A "Happy Heart Moment"

Brought To Me By Mr. P

Scene: Supper table

Characters: Mr. P and Susan P.

Act 1: Mr. P (who looks very tired) is discussing his day at the office. Talks about having to deal with problematic people, situations, etc..He then states that when he is dealing with all the "craziness" out in the world he takes heart in the fact that soon he will be at home. Once he walks through the front door he knows that the crazy chaos of the world can be left at the office. The deadlines, the pressures, and demands seem far away as they are finally replaced with peace.

Now it's me eleborating as you know I like to do! Mr. P knew that the harsh words heard throughout the day would soon be replaced with soothing, encouraging ones. Ugly frowns and ugly attitudes would be replaced with smiles and understanding, and the chaos of the day would finally turn into calm. Wow!!! No wonder he couldn't wait to leave that all behind and come home!!! Who wouldn't???

Home should be a place of refuge for our family~ a place of understanding, acceptance, and love. Please don't ever devalue or underestimate the role you play in creating this type of home for your family. All those extra little touches do matter, as a matter of fact, they matter a great deal!!! That home-cooked meal, the flowers from the yard that are now a beautiful arrangement on the table, freshly laundered sheets ready to be slept on, clean, shiny windows to see the world through, buttons sewed on, groceries bought with healthy meals and budgets in mind, the beautiful scent of a candle burning, and the beautiful sound of soft, soothing music playing in the background. A listening ear , a kind word, or a gentle touch can truly make a difference. All these things and more come together to make our house a home, a home that our family longs for.

Just as Mr. P took heart in the fact that he knew he would be home soon, your families do, as well. Although you might not always hear it, these little things do matter to them. Why, you might think they don't even notice, but, believe me they do. All these little things add up, they add up to turning those four simple walls that make up your house, into the home of your family's dreams!

I Love This Idea!

A few weeks ago I was surfing around blogdom and I came upon an idea that I thought was so clever that I wanted to share it with you. I can't remember who had the idea ~ but whoever it was, thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!

Step 1.

I went to WalMart and bought this clear shoe organizer for $7.00



Step 2:

When I got home I immediately started on my "scavenger hunt." Don't you love it when you have found an idea you are so excited about you get wait to get going on it? Anyway, I was so tired of having band-aids in one bathroom, rubbing alcohol in another, asking,"where's the thermometer," if I suspect somebody has a fever, or "I have a headache and I can't find the Tylenol" etc., etc., .........You get the drill! Please tell me that this happens at your house, too;) Or, even worse than not knowing where something is, is to be out of something and not realize it until the moment you need it. How many midnight runs have we made for one thing or another for our family when they are sick? It's complete madness, I tell you! Having this organizer allowed me to put everything in ONE PLACE, and the best part is I can see everything right away. I don't have to go "hunting" around my house, or asking people if they know where something is anymore! It's pure genius, I tell you:)



Isn't it pretty;) ;)

Stocking Up

It's that time of year again! I went through the medicine cabinet and discarded all the expired items, then went to WalMart to replenish. Now, when those nasty colds and flu come to visit we will be ready!

*Y'all won't believe this, but I wrote this post last night and just never got around to posting it. This morning I got a phone call from Miss Bonnie telling me they were cancelling class at her Nursing School because her teacher and several other students in her class have tested positive for the H1N1 virus (swine flu) They have to be really careful, because they don't want the student nurses infecting the already sick patients. Wow, talk about timing! Here's hoping that you and all of your dear families are feeling well and healthy.

Motivated Mom's Chore Planning System

There are many, many reasons why I love blogging, but I would have to say that one of the top ones is that I have learned so much for each one of you!! There is SO MUCH talent around blog land and I love the fact that people are so generous in sharing their talents, as well as tips and ideas with each other. After having said all that, I wanted to share with you something that I have recently found that has helped me tremendously, thanks to my dear blogging friend, Mrs. C, from Riverbend Ramblings. It was at the beginning of the new year that I read this post and I found out all about the Motivated Moms Chore Planning System.

I think there must be as many different ways of cleaning as there are people. If you are happy with your cleaning system then this post is not for you. If you are like me, and you feel like you need a little motivation and organization in your cleaning routine, then I would highly recommend this system to you. It is a list based system ~ certain chores you do every day, and then each day you also have some different chores to check off. It's certainly not boring, each day is different with the exception of the everyday chores. Believe me, over the course of the year everything in your home should be as "clean as a whistle!" I am not going into all the details, if you are interested just click on the link I provided. Please know I'm not making one penny from this endorsement, I just wanted to pass along something that has really helped me in my home keeping, just as Mrs. C did for me!!

