Home Sanctuary

Enough

Everywhere you turn these days is talk of economic recession. TV, radio, newspapers and internet headlines are so gloomy it makes me want to pull the covers over my head so I could go back to enjoying reruns of Oprah without hearing Suze Orman's voice saying,

 

"Oh. Dear ones.  My babies.  This. is. the. worst. ever."

 

 

 

While I nibble on some chocolate (or should I hoard it??) I ponder some of the things I've seen and experienced first hand.  As small business owners, we have had cycles of feast and famine almost our whole married life.  And it goes without saying that feasting is waaaay more fun that scrimping on necessities.  I freely admit that I have hated every minute of pinching pennies, which added up over a quarter century of marriage, comes out to be YEARS of being tight.  I only wish "tight" applied to my thighs the way it applies to my checkbook.

We've cinched our belt so often, we know how to wrap it around us twice.  

And yet.

 

I was reminded of Habakkuk 3:17-19 when I "happened" upon it once again.

Though the fig tree does not bud 

       and there are no grapes on the vines, 

       though the olive crop fails 

       and the fields produce no food, 

       though there are no sheep in the pen 

       and no cattle in the stalls,

 18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD, 

       I will be joyful in God my Savior.

 19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength; 

       he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, 

       he enables me to go on the heights. 

 

I've realized that being stripped of the easy life has laid me bare to my need of a Savior. There is little buffer of material comfort between me and the Almighty  I cannot run to Starbucks for a quick fix for my soul.  I cannot spend my way out of the doldrums or buy happiness at a Day Spa. Quite simply, I must turn to the One.... the One who is Enough.  

Enough for today. Enough for tomorrow. Enough for my needs.

And though I long for the swell feeling of picking up the tab for a large group in a restaurant, I'm learning to be a gracious receiver when I have little to give. I'm learning that being generous is much bigger than simply opening my pocketbook. I can be generous with my time, with a listening ear, with a helpful hand. I can rejoice in the Lord, rather then wring my hands every time the news comes on. I can choose to love my children, turn cartwheels and be silly with them in spite of dire news. I can breathe the warm summer air and savor the sunshine and build a joyful foundation for my family.

See, I can't fix the Treasury Department, but I can fix my eyes on The Treasure: the One who provides, sustains and delivers.  Remember, He is mighty to save.

Today's Small Thing is to recount the ways in which God is enough for you. This year might be finding us without a lot of the "extra's," we want, but I want to be like Habakkuk and remember that God is my strength. I want to run surefooted on the heights and to rejoice in God, my Salvation.  There are good things ahead for us, because we can trust Him. I believe that with all my heart.  

Today, meditate on what it means for God to be  "Enough." 

How has He been enough for you?  Encourage us with your story.

Song of the Day: Enough, Chris Tomlin

 

Welcome Home

My husband came home last night after being on the road for over two weeks. For a couple that is rarely apart, it was a long time to be away from each other.

While he was gone, my son and I had the house to ourselves and we made the most of it. Although I had to work, it was mostly at home in our office, and Grayson hung out with me by spending his time building a model airplane out of balsa wood. (It's COOL! I'll show you a picture sometime.)

We also ate rather poorly and stayed up far too late watching movies and episodes of Parks and Rec. We let the place go....for two weeks straight. I'm not real proud of that, but it was kinda fun.

Yesterday, we looked around at the place and decided that we'd better whip it into shape before the Boss Man came home. But it wasn't too hard, because I know the things that say "welcome" to him.

A mowed yard.

A neat entryway.

An uncluttered kitchen.

A tidy bathroom.

An inviting bedroom.

He loved it. What says "Welcome" to you and your loved ones? Is it communicated when you aren't tripping over shoes and backpacks by the door? Is it a front door that is free of fingerprints and dog nose prints? Is it a pan of brownies, fresh from the oven? Or a couch that is free from piles of unsorted laundry?

Today's Small Thing is to think of ONE way that communicates "welcome" - to yourself or to someone you love - and then do it.

"Welcome" speaks to the heart and makes home feel good. It can be as simple or elaborate as you like.

