A Schedule for the Spontaneous

I have been married for eight years, and seven of those years I have been a mom. And for all seven of those years I have been trying to develop a schedule, or at least develop the habit of following one. When my oldest was just a year old I read a wonderful book called Managers of Their Homes that was stuffed full of wonderful scheduling information. But my wonderful husband warned me that I just was not the scheduling type.

But now I have five children, and the need for a schedule is overwhelming. We just aren't getting enough done. So after seeking the Lord and doing some thinking I have come up with a few things to help get me on track.

First, I am going to utilize the gift of organization that was so generously given to my husband. I have written out a list of things we need to get done when he gets home and have given it to him. I am guaranteed that those things will be done simply because he cannot stand to fail. It kills him. And the benefit is two-fold. You see, I have found that when I leave things undone at night it takes me twice as long to get those same things done in the morning. That really cuts into our school time and adds unnecessary stress into my day. So more will be done in the evening thus helping me to get more done during the day.

Next, instead of mapping out each hour of my day I am going to a block schedule. I doubt this is an original idea, but it is the first time I have considered it. Since there are three natural parts of a day, morning, afternoon, and evening (I hope to be sleeping at night), I have decided to start there. This gives me a span of time to accomplish certain tasks and if we get a little off schedule we can jump right back in where needed. So this is my tentative "schedule" if you will.

7am - 12 pm
Breakfast
Get Dressed
Worship Time (with the children)
Morning Chores
School

12 pm - 4 pm
Lunch
Clean up
Afternoon Chores
Read Aloud with Mommy
Naps for the little ones
2 loads of laundry

4pm - 8:30pm
Begin Dinner
Piano
Dinner on the Table
Clean up
     Outside toys
     Bedrooms
     Living Areas
     Kitchen
Bath Time
Family Worship
Bedtime for the Children
Time with Ryan

I would love to hear how you do things in your home. Ideas are definitely welcome.

The Heart of Her Husband

Proberbs 31:11 "The heart of her husband trust in her and he will have lack of gain."

This has long been one of my favorite passages addressing the relationship between husband and wife. The entire passage paints a loving relationship that should be emulated. However, this kind of relationship was likely as hard to come by when Solomon wrote it as it is now. In those times it was common practice for a man to lock his valuables away from the grasp of his wife in order to prevent her from squandering all he owned. But the couple described for us here is quite different.

It is because of the wife that the husband has gained much in the way of wealth and respect. He is respected by all who know him and leaves much of the affairs of his home in the hands of his wife. Why? Because his heart trusts in her. And she has shown herself to be incredibly loyal to him.

So how does this translate into practical everyday living for us now? When you shop, do you make every dollar count? Do you strive for thriftiness and look for bargains, getting a "bang for your buck"? Do you show respect for his hard work by asking for his input before making a purchase? Do you complain about the things that you do not have and constantly ask for more? Do you manage well the affairs of your home and provide a place of rest for him when he comes home?

I know there are many things that I need to improve upon. And there have been times of discouragement. But nonetheless, I have determined in my heart to strive for excellence.

Perspective

As I write this my lap is overflowing with two little ones, and I have been up since 2:30 am with a restless baby. My floor is scattered with toys and the dishes undone. In the past I would have woken up with a weight on my back and a grumpy disposition. But today I have decided to lay both aside. Instead of complaining about the toys and lack of sleep, I am going to have a verbal attitude of thankfulness. I am going to smile at my children and speak kindly to them. And as I go throughout my day cleaning the messes that their little hands make I am going to pray that one day God would use those same little hands to build His kingdom. And at the end of the day when my body aches and my mind is exhausted, I am going to thank my Lord for the privilege of serving Him in this way and pray that I can do it better tomorrow.

How do you do it?

This is the number one question that I am asked when I go out with my five young children, as if having five children, getting them dressed and out in public were some major accomplishment. But I don't mind the conversation at all. People are drawn to us and want to know what our days are like and if we are planning to have more children. And then when the conversation turns to the fact that I teach them at home, their interest is peeked even more.

And it is because of the interest from people that I get every day that I have decided to open my home and thoughts to those who wish to read about us. I truly hope that our family can be of encouragement to others who long for or already have a large family. Children are a wonderful blessing and not an inconvenience.

So come along with us as I learn how to manage this home that the Lord has given me.