June 20, 2011
It feels like a miracle occurred today. Sundays and Mondays are Miles' days off work. On Sundays we worship and go to church. We rest from labor, too. So, for the past few years, Miles and I have been establishing Monday as the day we get some extra work done as a family before playing together.
For a long time it seemed we made no progress at all. Gradually, the practice of working then playing together has become increasingly more consistent. But progress is sometimes still lacking in the way of beginning early and getting as much done as I think we are capable of getting done, or balancing work and play; sometimes we don't play long enough. Other times, my expectations are surpassed with flying colors; I am so happy that the latter is the case progressively more often as times goes on.
I know that Miles works really hard for our family all week, and depends upon me to make our home as clean and orderly as I can without him. Both of our tasks (homemaking and earning a living) are big; so we both appreciate each other doing the best that we can to the best of our ability. I try to maintain the house work as much as possible with the kids. But there are some tasks and projects that are so big, I just really sometimes feel the need to have my husband there helping me. So it really means a lot to me that he sets aside a few hours each week to help me with the really tough stuff. I appreciate him for doing this so much. Incidentally, I have found that He appreciates that it causes me to go goo goo over him when he does it ~ which causes him to want to help me more! :D Both of us are MUCH happier, and we love each SO MUCH MORE as a result of it. :D (Can you tell I have fallen in love with my husband all over again? I've done it a million times already, and know it will never end... sigh. :)
So, how did today go? Answer... Today felt like a miracle. :D We had WAY MORE WORK TO DO THAN USUAL! Time for Spring Cleaning had come (esp with me being out of town for three weeks and Miles having a heavy work load while I was away)! We started by about 9:30 AM, and we got A LOT DONE! And I do mean A LOT.
It was so neat to witness such drastic changes. You see, we didn't just clean; we de-cluttered! :D And now I am super excited to clean some more! :D (Though we are not yet finished... the progress is exciting!)
*By the way, Miles discovered a mice problem outside in the shed. The mice were lured in by the feed we bought to feed the injured animals our sons are so adamant about rescuing on a regular basis... (like the bird they just cared for until healed, then set free last week).
The boys caught 5 mice from the shed and put them in an aquarium. I figured they probably did it just for the day, after all none of them were hurt or needed rescuing (which is usually the reason they take in wild animals). :o So you can imagine my surprise when, towards the end of the day, I walked into the play room (where my sons were camped out watching Sponge Bob Square Pants) and witnessed the scampering of a tiny dark object, moving along our furnishings! Just below the little critter I saw the aquarium, with 4 other little mice just waiting to figure out how to get out and join him!
Needless to say, I wasn't impressed. The mouse ran out of site, and I immediately insisted the aquarium be taken outside. Devry moaned about it, "but mom... " yada yada! Too tired to try to remember it all. I just thought it was funny that my sons make a habit of rescuing animals, and I... well, I kill them. :o
That's right... The first thing I did when I realized there was a mouse in my house, was go straight to the mouse traps and get them set to catch the little critter! I love that my kids love animals; I love them, too! But in my house, I can not tolerate wild rodents eating our food and destroying our clothes etc! The workload of cleaning out the shed was multiplied ten fold, and I didn't need that in my house too (not to mention the germs)! I secretly pray that the little mouse takes the bait and dies tonight...
Oh, my poor boys. I hope they aren't traumatized by it all. :o
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Corine :D
It feels like a miracle occurred today. Sundays and Mondays are Miles' days off work. On Sundays we worship and go to church. We rest from labor, too. So, for the past few years, Miles and I have been establishing Monday as the day we get some extra work done as a family before playing together.
For a long time it seemed we made no progress at all. Gradually, the practice of working then playing together has become increasingly more consistent. But progress is sometimes still lacking in the way of beginning early and getting as much done as I think we are capable of getting done, or balancing work and play; sometimes we don't play long enough. Other times, my expectations are surpassed with flying colors; I am so happy that the latter is the case progressively more often as times goes on.
I know that Miles works really hard for our family all week, and depends upon me to make our home as clean and orderly as I can without him. Both of our tasks (homemaking and earning a living) are big; so we both appreciate each other doing the best that we can to the best of our ability. I try to maintain the house work as much as possible with the kids. But there are some tasks and projects that are so big, I just really sometimes feel the need to have my husband there helping me. So it really means a lot to me that he sets aside a few hours each week to help me with the really tough stuff. I appreciate him for doing this so much. Incidentally, I have found that He appreciates that it causes me to go goo goo over him when he does it ~ which causes him to want to help me more! :D Both of us are MUCH happier, and we love each SO MUCH MORE as a result of it. :D (Can you tell I have fallen in love with my husband all over again? I've done it a million times already, and know it will never end... sigh. :)
So, how did today go? Answer... Today felt like a miracle. :D We had WAY MORE WORK TO DO THAN USUAL! Time for Spring Cleaning had come (esp with me being out of town for three weeks and Miles having a heavy work load while I was away)! We started by about 9:30 AM, and we got A LOT DONE! And I do mean A LOT.
