What a great week this has been so far.  My first three special guests have shared fabulous information, and today’s guest is no exception.  I can’t wait to introduce her, but before I do so, I want to give a quick thank you to Mandy from Biblical Homemaking for her post yesterday and for offering a Target gift card.  I’m happy to announce that Patricia, posting at 12:42 p.m. on Tuesday 4/11, was randomly selected as the winner.  Thanks to everyone for sharing your comments.

Now, it’s my pleasure to introduce you to another young woman whose obedience to God is impacting the lives of thousands.  I’ve recently “met” Courtney as a co-contributor at Roo Mag (started by Candace Cameron Burre).  To say I’ve been impressed is an understatement.  She’s a dynamo.  Keep reading and you’ll see what I mean.  First here’s her bio, then her article.

Courtney blogs over at WomenLivingWell.org . She has been married to her high school sweet heart for 14 years, homeschools her son and daughter and is a graduate of the Moody Bible Institute. Her passion to see “women living well” landed her on the Rachael Ray Show in November, 2009. Since then, she blogs regularly about faith, marriage, parenting, homemaking and more. You can also find her blogging over at GoodMorningGirls.org.

How Do I Clean In the Midst of These Kids?

This is an excellent question and I have found this to be one of the greatest challenges as a mom with little ones. It’s obvious that when we compare which is more important – cleaning vs. your children – that the children are more important.  BUT I don’t look at these two as mutually exclusive. Our goal as moms should not be to entertain our children and to corral them from one fun activity to the next. They need to fellowship in the daily activities of their parents. Our children need to be praised for more than just sitting quietly while they watch Elmo. They should find purpose, comfort, and joy at the side of their mother.

While we all can nod our heads in agreement that this is what we want for our children, living this out is terribly difficult.  It takes a lot of patience, endurance and organization to create a system where this works. And truly, most days it takes a lot of prayer and deep breaths! Lol!

My children started helping me with laundry when they were 1 and 3. They used to help me carry all the baskets to the main room for sorting. We poured all the laundry into one HUGE pile. Then I cranked up music and allowed them to take turns jumping into the pile. They LOVED this! After about 5 minutes of fun (or chaos) we stopped and began to sort. After sorting we pushed the bins down the hallway, down the stairs and to the washing machine. Then they each got a high five and a nickel for their hard work!

Truthfully, it would have been much easier to do this myself BUT this was a time of bonding – and giving them a sense of contribution and purpose. This takes their focus off of themselves and onto serving the family.

Another example: cooking. We all know that kids LOVE to get creative in the kitchen but it is SO difficult to have their little hands into everything! So – take a deep breath and pray for patience!!! Remember – you are bonding while teaching them a life skill. When the children were younger, I collected as many Lego’s as I could from every friend and garage sale I could find. We had four large baskets of Lego’s that they were ONLY allowed to use in the kitchen when I was cooking. I would get them started building and they were extremely creative once they got going. Then as I cooked, when
there was something they could help with – I invited them one at a time to stand on a chair and help.  There was order in the kitchen and we fellowshiped together as I made dinner.

Six years later I am reaping the benefits of starting this while the children were young.  Both of my children (ages 7 and 9) are capable of cleaning out bathtubs and sinks 100% themselves.  My son (age 9) can vacuum rooms and the stairs perfectly himself! My daughter (age 7)  is GREAT in the kitchen! She has learned to stir slowly (moving slowly in the kitchen is key to less spills and injuries) and the best part … as I fellowship and bond with my children they find praise for doing something other than playing video games without fighting!

If you have a big task – like cleaning out a closet or filing papers – and a tot that is going to be WAY too difficult to have in the room (don’t even try it) -break this task up into 20 minute intervals. And work on it each night after the kids are down for bed.

I will admit it is hard work to bring your children along side of you as youwork – it takes time, sacrifice, organization and creativity. But I never have guilt after spending this time with the children – but I will admit to complete exhaustion! We reap what we sow (Galatians 6:9).

Enjoy your children – watch their eyes light up as you praise them for their great dusting. Admire their strong muscles when they lift the laundry basket! There is no substitute for mommy’s praise and delight – the television may be an easy short term solution – but remember – we reap what we sow.

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I sure wish I’d had this advice when my children were younger.  When my first three were small, I kept trying to regain control of my “old” life rather than embrace my new one as a mentor and teacher of my children.  Courtney, you are so wise!  I’m so thankful God is raising this young woman up.

