Home Organization Archives - Page 3 of 4 - Find Living Above the Noise Podcasts here:

Routine, A Book Project, and More….

Narcissus pseudonarcissus

– Daffodil –

As those who follow my blog know, I’ve been very ‘quiet’ lately. I’ll explain…..

After our family’s move last year, our routine went south. It amazes me how much a move can take out of us! We lose our sense of calm, routine, order…..the list goes on. We’ve moved many times since we were married, but this time all the work and exhaustion took it’s toll. We needed to rest. Which meant less time for writing. But the start of a new year boosted my motivation to get our family’s routine back in place. Well, I’m on a roll and have more energy for my day. Plus, the excitement of Spring in the air always helps!

Another stretching adventure for me is writing for Visionary Womanhood. And I’m not just talking about my monthly posts. Natalie, VW’s founder, has chosen ten women to write a book, Three Decades of Fertility, on women having babies in their older years. I think you’ll be inspired when you read the stories of “those” women who have teens and babies, or who have grandbabies while their still teaching their own children! I look forward to reading them all.

Well, it’s hard for me to believe, but I’m one of those ‘older’ women and I’m actually enjoying this stage of life – yes, it’s tiring, and challenging, too – but fun none-the-less! So, look forward to hearing the real stories of real women, and be encouraged to stay the course, in spite of what the world or even your fellow church members or family think of you! So, I have been typing away, yet it hasn’t been for my blog, but a gathering of my last 31 years of pregnancies, parenting, and growth in the Lord along the way! I’m working on my last bit of editing this week, and hope to be back on track with my blog writing soon.

Blog plans – I’ll be sharing about our family traditions, relationships, marriage, with Truth grounding it all. There’s so much going through my head these days! And so much that God is teaching me. Oh, if we would just focus our attention on Him, and be like Cornelius in Acts 10 – “a devout man, and one who feared (reverenced) God with all his household….and prayed to God continually.”

Blessings as you seek to become all that the Father wants you to be!

“Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. Luke 12:27

Building Up Without Burning Out – Growing Children Into Adults – Part Three

By livingabovethenoise

Hopefully you’ve read my posts Part One and Part Two of this series.

We’ve covered:

simplifying home education to avoid burn out
the freedom to learn from various adventures and interests
and the innumerable knowledge, lessons, and skills learned from those activities!

But what about……

Educational Requirements?

Now I know what you might be asking! How do you stay on track with the necessary educational requirements? How do you fit them in? Our family sees the “Big 3” – reading, writing, arithmetic as fundamental for all ages. Along with Bible, of course. We add in and basic history and science to wet their interest and give them a foundation. Then come the basic high school requirements – science, history, higher math, along with adding knowledge to their ‘bents’ and interests..

We use an assortment of curriculum I’ve found to be my favorites. I’ve created a family resource that is a K-12 list of all the yearly textbooks/workbooks/reading materials which are the foundations of our children’s schooling. But they don’t rule us. I rule them! Profound, huh?!

For example, if we’re working on a remodel project or taking a trip for a CW reenactment, that adventure becomes the mainstay of education for those weeks or months. We try to have the kids do math, spelling, and Bible most days when we’re busy on a project or adventure. This doesn’t always work, but having it as a goal helps to keep them from falling behind in the basics. During spare time they read textbooks or literature early in the morning, or during car travel. Believe it or not, they choose to get up early to do their “school” so they can have the rest of the day for real life!

Life Is Our Classroom

I believe we’ve lost the understanding that life is our classroom. Yes, we need the basics, but understanding those basics is wrought in the real life activities we use them for! I’ve seen my adult children prove their capability even though they haven’t done “school” like others we know. They are proving through their life that they “got” the lessons – both the textbook lessons and the real-life lessons!

So going back to the question about managing school and real-life. You just don’t let textbooks, and what educational “professionals” suggest, dictate your day! You decide what you and your children want to really learn about. Just be sure it isn’t the latest movie or video game!

Meeting Needs Without Burning Out

Now for the last question –

“In short, what is the best way to meet everyone’s individual needs, without mom and dad burning out?”

I guess the answer to that lies in how you, as a parent, view your life. We moms spend the majority of our time meeting the needs of our family. But, we each have our own view of our life and our role as ‘mom’. Some women know what they want and make their family adjust to their plan. Others are more free in what their day looks like and flex more. Your personal views will affect how each of you gets burnt out.

The first mom gets “burned out” when she doesn’t meet her schedule, or have her clean home, or get to her church Bible study. And the second mom gets “burned out” when she says yes a hundred times in one day, or she can’t find the baby in the pile of laundry in the living room. Each mom has different needs and so the “burn out” stems from differing catalyst.

The real answer to that question will be found in searching your heart and your personality.

What makes you tick?
What “gets your goat”?
What do you need to thrive?
What should you avoid to keep from going buggy?

And don’t feel like you’re being selfish! God made each of us to function best in certain ways, you know, right brain/left brain, organizer/flexible.

