I had a completely different post planned in my mind for today, but I put that all aside after reading Moms The Word post about hospitality.
Amazingly enough this is something that has been weighing on my mind a lot, lately. Isn’t it amazing how God puts these things in your life at just the right time? Ahh–what an awesome God we serve! 
As a homemaker, I have been on almost every end of the spectrum (which cracks me up, since I have only been a homemaker for 9 years!). I haven’t been on the completely filthy, shut my house down end–but way too close for my liking! Definitely not something to be proud of, or an environment for company, which we never had anyway.
When I first started out living on my own, I was very meticulous, everything was always put up. We lived comfortably in our home, but I was constantly going behind my oldest and picking up anything he wasn’t playing with at the time. Not a fun environment for him.
Right now, my home is okay for unexpected company. I hear it humming, rather than the singing I want to hear. My mission over the next few weeks/months is to take control of my homemaking duties {again}, but not overdo it.
I want my home to be singing, and welcoming neighbors and friends with open arms. But, I don’t want to be so freakish that I pick up after every move of my company, or my family. I want us to be comfortable. To live here and to enjoy it.
- I hope to focus and gain control of my kitchen table, yet again. It is still overrun with seeds, and planters.
- Thankfully my decluttering has really lifted some weight off, but I think I could go around and declutter again.
- Look over my Housecleaning Schedule–and see if I can make any changes.
What are you doing to make your home sing? Check out Moms The Word to see what others are doing.
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
My former neighbor cleaned by a Day-of-the-Week Acronym. I adopted that to have it fit my needs, and here it is:
Monday ~ Mounds of Laundry and Mop it Monday (we have stained concrete floors, so they totally need mopped after the weekend).
Tuesday ~ Toilets Tuesday (clean those bathrooms)
Wednesday ~ Wipe it Wednesday (all surfaces get dusted/disinfected)
Thursday ~ Tidy up Thursday (put things back in their place!)
Friday ~ Finish up Laundry and Floors Friday (basically a redo of Monday, but I do a really good vacuum, too).
This system has SAVED ME! And, it’s easy to pick back up on if I have an “off week”.
Hope this helps someone and takes away that stress of always feeling like you need to clean. I am one of those who picks up all day long so it probably drives my family crazy.
I have a basket on my landing of my stairs that I fill all day with things that need to go back upstairs. Then I just do it once a day, at the end of the day. That also helps.
Have a great day Phoebe! (BTW, I have 3 green bean plans and 4 tomato plants sprouted .. YEA!!)
Nicole
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I gave you an award.
http://betweendaycareandcoupons.blogspot.com/2009/03/i-won-my-first-award.html
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Making our homes sing can be a balancing act, can’t it? I want to keep my house clean but comfortable and sometimes it’s hard to tell where to draw the line. Great post!
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I used to follow people around straightening pillows and just neatening up (even with company, lol!) until I drove my husband nuts and he said he just couldn’t live like that. So I tried so relax a bit (sometimes I think I relaxed to much, lol!).
I love looking at other people’s schedules (mine is on my left sidebar under “daily schedule” and “weekly schedule” if you want to see it. I need to post my kid’s someday.
Thanks for joining us and here’s to more hospitality in our homes!
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I needed to read this today. It is hard to find a good balance. I have 3 very messy little ones and I spend so much of my time walking around behind them picking up messes. I really need ideas on how to get them, or at least the older 2 (just turned 5 and almost 3), to help out better. We use the kitchen timer and I give them one job at a time in their room, but does anyone have any creative ideas to get kids to help out?
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Just wanted to say thanks for a great blog! I’ve honored you with the Kreativ Blogger award…
http://carolinaclipper.blogspot.com/2009/03/my-first-award.html
Richelle
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Great Blog….I certainly learned some things from you!
I will visit again!
Thanks!
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Hi Phoebe!
Thanks for stopping by my blog and commenting. You left a question about blueberries and I was afraid if I answered on my blog you might not see it. Since you’re one of my favorite bloggers I was over here anyway!
To answer your question, I haven’t had blueberries on my own, but I’ve taken care of my grandparents bushes. I do know that you will need more than one bush in order for them to produce. If I’m understanding that you only planted one bush, you’ll need to remedy that. I can’t remember if it’s at least two bushes, or at least two varieties (I get that mixed up). Lowe’s carries three varieties. I picked up two of each type so I’m covered (and there will hopefully be enough for us AND the birds since I know they’ll be in them too!). Remember also, Lowe’s carries a one year guarantee on their shrubs (just in case!) so keep your receipt. I took back some things last year and they took them back without question. So I’m using them for everything that I can for that reason…and their prices are competitive, if not better than most other places around here.
Here’s a link that might help you with info on blueberries. In fact, I recommend this site in general (the search feature is my friend lol) for answering your questions about the garden. http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/2007-04-01/Blueberry-Bonanza.aspx
Have a great week!
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I got tears in my eyes as I read this post. (Somehow I missed it the other day). As I read I looked around my living room and got overwhelmed. I have allowed my kids to not be responsible. Maybe I taught them that. Keeping the house up is no easy task, nor is it one I have ever been good at, or liked for that matter. Thanks for posting on this and linking to “momstheword”. What a great reminder that this “stuff” is Gods and I need to take pride in all that I have been blessed with. I am so blessed to be home and be a wife. I need to appreciate ALL that comes with the title. Even cleaning the house. I want to hear it sing………
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