as Jules is going - Page 142 of 154 - make disciples of all nations

30min vs 2+hours

August 17, 2011 by Jules Leave a Comment

One of the things I hate to do it clean my cleaning supplies or tools!
Why can't I just buy new, clean, pretty, high-tech, non-ghetto ones?

I have found that if I clean them often the they last longer and do their job better...MAN! I know, duh, right?

A little over a year ago we moved into a 2 story house and I bought a cheap vacuum to leave upstairs so I didn't have to hike one up and down. Shortly after I got ride of the 'nicer' bag vacuum and just had the light weight bagless one. I'd been using it for a few months and it clogged. I took that entire joker apart. Every screw that I found or snapped piece I disassembled! Pieces everywhere, screws in a pile, filters piled in the sink; my husband thought I'd lost my mind! After 2 hours of deep cleaning and a day and 1/2 of drying filters all over the kitchen counter my vacuum sucked as if it were brand new! I was so proud of myself. I vacuumed everything, everywhere, every inch of my house!

Then...yep, 3 weeks later it didn't suck anymore, well, at least not like new anymore. Boo!

I don't have 2 hours I can afford to devote to cleaning a cleaning tool every week. Since this craziness I've decided not to expect my vacuum to work as new but I do clean some part of it once a month.

The Supplies Needed:
Wire hanger bend straight
Scissors
Flashlight
Screwdrivers (type dependant on kind of screws your vacuum has) *not pictured ;o)
Trash Can
Sink, Water, and preferably a kitchen sink sprayer (that is its technical term)
Big strainer or towel to dry pieces in/on
Wet washclothe

The New Routine (monthly):
1.Unscrewed the bottom and the back to expose the bottom hose that goes from floor to detachable hose (that then leads to the holding compartment)
2.Shove the handy-dandy wire hanger through the hose to push out debris and unclog. Use the flashlight to check to ensure you got everything out.
3.Dump holding container (this should be done on an as-needed basis)
4.Dust and/or wipe down vacuum with wet clothe

Additional Routine (every 2-3 months):
1.Shove the handy-dandy wire hanger through the detachable hose to push out debris and unclog. (note: avoid rinsing hose. They take forever to dry given their crinkly make and therefore moister makes the sucked up dirt clump and clog faster- yep...experienced!)
2.Take out the 2 filters (in my case) and rinsed them (using the kitchen sink sprayer pushes gunk out faster) It's amazing how much cleaner they were having only let the dirt build up for 3-4 weeks instead of multiple months.
3.Rinse all plastic pieces as you go (in sink or with washclothe)

