Y’all. You can just laugh at me. Because I clearly am overly ambitious.
I guess that can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending upon how you look at it. 🙂
I had every intention of getting every thing on my Morning Plan done today — at least by early afternoon. And, once again, that didn’t happen.
The good news? My house is cleaner than it’s been in a long time tonight and we got a LOT done today.
The bad news? I didn’t exercise or get my hair washed today. And don’t even ask me how many days it’s been since I washed me hair. We won’t even go there.
I woke up t-i-r-e-d today. I’ve been getting a lot of sleep (like 8-10 hours most nights) for the past 4 nights as I’m trying to recover from being sick, but despite all that sleep, my body still seems to be wanting more.
So I went back to bed for another hour this morning… which meant that I started my day behind. But at least I got a great night’s sleep!
I let the kids sleep in a little while I finished up my morning blogging work and then I got busy on my Morning Plan.
I’m almost finished with Addicted to Busy. It’s not the best book I’ve read on the importance of slowing down, but I’ve found some thought-provoking nuggets in it.
It was our day for oatmeal this morning. Everyone can fix their own oatmeal themselves — except for Silas needs a little help with it — so that made breakfast really easy.
I oversaw morning chores while cleaning up the kitchen and doing some laundry and then helped Silas with his Kindergarten lessons while the girls got started on their morning school.
Jesse had two morning meetings, but he popped by for a bit between meetings to grab some breakfast and check in to see how things we’re going.
It was Kaitlynn’s day to get her hair washed. She is growing her hair out (“to her knees” she tells me — we’ll see!!) so it’s always a rather big task to wash and brush through it. If I put detangler on it, brush it, and then braid it every day, it’s not too bad. But if I skip one day, it’s not so good!
After I was finished with her hair-washing and fixing, she got back to her school and I did some more clean-up, made my bed (!), and worked on the laundry.
I made a snack for Silas and me to eat (I typically eat small meals/snacks every few hours and Silas is happy to join me… he’s usually always up for eating! I think it’s a boy thing?? ;)) and then sat down to read to the kids.
They made bracelets and other creations with loom bands while I read to them. After a morning where there had been some attitude struggles, it was so nice to see them all getting along nicely and having fun creating together.
After our reading time, Jesse got home and I went upstairs to the office to work while he did lunch, devotions, and more school with the kids.
I had a podcast interview, two phone calls, and then it was the usual emails, blogging work, answering comments, overseeing social media, scheduling posts, and so on.
Before I knew it, it was 6:00 p.m.! I headed downstairs to help pick up before dinner and then we sat down to eat (Jesse made a delicious new recipe tonight — Cincinnati Chili Dog Bowls. I love all this experimenting he has been doing in the kitchen!)
After dinner, we finished putting the laundry away while Jesse cleaned up the kitchen. And then we all got started in on the Kids’ Room. After opening their closet and a few drawers, I could tell this was going to be a job that was going to take longer than my allotted 45 minutes. Oh well, such is life!
Kathrynne got busy going through all the CDs and DVDs and organizing them while I worked on the closet and cleaned out underneath the bed.
After about an hour and a half of work, we had this whole trash bag full of items to get rid of. Can you believe it??
While it might not look that much different, knowing that I’ve gone through every nook and cranny and organized everything in this closet feels so good.
And the CDs and DVDs got picked up…
And all organized! We also created a system and rules for their use and organization — to hopefully prevent them from getting so disorganized in the future.
Leave a Comment & You Could Win This Stack of Books!
In my cleaning today, I found some more books to get rid of, most all that are ones I’ve loved and just want to pass onto someone who could be encouraged by them! Plus, I threw in a copy of both my book, Say Goodbye to Survival Mode, and a copy of my new Choose Gratitude Blessings Journal!
Who wants to win them? To win, just leave a comment on this post and I’ll choose one winner tomorrow evening and will mail them to you so you’ll have them in time for Christmas. Some of these books are brand-new or in like-new condition and would be great for gifts for people on your Christmas list!
Did you work on cleaning your house today? If you blogged about participating in this Clean Your House For Christmas Challenge, leave the direct link to your post below that is specifically about this challenge. Or, leave a comment telling us how your cleaning went today.
The winner of yesterday’s stack of books is Kim (threekstrio@) — I sent you an email tonight to ask for your address.
I am feeling motivated after reading your post. During Christmas break I’d like to tackle a room per day and get rid of a lot of junk and stay more organized. Thanks for the inspiration!
I never seem to have any time actually devoted to cleaning. I just pick things up when I am moving from one place to another. I have a box or basket in each room for items that do not belong there and a box by the front door for donation stuff.
It’s wonderful you get yours kids involved in de cluttering. So important to start early!
Great job!
I started deep cleaning along with you. Bedroom done, linen closet done. We are now watching santa claus 2 together right now but in the morning i tackle the bathroom. Would love those books.
You are inspiring with all the cleaning you are getting done!! Great job! 🙂 And that stack of books looks pretty great too 🙂
I have to say that I really love this blog and how honest you are!
Thanks for this challenge to clean things up in the house before Christmas brings more into the house! And thanks for the link to FlyLady to explain getting dressed to your shoes. 🙂
Great job!
I need to start doing this each day! Thank you for always pushing yourself and inspiring the rest of us with your goals and goodness. I need to tackle my kitchen tomorrow. Good luck everyone!
What a fun idea! Thanks for encouraging simple cleaning and generous giving!
