The Laundry Monster

This first picture has nothing to do with The Laundry Monster, but did you see the moon this weekend?  It was spectacular!

Every Monday is my day to tackle The Laundry Monster.  I rebelled against the idea of having a designated day for certain chores for a really long time.  The idea felt restrictive to me and my free spirit self.  But then I was reminded of the definition of insanity-doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

Not having a system was yielding me one result-the laundry was always out of control, unmanageable and a source of frustration.
At first, having a certain day of the week (for me, Monday) to do laundry was not easy.  It did not come natural.  But, by the 3rd week of tackling the main load of laundry on Monday I began to notice some things.

For starters, Monday rolls around each and every week.  Like clockwork.  It has become routine.  I don't even have to think about it any more.  At my house, when Monday morning rolls around, I unearth the hamper, sort into piles and get the hot water and good times rolling.

My laundry is always kept manageable.  For me, Friday mornings are also a mini-laundry morning.  For you, every day may have at least a load or two in it's horizon.  Having a day or time to do the main laundry is helpful.  If you try it for a few weeks, I think you'll like the change of having the mound kept at bay.

This morning I awoke to 9 loads waiting on me after a weekend of camping.  By camping of course I mean I slept in a cabin while my boys slept in a bat cave, but whatever, potato, patotoe.  Knowing my routine allowed me to jump in with a cheerful heart and get things going.

Do you know that this last picture means?  It's our little signal that someone has already put in the fabric softener.   At our house, if you put in the fabric softener, you leave the jug on top of the washing machine so we know it's been taken care of.  I know, sheer genius, what can I say?

Consistency Not Perfection

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.
— Aristotle

Do you know what you want?

Do you know where you are heading?

Do you have a dream?

A Big One?

This weekend I was reminded again that if your dream is not intimidating to you it is probably insulting to God.

The road to reach your goal happens with consistency, not perfection.

Look around and think about it.

A little here and a little there every single day is the way to reach your goal.

************************************

Today is Laundry Day.  Get the loads going and caught up.  Go fast.

Fold and put away right away.

4:00pm is the cut-off time to be done.

There is an ending point.

While you are in the Laundry Room wipe something down right quick.

Give the floor a quick sweep.

Do something little to freshen it up each time you walk in.

***************************************************

Are you liking the house talks we've been having?

I want to make sure, because if it is uninteresting we can talk about other important things like Big Texas Hair.

Large Family Logistics

If you live locally you can call Laura's Home Goods and have her order this for you.  You don't even have to have 9 kids to read this-it would work even if you live in a college dorm room.  This is the most valuable resource for managing my home that has come across my path over the last eleven years.  If you have felt overwhelmed with cooking, cleaning, training your children, doing laundry, basically overwhelmed with managing your home and not having enough hours in your day, then I strongly encourage you to invest the $21.00 in this book.

Homemaking is the new topic of discussion around these parts for the next, well, however long it takes to get it talked about.

I'm going to try not to dump my entire purse out onto the table today which would leave you overwhelmed.  When I get excited that is what I do and let me tell you I AM EXCITED.  I feel HOPE.  After one week I SEE CHANGE FOR THE BETTER.  I am ENCOURAGED right now.  Life has been PRODUCTIVE.  Our home has been  ORDERLY.  There has been TIME FOR THINGS THAT MATTER, like RELATIONSHIP.

Last Monday something changed around here.  Last Monday I decided it was time to try something new.  A new way of how I do things.  A new way that personally, is not my personality.  Change can be painful at first, and I can assure you it has been a struggle for me to think outside of the box.

Last Monday when I decided to take the plunge and try out a new system I felt drained and mentally exhausted by the end of the day.  By Tuesday night I fell into bed early from all the mental thinking that had taken place over the last 48 hours.  A looming question of,  "Is this worth it to feel so worn out?", would not leave my thoughts.  "This is not coming easy to me, it is requiring  hard work and planning and it is not fun."  As a person who loves to have fun you can see the dilemma my thoughts and I were having.

Last Thursday as I sat down before lunch to play a game of Uno with my boys a glimmer of hope and joy filled my heart.  It is Thursday, I thought, and the laundry is done, the pantry is filled with the last $43 I had in my budget for the month, dinner is planned for the rest of the week, everything is tidy, and my heart feels at peace.  I never, ever feel I can stop mid-morning to sit and play a game with my children.  My hard work of only 4 days is paying off and I am already enjoying the fruit of my labor.

Life was beginning to replace Tired & Overwhelmed.

Last week my husband came home to order.

He came home to peace.

If you have been living in survival mode then I am so happy you stopped by today.

As a woman your actions, heart and attitude set the pulse and atmosphere of your entire home. That is a huge responsibility and it is a huge opportunity to be a blessing.

I'm going to go ahead and share with you the basic changes I made last week.  If you are eager to change it up around your house you can jump right in today. If you want to hang around a little to check it out that is great too.

LAUNDRY DAY:
Today do your laundry.  4 loads (or more) by 4:00pm.  If you work full time maybe just go home and do 1 or 2 loads tonight.  But do as many  loads as you can today to try to get caught up.