How will you say "welcome?" Do you know what things speak welcome to your man, each child, a friend? We'd love to know!

Song of the Day: Welcome Home, Brian Littrell

Pick Up Game

Are you tripping over toys that have been strewn all over the floor? Do you frequently sit down on a chair, only to be stabbed in the derierre by a barbie arm? Do legos in the carpet make a midnight trip to the loo a painful experience? Are Candyland game pieces turning up in junk drawers and under couch cushions?

If your decor is punctuated by toys of all colors and shapes, randomly left out (and then ignored) by the small people in your life, take heart.

Today's Small Thing is to enlist your child's help by making a game out of picking up.

You will have to stifle the drill sergeant in you, and bring out Mrs. Fun But Firm Mom in order to make this work.

First, understand that children, particularly children of messy parents who prove that apples don't fall far from the tree, are easily discouraged by the gigantic messes they make. Saying "clean up this room right now" is akin to saying "solve the Mideast crisis by dinnertime."

It just ain't gonna happen.

That is, unless you give them bite-sized, manageable tasks that they can be successful at until the job is done. Now, you can use any game you like, but today I offer up this one as a suggestion:

Similar to "I Spy," my favorite cleanup game is to turn cleaning into a Mission Impossible-type activity. Make your child an Secret Agent and give specific things to pick up....and specific places to put them. If your child can read, you could give him a piece of paper with something on it like this:

I would probably make a production out of writing down that secret mission and make him wait in anticipation for what his job is going to be. And I'd probably tell him that there will be only four missions today, depending on his age and abilities, so he knows that this game has an "end." And come to think of it, a Super Secret Spy cape (or belt, etc) might just give your child special powers to carry out his missions.

When the first task is complete, have him bring his instruction sheet back to Mission Control. Check off the completed task and add the next one. Are you using a funny accent or silly voice? Good, I thought so.

You'll do this until all four missions are complete. Then, your Agent(s) might deserve some R&R or a special treat for all their hard work.

As Mission Control, your biggest task is to oversee each step along the way. Sometimes things don't get done properly because Mission Control gets distracted before the Agents complete their operations. Only give as many tasks as you are willing to follow up on.

Maybe you have another game that works well for getting kids to help? Share your ideas with us! And if you don't have kids at home, make up your own game to get YOUR tasks done. Something as simple as creating your own list with check boxes might be enough fun to help you get some of those tasks done.

Play games today....make the picking up process fun.

Song of the Day: Games People Play, Mel Torme & Various Artists

 

Pillow Talk

I don't think of myself as a "froufy throw pillow" person.  None of our pillows have designer tassels, big ruffles or coordinated piping, but I do concede that pillows have an important place in the home, both for comfort and design.

Basically, anything that sporks gets a thumbs-up from me.

The problem with pillows is that they only really look good if no one leans on, touches, rests upon, has fights with, makes forts with, sits on or in any otherwise uses them.  And while they can look really sharp when they're all lined up and organized, they tend to slump when no one is looking.

Today's Small Thing is to have a little talk with your pillows and get them to straighten up.  Those pretty ones for the bed that hide on the floor, instead of posing on the mattress, why they ought to get up there and do their job as eye candy.  The couch potatoes that take their positions for granted should take a punch to the stomach and a pat on the back to remind them that they've been loafing.  After all, they are there to make the Big Guy, Mr. Sofa, look good. Set the seat cushions down and reprimand them for jumping from their posts.  And the sleepy nighttime softies might get their feelings hurt if you don't plump them up, too.  They are so sensitive.

Then congratulate yourself for simply straightening pillows around the house today.  Golly, that's easy.

Just for fun, how many pillows do you have in your home?

Song of the Day: My Dreams are Getting Better All the Time, Doris Day

Company Girl Coffee 6.24

Yesterday, my newly-engaged daughter, Meghan, and I took a look at a place she is considering for her wedding ceremony.

"Now, keep an open mind," she said. "Promise? It's an old theater in the historic Denton square."