It does cost some money, I paid eight dollars for mine, but to me it is well worth it because I feel like I have such a clean (no pun intended) fresh, start to this wonderful new year. It is a mighty good feeling to look at the list at the end of the day and see that everything is checked off and feel like my home is getting cleaner day by day. THIS Mom IS motivated and I am ready to get to work with a feather duster in one hand and a toilet brush in the other;) Thanks Mrs. C and Motivated Moms!!!

Why I Love Mondays

I can already hear the "boos" and "hisses!" Please don't hate me ~ I know I am in the minority on this, but I just love Mondays. I think it has something to do with a brand new week stretching before me, filled to the brim with possibilities. A fresh start, a new beginning!! With the weekend there usually comes fun and a lot of unstructured time and I do love that. However, there is something in my soul that just craves routine. Okay, I'm hearing more "boos" out there:) Especially with all the craziness and clutter that Christmas brings, I think I feel like my life is "cluttered" and "crazy," as well, and I DO NOT like that feeling at all!

So this morning found me doing what I love to do in my home. After my quiet time I started on several loads of laundry, so right now I can hear the the washer and dryer humming along:) The floor has been swept and mopped, counters thoroughly cleaned, trash emptied, shined kitchen sink, (if you follow Fly Lady you know how important this is;)

started dinner prep

Made bread, rolls, and a cinnamon loaf ~ I wish you could smell how good it smells here right now........ And yes, I know I'm a messy cook:)

Started chopping ham for the pea soup we are having for dinner

Filled the fruit bowl with oranges ~ a healthy snack that is easy reach for my family;)

While I'm busy with my Monday morning chores I like to have some peppy music playing in the back ground and a yummy candle burning. This is my new fav~ it's called Cafe Au Lait~ funny thing is I don't like coffee at all, but I love the smell of it brewing. Go figure!!

Once I have everything clean and shiny I immediately start to feel better. (I think it's a "control" issue, y'all;) By the end of the day I'm tired, but it's a good tired. I have worked hard caring for my home, and I can't think of anything else I'd rather be doing. Okay, I'm off to clean the den!

I won't even talk about how I feel about rainy days.....................................:)

An Early Christmas Present

I wanted to share with you a picture of this beautiful pie safe that Mr. P got for me as an early Christmas gift. A retired older gentleman makes hand-crafted furniture as a hobby, and I am blessed to be a recipient of one of his beautiful pieces. I have always loved furniture that has been lovingly hand-made, as opposed to those pieces that are produced in a factory. I appreciate the fine workmanship that goes into each piece and nothing smells better than wood that has been freshly cut!

The reason I wanted a pie safe is because I really needed more space to store things in my kitchen. I have a very teeny, tiny kitchen with only a few cabinets, and as a result, I have never been able to really "stock up" on groceries. Well, thanks to dear Mr. P I am excited to say that now I can! I'm finding that there isn't a better time to stock up on groceries as now, the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Most of the essential baking supplies, canned vegetables, soups, etc.. can be found at reduced prices. I have also purchased a lot of "buy one, get one free" deals, (I'm sure you can tell by the pics) which I am so grateful for.

The best part is that not only can I "stock up" for my own family, but it also gives me the opportunity to help others, too. Our local food bank supply is getting dangerously low (as I'm sure they are all around our country), and this is such a perfect way to share one's abundance with others. If you are looking for ways to help others, especially during the Christmas season, donating to your local food bank would certainly be a great blessing to others!

Feathering Our Nests

Recently I ran across a quote that really struck a chord with me. It said, "a good home must be made, not bought." As keepers of our homes we have the incredible responsibility of making sure that we are making good homes for our families. Money can certainly buy the fancy furniture and big house, but it is the love and effort you put into it your home that makes it a warm and cozy place to be. No price tag can ever be put on that wonderful feeling your family gets when they enter the door. Nesting and fluffing will go a long way in helping you achieve that goal. No money needed, just a little time, elbow grease, and creativity will do the trick. Now I'm off to do some fluffing and feathering of my own!

