For the sake of organization, I attempt to box our decorations in a systematic manner. I store the traditional Christmas tree ornaments in one tote, the formal tree ornaments in another, and box delicate nativity scenes and antique ornaments together. I pack the greenery in large bags. Lights are gently wound up, secured with quick-ties, and stored together.

I appreciate  having the opportunity to thoroughly dust my banisters and mantels. I vacuumed away every trace of greenery, enjoying our freshly decluttered home.

Winter is here in all of its glory.  We are living under mounds of snow and frigid temperatures, enjoying the warmth of fires inside. Even so, I can sense a crocus somewhere underneath it all.

“At Christmas, I no more desire a rose; Than wish a snow in May’s newfangled mirth; But like each thing that in season grows.” – William Shakespeare

On the flip side, I despise dirty laundry. I am saddened by piles of damp, malodorous clothes and linens. This could be a constant cause of discontent in my life as 11 people can produce a large, ugly hill of soiled laundry. However, it is not a problem in my house the majority of the time.

My technique is this: instead of waiting for a specified wash day, my LG’s are working away almost every hour of the day. The movement of water in that stainles-steel tub and the purring of that large, lovely dryer can usually be detected in our home.

One of the first items on my list in the morning is to initiate a load of laundry. Throughout the day, we all continue to move the process of fabric-care along. Washing, drying, folding and suspending some of the clean products from hangers – this is the rhythm of the laundry room and everyone participates. (Our daughters are the heroines in this laundry epic, they are always contributing to the laundry attack. Our sons are either knights in shining armor or villains to be slayed, depending upon their helpfulness factor!) It’s punctuated by the continual movement of fresh linens, towels, and clothing to their proper places in our house.

This daily laundry ritual is a key factor to my overall sanity. I could not face 5-7 days of laundry generated by 11 people on a regular basis. I have taken this project on after camping trips so I am well aware of the ugly reality it produces. I’d rather face continual, manageable laundry issues throughout the day. I can rest easy knowing that at some point my laundry basket will be empty, albeit for only a moment, during any 24-hour period. In the meantime, I will continue to bask in the fluffy, warm loveliness of clean towels.

This is what works for me. You can peruse great tips at Rocks in My Dryer’s Works For Me Wednesday.

“We should all do what, in the long run, gives us joy, even if it is only picking grapes or sorting the laundry.” – E. B. White

The command center’s primary feature is a simple 16″ x 22″ monthly calendar.  My husband’s monthly 8″ x 11″  call-schedule sits next to the calendar.  I have a 3″ x 5″ card posted with the family’s weekly piano lessons, computer classes and tennis schedules. My husband also posts daily his  O.R  schedule.  Important notes can be found along with business cards of places that we love (like the golf club-house and the speech therapist).

The command center allows our family (particularly Dad)  to  be aware of the in’s and out’s of everyone’s lives. It answers the question- “Who’s doing what when and where” (no one actually ever knows why!).

I also keep track of school attendance on this calendar.  I am well aware of my children’s attendance. However the state of Indiana likes attendance records and this is my simple method of complying.

I even record my dining room table’s tung oil applications here. Some people can keep track of things like this in their own heads. Not me – I have to write EVERYTHING down. Oh well; it’s O.K. since I have my handy, dandy command center.

It was extremely easy to fashion my command center. I went to my local Hobby Lobby. I picked out a lovely frame and cork board.  I visited with the frame department and explained my desire to frame the cork. They listened attentively, suggested a backing and  voila! 30 minutes later I was checking out with my command center.  I ordered a 16″ x 22″ very simple calendar from Day Timer. It provides large squares for each day so that I can scribble enormous amounts of information if necessary.  Each month, I cut out the appropriate page from the calendar and post it. Of course, I always save the previous month’s calendar.

The only changes that I would make to a future command center would be:

• Larger frame, if wall-space permits, to allow 2 months to be posted at one time
• Thicker cork – I doubled the cork that I purchased, but I think a thicker cork would work nicely

This is what works for me. To read other tips, visit Rocks in My Dryer’s Works for Me Wednesday.

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity . . . .” -Ephesians 5:15-16a

It is really quite easy to clean your own windows on the main floor of a home. High windows can be tricky and may require ladders and assistance from others. Proper equipment is the ticket to easy and successful window cleaning. I always utilize a high-quality squeegee, a fleece scrubber attached to a squeegee, proper window cleaning solution, and extra clean cotton towels.

Ettore products are my favorite. They have an entire line of window cleaning squeegees and solutions. I particularly like their cleaning solution, Squeegee Off – Liquid Window Cleaning Soap. It makes for easy, streak free cleaning.

There are techniques for squeegee use. I have found that you just have to work with the squeegee for a while and you will come up with a method that works best for you. Don Aslett has terrific cleaning videos that offer specific tips on cleaning windows.

Clean your windows and brighten your world.

