Home Sanctuary

Time to Turn in December Points!

December has gone by so fast, I feel like we hardly did ANY Small Things this month.  Oh, wait, we didn't do many because we took a week off and I picked super easy things to do for the rest of the time! We mostly just played around, come to think of it.

But somehow, even when we aren't working very hard, it helps me to know that I've got Company Girls alongside me, encouraging all of us with your comments and stories each day. I just love what happens here. YOU girls make that possible with your participation....without you I'd be one lonely, tired hausfrau - toiling away all by myself.

And that brings us to the reason for the spring in our step today: PRIZES.

If you are new to the "point system," (loosely termed), it is very easy.  Simply keep track of the points you earn by doing the Small Thing tasks (on the day it is assigned). If you skip a day (or week...) you don't earn points.  And the reason I give a time limit is to encourage DAILY steps that can be done. Otherwise, I know we're a bunch of procrastinators and we'd never do them until the very last day, am I right?

Well, let's review the prizes:

The Most Points Prize Winner will receive a 24 x 36 print of II Peter 1:3. 

  

I custom designed this for a special client and made an extra one to give away. I had a hard time taking it down off my own wall....I just love it.  It is a great size: big enough to make a beautiful statement, but small enough to fit just about anywhere.  I think you will love it too.

The Random Drawing Winner will receive a copy of this book:

This is based on Isaiah's revival...and gives us a fresh vision of God in the process.  I've been spending a lot of time Isaiah recently and think this book would make a great companion. And guess what?  This book is a signed copy!  Pretty cool.

Today's Small Thing is two steps:

1. Email your point total to me.  Now, if you don't really care about adding up points and simply want to be entered into the Random Drawing, just let me know that in your email - no difficult math required. Everyone who emails is automatically entered into the drawing.

2. Leave a comment, letting us know which Small Thing of the month year was your favorite. Since this has been a short month, let's just open it up to the whole entire year. Does one in particular stand out?  If you can't think of your favorite, just pick one you sorta enjoyed and we'll call it good.

POINTS: 30 for doing the two steps today.

I can't wait for a new month!!

Best Of 2009

Since this is the time of year that everyone publishes their "Best Of" lists, I thought I should add my own list for the history books. This might be particularly helpful to all the new Company Girls who are looking through the archives thinking, there MUST be a good one in here somewhere.

I give you the Best Of Small Things 2009 - in no real order whatsover

Big Foot

Toasty

Vote for Change

Hunter Gatherer

Flirting with the Hottie in the Kitchen

Home Sanctuary by Nursery Rhyme

The Squatters are Moving In

Jug Care

Sick Humor

One Damp Cloth Can Only Take You So Far - Thankfully

Get Crackin'

That Bloated Feeling - It's Blowing in the Wind

Celebrity Mug Shots

The Rural Juror - And Other Things that are Hard to Say

I'm Gonna Miss You, I Can't Lie

My Cheatin' Heart

Permanent Base Camps

Let's Go, Girls

That Sinking Feeling

The Tape of Love - The Sticky Stuff

Let's Not Beat Around the Bush

Haul Ass (actually from 2008, but still a fave)

Tell Me This Kind of Thing Happens to Other People, Too

Do you have a favorite post that didn't make the list? Let me know and I'll add it.

Today's Small Thing is to choose a task from the "Best Of" list to do.  If you don't feel like reading all of them (or you just feel darn lucky today), pick a number between 1 and 20 and count down to your chosen post and do that task. (One of the above posts does not have a task, so if you choose that one...it truly IS your lucky day!)

POINTS: 50 for picking one "Best Of" task to do today

What did you choose? Let us know!

Take Stock of Supplies

 

You know, creating a wonderful sanctuary for your family is not all about cleaning.  That's really great news for those of us for whom cleaning is just not our "thang." (Insert happy dance here.)

But it's surprising how much having a clean and tidy home affects your general sense of Sanctuary. When things look nice, there is a feeling of calm that happens.  It's something we all need.

