My "Free Day"

Wow, it's been a while since I have posted! Life has been crazy lately, but it sure has been wonderful:) Today is my "free day!" It's a day where I get to do whatever I want whenever I want! Sometimes, I don't get my free day, so when I do I really try to enjoy it (and to be honest, when you have kids it's never completely free anyway LOL).

Last year, I finally read a book that my former Pastor's wife, Sis Elms had recommended at a Ladies Meeting several years before, Sidetracked Home Executives. This is a great book on organizing your home. This where I read about giving yourself a free day once a week. Then, you can get all you "vegging" out of the way, and are ready to go full force for the rest of the week. I really like to have Monday be my free day, since the weekends can be so busy (but I wouldn't trade my wonderful Sundays for anything)!!

Now, I've always considered myself a fairly organized person. But, it seemed the more children I had, the more crazy life became. Add in school and Bible Quizzing, and am not ashamed to admit I became overwhelmed at times and let the house go some. Even now, my house is often not what it should be, but I'm working on it and it gets better everyday!

One of the things that really got in my way when we moved to Wichita Falls was the computer. We didn't have internet in San Antonio, I just went to the library once a week and checked my email. But when we moved here, I discovered blogs first, and then facebook, and it seemed like I was always on the computer. So I try to just get on for a bit in the morning while I drink my coffee, and then sometimes when I eat my lunch...then no computer until the kids are in bed. Now, with my plan, the laundry and ironing are getting done and the house is getting cleaned more. I've come to the realization that although I would like to clean the house from top to bottom every week, more often than not I just don't have time. But if I make sure to do the "essentials" every week (kitchen, bathrooms, floors), I can do one or two "non essentials" (dusting, windows, oven, etc) and my house will be clean...maybe not showroom clean, but clean!

I also found that I was running around town entirely too much. Did the kids really need to go the music class and storytime every week? Did I really have to hit Wal-Mart 3 times a week? I really try my best (and it doesn't always happen...the note from school saying the kids must bring such and such tomorrow etc) to do all my errands all on one day each week. That way, I get all my running around done, and I can be at home for most of the week getting things done. My sample week is somewhat like this:

Monday: Free Day
Tuesday: Cleaning Day
Wednesday: Musikgarten or Storytime, Errand Day, Wednesday Night Church
Thursday: Laundry Day, Baking Day
Friday: Ironing Day
Saturday: Family Day, Wash Car
Sunday: Church Day

I've come to realize that taking care of the home is my "job." My husband works very hard, and deserves to come home to a clean house, have clean clothes waiting for him in the closet, and eat good, home cooked meals most of the time (except on my free day and Wednesday night...and when I just have "one of those days")!! Keeping house and taking care of kids is hard work, but its the most rewarding job in the world. I thank God everyday He has called me to it!