Graphic courtesy of Antique Clipart

Preparing A Place

As a little girl, the highlight of my summer would always be a trip to visit my great Grandmother who lived in West Virginia. As soon as I entered her home, after numerous hugs and kisses, my great grandmother would always bring down the aprons off of their hook. Every year there would be a new apron sewn just for me! Isn't that amazing how one simple act can mean so much to a child? After we donned our aprons we would scurry about the kitchen to prepare for the baking of our yearly treat, peanut butter cookies. She had an old Hoosier that was very well worn, but also well loved, that we worked upon. Side by side we would mix up the ingredients for these delicacies, while my grandmother sung a hymn or hummed a tune. Year after precious year, this was our tradition.

As far back as I can remember, I have always had the love for home and family. I believe that those special moments spent with my grandmother helped form me into the homemaker I am today. I wish I could tell her how much I appreciate all the wisdom and love she bestowed upon me, but sadly I can't. But, there is one way, one hugely important way, that I can thank her, and that is to pass down what she taught me, to my daughter, Miss Bonnie. From the time she was little we have worked side by side in the kitchen and it is my prayer that one day she will have that same privilege with her own daughter.

If I close my eyes I can still see all the gleaming, delicate china that my grandmother had in her china hutch. Why, I can even remember the wonderful smell when I opened those beautiful doors. When I would visit, one of my jobs was to set the table. Unlike today, three large meals were prepared every day. As soon as the dishes were washed and dried (by hand of course;o) they would be put back on the table in preparation of the next meal. It wasn't until the last meal of the day that the dishes were placed lovingly back in the hutch. I honestly can't remember a time when the table wasn't beautifully set and as a young child this made a big impression on me. What I didn't realize then was that I was learning a very important lesson. Of course, it taught me to think ahead and be prepared when it comes to meal planning, but the lesson that my grandmother taught me was the importance of preparing a place. Each family member had their own special place at the table and my grandmother made sure that it was always ready for them. It was conveying a beautiful message that said, "you have an honored seat at our table." What a wonderful message to send to those you love!!

That is something that we can all do, isn't it? It doesn't have to be a table filled with cut crystal and bone china, all it needs to be is one that has been lovingly prepared. Why,adding a vase of flowers, lighting a candle, or having pretty napkins can make even the simplest of dishes look beautiful. The most important thing is that it will speak volumes to those you love and to those you have prepared that special place for!


Helpful tip: I think a good time to set the table is when you are unloading the dishwasher. Instead of putting them in the cabinet you can go ahead and set the table for the next meal. It only takes a few minutes, but can make all the difference to those family members who walk through the front door.

I'm In Love!

And I'm not talking about Mr. P, that's a given;o) After 26 years of marriage and countless vacuum cleaners I have finally found the vacuum of my dreams!! I told Mr. P I was so happy I could cry! Forget the diamonds, I'll take my Oreck any day!

Let's pause a minute and say a big "Amen" for the inventor:o) Who knew vacuuming could be so much fun?

Why I Love To "Fiddle" and "Putz!"
(Just another reason I love being a homemaker)




You're probably asking yourself, "what in the world is she talking about?" lol Well, when Mr. P arrives home in the evening and asks how my day went, I usually say, "good." He then asks, "what did you do?" To which I reply, "I fiddled and putzed!" I know this doesn't make any sense to him but it makes perfect sense to me, and it is just one of the many reasons I love being a homemaker!


My Definition of Fiddling: Now, I'm not talking about the instrument (lol) but instead, going from room to room in my home and looking at ways in which I can change things up a little. I love to try to find different ways to display little vignettes in my home, switch out picture frames, move a chair from one side of the room to the other, etc... Just switching out one little picture or moving pillows from one chair to another (fiddling;o) can give my room a whole new look without spending any money!




An example of "fiddling." I moved this quilt from my quilt rack to "cozy" up the chair for the winter season. Bailey loves it:o)


My Definition of Putzing: Putzing isn't part of routine chores.Whereas, fiddling was all about the the moving around of items, putzing is taking those very items and finding ways to make them even more BEAUTIFUL!! Putzing takes some extra thought, as well as a little elbow grease, but it is well worth it when I see the outcome.! Some examples of putzing are polishing silver, adding the perfect fringe to a pillow, polishing furniture until it gleams, adding flowers from my garden to fill an empty vase, shining apples to put in the fruit bowl, etc. All of these tasks take a little time, BUT are well worth the investment because I am bringing beauty into my home! I never rush when doing these things. I love to take my time as I work and meditate on how grateful I am that I have the privilege to do this. I also love to think about how it will bless my family. It gives me such great joy to provide a nice and cozy home for my family and I am always on the lookout for ways in which I can achieve this. Some examples of putzing are . . .


