Before lists here is what my typical day always ended up looking like - even on the days that I had great intentions. I would begin working in any given room and find a teeny tiny hairbow in one room that belonged in another and so it began. I went to take the hairbow to Madi's room and found dirty clothes on the floor so I would pick those up and that led me to the dirty clothes basket in the upstairs bathroom. There I would find that there was toothpaste on the sink so I had to wipe the counter top and sink down with Clorox wipes. Really?!?!? There is the tube of tooth paste that belongs in my bathroom that I spent 25 minutes searching for this morning. Now guess where I'm headed? Yep! You've got it - back downstairs to put the tube of toothpaste back in my bathroom where it belongs. Now that the tube of toothpaste is back in it's place I see that somehow waffles from breakfast this morning were lucky enough to make it to my bathroom floor. So, I begin picking up trash when I run across a bill that somehow got knocked off of my desk onto the floor which lands me at my desk. My desk, ah, my desk. Now is a great time to sit down and just check Facebook real quick....or apparently real quick doesn't exist when you are checking Facebook. So, now that my morning that was going to be so productive has turned into bouncing from room to room and a "little" time on Facebook and now...WHAT?!?!?! It's time to make lunch for the kids already!!!
I always felt defeated. No matter how hard I tried or how determined I was there was nothing to show for it. That is a feeling that gets really old really quick. It's also a feeling that brings out the yuck in me! My husband and my kids had to deal with my bad attitude all because I felt defeated every day. The yuck in me...why should my husband who has worked hard all day to provide for our family have to come home to a wife that is feeling defeated and not being very enjoyable to be around? Why should my big kids have to come home from a long day at school to a mommy who has no patience left all because my day got the best of me? Why should my two little ones have to spend the whole day at home with a mommy who only has time to constantly pick up and clean up? Being a wife and a mommy is a way of serving others and showing our love. Should I not be serving others just the same as Jesus served? Humbly. Lovingly. As the wife of my husband that humbly and lovingly provides for our family and the mother of our four children I would be lying if I didn't admit that a lot of times I just did things because they needed to be done - and I can safely say that I didn't always do them with the best attitude. When it comes down to it its almost like I heard it myself. Almost like I heard Him saying, "In order to serve your family the way I have commanded you have to simplify. You have to make me first, your husband second and your kids next. You can't be worried about what cool vacation your neighbors are going on and how many adorable outfits your daughter has. It doesn't matter how nice your pots are...do they cook the food I've provided for you? Does it really matter how much stuff you have?" I mean when it comes down to it - our God is a God of great order...and if I'm striving to be like Him I was definitely struggling.
All of that to say that as crazy as it sounds you would not believe the change that just a few different lists can make. I created a list of things that I want to accomplish daily. I broke my day down into sections.
1.Things that I want to get done first thing (before breakfast).
2.Things that I want to get done after breakfast.
3.Things that I want to get done after lunch.
4. Things that I want to get done before dinner.
5. Things that I want to get done after dinner.
Now here is the trick. NOTHING is too ridiculous to put on your list. At the top of my list I have take a shower and get dressed. Now while this seems quite obvious this is something that I skipped on a regular basis. I would think, oh, I'm not going anywhere today - I don't have time for that. I have realized that I feel better and get so much more done if I'm showered and dressed. Now, I don't mean I do my hair and put on my make up and church clothes. I shower and put on gym shorts and t-shirt, but, I'm clean and I'm awake and I'm motivated. Not to mention - my 10 minute shower gives me just enough time to say good morning to my Creator! I have my printed list that I use daily. I change it each morning when I wake up. At the top of my list I write the date and on the side I have a space for anything additional that needs to be done that day. If you will stick to this list for one week you will be amazed at how great it makes you feel to check things off of your list. It becomes something that you just train yourself to follow. It also creates consistency which is a great plus! On top of this list I also have a "Weekly Chores List", a "Things Daddy Needs to Know" list, a "Monthly Chore List", a "Semi-Annual/Annual Chore" list, a "Chore List for the Kids", a "Weekly Menu" that includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and 2 snacks each day, a "Grocery List" and a "People I Need to Call or Email This Week" list. So, when I say I have lots of lists....I really mean I have LOTS of lists. Each list has it's own function and purpose and plays a big role into our house running smoothly. While most of these lists are pretty self explanatory I will touch on them a little more tomorrow.....
Don't forget that "Rome wasn't built in a day"! All of this isn't going to happen over night. It has taken me months to get everything in place and working to my family's benefit. I think one of the keys to getting started was to mentally decide I am going to do this and I'm not going to let it get the best of me - I'm not going to be overwhelmed and I am going to feel great when it's all said and done. I think one of the most important keys for me was to pick a room and start. No other room mattered that day. You know the saying, "It's gonna get worse before it gets better"? Yea. Expect it. I started in my laundry room. I cleaned out the cabinet under the sink, the shelf above the washer and dryer and just made sure everything was tidy and put away exactly where I wanted it to be. Here were the two biggest keys for me. 1. Don't be afraid to get rid of things. Don't let your mind wonder - "hmmm....I might use this one day - I mean I haven't used it in the past year, but, I might really need it in 2021!". No! If you haven't used it - chances are you aren't going to, and, if you do for some reason need it later on I'm sure there are ways to get another one! 2. Have a laundry basket at the door to the room you are working in - when you come across something that doesn't belong in that room it goes in the laundry basket - do not take it to the room it belongs in....this, my friend, is how the vicious cycle begins (and you end up back on Facebook)! wink. When you are completely done in your first room you take your basket with you to the next room - sort through it and take out anything that belongs in your new room and place the basket at the door. Repeat cycle.
I'm not going to pretend like it hasn't been lots of work, or, like there haven't been days that I feel like it's never going to work. However, now that I'm so much closer to a clutter free and organized home I can't tell you how freeing it feels. I used to feel like nap time was the few hours that I had to accomplish everything that needed to be done that day - do you know that since I have gotten rid of Facebook and started using my lists diligently - most days I get to rest and watch a TV show or spend time reading God's word for almost an hour of their three hour nap! Do you know What an Amazing Feeling that is!?!?!?
Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.- Acts 20:28
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