Kudos to you for wanting to do this publicly! My dust bunnies are way to big to share via the internet!z2
I am OCD about organization/a clean house. Sometimes I think it’s bad thing, but I guess I should be glad in a way that I love a clean house!
Not much house cleaning going on here this week since one daughter has strep and reacted to her first two antibiotics and now another daughter has come down with it. We will have to catch up on our house cleaning once everyone is well.
I got more done today than yesterday. I just wanted to sleep but had a Dr appt. then got busy. I can’t focus on one room. I kinda bounce around. I’m making dents but have much more to go.
I worked today = no cleaning
🙁 But I did vacuum and get some grocery shopping in!
Wow, great job! That stack of books looks awesome!
Your ambition inspires me. Things always take me longer too : ) Good job pressing through and getting it done : )
I cleaned out and organized by sons’ dresser and closet. Thanks for helping us stay motivated!
We moved this summer, and I did extensive de-cluttering – seriously. I am embarrassed to say I got rid of 165 pieces of clothing in my closet and cupboards. I went through every nook and cranny in my house and garage, and it was shocking how much I was able to get rid of. Still, trying to keep my house clutter free, and clean is still difficult!! Go figure.
wow looks good…….I did my weekly cleaning jobs that I have to help make a little extra money.
I have been on a cleaning out the house kick, and give you credit for being able to get so much done so efficiently. I have the tendency for starting the cleaning out, getting overwhelmed, then doing a rush job to get finished. Then being frustrated that the job didn’t get don well. This is especially true when I clean the kids rooms and closets.
I wish I had the energy to do this along with you!
Wow, great job on being so productive today!! I would love to take those books off of your hands:)
You inspired me (as usual) to actually clean my closet out today. I still had things boxed up from our recent moved and I just kept putting off cleaning and organizing it. Happy to say I finally got it finished today and feel much better! Tackling the hall closet tomorrow 🙂
Thank you for sharing both your challenges and successes, you are very encouraging!
Crazy day- no time to clean- but I did make a homemade meal and snuggled with my kids. Can catch up tomorrow 🙂
No specific room was tackled in our house today, but we are caught up on laundry!
I would love to win! Several in that stack on my list to read!
I cleaned for 13.5 hours today! 🙂
Woah! I’m impressed!
My fitbit 21,000+ steps is… my back surely is not! 🙂
I cleaned for 13.5 hours today!
I’m impressed. We moved in April and there are still 2 bedrooms with lots of unpacked boxes.
well, you are way more ambitious than I am. today was a very down day for me as we’ve been traveling (Fri-Mon), then back to school and appt, gymnastics, unpacking, etc…and I needed a break. I would love to read these books. Thanks
Love to read and those books look great! Thanks for the giveaway!
You got a ton done today. I love to get books.
You inspired me to tackle my son’s bedroom today with him & get some organization and decluttering that was greatly needed done! It was such a big thing to see him be peaceful in the process as we sorted through things and he really asked himself as he looked at each toy/game/etc if it was something that brought joy in his life or if it was a good thing to pass along to some other child to play with. At the end of the day, he was so pleased with the outcome of the room he couldn’t wait to show his daddy & demonstrate that everything had its own place now! Next room – the girl’s room! Whew!
Good job. You inspire me to continue on with my cleaning/decluttering!
One of these days I will get to cleaning and organizing. Thanks for another offer at books. I love to read!
It is probably past evening and you’ve already picked the winner… but i get this on email, and am just getting a chance to go through it. That looks like a great stack of books and would be so fun to have.
It is so interesting to see your house. You see it as messy and needing to be cleaned up and decluttered. I see a house that has so little stuff in it. I know I need to get rid of some stuff… but I don’t know if I could live with as little as you have. I am trying to not be a pack rat. I can see the obvious perks of being a minimalist as you are… but whew… I’m not there yet! Thanks for the inspiration though. Over Christmas break, I am hoping to get some things pared down…. and work on that in the new year.
I started deep cleaning yesterday. Worked my way thru a TON of rubble yesterday and today!
Your house looks so empty, It would take me hours to go through a closet….maybe if I move I could get rid of a lot of stuff!?! 🙂
Thank you for always being real. That’s a huge thing in ministry… You don’t needyo air dirty laundry for the world to see, but, let others know you’re still human 🙂 Youare always an encouragement.
I really want that book by Ann Voskamp. I am on the waiting list at the library and I just don’t think it will ever be my turn. Great job today!
You are ambitious!
As an aside, I know that you go for the minimalist wardrobe but do you do that for your children too? That closet had barely any clothes hanging in it, so I wasn’t sure if you have a mountain of kids clothes hiding in dresser drawers or if your children have a minimalist wardrobe as well. I have lots of family who are very generous in gifting us clothing but our closet and dresser drawers are overflowing! And my children definitely have their “faves” which means that the same clothes get washed week by week with a very occasional variance.
Those books look awesome.
They have more clothes/outfits than I do, but we still keep their wardrobes pretty simple — around 12 outfits each or so.
Would love to have some good reading material handy. Need to clean my little kids’ room, too. Inspiring!
I love your honesty & transparency. Sometimes things just take more time than we thought they would and it’s okay! Keep up the good work! Organizing & cleaning make life just feel better!
I love your fresh, honest sharing of life! It is relatable and fun.
Today, I cleaned off the front porch and decorated it for the Holiday Season.
Nice stack of books. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.