In answering these questions and really taking time to “consider your ways” you can find a rhythm that works for you! Just remember – what works for one family, won’t necessarily work for another. My willingness to sew quilts, breed goats, dress in 1860’s attire, or remodel our home may not work for you. And that’s okay! The reality is that I didn’t always want to do those things either! But there are ways to make even the things you dislike doing work for your children and their interests.

Compromise Benefits Everyone!

Here’s a few examples of ways we worked out a compromise.

I’ve sat through many a music lesson, while my heart’s desire was to be home. Our daughter who plays the harp had a two hour drive to lessons. We decided upon a lesson every two weeks to avoid me being gone from our other children so often.
I’ve driven my boys (when they were 12-16) to mow properties in our area, but as soon as our son turned 16 he got his license so I wouldn’t have to drive them. Our other children waited to get their licenses because of cost, lack of need, and a desire to have them grow in maturity before getting behind the wheel.
All those Civil War reenactments were often taxing on my energy, especially when I had to nurse in a corset! Yep! But when we’d be driving back home, I knew it was all worth it. The family time, the lessons learned, the light shed. And my helpful husband sometimes took the children while I stayed home for a quiet weekend.

So I guess it’s just a matter of finding the balance. And isn’t that the thing about life? Every day is a lesson. Every year we know more. One year we swing one direction in our opinions or ideas, and the next God brings us to the opposite side of the pendulum to reveal something new!

So this year, discover something new with your children! – You’ll learn about yourself. – You’ll learn about each child. – And you’ll discover more of God.

Enjoy the journey!

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philipians 4:6

De-Cluttering – One Avenue To Freedom

By livingabovethenoise

We’re moving. And that entails lots of sorting, cleaning, and decision making. As any of you know from your own moves, those decisions will live with you for a long time. How many of us have wished we’d kept that keepsake from Granny, or that simple tool we gave away in a binge of de-cluttering? And if any of you are like me, the thought of future effects from those decisions weighs heavily.

I know, I know. Some of you are born organized and just can’t understand what it’s like for us hanger-on-ers! I have a few children like you – I just don’t know where they got their gene pool! You can simply open that garbage can and toss. Or you can throw it in your trunk and drop it off at Good Will – as easy as pie! But for “us” it’s a different story.

We pause and reflect; we consider the options; we dream of future uses for “that” item. Oh, how we’d like to be different – but we’re not. And so we must pull up our bootstraps, take a deep breath, and “consider our ways” like Proverbs says. But, we must try as hard as we can to be objective about our objects. Why?

Because being free of clutter and unnecessary items is actually, well, very freeing! It gives space for new thoughts, new plans, and new items to work those plans. Really! And until you’ve tried it you just won’t believe it. So give it a go!

Steps to De-cluttering –

Take the opportunity to toss when you get frustrated at your stuff. When you can’t find your son’s shoes for the umpteenth time (yep, that’s experience writing!), or you can’t get somewhere on time because someone doesn’t have something they need (yep, me again!) – use that momentum to sort through a drawer or closet. Toss, toss, toss.
Take a day or a week and take inventory of your belongings. Just do a room at a time if that’s all the energy you can muster up. Then prioritize that stuff. Give each item a number or symbol for where it stands in your family’s life. Is it: necessary – unnecessary – trash – mementos ? Really think about each item’s value. It might have meant something five years ago, but does it still? From that list, decide what you can part with.
Consider others in need, who might put to good use something that you really don’t use anymore.
Do like we do! Move! Years ago, we were so desperate that we actually considered taking everything out of our house, so that when we’d put it back it would be easier to see how unimportant it was. Nah, we never did it, but we do happen to move every few years, which serves the same purpose. I know, we’re crazy, but it helps! :o)
Take thought of the Scripture that tells us to “do all things decently and in order.” Is your home orderly? Do you have to hide behind the door when someone knocks, or meet them on the front porch so they won’t see the mess? I’ve done that, too, I’ll admit. That will be another post – training your children – my mom didn’t and it took years for me to learn how to manage a home.
Try as hard as you can to be objective about the things and activities you have. We can become cluttered with the things we do, not just the things we own. Do you need them anymore? Do you even like spending time on them? We just sold our dairy goats and gave away our bunny. Oh, the sense of freedom we feel from not having those “to do’s” anymore! They served their time and now we’re moving onto new and more relevant activities. What a weight off our shoulders. Yes, we’ll miss them and the wonderful memories they offered, but we’re on to new memories.

Say Goodbye To Junk — We Love Free Dump Day!

Oh, and one really great advantage to being a pack-rat and clutter queen – my children have all become minimalists and are neat and tidy in their rooms and homes. Yep! They actually got so tired of my stuff that they swore off clutter and too many possessions! Hey, at least I’m helping the next generation!

Well, here’s to a productive and energy-filled summer divesting yourself of all those things you don’t need to own or do! Let me know how you’re doing or add your own ideas on de-cluttering in the comments section.

Hi ho, hi ho – I’m off to wage war on my garage clutter…..

I passed by the field of the sluggard
And by the vineyard of the man lacking sense,

And behold, it was completely overgrown with thistles;
Its surface was covered with nettles,
And its stone wall was broken down.

When I saw, I reflected upon it;
I looked, and received instruction.