In today’s post, Courtney has something for everyone!  She’s offering everyone a FREE eBook titled “The Proverbs 31 Woman ~ One Virtue At A Time”.  Click here for all the details!

As you probably know, this Proverbs 31 woman is near and dear to my heart, so I hope you’ll all get a copy of this for yourself.

If you’d like to leave a message for Courtney, please click here to be taken to my blog, or visit Courtney’s blog today.

Stop back tomorrow for a practical idea from me to end the week, and another giveaway.

Grace & Peace,

Glynnis

Thanks for joining me for the third day in my Spring Cleaning Festival.  Before I introduce today’s special guest, I want to announce the three winners of the free download of “31 Days to Clean” by Sarah Mae.  Congratulations to:  Sarah Kissling (posting at 11:03 a.m.), Michele Morris (posting at 9:17 a.m.) and Renee (posting at 8:27 p.m.).   I’ve given your contact info to Sarah Mae and you’ll be hearing from her soon.

Today I’m delighted to welcome Mandy from Biblical Homemaking.  What a lovely young woman of God she is.  I’ve spent all kinds of time on her blog and absolutely love it and her.  Today Mandy is going to be sharing about cleaning in a busy season, which seems to be every season of my life so far.  Just when I thought it couldn’t get any busier than toddlers, they started school.  Now mine are teenagers and we are still busy.

So I’ll be hanging on every word Mandy shares today.  I’m sure you will too, but in case you get distracted by someone tugging at your sleeve, make sure you come back and  read to the bottom for a special giveaway she’s offering.  Now here’s Mandy;

If you’re in a busy season like me, just thinking about spring cleaning may seem overwhelming!

These days we are still in a challenging season. We homeschool our four little ones, eight years old and under, so our spring cleaning has to be very simple in order to be possible!

(this month, I’m challenging myself to spring clean our living room)

Maybe you’re there with me? Here’s how we keep spring cleaning simple in the midst of a busy season:

1. Make a realistic spring cleaning list.

With all the resources available on the internet, it’s very tempting to use a template cleaning list for each room. Whether you’re in the trenches of motherhood or just doing regular life, resist the temptation to try to accomplish every possible task you can do. Instead, scan them and use their great ideas to make your own very simple spring cleaning list that works for your family.

Walk through each room and make a list of things that you would like to clean, and write your tasks down in order of highest priority to least.

Keep your list fairly simple, and don’t worry about the time frame. The beautiful thing about “spring cleaning” is that it doesn’t have to happen only during the springtime! You can breathe a little easier knowing you don’t have to have it all done in two weeks.

2. Break your list into quick 5-20 minute tasks.

When you’ve made your list for each room, break it down into simple tasks that can be completed in 5-20 minutes, if possible. Breaking your big chores in small chunks will really help motivate you to get moving! And if you only get to spend five minutes spring cleaning one day, you’ll have accomplished one task!

3. Aim to complete one to three tasks each day.

Again, keeping it simple is such an important key to staying motivated to spring clean. Aiming to complete just one to three tasks per day will keep you moving and allow you to meet your goals.

Keeping our daily goals simple and doable can make all the difference in our stress levels. So many times we have too much on our plates, and we feel anxious or stressed when we don’t meet our own unrealistic standards.Let’s be realistic in our spring cleaning goals so that we can be joyful when we complete them!

4. Spring clean with joy!

God is so good to us to give us a home to keep! Whether it’s big or small, new or old, it’s yours, and He provided it out of His love for you. When we start to look through the lens of thanksgiving and praise, even cleaning becomes a joy!

We get to spring clean, sweet friends!! Because of His mercy and love for us!! How exciting is that?

Keep it simple, and rejoice in your daily spring cleaning, because the God of the universe loves you and has given you all good things! He is GOOD. In everything you do, give thanks to Him!

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Amen!  Mandy you said it beautifully.  Thank you so much for joining me and sharing such encouraging and practical words.  I love the 5-minute cleaning idea!  I’m going to use that right away.

The blessings continue because Mandy is giving away a $25.00 Target card to one person who comments today.  We’ll announce the winner on Thursday.  To leave a comment you’ll need to get to my blog by clicking here.  This applies to everyone reading this in an email.  SORRY – THE CONTEST IS CLOSED.  PLEASE STOP BACK THIS WEEK AND NEXT FOR MORE SPECIALS AND GIVEAWAYS.

