I am a Domestic Goddess, Are You?

Yup.  I am a homemaker.  I follow biblical principles for the role of a woman, and strive to achieve the freedoms and virtues of Proverbs 31:10-31.

These are not easy to reach.  So much goes into daily challenges.  It is so easy to let things go, nap instead of dishes or shop instead of vacuuming.  For the Christian woman, God's spirit of determination, fortitude, and perseverance is significant in every day chores.  Especially the ones we don't like (dishes!).

A little more than a week ago now, I sat down with pen and paper, and started to make a list of the things I do around the house and how often they need done.  My heart yearned for a more organized way to handle the common, and not so common chores in an attempt to keep my house clean.  DH has allergies which are exacerbated by shedding dogs, and the seasons.  A regular schedule is becoming more imperative simply to make sure all things are done, and done often enough and in a timely fashion to keep the house both livable and presentable.

Nothing says, "ah!" more than knowing when someone stops by unexpectedly that the house is in order.

Now I have a caveat.  I have two large, hairy dogs, but we have not been blessed with children yet.  The dogs make their own kind of mess, but for those moms out there with toddlers, I commend you for all that you do, and encourage you TO NOT BE DISCOURAGED.  Time spent caring for your little ones is precious, and those infant, toddler, and pre-school years are priceless.  I have never condemned a mother of children for a messy house!!  I sympathize with their want to do more, I empathize, but I also know that caring for the kids is far more important ... when they get older there will be time to clean the house!  If your house needs redding up, and you have kids, I applaud you for focusing your time on them rather than the house!

The chore list has done wonders for my days.  As has setting the alarm to get up at regular times, and doing the dishes as they get dirty (I do not have a dishwasher, so if I make them I clean them, and if you haven't figured it out, I really despise doing dishes .... though getting them done one meal or project at a time has really helped.

Saturday I cleaned the garage.  It was on the list!  Monday I did laundry, though that was on the list for Tuesday.  Tuesday I did MORE laundry (playing catch up with a few things that needed done like curtains, and bedding).  I dust twice a week, vacuum at least every other day, brush/comb the dogs on days I vacuum if not more often (usually outside, who needs MORE hair in the house?!), each major room has its own day now ... Bedrooms, office, living, dining/kitchen, bathrooms, and the 'Oh, My GOSH!' room that serves as storage, plant nursery, guest room, and sewing/project room.  That final room, everyone has, and probably have a couple drawers with similar 'catch-all' tendencies.  It is the scariest room to do anything in because of the number of purposes it serves.

Fish tank gets a water change at least once a week.  The couch gets washed down a couple times a week.  I still have to clean the assorted portable and floor fans we have around the house - this might be a Saturday job.

I make more work for myself as well ... I have a small container garden that needs watered unless it rains, and even then often it needs attention.  I have a 'garbage garden' that needs attention.  Other houseplants including a Coffee, Ornamental Banana, Orchids, an Aloe, Christmas Cactus momma and cuttings, an Easter cactus, African violets, and the list goes on.

Seems the more I have though sometimes the more I get done, the more I can stay focused.  Perhaps it is from growing up on a farm?  Or perhaps it is simply how I am wired.

Since I made my list, it seems I have more time.  I feel calmer about getting things done.  If I miss something on one day, unless it is really important it get done it can wait until the following week.  I find that some of the things that are more redundant (vacuuming, dusting) these can be put aside for a day if the need arises.

I have also found that having a list, scheduling things that have to be done, it simplifies things, and while I am working I get a chance to think ahead about what to make for dinners.  What to send hubby for lunch the next day.  What to put on my grocery list for the coming shopping day.

A nice, and pleasant side effect is also that I am losing weight.  I don't tend to be as bored during the day, though I get hungry I tend to make better snack choices, whole foods (raw fruit, veggies), proteins, cheese, etc.  I am eating more often, and eating less because of it, and in turn my body is responding favorably to the changes, and I'm feeling really good!

This year I haven't put much away.  Strawberry season came and went, and I froze eight pints.  Apple season is fast approaching, I have applesauce and chunks in the freezer from last year yet.  I have canned peaches, preserves, and jam from last year as well, I have been enjoying fresh tremendously, but I have for the most part missed that season.  I showed up a day late for cherry picking, so none this year, and all my sweets from last year went bad, in the freezer!  Lots of blueberries left from last year as well.  Just not baking/eating the things I would most often make from them so they stay frozen in the hopes to be used at some future date ... I am tempted to can the blueberries to get them out of the freezer, it is easier to store canned foods than frozen ones!

Anyhow, I strive to continue and persevere.  Perhaps starting these habits now will translate into more easily keeping them if and when the Lord ads children to the equation.  For now it is nice to be able to feel caught up and accomplished!

God Bless!