not because you didn't have enough time, but because you didn't use your time wisely? Guilty as charged (I timidly raise my hand.)

This is not a passage intended to condemn, but rather it's one that is meant to inspire and motivate us to commit our days to God, fear Him, and then make the most of each moment and each gift He's committed into our hands.

So, here's what I learned today...

1. I need to start monitoring how I'm spending each moment. Am I eating the bread of idleness? Am I spending too much time online? Am I trying to accomplish too many things all at one time and, therefore, not completing any one?

2. I need to get back to meal-planning. You know it's bad when your dear friend feels the need to provide you with a couple of bags of frozen ravioli and garlic bread at 5pm because you just divulged to her how you don't yet know what you're making for dinner and it's looking like your family is going to be eating "breakfast" for dinner again. (Yes, I'm ashamed to admit that that really happened. Yesterday, in fact. And I'm eternally grateful to my dear friend, Cher, for saving my neck!)

3. I need to focus myself on accomplishing what needs to be accomplished. Instead of shrinking back and avoiding because I'm feeling overwhelmed, I need to just say, "Hidy-ho, let's see what we can get done!" And go at it full-force, without fear or timidity. And do what I can do in those moments I have.

4. I need to clothe myself more with the strength that is mine through Christ. I actually just read a great blog post about this exact topic yesterday at Raising Homemakers. Go read it!

Well, I must go seize the moment now!

Have a wonderful Tuesday!!!

Introducing Our Chore Chart...

Check "make a chore chart" off of my list of things to do...



I don't know about you other parents, but I have grown weary of hearing myself remind my children to do their chores. And then I look like the "parent who exasperates her children" because it appears as though I'm nagging when, in reality, they are just not doing what they're supposed to be doing without being told to do it.

I'm currently reading, Life Skills for Kids: Equipping Your Child for the Real World (affiliate link), and in this book the author talks a little about chore charts. By using a chore chart, the responsibility of remembering to complete their chores is totally shifted to the child. It's a way to keep them accountable. And, hopefully, a way to eliminate parental "nagging."

In the book, she had suggested a similar style of chore chart as I made. I knew that I wanted a pocket system. I believe that she had suggested a quick and easy way of constructing one using envelopes - one row for "to do" and one row below for "done."

But I wanted something a little more durable (and attractive) so I decided to make a fabric rendition of her chart.



I simply cut squares of fabric, stitched hems so they wouldn't fray and then stitched the squares pocket-style (leaving the top unstitched and open) to a placemat I had. If you know how to make basic straight line stitches on a sewing machine, this little project will be extremely simple for you. And if you rather not mess with that, use a heavy duty cardstock or posterboard and buy envelopes to glue on. You could even get fancy and make pockets out of scrapbook paper and mount them to a pretty piece of 12 x 12 scrapbook cardstock.

The top row of pockets are the "to do" pockets. The bottom row are the "done" pockets. The letter between the two rows are the first initial of each child's name (I used adhesive backed foam letters to keep it easy.) The lone pocket way on the left holds random chores and chores that are not necessarily done every day.

Chores are written on popsicle sticks. Or you could write them on paper and laminate, but Brad and I agreed that it would be much easier to make new ones if we just had to mark a popsicle stick rather than borrow the laminator from my friend.



Each child has sticks that are specific to them. For instance, Ian has feed the rabbits, dry dinner dishes, practice piano, etc. Sergei has unload dishwasher, wash dinner dishes, burn garbage. Lily has feed Molly, set table, clear table.

The sticks in the far left pocket include tasks such as dust, clean bathroom, vacuum carpets, sweep kitchen floor, laundry, etc. Those are assigned on an "as needed" basis to whatever child I decide will need to complete the task.


Then I mounted the chore chart to the refrigerator using heavy-duty magnet clips. I wanted the chart in a clearly visible and accessible area, and since the kitchen is the main "work area" of our home, the fridge was the chosen spot.


So, I am expecting that I will have to remind the kids to check the chart for a while until it becomes a habit. The "experts" say it takes about six weeks to make something a habit, but at least I'm not constantly reminding them of individual chores fifty times each day.

Have a blessed day!

If mama ain't organized, mama ain't happy...

If there's one thing I know for sure about myself, it is this - I do not function well in a disorganized, cluttered environment. I cannot think. I cannot focus. I cannot motivate myself to do what needs done if the area around me is a mess. I'll blame it on my genes 'cause my mom's the same way.

Our house is small by today's standards. It's currently 1600 square feet of living space (we're in the process of remodeling the basement.) I have three kids, a dog, a ton of books, and all our homeschooling materials that somehow have to fit in this space. It used to stress me out to the max. I'd have some things here, some things there, and I found I was constantly running around trying to remember where I put that thing I needed.

And, sure, I still do that at times. (I have a nasty habit of shoving stuff places when unexpected company comes and then later forgetting where exactly it was that I shoved it. I'm kind of notorious for that; just ask my husband.)

However, homeschooling has really pushed me to work my space and take advantage of all the nooks and crannies. And to use the storage space that I have wisely.

Take this armoire below. We found this on craigslist. We got it along with a big coffee table, and two lovely end tables for $250. Yep. 250. I know. I was elated, and it was the color I wanted and the rustic style I wanted and everything. The secret with craigslist is that if you're on the lookout for something, you check craigslist and you check it several times a day. It really doesn't take that long to hop on the net and check out the listings, and it's so worth the time when you find great deals (which I've found plenty of on there!)

Another thing I've learned with craigslist is that if you really want something, you jump on it. Don't wait around because chances are good that there's at least one another person who wants the same thing, especially if it's a really good price.