Don’t forget to stop over at Mandy’s blog too.  Just beware that it will be hard to pull yourself away.

Join me tomorrow for another great guest post in my Spring Cleaning Festival.

Grace & Peace,

Glynnis

Happy Tuesday!  Today I’m continuing my Spring Cleaning Festival with my special guest, Sarah Mae.   Sarah Mae is an amazing woman with brilliant ideas. If you don’t know her yet, just keep your eyes open and you will.   Her e-book, “31 Days to Clean: Having a Martha House the Mary Way” has sold gangbusters!   And it’s on that subject that I’ve invited to her to guest today. I hope you’ll visit her website and read all about her and her ministry.

Keep reading to the end of this post for some prizes and special promotion of her e-book.  Now Here’s Sara Mae:

Sarah Mae is the author of several eBooks, including her newest eBooks, “Frumps to Pumps – Your one-month guide to getting dressed and staying that way,” and two soon-to-be-published books, “Desperate” (Thomas Nelson) and “Having a Martha House the Mary Way” (Tyndale). She is the owner of the community site Allume.com and the co-host of the national Christian women’s social media conference, Allume Social. Sarah Mae spends her days homemaking, home- educating, writing, reading and drinking smoothies (now that she’s given up coffee).  Her family embraces life in the beautiful Amish countryside of Pennsylvania. You can find her writing almost daily at sarahmae.com. Find her being social on Twitter @sarahmae and on Facebook.com/ sarahmaewrites.

I believe the only way to get your home in order, is to get your heart in order first.

Do you know why you want to “spring clean?” Do you even want to spring clean? What’s your why?

Why do you care if your home is messy or clean? What kind of clean do you want – sparkly clean or picked-up clean?

I really believe that if you don’t have a why, you won’t be motivated to keep your home out of chaos unless you’re a natural cleaning type. By the way, if you are a natural cleaning type, this article is for you as well.

What’s your why?

Cleaning/organizing/keeping out of chaos all comes down to the heart. Are you a people-pleaser? Do you struggle with laziness? Are you tired? Do you have little ones and you just need to catch your breath? Are you too busy? Is your worth wrapped up in how well you maintain your home or don’t maintain it? These are important questions to ask yourself, because they all lead to the heart of the why.

If you are in a season with babies or little children, you’ve got to cut yourself some slack, knowing that chaos will most likely ensue at some level. If you have limitations, illness or you are caring for someone, cut yourself some slack. There is grace in the dust.

If you’re ready to get your home in order, figure out your why, and then get to work. When you care for your home, what you are really doing is loving people well. There’s the secret. When you care for the domain which God has given you, when you steward it well, you are choosing to love. You are loving yourself (admit it, you’re less stressed and enjoy life more when your home isn’t in chaos), you are loving your family (a peaceful home leaves hearts content), and you are loving others by having an available home open for those unexpected times of hospitality. You are able to be hospitable!

By the way, hospitable doesn’t mean you present a Martha Steward home; being hospitable is about being able to say, “put your feet up and stay awhile!” It’s coffee served with a warm smile, and a comfy couch that begs you to make yourself at home. It’s a clean floor so no one trips, and it’s a place to ease weary bones. That’s hospitality: it’s loving people well.

Your home is a place that you can choose to give life to and extend to others, or it can be a place of stress and chaos. It really is our choice (see exceptions above). You have the choice.

What’s your why? What do you choose?

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord, and we will show our love – by His grace – through a “put-your-feet-up”, “clean” home.

“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.” Colossians 3:23-24

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Oh, how I love this woman’s heart for her home.  It inspires me to dig in a bit deeper, and address some areas I’ve been neglecting and bother me.

As  a special treat for you, Sarah Mae is giving away three downloads of her e-book to commenters on this blog.  To enter, please make sure you click here to get to my blog and leave a comment.  THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED.

Even if you don’t win, Sarah Mae is making her ebook  50% off (making it only $2.50) with code: SPRING (good through April).  To read more about her e-book, click here.

Remember, if you are reading this in an email, you’ll need to visit my blog to post a comment for either me or Sarah Mae.

Grace & Peace,

Glynnis

Good morning!  I hope you had an incredible Easter celebration yesterday!  It’s my favorite day of the year!