At one time, this place was the Opera House, built in the 1880's. It later became THE movie theater in town, and is currently used as a church. It definitely has character! The inside has potential, even though it has a sloping floor and theater seats. But Meghan and Nathan love the downtown area of their college town, and it is the scene of their ministry time and social life. So I can certainly see the appeal....and part of me thinks it could be very memorable, especially with their names on the marquee.

The other part of me just doesn't know. Mom, if you are reading this, what are your thoughts?? Any readers know of any other good places in the Denton, TX area? We looking for suggestions....and I promise I'm keeping an open mind! (Probable date is Nov. 19)

Today is "Company Girl Coffee Day" around here. If you would like to expand your circle of online friends, then look no further. Simply link your blog below to invite new readers over. And then, try and get around to other blogs to meet other bloggers. Even if you don't blog, check out the sites below and have some fun!

 

Desk Tops and Desktops

Ya'll already know this about me, but I'll state it again for the record: I'm a stacker.

That's "Stacker," not "Slacker."  Just to be clear.

I stack files and books and papers  I stack laundry and mail and boxes. Stacks are my signature style and I like how they work for me, but I don't really like how they look. They tend to look messy, even when they're neat.

My desk top reflects my need to stack. I currently only have two small stacks going, but there's really no need for either one of them because I could easily put them away.

Now, my DESKTOP is another story. You know, the screen with all the little icons and pictures on the computer. I am unable to stack anything on the screen, therefore it is filled with individual folders and things named "picture1jpg" etc. I try to keep it under control, but it doesn't take long to accumulate dozens of icons and folders and things on my screen.

Today's Small Thing is to clear the techno-clutter on your computer screen by straightening up your desktop.

You might have to drag some of those items to the trash can, or answer "yes" to "Are you sure you want to delete this item?" a dozen times, but the end result will be a nice clean screen. File other things into folders and you are going to start feeling verrry organized. You might even be able to enjoy your wallpaper again!

And you'll enjoy extra satisfaction by wiping/cleaning the actual screen with a gentle electronics cleaner or soft cloth. Oooh! Look at the pretty colors on the screen!!! Funny how things pop without a layer of film over it :)

Song of the Day: 9 to 5, Dolly Parton

People Say We Monkey Around

Oh, there are some really great organizational blogs out there. Blogs that will whip you into shape and spur you on to housekeeping greatness. I can only dream of being so inspirational.

The truth is, I am not, and never will be, the Housekeeping Goddess of the blogosphere.  Mainly because I have too much fun doing other things besides cleaning chandelier crystals with a QTip.  I truly enjoy playing in forts with small children and eating cookie dough at 11 pm. I LIKE watching silly YouTube videos with my teenager, and reenacting Bourne Ultimatum fight scenes with him.

Darn it, I like doodling and daydreaming, too.

I've taken the approach that you've got to have a balance of work and play. When I overdose on the "playing" part, my house falls apart and people complain of not having clean underwear. When I focus solely on making the house a shining jewel of perfection, then all the fun gets sucked right out of the atmosphere and no one is very happy.

Today's Small Thing is to do a little bit of both. A little work and a little play. (Next week, I'll talk about setting up (or modifying) a housekeeping schedule that will help you make it through the summer.)

"Work Before Play" is a motto we all need to adopt. It's a good one to teach our kids.  It helps us remember that work comes first, but that time for play is important. 

Today, pick ONE thing you have been putting off and make a commitment to do it. It can be as simple as scheduling a dentist appointment or filling out an insurance form that you should have done days ago. Or it could be like what I will do: put away the clean clothes that have been sitting in a basket for 3 days. I also have a project for a client which will take several hours of dedicated time to complete. Make this the day you will cross something off your list. It feels great to complete a task that's been hanging over your head for awhile.

Then, reward yourself with a little playtime! Go ahead, monkey around! After your work is done, you should give yourself permission to do something fun for yourself. You deserve to enjoy the fruit of your labor! Read a book, watch a movie, play with the kids, have a cup of coffee, eat chocolate.... whoop it up with freedom!

Do some work before play and see how it goes.