I've found that when I don't have cleaning supplies handy, it's real easy for me to suppress the occasional urge to clean because it's too hard to find what I need. So in order to help me stay on top of things it's important to have my housekeeping supplies stocked and handy. That way, when I get the bright idea to clean a bathroom mirror, I can do it without breaking into hives looking for paper towels.

Today's Small Thing is to take stock of your supplies.  Here's what we did last year:

I suggest keeping these supplies where you actually use them: under sinks (child-proofed, of course) or at the very least on each floor of the house or each end of the house.

Get these at a discount store to put in a caddy per bathroom (or floor level):

"Small Things" Supplies

Glass Cleaner
Surface Cleaner
Abrasive cleaner
Paper Towels
Sponges
Trash bags
Dust cloth/spray
Wisk broom/dust pan
Rubber gloves
Potty  scrub-brush

Optional: Pop-up wipes (love these)

General cleaning supplies to have:

Floor cleaner
Vinegar
Disinfectant spray
Tools: brooms, mop, vacuum
Trash bags

Starting fresh with the tools you need will give you power to spend time on the things you really WANT to do, instead of feeling victimized by all the housework.

Remember, Sanctuary in the Small Things is not just about cleaning, but it's about caring for your home and the people who live in it.   It's part of showing love AND helping your family members belong to the process of homemaking.  I'm all over that.

 

POINTS: 40 for taking stock of what you have and start getting everything together! 

Can you get your supplies together by Thursday, Dec. 31? How about if I throw in 30 extra points for actually putting the supplies where you need them!

P.S. WELCOME to all the new Company Girls yesterday!!! I'm so glad you're joining us!

Small Things Matter

In between the Christmas hustle and bustle, I've been thinking a lot about Home Sanctuary and the Small Things.  It was good to have some time away from blogging to muse about the coming year and consider the things that make me love coming here each day to meet up with you.

I can hardly believe that I've been posting daily Small Things for TWO YEARS!  Some of you (Melissa, Cheryl, Steph, Rachel, Meg, Joyce, Sheri, Angela, Jessica, Dawn....) have been with me from the very beginning, and a few of you go back even further, to August of 2006, when I first started blogging.  Woo! What a great group of loyal friends!  Ya'll make this so fun.

The days before a new year begins always bring a sense of anticipation to me.  I like to set a few goals and get re-organized and agonize over which new planner to go with.  Surely there MUST be one that will cure my forgetfulness and distractedness and whip me into shape?  It's probably too much to ask, but I can dream.

But there is one thing I always come back to each year.  The thing that never falls off my radar.  The thing that brings me back here every day.

I want my home to be a sanctuary - a refuge - for my family.

I want my kids to feel loved and treasured.  I want my man to feel adored.  I want things to look nice and smell good and feel special.

I wish I could say that I always accomplish it.  I wish my laundry was folded, dishes done, pies made and children kissed and clean.  I wish I had limitless resources to dress my home in understated farmhouse chic.  I wish I had shoes for every occasion, perfectly highlighted hair (like, you know, regularly), and fabulous accessories to wear.

And I wish there was no more war and that Starbucks coffee was 10 cents a cup, too. Yeah, that'd be great!

My reality is that I'm a tired mom, living on a shoestring. I'm haphazard in my organization and quite a few of my ideas are half baked, at best.

But I've got this unshakable belief that a home can be wonderful, even if you don't have it all together.  I believe that God takes the little bit that you have, and He can make much of it. 

I believe that Sanctuary is possible.

And I believe that Sanctuary happens one small thing at a time. 

You see, I've seen the power of God in fresh pillowcases, and bedtime stories, and backyard cartwheels.  I've seen what can happen when I give just a little extra effort into making my home feel nice.  I've noticed a change in the atmosphere when I approach things with a "sanctuary" mindset instead of a begrudging one. I've even seen beauty in the chaos of family life.  Those aren't just "small things."  Those are BIG things. AMAZING things!