Since Easter is all about a fresh start, I thought it would be a great time to take a fresh look at our homes.  While my home is almost always clutter free, it’s NOT always deep cleaned.  In fact, right now I’ve got a layer of dust on my blinds, the curtains need cleaning, my walls need washing and well … you get the picture.

So for the next two weeks, I’ve invited some friends and experts to help me and my readers focus on cleaning.  It’s a Spring Cleaning Festival!  (Does that make is sound fun?  I hope so.)  And  I hope you’ll check back every day for some great articles, some giveaways and specials.  I think you’ll be delighted at the amazing guests that will be featured.  I’m so excited!

To start things off, I’ve invited Dana White from A Slob Comes Clean to be my guest.  I hope you’ll stop by her site and read more of her oh-so-charming and brilliant tips.  And at the end of this post, she’s even offering a special for you on her e-book.  I’ll tell you more farther down.  Now here’s Dana:

Two years ago, Dana White never dreamed she would one day be asked to give advice on anything related to cleaning. She began her blog, A Slob Comes Clean, as a desperate attempt to focus on her home and figure out how to change her chronically messy ways.  She’s far from perfect, but has made huge strides in her deslobification process.  Her new e-book, 28 Days to Hope for Your Home, guides the most desperate of housekeepers through the development of four basic habits that will give them hope that real change is possible.

Does the mention of Spring Cleaning bring tears to your eyes?

Not because you’re overwhelmed by the beauty of sparkling windows . . . but because cleaning baseboards isn’t a possibility when you can’t find them under piles of stuff?

I understand.  I’ve been there.

Before I had a home of my own, I had dreams of spring cleaning in which I saw myself outside beating rugs or washing windows on a sunny day.

I think I was even wearing white.  Non-dingy white.

I did not picture a crazy-eyed me, overwhelmed with the mess in my home, using all of my naturally-occurring-with-the-weather Spring Cleaning Energy just catching up in the kitchen.

If you’re desperate to make real progress in your out-of-control home, but petrified you’ll end up more overwhelmed than when you started, choose one of these methods to keep you on track:

Just declutter.

Magazines show rooms organized with matching containers and toys sorted by color.  They’re beautiful, but intimidating.  Don’t allow yourself to be paralyzed by the idea that you shouldn’t start working on a disastrous space because you can’t afford pretty boxes.

Give yourself permission to just declutter.  I’m always amazed that simply removing trash and clutter makes a space feel significantly more organized.

Focus on new (small) habits in a specific space.

If you need to devote a day to the kitchen (and that means running the dishwasher four times), choose to see this day as a new beginning.  View this effort as creating a clean slate.

Tomorrow, focus on washing one day’s worth of dishes.  You’ll be amazed at how quickly your kitchen will be clean again.

If the kitchen isn’t your struggle, focus on the room that is.  If you overhaul a bathroom or bedroom, spend five minutes each day maintaining the progress you made.

Choose projects that will make future cleaning easier.

Part of the reason I struggle to keep up with daily tasks is that they don’t last.  Dust re-collects. Forks go right back into mouths.  Sometimes I want to accomplish tasks with a little more lasting value.

If that’s your attitude, choose tasks which will move your home closer to being company-ready.  When you know guests are coming, you get the basics done.  But you may not have time to clean smudges off walls or drag out the ladder to dust ceiling fans.

Knock down cobwebs or scrub crusted peanut butter off kitchen cabinets . . . just be sure to prioritize according to visibility.

Progress you can see will inspire you to keep going.

The beauty and freshness of spring naturally produces the desire to clean.  Don’t waste that energy fretting over your failures of the past.  Use it to help you begin working toward a home that will be ready for “real” spring cleaning next year!

Though I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to pull off a white dress as a cleaning outfit.

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If you’ve been reading my blog for awhile, you can probably guess why I loved this post!   And if you liked this, you’ll love Dana’s e-book, “28 Days to Hope for Your Home.”

Dana is offering you a special discount for two days only (April 9th and 10th) for 4$ using the code GLYNNIS.  I hope you’ll visit her site by clicking here and check out her e-book.

Stop back in tomorrow for more of the Spring Cleaning Festival!

If you are reading this in an email and want to leave a comment for Dana or me, please click here to be taken to my blog.

Grace & Peace,

Glynnis