Polishing apples and Adding flowers to an empty vase (examples from past "putzings")

To me this is one of the nicest ways to spend an afternoon! So, now you know what fiddling and putzing are! I think I need to let Mr. P read this so he will know, too! Maybe you are a "fiddler" or a "putzer" and you didn't even know it!

Picture courtesy of AllPosters

Simple Pleasures


There are so many things that I love doing as I go about my day trying to bless my home and family. By far, one of the most simplest of all those pleasures is baking fresh bread for my family. Joy for me is not attained in the shopping mall, but instead inside my cozy little kitchen. As I happily knead the dough I love to think of my family and how I want to provide them with wholesome, nourishing food. Expensive perfume could never replace the heavenly aroma that comes from my oven as the bread is baking. And the taste? Warm homemade bread and butter is tastier than any meal I could ever get from a five star restaurant. I am so blessed. I don't have to seek joy in other places, it is found right inside the four walls of my home!

Accountability

When I get up each morning, ready to greet the day, it is so very important that I remember WHO I am accountable to. Although, as a homemaker I have no time card to punch in and out, I do have a job, A REAL JOB, and just like an employee is accountable to his boss, so I am accountable to the Lord. The Lord has blessed with a wonderful home and HE has placed me here to take care of it. It is my job to clean it, love it, spruce it up, fix it up, and add those special little touches that really do make a house a home. Not only is it my job, it also should be my joy!! What a privilege to be a homemaker, to care for my home and family.

As I go about my daily tasks I try to focus on how blessed I am to have this home, WHO blessed me with it, and the incredible responsibility I have to care for it. Instead of going about my tasks with dread, I try to approach them joyfully, as if I am doing them for the Lord, because guess what? I AM:O) Over the years I have "tweaked" my cleaning schedule according to the season of life I was in. Below you will find the only real cleaning schedule I have that is written down.I keep it in a prominent place where I will be sure to see it numerous times during the day. It serves as a wonderful reminder of the jobs I have to do. It covers all the "biggies," but as I'm sure you know, there are many, many "smallies!"If you notice at the bottom I put one of my favorite bible verses. All I have to do is read it and it reminds me once again of WHO I'm working for, and THE ATTITUDE I should have while I'm doing it!

Click to enlarge

A Sad Tale
Names have been changed to protect the "not so innocent!"

WARNING: THIS IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART TO READ!

Let's set the scene:

Husband and wife are getting ready for bed. Husband is cold natured, wife is not. Once settled in bed husband tucks covers tightly around face.

Wife: What's the matter?

Husband: I can't seem to warm up~ it's freezing in here. (husband has flannel pajamas on) Put's cold feet on wife.

Wife: Hmm, I'm not cold at all.

Wife thinks a minute.

Wife: Why don't you put on a pair of socks?

Husband: I would but there aren't any clean ones . . . . . .

Wife: (Complete and utter silence) . . . .

Fade to black.

OUCH, OUCH, OUCH! The aforementioned dear husband had no clean socks to warm his cold feet because the aforementioned wife didn't stick to a schedule and do laundry like she should. You might be asking why? Well, from what I've been told, the aformentioned wife had much more important things to tend to such as crafting, talking on the phone, and watching favorite television shows. Upon further contemplation, she realized that the greatest amount of her time was spent on the computer, thinking all the while, "I'll get to that later." Well, later did come, it came in the form of a very dear man with cold feet and no clean socks to warm them.

From all I've been told, this experience has taught the wife a most valuable lesson. Priorities need to be shifted, schedules need to be kept, and most importantly, husbands with cold feet should ALWAYS have warm clean socks to wear.

The Little Touches


It doesn't take much to take the ordinary and turn into something special! I love to think of special little touches I can add around my home that will make it a nice and cozy place to be. It's just another little way I can bless my family!

Mission Accomplished!

Y'all remember this project I was working on? Well, I'm happy to report that it is finished!I was determined that I was going to complete this project in a timely manner so I have been busy sifting through my recipe boxes, cookbooks and slips of paper (lol) to pick out the recipes that I use on a consistent basis. That is exactly why I entitled the book Family Favorites, because I wanted it to be the recipes I used regularly. I have decided that after doing this I need to make a smaller binder that I will entitle Holiday Favorites. It will contain special holiday meal recipes, Christmas cookies, etc.. I hope to have that completed before Thanksgiving.

