Rest..vs...Idleness

I must say I have a great deal of trouble with this thought. What is rest, and what is idleness? Often when I collapse on the couch or hop online, I feel that I should be doing something else, something more productive. Pretty much any time I am doing anything, I feel a nagging guilt that I should be doing something else. So pretty much I feel rushed/guilty/resentful all of the time.

It needs to stop.

There is a healthy balance between rest and idleness. Also between keeping house and homemaking. I don't want to be so consumed by cleaning and tidying that I don't have time for my family, I also don't want to live in squalor, which I feel very close to now as the entire family has been passing the flu/head colds back and forth.

I am drained. I am in need of some rest.

My new goal is to live in the moment. When blogging, I will blog and not worry about the dishes, when doing dishes I will not rush...and do a bad job..because I am worried about getting the floors done.

So, today's goals:
1. REST
2. Finish the dishes.
3. vacuum
4. Tidy the boy's room
5. Run to the store to get milk.

Be where you are...

"Be where you are, and do what you are doing." was the single best piece of advice I ever got while I attended college. Unfortunately It was given by an extreeeeeemly dry English professor and I had a great deal of trouble focusing on his classes.....

So, Yesterday was a disaster according to my schedule...but a total success family/relationship wise. After paying the bills, we all loaded up in the car and had a family fun day! We had a fast food lunch (not such a good idea) and went to the mall play-place and let the boys run around. J. slept so hard afterwards! In fact, I didn't get to clean their room at all as it was being occupied by a sleeping boy during nearly all hours of the day! The other hours were spent snuggling and having meals.

I did get a head start on today's work, which is the Family room....or as my mom has nick-named it the "Welcome room" which now alliterates with Wednesday and also gives me a good perspective on what that room's purpose is, as this is where guests enter my home!

So, Today's task list:
1. De-Clutter all surfaces
2. Dust
3. wipe windows and sills
4. Vacuum
5.re-organize one area.

In addition, I will be "purging" again, and try to find one trash-bag worth of items to donate to charity. I am so tired of clutter.

Our menu:
Breakfast: Orange/Cranberry oatmeal (which the boys are happily eating/wearing at the moment)
Lunch: Been and cheese quesadillas with guacamole (made with whole grain tortillas)
Dinner: Chicken Parmesan with spaghetti and green salad (mom's recipe)

Alright....lets go!

Getting back into the swing of things

The last day and a half have been very productive for me. I actually managed to follow the schedule in my Home Management Binder and am in good head-space.

Yesterday's focus area was the Master Bedroom...so I went grocery shopping, then rocked the boys to sleep on my lap and held them while Garrett and I watched a movie, then we had dinner AT THE TABLE!!! for the 4th time this week =) and after dishes and bath time I frantically changed my bed-linnens, swept the floor and put away the laundry...

Today is Tuesday and we focus on the Toddler's room. I will (attempt) to
1.put it back in order,
2.vacuum,
3.wipe the window and sill,
4.put away laundry and
5. pick an area to organize.
I also want to re-arrange the furniture a bit, as Grandpa is building a "toddler-sized" bunk bed! It should be done by the end of the week.

Tuesday's are also my "balance the checkbook and attempt to pay the bills day" and today, we were able to pay everything that was due except the house...need to wait on another EDD check to be able to do that. The Lord does Provide!!!

Today's menu:

Breakfast: Cereal with fruit and milk
Lunch:Grilled Cheese, tomato soup
Dinner: Biscuits and gravy, green beans

I will update you on what actually happens as I can!

The end of the Media Fast

ok, well, it ended about a week ago, but I thought I should post a few reflections here>

Reflection #1. turning off the tv/talk radio brings an instant peaceful feeling into ones home.

Reflection #2. I really really, really like tv.

Reflection #3. I can get so much accomplished if I just focus on the task at hand. For example, folding the laundry as it dries and immediately putting it away, as opposed to letting it pile up onto the couch then settling down to watch an episode of CSI and sloooooowly folding it.

Reflection #4. I didn't miss much. other than a story arc or two, but nothing of a real, lasting value was missed out on.

Reflection #5. Simplicity is much better achieved without constant "noise" urging on my fleshly desires....for more food, more land, better cleaning supplies, more useless political debate.

So there it is in a nutshell. I was also surprised at how much of the Bible I was able to read thru...I am reading it chronologically and am in the midst of 2 Samuel/psalms. Need to get back to that.

I did enjoy the experience, however found myself at constant war with it at the same time. I am choosing to continue with a "partial" media fast from here on. I have just been making the decision to leave the tv or pc or radio off. untll my work is "done" (ha!) and then I make sure to have some sort of busy activity at hand...crocheting a new hat for myself at the moment. I am really enjoying this lessened dependency on outside stimulation!

Family Vacation

it has been a while since I last posted...So just a quickie update. We went on Vacation over Thanksgiving! Yessirreee. Packed up the car and went up the coast to CAMP! All turned out well, other than the fact that J. couldn't be pulled away from the water (even in his sleeep during an unfortunate storm...stuck his feet in a puddle that made its way in the tent) and S. decided to cut a tooth.

We had a wonderful tome. Most of my extended family was able to make it as well. what was most exciting for me was the fact that this officially marked 5 generations of my family to camp at this paticular beach! If you are looking for a great family-friendly and not too busy area for a vacation I strongly recommend Anchor Bay Campground.

I have just realized both boys are being verrrry quiet and the bedroom door is closed. I gotta go.

Bitterness...

It is strange how it can creep in...I had no idea how much a hold it had on my life until recently, When Garrett made an offhanded comment about our small "pit" of a house. The remark quite hurt--in light of how hard I have been trying of late to make it nice.

That was when I realized how much my poor attitude had been affecting him. I had made him feel as if he couldn't provide for our needs.

I am grateful that I was confronted with this. I am actively working on my attitude, and asking the Lord to change my heart. We have been blessed...very blessed with a cozy home, and a nice large grassy area for the boys to run in, and a pool I don't have to tend!

Reformation Day Party!

So...while noodling around in my blog management site I noticed a post by a fellow-blogger on their "Reformation Day Party" and did a little digging... and lo...October 31st is the day that Martin Luther posted his "95 thesis" on the door of his church in order to get a nice debate with the catholic church, and instead sparked the Protestant Reformation, and even translated the bible for the first time from Latin to German!

So, Last night I decorated a bit. Mainly just a fall display of squashes nuts and candles (very Medieval) and we ate a bunch of German-style foods (not very Medieval) and watched the film "Luther" overall a very good time!

Next year we would like to do a proper party, and have people over. I read some great ideas for party games; pin-the-these-on-the-door, Hide the heretic and maybe a Lego-castle building contest. And also we can dress up. I am quite sure I can whip up a few German-reformation-era duds in time.