As we begin 2010, would you join me with a new sense of purpose for your home life?  You don't have to make big promises to yourself.  Simply take a step toward creating Sanctuary by meeting up with me here on my blog each day.  We are taking this journey together, you and me.  I'll be the first to tell you that I haven't "arrived."  But God's given me a passion for encouraging other women along the way and I hope you'll join in.

Today's Small Thing is to make a commitment to creating Sanctuary at home for the people you love. I encourage you to subscribe to this blog, AND officially join the "Company Girls" as a first step toward it. You'll be amazed at the difference it makes. If you've already done that, or don't feel that joining anything is your cup o' tea, then simply commit to being part of what is happening here. And please know that most of our Company Girls are non-bloggers...so don't let that be a hindrance to you if you don't blog.

I believe that this is going to be a year of new beginnings and renewed hope.  God sees right where you are and He knows just what you need.  If you are looking for an outstretched hand, a wonderful group of friends and a little bit of lighthearted fun, then He has brought you here. You're in the right place. 

Something good is about to happen. I just know it.

POINTS: 40 for committing to a "Sanctuary" mindset.  Subscribing and Joining are optional but WHY NOT!!  You can always change your mind later.  We're pretty easy going around here. While you're at it, how about forwarding this to a friend?  The more, the merrier.

Do you have a "Small Things" testimonial??  How have the Small Things helped you? We'd love to hear it!

Not Exactly a Christmas Donkey

The other day, I was thinking about the donkey that Mary might have ridden to Bethlehem.  Seeing Flash out there in the pasture gave me an inkling of what that four-footed guy might have been like.  Want to read more?  Head over to Priscilla's blog for my thoughts today.

 

Photo courtesy of DLM Photography - thanks, Dawn!

 

 

I'm not blogging, but

I thought I'd share something I did on Saturday...it was a great experience.  And there were a couple of super-cute helpers along! Check it out.

Rachel Anne

Company Girl Coffee 12.18

Christmas is a week away!  I'm happy to report that I finally went out and bought a few presents the other night...can you believe I'm just getting started?  I guess along with "simplifying," we are also streamlining the gifts this year, and it seems like there are fewer to purchase.  Give me one afternoon and I should be good.

Now FINDING that afternoon in the next week may be a challenge!

I will be taking off from blogging and the Small Things until Monday, Dec. 28 so I can focus on my sweet family and a big end-of-year work project to finish.  I will miss meeting up with you everyday!  But I know everyone is busy, and your lives are just as full this time of year.

I wish each of you a wonderful Christmas.  I pray that the beauty of the season finds you and brings you a renewed sense of God's peace and promise....that whatever is going on in your life, you will see His wonder and experience His grace in a fresh way.  Last year's December verse still resonates with me, and maybe it will with you, too.

I'd love for you to link up for a virtual cup of coffee...a To-Go cup is fine as we rush off to our activities...but let us know what is going on in your life!  Did you tell a Christmas memory on your blog?  Leave a link so we can enjoy your tale!  If you aren't a blogger, just chat in the comment section.

I Love a Good Yarn

Give me a lecture with a bunch of facts and figures, and I'll be asleep in seconds.  But spin a tale that illustrates those facts, and I'm glued to edge of my seat, waiting for the next detail.  I love a great story.

To be honest, I even love mediocre stories.

My grandmother was an excellent storyteller.  She could remember funny jokes and silly tales...perfect for entertaining her wiggly grandchildren and generations of Sunday School kids.  I especially loved to hear stories from her childhood, of growing up in a family of homesteaders on Vashon Island, Washington.  Like most people back then, they were poor, and a good Christmas was when they got fresh oranges in their stockings.  They picked berries in the summer, walked to school, and were strictly forbidden to play on Sundays. I loved how she'd laugh and pat her knee as she reminisced about those days.