So we got this armoire from craigslist back in the summer. It was originally for a television, but my handy husband converted it into homeschool storage by adding some shelves. Simple, really. And now the top part of the armoire holds our current year's homeschool curriculum, literature, and manipulatives, and the bottom portion is packed full with fun stuff that the kids are free to browse and use.

I love baskets for organization. I have some really nice baskets that I have received as gifts like the one right below, but I also have a ton of nice, cheap baskets that I've purchased at yard sales and thrift shops for under $1.00 each. I have baskets EVERYWHERE in my house, and almost every single one of them serves a storage purpose of some sort.

Use those baskets if you have them, and don't feel as though you have to go out and buy a bunch of matching baskets. You don't. Sure that looks pretty, but it's not realistic for the average person to dump a bunch of money into baskets. And I personally think a bunch of unmatched baskets adds character and makes it more interesting. Plus, if you keep your eyes on the lookout, every now and then you'll find nice baskets like Longaberger, Mountain Trails, and Petersboro at thrift stores. I have several times, and I've always snatched those up.

These stacking baskets were purchased at one of our local Ross stores for around $15.00 for the set. I know - pick yourself up off the floor. Pretty good price, huh? The top basket holds the wii games and remotes and the bottom basket holds some of our family picture albums.

And that leads me to say that if you do find yourself in need of some nice, matching baskets because they are going to be out in the open and you want something that looks more "put-together", try looking at a Ross store. The two that we have in our area always have really nice baskets for unbelievably good prices (as I've already pointed out above.)

Now those of us moms who have young children know that it can be difficult to keep our children busy during the winter months when they're not playing outside as much due to the weather. I wanted an area that my 7 and 4 year old could access on their own and choose some enriching, creative activities during those "I'm bored" moments. This area under the armoire serves exactly that purpose.

Just to give you an idea of what's down there: lots of ink stamps (most of which I've purchased at thrift stores,) stickers, drawing and sketch tablets, regular ruled tablets, coloring books, markers, pastels, oil crayons, watercolor pencils and paints, beads and cord to make necklaces/bracelets, colored paper, dried beans with measuring cups (my daughter loves playing with those; so simple yet she enjoys it so much,) paint-by-number, fusion beads, etc. The key to this area is to keep it low to the ground so that the kids can get into it by themselves and to stock it with materials that will inspire creativity.

Here's the top, with all or our current homeschool stuff. There's a basket for math manipulatives, one for flashcards and other language-related material, and a basket that holds miscellaneous learning manipulatives.

I also have the pencils, paintbrushes, glue, rulers, and extra erasers down low where the kids can grab them by themselves.

So I guess my point in this post is to encourage you to make it a point to get organized if that's one of those New Year's resolutions of yours. Nothing has to match. Forget about those HGTV shows that show the closets with the pretty matching canvas bins and lined wicker baskets. Shop the thrift stores, use the baskets you already have laying around, buy some plastic, lidded bins from the dollar store.

If you really want to find your home (and subsequently your mind) in a state of order this New Year, then make it happen. You can do it! Quit dreaming about it, and use what you have, use your creative minds and work on it. Day by day. Pick an area of your home you want to see organized and devote 1/2 hour each day of that week to get it organized. I'm still working on it, and, truth be told, it's kind of fun! And I can personally say that in our family's case an organized home leads to a happier and more peaceful mama and a happier and more peaceful home.

:)

Blessings!

I've been a very busy girl...

I spent some precious one-on-one time with Mrs. Singer last night. We whipped up a fairly quick, cute, practical creation. I need to embellish it a bit today, and I'll post the project tomorrow.

In the meantime, I thought I'd share some photos of what's kept me busy the last several days. If you've been reading my blog, you may remember me mentioning our very messy, extremely packed master bedroom closet.

Well, my wonderful husband built me custom, built-in shelves last week. We worked on painting them last week and he installed them this weekend.

As a result, this is what our bedroom looks like:

This is a small section of what our closet looked like after half of its contents were spat out onto our bed and floor. I should have taken a picture of the whole closet, but I'm really bad at remembering to take before photos.

My goal is to get this mess cleaned up and organized. Tonight. After the kiddos are in bed, I'll be drowning in this mess. So, if I don't post tomorrow, it might be because I'm lost in my bedroom!

We live in a small, cozy 1600 square foot home. As our family grows, our home seems to shrink. Brad and I have been really looking at how we can best utilize the space that we have. This is our second organizing project. The first one is here.

We're coming to learn having a bigger house will not necessarily solve all of our space issues. Big houses can be messy and cluttered and disorganized. It's about making the most of the space you have and getting creative in adapting the space to work for your family. Our home is a work in progress. And I'm having a ball with all of these organizational challenges.

Hopefully, I'll finish this space by tomorrow so that I can post the end results within the next few days.

Oh, and some of you had asked me what I was goint to do with all my ribbon. Well, I really have a weakness for ribbon. I buy without an exact plan or purpose. I know that I'll find some sort of use for it at one point or another. And all that ribbon I posted here? That was all $1.00 per roll at Michael's! I have a hard time passing up a deal like that.

Anyway, here is a non-crafting way that I use my ribbon. This was a plain little white dress. I just added a little piece of blue ribbon around the middle, and it made this dress look so sweet!

Now, I suppose you could stitch the ribbon on and make it permanent. But I wanted this dress to remain versatile so I just pinned it into place with safety pins. Just pin it from the inside, making sure that only a little bit of the pin shows. Now, I can change the look of this dress just by changing the ribbon. Doesn't she look sweet!?