Much faster~15min (each)! Pretty sure this will be my quick fix routine from now on!

~~~

What cleaning supplies/tools have you found a way to manage? PLEASE SHARE! I need all the help I can get.

Filed Under: Cleaning Tagged With: clean out, tools, Vacuum, Vacuum cleaner

Homemaker’s Challenge

August 16, 2011 by Jules 1 Comment

Yay, it's almost time! I mentioned a while back that I was being given the opportunity to be a contributing blogger and now it's here!

Christin, of http://joyfulmothering.net/, is giving me the opportunity to share and challenge other homemakers. I am a bit intimidated by my fellow contributors who seem much more seasoned in the blogging realm but I'm taking the challenge from Sarah Mae's newest post, "The thing I'm not going to say anymore", where she explains that we often "disqualify ourself" by claiming we aren't _____ {whatever the case may be} and encourages us to "...do the thing, and be the thing, and not be afraid to say it? You are."

So, I guess I'm a...blogger!

Join me on this new-found adventure in sharing my blogging outside my homey little site over at http://homemakerschallenge.com.

We are kicking off the new site with a series on 31 Days to Clean {author Sarah Mae}. This series is about the book 31 Days to Clean Having a Martha house the Mary way. The book walks you through 31 days of encouragement and challenges both for the heart and taskful cleaning. Click the buttons on my side bar to find your way easily to the new site of the homemaker's challenge.

Buy the book here or {use the button on my side bar} to get ready for a challenging and fun-filled month of September:

If you are unfamiliar with who the Martha and Mary the book is referring to you can find a good picture of them in book of Luke:

³⁸ As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. ³⁹ She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. ⁴⁰But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” ⁴¹ “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, ⁴² but few things are needed—or indeed only one.^[f] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:38-42

Leave a comment and let me know if you plan to join the 31-days-to-clean community so we can support one another! Follow the challenges on twitter as well by using the hashtag #31daystoclean!

Filed Under: Cleaning, The Ones about Homemaker's Challenge Tagged With: 31 days to clean, blogger, contributing blogger, homemakers challenge, joyfulmothering, sarah mae

The Art of Conversation

August 15, 2011 by Jules 1 Comment

I LOVE that my husband goes on dates with other young ladies!
{When they are my young ladies in training!}

Long before Matt and I ever had children he expressed his desire to date our daughters. Having the simple one on one time to invest in the oh so important daddy-daughter relationship, truly get to know his daughters’ hearts, encourage even more teachable moments including but not limited to how she, as a princess of God, should be courted.

Right now these dates are sporadic but with our oldest having just turned 3, I think we have years to continue this healthy tradition. Now, I know what you’re thinking…what amazingness is he pouring into her while they share their hearts over “cheese tacos”!?!

Here are a few things Matt tries to do on each date:
Plan or be spontaneous about the day and time they should go
Invite her
Let her pick her favorite fast food restaurant for their breakfast or lunch (if it’s a meal date)
Open the car door as well as buckle her into her car seat
Order her favorite meal at said restaurant (if it’s a meal date)
Continuous Conversation (even if the date is running errands)
Ask probing questions like: Hi, what have you been doing today, what was your favorite thing you’ve done today (or yesterday), and whatever rabbit trail questions come from the answers to those question if needed…for the most part, the majority of their date is spent LISTENING (girls like to talk)

During these adventures my girls are learning the heart of their daddy. They are learning he will love them in a way that it will make it nearly impossible for any man to easily win her heart. They are learning manors don't just apply at home. They are learning to obey in public. They are learning to make choses. They are learning how to ask and answer questions. They are learning daddy will always listen no matter how simple or complex, how short or lengthy, applicable or random the topic. There are so many facets (too many to list) to the daddy daughter date but one of the most important is to teach them (early) is the art of conversation!

Do you date your kids? Share some fun ideas you have or have tried. Did your parents date one another or you and your siblings? I'm always up for a good story!

Filed Under: Parenting, The ones about the Rothacher Home Tagged With: cheese tacos, conversation, daddy-daughter, dating, daughters, listening

Do you have Twins!?!

August 14, 2011 by Jules Leave a Comment

Question I often get are, "Umm, Are they...twins?" "How far apart are they?" "Wow, do you want me to take you to the parking lot, shoot you and put you out of your misery?" (or a variation of that one). The most recent comments not made directly to me but abut me, "She must have twins or something?" (at my yard sale while looking through clothes) or "She was in her last time I was here." (at Wal-Mart with my cart full of my 3 blessings).

Yes! I know they are close in age comparatively speaking. No, we're not the Duggar's (whom I greatly respect); we only have 3 (right now, hehe). Yes, we know what causes 'that'. No, we don't need help because we are not in misery. I can't wait get triplet questions when J is Izzies' size next year.

I just wanted to take the opportunity to tell the story of how God decided to bless us with 3 eternal souls to disciple and bless our lives:

Here’s the story of an OCD lady
With her husband and 8 years of baby plans
All of them were spaced, just like she wanted
The youngest in k'tans

Then that lady had a girl named Maggie
Who was busy for 18 months alone
They were 2 girls waiting for a brother
When Izzie came along

Till the one when the lady told the fellow
And they knew it was much more than a hunch,
That their boy would come just a year later
That’s the way God made us all the baby bunch!
The baby bunch.
That’s the way God made us all the baby bunch!
The baby bunch

Matt and I have always wanted at least 4 children and we also hope to be blessed enough to adopt some day. When engaged, our arrogant plan was to have a baby, wait 2 years, have a baby, wait 4 years, have a baby and wait 2 years to finish off our adorable little, perfectly space family. We had Magdalene in the summer of 2008 and I had a hard time with swelling during the pregnancy so we decided to try for #2 a little early than previously planned. Isabella came in January 2010. When she was just 4 months old, after a family move to a new home, town, and job we were surprised to discover God had decided moving up the time line was what was best for our lives and Benjamin arrived in January 2011, 2 days before Iz turned 1. Crazy, I know! But "The Lord declares" in Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV), "I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." And what a future He has in store for us!

What game plan did you have where God threw an audible?

Filed Under: Parenting, The Ones about Jules Life {Randomness} Tagged With: 3 under 3, are they twins, blessings, Duggar's, God's plan, Jeremiah 29:11, OCD, the baby bunch

Annoyance

August 12, 2011 by Jules Leave a Comment

As parents, we often get annoyed with our children! They disturb our ideals. We teach them the same lessons over and over again. They selfishly expect us to jump to their every beck-n-call. They keep making messes.

How often do you think our children get annoyed with us? We disturb their play for bed time. We try to teach the same lessons with no creativity and expect results. We selfishly expect them to transition smoothly from one activity to another at our beck-n-call or selfishly leave them in their beds fussing rather than moving with love to their beck-n-call. We run around cleaning up messes instead of enjoying the fun of creating them with our children. Annoyed, frustrated, confused with our inconsistency.

How often do you think GOD gets annoyed with us, His children? ...that's right, He's the perfect parent. The perfect example. He is always on His toes with creative nurturing, transitions with ease, jumps at our beck-n-call with joy, and extend grace every moment of our lives.

Be encouraged today. Have some perspective, add some joy to your step, and give a little grace.

Filed Under: Parenting, The Ones about Jules Life {Randomness} Tagged With: annoyed, beck-n-call, frustrated, grace, joy