“A cloudy day, or a little sunshine, have as great an influence on many constitutions as the most real blessings or misfortunes.” – Joseph Addison

One of my sons is the sanitary engineer of the house. Every morning he empties and re-lines the waste baskets throughout our home. This allows me to be certain that every day we start out with fresh containers. He has taken ownership of this position. There may be an occasion where he forgets to complete his job, but a gentle reminder is all that is needed.

My younger daughter is responsible for stocking  essential products in our bathrooms. Every morning she checks the supplies and makes certain that each bathroom has the appropriate paper, soap and shampoo products that are needed.  She restocks from a supply that we keep in the garage and communicates with me when I need to purchase additional products.

In the evening, after dinner, one of my sons vacuums the hardwood and tile throughout the main floor of our home. It only takes him about 10 minutes and eases a housekeeping burden during a very busy time of my day.

I call upon my children to assist me in various and random areas during the day. All of them assist me in the kitchen as sous chefs, help me pick up toys, put away laundry, and keep their own rooms neat. However, customizing some of their chores has certainly been beneficial in our home. It has eliminated unnecessary negative conversations:

• “Who’s responsibility was it to empty the trash in the schoolroom?”
• “Who’s turn is it to empty the dishwasher?”
• “Could one of you vacuum under the dining room table?”
• etc.

Customizing chores has allowed me to train my children in certain skills. For instance, my son knows that one cannot run a vacuum along a white floor board. He also understands that one must actually move furniture when you vacuum and not simply run into the chair legs with the vacuum.

Our children have learned the importance of finishing a job correctly the first time. It actually saves energy. If one does not line the waste basket after emptying it, he then must clean it out as well.

Children actually enjoy finishing tasks correctly. They do not like being nagged. Let’s face it: nagging rarely works well. So give them tasks and jobs in which they can be trained and become experts. I even pay my children for their terrific work.

Discuss your expectations with your children concerning their particular responsibilities and teach them to follow through on their jobs. You will have a more peaceful home (and a little neater one as well!).

“Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men.”  –Proverbs 22:29

First, you must overcome the mental obstacle of packing every material possession you and your family have collected for the last umpteen years.  This is where you must make the decision to “clean house”.  Do not miss this fabulous opportunity to pare down your possessions.  Relentlessly attack every room, closet, cupboard and garage.  Make an effort to  rid your family of items that you know you will never miss (and even a few that you might miss momentarily!).  This should be a family project.  It will be painful and yet, in the end,  quite beneficial.

Now, you can begin the packing process.

Gather the nescessary materials:

• Boxes – I  prefer to use actual packing boxes as opposed to banana boxes from the grocery store.  They seal appropriately and stack in an efficient manner.  Moving companies sell used boxes at a  discount.  Check with friends;  they just might be storing boxes in their atic.
• Packing material - I do not like to use printed newspaper, as the print has a messy component to it.  You can purchase used packing materials at moving companies.  I utilize towels and sheets to wrap and cushion large breakable items such as lamps, pictures and mirrors.
• Tape – Utilize high-quality tape and a tape runner, both of which can be purchased at Sam’s Club.  Do not over-tape your boxes.  This is wasteful and unnecessary if you are using proper packaging tape.
• Pad of paper – You need to maintain a list of the boxes’ items.  This is a little time consuming on the packing end, but it will save you time when you are unpacking or when you need something that you packed too early.
• Permanent Marker – Number your boxes and label each box with a short description of its contents.  You may simply note the room it came from, i.e. “kitchen”.

Once you actually begin to pack your belongings, try to stay focused and organized.  Pack those rooms and items that are least necessary for your immediate needs first.

Use an efficient labeling system.  As you number your boxes, immediately write the number on a tablet.  Then, keep a list of the contents of each box (next to each box number) on the tablet as well.  You can not be too detailed here. Note specific items, i.e., “knife sharpener,” “measuring cups,” “mixer parts,” “children’s markers,” etc.  In the end, you will have a wonderful account of the contents of your house.  The time you spend here will be saved many times over when you unpack.

Clean the home you are leaving as you pack.   Remember, as you do this,  your home is a reflection of your family.  The new owners/tenents will experience you and your family through your home.  Take a little extra time and effort to leave a clean and lovely home for the new residents.  This is a great example for your children.

This can be a stressful period in your family’s lives.  Remember to keep everything in perspective.  It is only temporary.  There are many blessings to be found in adversity.  Memories will be made and you will look upon this time fondly at some point. Also, keep in mind that your children mirror your behavior and attitudes.  If you have a positive and thankful outlook on your situation, so will your children.

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ” – II Corinthians 4:16-17

My sous-chef needs vary from day to day.  I may need vegetables cut up, fruit arranged on a platter, rice started, or the table set.  I usually prepare the dinner plates, as they  would be served in a restaurant, and then place them on the table.   Sometimes my sous-chef just helps me with this task.  My children learn early on how to arrange a meal on a plate in an attractive manner.

