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31 Days to Clean: Day #9

May 9, 2011 by Jules Leave a Comment

31 Days to Clean Having a Martha House the Mary way

Day 9 – Confronting Laziness

Mary Challenge: Every time you find yourself saying, “I will do that later,” I want you to stop and pray, asking God to give you a spirit of diligence. then, with an obedient heart, go to work. If (and when) you fail, allow His grace to lift you up and begin again. I know you can do it!

I so popped a squat to read over this chapter again to "take a break" from the chores I was supposed to be accomplishing while my girlies were playing well together and read over these challenges and had to shut the computer immediately, ask God for that spirit of diligence, and get to work with an obedient heart! Crack'n me up. Just when I thought I didn't deal with laziness.

Martha Challenge: Kitchen - Sweep, vacuum, and mop floors. Add some fresh flowers to brighten your day.

Mopping, I HATE mopping!!! I decided that if I was gonna go to all the trouble to get out those evil tools to do the kitchen I might as well do all the "hardwoods" down stairs. Ugg! I did and it ended up not being too bad. I was even able to evolve my girls with minimal stress and injury...pics to come:

BIG helper, and very ingenuous as well ;o)

You already know where this is going don't you?

YEP! There it is! and...it's nap time! Poor girl wiped out 3 times. But that was some good scrubbing she was doing!

This one was dancing and singing. Great little helpers!

More dancing! (FYI: I'd already mopped the floors well and just let her push around the wet mop this time)

Oooo, almost forgot our "fresh flowers". We opted for a little "science" project that would last a little longer and cost $1.o0!

(ignore the rough-looking mamma in the background...Mopping-remember!)

We already have GROWTH! (~3 days later it showed up)

Totally recommend this cheap lesson for preschoolers! (~1 week's growth pictured):

Filed Under: Cleaning Tagged With: 31daystoclean, comfronting, fresh flowers, julie rothacher, kitchen, laziness, little helper, mop, sarah mae, sweep, vaccumme

31 Days to Clean: Day #8

May 8, 2011 by Jules Leave a Comment

31 Days to Clean Having a Martha House the Mary way

Day 8 – Overcoming the Curse

Mary Challenge: Think back to a time when God refined your character through difficult circumstances. Write it down and thank Him for His faithfulness.

Martha Challenge: Kitchen – Clean out and organize your drawers.

These were messier than I would have liked to admit...I almost had a Couple "junk" drawers. This helped me re-evaluate, again, which things I actually use, how often I really use them, as well as where the most practical placement of items would be since I had just been using them where they landed last year when we moved in. Some worked for us but some needed moved up away from little hands and some drawers are now accessible and just for my (almost) 3-year-old to keep her supplies/craft items in so she can be more independent. Dividing the towels and washclothes is going to make for another chore my preschooler can help with added putting away the (colored) silverware- great sorting skills.

Before and After's of Silverware and Linen Drawers

Before and After's of Knives and Utensil Drawers

Before and After's of Supplies, Bibs, and Baking Utensil Drawers

Filed Under: Cleaning Tagged With: 31daystoclean, clean, drawers, julie rothacher, organize, overcoming, sarah mae, the curse, wash

31 Days to Clean: Day #7

May 7, 2011 by Jules Leave a Comment

31 Days to Clean Having a Martha House the Mary way

Day 7- The Curse (What We're Up Against)

Mary Challenge: Read Romans 8:20-21. What is the hope in the Curse?

My hope is that because I'm a bond-servant of Christ I have been released from my burden to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of being a child of God.

Martha Challenge: Kitchen – clean out and organize your pantry.

Like I've said before: We LOVE hosting all kinds of things in our home! We make up excuses people over. We have been blessed with an amazing accommodating kitchen all necessary and unnecessary items for just such occasions. Our pantry is no exception. We could store food for an army in there! I am kind of what some may call OCD and love keeping things organized so this task wasn't dreaded but it was kind of time-consuming given the size of the God-given pantry. My girls were so excited to "help". They moved items from one shelf to the next so I could wash each shelf and then help group things (great lesson on sorting/matching). Although, I may be creating OCD babies. My (almost) 3-year-old had a hard time when I decided to relocate things from the previous areas she'd become acustom...oops!

Here are the befores:

and afters:

Filed Under: Cleaning Tagged With: 31daystoclean, before and after pictures, clean, julie rothacher, organize, pantry, sarah mae, wash

31 Days to Clean: Day #6

May 6, 2011 by Jules Leave a Comment

31 Days to Clean Having a Martha House the Mary way

Day 6 – The Six List- The $25,000 Piece of Advice

Mary Challenge: Print out the attached Six list and use it for six days in a row.

I really enjoyed this advice but have yet to put into practice. If you have and would share with me a practical/example of how you are using it I would totally benefit from that.

Martha Challenge: Kitchen – Clean out and organize all your cabinets.

I'm a weirdo who like organizing to this was kinda fun! I'm also all about living minimalistic in an attempt to not get caught up in materialism although HOME items are my weakness!

Cup Cabinet

Plate and Bowl Cabinet

Mixing, Casserole Dishes, and Above Stove Cookbook Cabinet

Before Seasoning, Above Fridge, and Medicine Cabinets

After Seasoning, Above Fridge, and Medicine Cabinets

Office Stuff and Serving Dishes Cabinets

Under Sink Supplies and Storage Container Cabinets

Pan and Lid Cabinets

Baking Pans Cabinet

Small Appliance Cabinet

Lenin and More Serving or Baking Dishes Cabinet

We LOVE hosting...well, anything in our home! We make up excuses to have individuals or large groups of people in our home. We have been blessed with an amazing accommodating kitchen that is able to store both dishes, supplies, tools, and food to easily adapt if a dinner date with another family turns in to a dinner party of 20+ (true story!). As a family we intend on using our home for God's glory and if at any time that stops happening my prayer is that He takes this blessing and gives it to someone who will.

This side note is leading me to write a post on the story of our HOME! Coming SOON!

Filed Under: Cleaning Tagged With: 31daystoclean, before and after pictures, cabnets, clean, julie rothacher, organize, sarah mae, the 6 things list, wash

31 Days to Clean: Day #5

May 5, 2011 by Jules Leave a Comment

31 Days to Clean Having a Martha House the Mary way

Day 5 - Priorities

Mary Challenge: Come up with list of our priorities, in order of importance (I suggest rating them, 1-5, to evaluate how you’re doing).

Martha Challenge: Kitchen – Wash your window treatments and/or clean your blinds. Wash the inside of your windows.

I am soooo glad we still don't have "window treatment" anywhere in our house a year after moving in- Thank You Dave Ramsey, FPU. My beautiful, (almost) 3-year-old, big helper was Super Excited about being able to help with one of the tasks! These windows were just the right height, with a step, rather than the ones up high, behind the kitchen sink. She actually was a good helper!!!

Praying you have an adorable little helper during your 31 Days to Clean challenge! PLEASE, share your journey through this book or cleaning challenges in general!