“A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to rest,”

Then your poverty will come as a robber
And your want like an armed man.

Proverbs 24:30-34

A Woman’s Ever-Changing Dominion

By livingabovethenoise

Dominion:

Domain; absolute ownership, a territory or sphere of influence or control…

Domain:

Field or sphere of activity or influence, the area a given person or people rules or an area of knowledge.

Are you a woman who’s chosen to make home-making your career?

Then it’s important to remember that your sphere of influence — your domain — is within your four walls, your home.

Dominion or Micro-Management?

Over the years, I’ve taken my job at home pretty seriously. I grabbed with gusto, all I could to order my home, teach and train my children, and manage healthy meals, household chores, and family relationships.

At times, I became a micro-manager. Described as one who takes too much credit for influence and considers themselves irreplaceable. Anyone else “been there, done that?”

Yes, I said it! I thought too highly of myself and possibly, of my position. Now, I’m just being honest about my personal lack of balance. It doesn’t lessen the importance of being a wife, mother, and home organizer.

These roles necessarily bring with them a picture of dominion.

Take a look at those descriptions of dominion:

ruling control (yep, that’s what I was just talking about, but out of balance!)
sphere of influence ( I love that term)
land ruled (ahem, I’ve been known to be out of balance on that one, too!)
self-governing territory (our home and family)

So, as powerful and old-fashioned as the word dominion sounds, it is exactly what our role as homemaker entails.

We are to influence and be in control of the territory we’ve been given – our home and family. (Now pay attention – not our husbands! :)

The Bible offers us an even more exacting definition of this role.

It is a beautiful, demanding, and rewarding job, and we, as women, are equipped to fulfill it. The most beautiful picture of this dominion is found throughout Proverbs 31.

An excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far above jewels……..

………Give her the product of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates.

Proverbs 31: 10 & 31

Dominion Changes As our Children Grow

If you’re at all like me, you’ve gotten caught up in the complexities and busyness of running your home and family, not slowing down long enough to consider what life (and dominion) would look like in ten or twenty years.

Picture the adjustments maturing children. Children grow up and add new ideas to our management style and construction ideas to our nest building! And then they leave the nest – the nest we worked so hard to create, maintain, and prosper.

Harumph! What’s this?! I need to adjust and learn flexibility?

Yep! Life with adult children gives us the opportunity to learn flexibility with a capital ‘F.’

But in the adjusting, we gain the wonderful adventure of learning new skills and seeing opportunities that, had we kept doing it our way, we’d have missed!

My older children have brought computer skills, carpentry, home decorating, midwifery, sales and purchasing finesse, beautiful harp music, photography, historical sewing, Civil War reenacting, music, boating (yes, I wake surf with my kids all the time), and all manner of adventure to our lives.

If I had demanded that my dominion, my ideas for home management be maintained, I would have squelched my children’s creative genius, and we all would have missed growing and learning so many new things!

So — dominion doesn’t just mean doing things our way.

Dominion means taking God’s perfect picture, all of life, and the people in our sphere of influence and adding them together to create and uphold the best possible atmosphere for growing, learning, and loving in our home.

It Changes Again With Grandchildren!

This picture feels like a very long time ago. We now have 22 grandkids! Yeah, you read that right!

And yes, we can exercise dominion in this area of our lives as well.

When grandchildren first came along, to be honest, I didn’t quite know what to do with them!

Grandkids aren’t quite the same as our own children. We don’t actually have the dominion (remember it means control and ownership) over them the way we did for our own kids.

We can’t train them the way we did, and we don’t have the same responsibility for them as our own children. So what does that look like?

Well, time has shown me that grand-parenting is just another avenue for taking dominion. My favorite part of the definition of dominion — sphere of influence.

Just because these babes aren’t our immediate flesh and blood does not mean we can’t have influence on them. No, we don’t rule over our grandchildren, yet we can offer much influence into their ever-growing lives.

I have a wonderful example of this in my life. Granny was a woman of dominion and great influence. She is remembered by all her grandchildren as our favorite Grandma – the one who showed us service, and strength, and generosity. I can still smell her perfume and hear her laugh!

And so, like my Granny, I choose to be a positive influence on the newest members of our family – our grandchildren.

For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well. 2 Timothy 1:5

Grandchildren also fit into the descriptioin “self-governing territory.” When they’re in our home – our self-governing territory – we don’t give up our standards or style of management. We just include them and offer them an opportunity to learn how other people live and function.

So there it is! Grandchildren offer us another beautiful way to pass on what God has shown us through the sharing of our experience, wisdom, and love.

God designed family in such a beautiful and profound way.

As my children raise their children, I get to share the wonder and joy of watching the next generation live and grow and learn! And my dominion grows along with this process!

So the moral of this story? Relax and enjoy the ride!

Oh, it can be a roller-coaster ride as we flex and bend to the varying personalities of our own children and of their children!

But that’s part of the wonder of God’s plan to grow us into the very person He desires us to be!

And considering He’s the author of Dominion Himself, we can trust Him to work it all out for our good and for His Glory!

Amen and amen.

« Previous Page