Cover

Sample page (notice I typed in very large print so these very old eyes could see!)

Dividers. I had only five categories: breads, desserts, main dishes, side dishes, and misc. I wanted to keep it real simple!

I have a different project "up my sleeve" that I will hopefully share with y'all next week;o)

Under The Category:
"I'll Try Anything!"

If you've ever read the book by the Fly Lady then you are familiar with the term "hot spot." What is a "hot spot" you ask? Well, it's a place in one's home where the clutter seems to multiply by leaps and bounds before your very eyes. I'm pretty sure that almost every home has one, or two, or three;o) I know mine sure does! The Fly Lady's theory is you get in the habit of putting your miscellaneous "stuff" in the same place over and over. You know, the "stuff" you don't know what to do with, or the stuff you just don't want to take the time to put in it's proper place. As the "stuff" keeps gathering it seems to draw in other "stuff" almost like a magnet. Before long, you not only have a "hot spot," but you have a raging four alarm fire. Can you relate?



Like I said before, I have several (as in more than a few;o) hot spots in my home and one in particular that really bugged me. Where was it? On my dryer in the laundry room. I promise y'all, there was always so much "stuff" on it that it was cleary starting to resemble Mt. Everest! I am not the only one "guilty" of creating this "hot spot," but I am much too kind to mention any names here ;o) I scratched my head more than once trying to figure out what to do with this situation. It finally dawned on me . . . . . the teacher in me decided I needed to make a sign!! You've heard of no parking, no loitering, no hitchhiking . . . . . well, in our household it is going to be "no cluttering!" Now, before y'all laugh too much, I will tell you that is has been FOUR WHOLE DAYS and nary a sight of any "clutter!" I have to be truthful and say that I have been tempted many times to put the stray bobby pin, found penny, shoelace, and raisin upon the aformentioned "hot spot," but so far have been successful. Oh well, we shall see what day FIVE brings!!

A girl has to try, doesn't she;o)

Tomorrow I will post some pictures of my "clutter free" laundry room that I "spruced" up a bit!

A Home That Is Pleasing To All Of The Senses

Having a home that is well pleasing to my family and friends is very important to me. I want people to feel a sense of peace and pleasure when they enter my home, not only by what they see, hear and taste, but also what they smell. I think of all the senses this is one of the most important because it is usually the first impression guests will have when they enter your home. When you think about it, doesn't every home have it's own "scent?" If I were blindfolded and walked into various friends and families' homes I am sure I could tell you which home I was in just by using my sense of smell.

It is my fondest wish that people will always think of my home in a pleasing manner. Our home is also home to three cats, so consequently we have a very "active" litter box;o) YUCK! As much as I love my kitties I detest the "scent" they leave behind. Believe me when I tell you, that is the LAST thing I want people to think of when they think of visiting my home. In a different season in my life I also had dirty diapers to contend with, dirty little boys, dirty dogs, etc..... you get the picture! Can any of you relate?? No matter what season we are in we all have different challenges plus we all want to have a lovely scented home! All this got me to thinking about the ways in which I try to bring pleasant scents in to our home. The following were just a few ideas I have incorporated in our "place called home."

My favorite way of having a clean smelling home is to open up my windows and let the fresh air flow through. Unfortunately, with temperatures hovering near the century mark right now that is not going to be happening around here ;o)

I love using cleaning products that have "fresh" smelling scents such as lemon and orange. They not only clean your home but also make it smell fresh, too!

I always like to have a candle burning on our entry table ~ it is the first "scent" impression guests will have when they enter my home.

Fresh flowers not only look lovely, but smell lovely, as well!

In the kitchen I like to have a bowl of citrus fruit ~ oranges and lemons smell so clean and fresh!

There is nothing like the smell of bread baking or . . .

yummy treats awaiting to be eaten!

In the bathroom a small candle and delicate potpourri are wonderful ways to freshen up the room.

My laundry room is where the litter box is so this room needs special attention. I love using the Mrs. Meyers lavender dryer sheets because it makes the whole room smell lovely.

A tea cup filled with dried rose petals leaves a delicate scent in my bedroom.

A tart warmer is an excellent way to scent almost your whole house. It isn't as dangerous as burning a candle and it is more effective in scenting a room, in my opinion. I am displaying my two favorite scents here ~ buttercream and macintosh. Mmmmm!!

I hope that some of these ideas will help you to have a "scentsational" day in your "place called home!"