It was so neat to witness such drastic changes. You see, we didn't just clean; we de-cluttered! :D And now I am super excited to clean some more! :D (Though we are not yet finished... the progress is exciting!)
*By the way, Miles discovered a mice problem outside in the shed. The mice were lured in by the feed we bought to feed the injured animals our sons are so adamant about rescuing on a regular basis... (like the bird they just cared for until healed, then set free last week).
The boys caught 5 mice from the shed and put them in an aquarium. I figured they probably did it just for the day, after all none of them were hurt or needed rescuing (which is usually the reason they take in wild animals). :o So you can imagine my surprise when, towards the end of the day, I walked into the play room (where my sons were camped out watching Sponge Bob Square Pants) and witnessed the scampering of a tiny dark object, moving along our furnishings! Just below the little critter I saw the aquarium, with 4 other little mice just waiting to figure out how to get out and join him!
Needless to say, I wasn't impressed. The mouse ran out of site, and I immediately insisted the aquarium be taken outside. Devry moaned about it, "but mom... " yada yada! Too tired to try to remember it all. I just thought it was funny that my sons make a habit of rescuing animals, and I... well, I kill them. :o
That's right... The first thing I did when I realized there was a mouse in my house, was go straight to the mouse traps and get them set to catch the little critter! I love that my kids love animals; I love them, too! But in my house, I can not tolerate wild rodents eating our food and destroying our clothes etc! The workload of cleaning out the shed was multiplied ten fold, and I didn't need that in my house too (not to mention the germs)! I secretly pray that the little mouse takes the bait and dies tonight...
Oh, my poor boys. I hope they aren't traumatized by it all. :o
PS You know you have done something a million times over when it happens twice in the same week, and you realize you didn't even take photos! Can you believe we have no bird or mouse photos from my kids latest adventures? I'm going to have to work on that. ;) Maybe this will do... I think this must be how my darling sons view them. ;D
LOL, I can't believe you would kill Mrs. Brisby :) (The secret of NIMH) Glad you had that miracle though.
ReplyDeleteJules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow
Hey Lady,
ReplyDeleteKeep with the progress in setting your routine...it'll happen~
Now aobut that decluttering; UGH! I know I need to do the same thing but I open the door of a closet or cabinet and look at the work involved and decide to shut it right back up again; UGH! I am presuming I just don't feel like dealing with it?
I am so glad you gush over Miles and the work he does. I do with my husband as well, and with most people. I appreciate hard work and effort so it's easy to praise that.
I hope life is settling down for you a bit...take good care of yourself and hugs!
Jules - I know! :o I feel terrible about it! But don't worry, I didn't catch it, so it probably got out when the door was open. :)
ReplyDeleteTracy - Thank you SO MUCH for the greatly needed encouragement with our routine! Can you believe I was just struggling with that, then ended up going out of town, and now I'm de-cluttering on top of it all? It is so exciting to see the organization progress! :D But I MUST get back to basics and keep a sold routine of the things which matter most! THANK YOU! I have actually done better since I read your encouraging comment; I just want you to know that I REALLY APPRECIATE IT ! :D Have a great day!
Corine :D
Richard and Linda Eyre - I totally know you!!! And I am honored that you asked me to participate in this endeavor; so, YES AND THANK YOU! :D I'm tickled pink; send that book on over!!!
ReplyDeleteCorine :D
Hey there...I hope you didn't de-clutter yourself away!
ReplyDelete...thinking of you!
Tracy - THANK YOU SO MUCH! :D It is nice to feel missed. :) I'll be back in full swing again soon.
ReplyDeleteCorine :D
It never seemed right when my parents had us keep the critters we found outdoors. I remeber a frog i nuck in getting lost and finding the next year when I finally cleaned out under my furniture in my bedroom.LOL
ReplyDeleteHi Steve :) - Oh gosh... and an old dried out frog is an awful sight! :o I agree with you. I think wild animals deserve to be kept wild and free to roam! I do let my kids keep wild animals sometimes for as long as 24-48 hours (which feels like an eternity when they are turtles or frogs in the bath tub , then on the floor during shower time. :o). The kids then take them back to the wild in the exact location where they found them.
ReplyDelete