I hope you'll share what you will work on, and how you will play today!  Leave a comment and/or a link to your blog so we can come over and see what kind of monkey business is going on at your house!

Song of the Day: We're the Monkeys, The Monkeys

Crunchy, Not in a Good Way

Speaking of crunchy, some of you might have caught my Facebook status the other day.....wondering how to get rid of pill bugs. They have been all over my kitchen floor every morning and I've been fighting them with bug sprays and a broom/dustpan combo. I gotta tell ya, sucking them into the vacuum attachment has been particularly satisfying.

I finally discovered that they have been coming in through cracks under my kitchen door. Like a Bug Vigilante, I staked out the door and I sat and watched as pill bug after pill bug poured through one night. AHA!!!! So I fixed their little wagons by running blue painter's tape along the floor and threshold - it's temporary border patrol, but so far it's working.

Now I'm down to about 15 of them a day. blech.

One thing this whole ordeal has forced me to do is sweep my floor several times a day. I just can't stand the "crunch" of those hard little bodies when they get stepped on. I've noticed a distinct air of cleanliness around here as a result.

I feel very Martha Stewart-like.

We might have done this job recently, I can't remember because it's late and I don't feel like searching through past posts. Regardless, we could do this every day, many times a day, and it probably would only scratch the surface of floor dirt.

Today's Small Thing is to run a broom over the kitchen floor.

So EASY!  So Quick!  So Gratifying!

You can vacuum it, if you prefer, but the point is to get rid of the crunchies. Your crunchies might consist of crackers, cheerios and bits of dried cheese, while my crunchies have little legs and arms....wanna trade?

And, if you REALLY want to make it barefoot-worthy, you can damp-mop it for some extra fabulousness.  But hey, that is totally up to you.  This is not about killing yourself to do chores, so use some discretion here. You know what your limits are.

Song of the Day: Walking the Floor Over You, Earnest Tubb

Space Jam

 

Are ya'll ready fo dis?

Today's theme song is less than 2 minutes long, but it sure gets me pumped up to deal with my space jams.

Oh yeah!

Let's do something super quick and easy so we can get the rest of the week rockin'.  

Today's Small Thing is to pick ONE shelf....just ONE....and organize it in less than 2 minutes. Not an entire cabinet, not a whole section of shelves. Only one shelf!

I'm going to pick one that gets used a lot.  The one right above the toaster, which has the peanut butter, honey, syrup, sugar, coffee, tea, pop tarts and crackers, etc. is all jumbled up. We just open it, get what we need and then cram it back in there without a care. It's sticky and messy, but will take less than 2 minutes to whip it back into shape.

("After")

You could pick a bathroom shelf, toiletry shelf, book shelf, laundry shelf, toy shelf or kitchen shelf....crank up the song and make all the other shelves jealous!

Don't over think it, over plan it, or over organize it...just get in there and JAY-um!

What ONE shelf will you spend 2 minutes on??

Song of the Day: Space Jam "Are You Ready for This?"

Company Girl Coffee

I had a great week - the highlight of which was going shopping for a wedding dress for my daughter, Meghan. Lauren, my other daughter, who is a wedding pro (she's helped most of her friends through the process) was an ace to have on hand. It was one of those "pinch me" moments of sheer goodness.

Oh my.

We oohed and ahhhed over every dress she tried on. Each one looked beautiful on her and we simply could not decide on the which we liked the best. We narrowed the styles down to the top three.....but I foresee a few more trips before we find "the one." I tried to find a photo that that I could put on the blog doesn't show much of the dresses. (I'm pretty sure her fiance doesn't read Home Sanctuary, but you never know.)

We topped off the evening with a light dinner at La Madeline, and discussed the merits of each dress further and talked all about wedding plans. Then it was home again and I collapsed into bed, exhausted!

This, my sweet friends, was a great night. I'm still pinching.

It's Friday - time for Company Girl Coffee! It's the blogworld's easiest meme....simply link up and invite people over to your blog! Share what's going on in your life - and if you don't blog, don't worry. Simply chat with us in the comment section below.

Have a wonderful weekend - no Small Thing Today. Simply enjoy the day. :)