A Monday Morning Ritual

I thought I would share with you something that I do faithfully every Monday morning around our Home Place. Monday is laundry day ~ the laundry room is right next to our kitchen so while the laundry is happily washing away I like to go in my kitchen and do a little "sprucing" up. I head on over to the kitchen sink and that's where the "magic" happens! I take my favorite Mrs.

Meyer's Lavender detergent

and add it to a sink full of hot water. The aroma that fills my kitchen is absolutely lovely and it provides me with wonderful sudsy water in which to clean.

I take my cleaning rag and then proceed to wipe down the counters, appliances, etc. in my kitchen. Before I know it my kitchen is spic and span and the whole downstairs smells wonderful, too!

Edited To Add: Several of you have asked me about where to find Mrs. Meyer's cleaning products ~ if you go here and type in your zip code it will list stores in your area that carry them! If there isn't one close by you can always order them online. They are a bit more expensive than regular cleaning products, but in my opinion very well worth the money;o) And no, I am NOT a spokeswoman for the company, I just happen to love the products!! LOL

Meditations Of A Homemaker

Five yellow rosebuds, in a blue vase,
Perfectly molded, gentle in grace.
Fresh-laundered curtains here by my sink.
There 'neath my window birds pause to drink!
Seven red apples in a glass bowl;
Why do they bless and strengthen my soul?

Clean clothes are hanging here in the sun,
Smelling of pure suds-washing is done!
Draining the tubs, scrubbing the floor,
Dusting the table, answering the door,
Digging the garden, hoeing the weeds;
Why do these duties care for my needs?

Lord, mold me gently, just like the rose,
Cleanse me and keep me clean like my clothes;
Empty my soul of every gross thing,
Clear now my life of habits that cling:
Weed out all error. Lord, let me be
A good-hearted homemaker worshiping Thee!

Lydia Stoner

I thought this would be the perfect poem to start the week off with. It really speaks to my heart and I hope it does to yours, too.

It's All In The Attitude

When Monday morning rolls around if you are like me you have a list of "to do's" a mile long. Now, on that list are things that you really take joy in doing. Also on that list are things that you really don't "love" to do but you don't mind doing them. And then, there are a few things on that list that you absolutely dislike doing and would much rather go to the dentist for a root canal than partake of that particular chore. LOL Now granted, I'm exaggerating a little there, okay, a lot, but you get the idea!

Okay, it is true confession time for me. The chore that I absolutely and utterly dislike to do is to scrub floors. I'd rather be using a toilet brush any day! I have been known to take wet Bounty paper towels and put them under my feet and do the "clean floor boogie" across the floor;) Something tells me my floors don't really get clean this way. I don't really know what is it that makes me dislike it so, I just know that I do. Consequently, that chore looms over me constantly, kind of like a nagging little drip, "you need to do the floors." "Susan, you really should start on those floors." And on and on and on. I truly waste more time worrying about the dreaded chore than it would have taken me to complete it. Silly, huh? Because of this dilemma I have decided I am going to meet the problem head on. How? By changing my attitude! Here is what I plan on doing:

1. Realize that the Lord has entrusted me with this beautiful home and family and it is not only my duty but also my honor and privilege to care for it

2. The chore that I dislike doing I am going to do with "gusto!" Yep, you heard me right. I am going to tackle those floors with as great energy as I can muster. I am going to clean those floors until they shine. I am going to make them so clean you could eat off of them!

3. I am going to do this chore BEFORE ANY OTHER IN THE MORNING! There is no sense in thinking about the chore I dislike doing all day. Putting it off and putting it off and putting it off is NOT GOING TO MAKE IT GO AWAY! Y'all, please tell me I'm not the only one who thinks like this:0) I vow that I will do it in the morning with a cheerful countenance and a grateful heart.

4. I will try to find ways to make this chore as pleasant as possible. Remember how I use lavender ironing spray to make my ironing more enjoyable? I need to do that with scrubbing floors. Some possibilities would be to put on some peppy music or praise music. I could use this time to pray or I could be memorizing bible verses. Another really good thing to do is TALK~

I remember that some of my best conversations with my own Mother occurred in the kitchen while she was doing chores. I have some really good memories of our time spent there.

5. Most importantly, I will meditate on this verse, "and whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men." I will take pride in my work and do it to the best of my ability.

So, whose with me? What chore is it that you dislike doing and what are some ways you can make that chore a more pleasurable experience? Remember, it's all in the attitude!