We have few treasures that have been passed down from generations past, but we do have the thread of family stories.  The funny thing is, to my grandparents and parents, they were simply telling about normal, unexceptional life as they knew it. But to us, it is a window into a world gone by - a glimpse that gives us appreciation for what they experienced and what shaped them.  And it's part of what shapes US because it knits us together through their words.

Today's Small Thing is to tell a story.  You might not think you are a good storyteller, but don't let that stop you.  I'll make this easy by giving you a simple subject: a favorite Christmas memory from your past.

You may tell a child, a friend, a spouse.  You may leave a comment.  You may blog about it.  Just share one memory that brings a smile to your face when you recall it.  Was it a gift you received?  The smell of a pine tree?  A proposal?  Making cookies? A favorite ornament? It doesn't have to be fancy or elaborate...just a snippet of your past that gives a glimpse into what has shaped YOU!

POINTS: 40 for "spinning a yarn" about a Christmas memory

What's your favorite Christmas memory to share?

Christmas Candles

My house is decorated simply this year.  I have not tucked greenery into every nook and cranny, or hung ornaments all over the place.  I've skipped the outside lights, even though I love them.  Like last year, we've had so much going on that I just drew a line and said, "enough."  Next year, I may feel like goobering up every available surface with Christmas stuff, but for now....this feels good to me.

But one thing I have set out here and there is Christmas candles.  Some of them are ones that are out all year long, but rearranged with greenery or circled by poinsettia blooms (fake ones, of course.)  It looks lovely.

And those candles will look even lovelier after today's Small Thing, which is to actually light them. I'm not sure if I've been waiting for Santa to show up before I strike a match, but how silly is it to have them set out and then never light them?  This morning, I lit one near the kitchen and it made me smile instantly.  Why did I wait so long to enjoy its warm glow?

You don't have to have "special" candles to enjoy this small thing.  If you've got a wax stump with a wick, fire it up and live a little.  Grab a couple small Christmas balls to place around it and you've got yourself a festive, decadent treat.  Who knew that something so small could make such a statement!

POINTS: 40 for enjoying one lit candle sometime today

BONUS POINTS: 10 for each additional candle you light, up to 10 total (140 pts!).......so dig in those drawers, girls! 

Merry Christmas!

Capture a Moment

Being silly in front of the tree a couple years ago...

Our family photo collection has inordinate amounts of Christmas pictures in it. Kids in front of the tree, kids opening presents, group shots in front of the tree, presents under the tree...all of us in our Christmas Eve best, or our Christmas morning robes.

I love these photos.  Because they are taken at the same time of year, in the same location, you can really see how our family has grown and changed through the years.  From babies propped on pillows, to the missing teeth years, the gawky adolescent stages and the "taller than Mom" photos, they tell the story of the people who have lived and loved each other from Christmas to Christmas.  I can't help but get sentimental.

But those photos really only tell part of the story.  The "real" part of the story is in everything leading up to and following the Big Day.  The scramble for gifts and the jumble of wrapping paper, a kitchen covered in flour and the mess that happens when Mom is scurrying about, is all part and parcel of what makes this time of year special.  It's the time when we forget to take out the camera to capture "real life" because we are anticipating the beautiful moments when we will all look picture-perfect on one special day.

We forget to capture the beauty in the mayhem because maybe we are too distracted to see it.

Today's Small Thing is to capture a "real life" Christmas moment....not a starched, pressed and posed moment in front of the tree, but what is happening all around you today. I've realized that I want to remember things like sitting with my kids on the couch when I should be industriously working on something, or my daughters perched on the counter while dinner is cooking, and even the messy wrapping paper on my bed.  I want to remember the jigsaw puzzles and games of Scrabble and watching movies in the back room. We have so few photos of that stuff, and yet for me, those are the things that make life good.

I don't want to forget them.

POINTS: 40 for capturing a moment in a photo.  If you can't take a picture, journal about it, blog or video what your life is like.......even the mess and chaos will find its way into your heart one day.

Link to your blog if you post something! And stop over at Priscilla's blog, where I talked about "misery" yesterday, and "delightfulness" today.