The sous-chef’s responsibilities in our house are directly related to the age of my children.  My youngest children can set the table correctly and they enjoy stirring whatever marinate I am preparing.  They are terrrific at unwrapping bouillon cubes!  My 11-year-old daughter loves to be creative when she sets the table, including folding the napkins into ”candles” or “swans”.  She has learned to help me cut up vegetables and fruit and makes a great chocolate pudding for one of my trifles.   My older daughters can prepare delicious rice.  This is a tremendous help as I serve rice on many occasions.  They actually can prepare complete meals and call for their own sous-chef when needed.   My older sons’ sous-chef responsibilities range from pouring drinks to grilling chicken.

From an early age, children enjoy helping in the kitchen.  Utilizing their energy and training them in age-appropriate kitchen skills will allow you to enjoy cooking in a less stressful manner.

“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” – Proverbs 22:6

Children, if given the choice, would opt to live in a lovely, uncluttered environment.  They prefer a beautiful world as much as anyone.  They simply need to understand how to achieve this.   They also need to understand why they should help around their house.  Here the issues of gratitude and respect need to be discussed.  Someone, their father or mother or  perhaps both, is working very hard to provide a lovely home for them.  A child can learn early on to demonstrate thankfulness by simply  appreciating their home and doing their part to maintain it.

Start small…expect them to keep their bedrooms clean and chaos free.  This training is easily accomplished if you start when your children are young. However, even the habits of your older children can be modified.

Go through your children’s rooms with them.  Be relentless.  Throw unwanted trash and even “treasures” away.  This will be painful at first.  Make files for special pictures and projects that need to be saved forever.  However, your children must learn that certain items, probably most, are not worthy of saving.  You also must model this in your life.  They will catch the spirit.  Go through their clothes and triage . . . clothes to wear, clothes to discard and clothes to pass on.  Repeat this process with toys and sporting equipment.   Leave no corner untouched.  Look under the bed, as this is a haven for trash and treasures.  If you need to utilize the space under the bed,  use containers to control and manage this area.  The closet floor and shelves should also be de-cluttered and organized.

Now, actually clean the bedroom with your child.  Dust and vacuum.  Don’t forget the floor boards and the window sills.  Show your kids how to make their rooms shine and they will love it.   Make sure they know when to change their linens.  Train your children to make their beds each morning.  A presentable bedroom begins with a bed that is made.  No one likes to end their day by crawling into an unmade bed.  Yuck.

This will be an on-going process.  You will have to continually train your children.  Your expectations should be age-appropriate, but the key is to have expectations.  Everyone will benefit.  Your family will be blessed by living in a neat environment.

“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” –Proverbs 22:6

Make a quick assessment of one of your bathrooms.  Does it need general cleaning?  You actually should be able to completely clean a bathroom, from the shower to the floor, in under 20 minutes.  Be methodical and use appropriate cleaning solutions.  I generally clean the sink, counters and cabinets.  I then move on to the shower and/or bathtub:  remove everything first, discarding unwanted bottles, soap pieces and even toys.  Make sure you clean off all of the high edges and even the rails if you have sliding shower doors.   Wipe off the bottles and containers before you replace them.  Next, move on to the toilet.  Clean all surfaces.  Use an appropriate cleaning product and brush for the bowl.  Now, move on to the mirror  and faucets, polishing these to a beautiful shine.  You can finish up by cleaning the floor and floorboards.  You may need to vacuum or sweep before mopping.

Now that you have a fresh, clean bathroom, you can step back and accessorize.  Make sure it is well stocked with tissue, baby wipes, toilet paper, soap, air freshener and even lotion.  Consider adding pretty towels that are soft and absorbent.  A basket of assorted magazines is always a nice touch.   Do not forget to have a trash container conveniently located.  This container can be attractive and should be lined and changed frequently.

Your bathrooms should be maintained daily.  This does not neccesarily involve an intense cleaning every day.   Instead, a clean bathroom should be incoporated into your  family’s lifestyle.  Your children can learn to help keep the bathrooms clean.   They  can pick up their own clothes and towels.  As they get older,  they can be taught to clean the sink and mirrors after they have finished getting dressed. Boys can even be taught certain “rim rules”  that will always help maintain the general appearance of the bathroom.

Your bathrooms can be a point of contention, a source of embarrassment or simply another lovely room in your home.   “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace” (I Corinthians 14:33).

“A work of art depicting inanimate subject matter, typically commonplace objects which may be either natural (food, plants and natural substances like rocks) or man-made (drinking glasses . . .).”

It has been suggested (the source eludes me at the moment…) that our refrigerators should exemplify a still life.  This would be lovely!

At first glance, this suggestion may seem outlandish.  Yet, it is achievable on some level.  Simply begin by cleaning and organizing your refrigerator.  Actually, if this can become a bi-weekly or at least weekly habit, you have tackled a large part of this project.

-Remove everything from your refrigerator.

-Clean off every surface.  Use glass cleaner on the shelves and an all-purpose cleaner  on the other surfaces.  You should even remove the drawers and wash them in warm, sudsy water.

Now that the interior is presentable, move on to the contents.

-Discard anything that you know is no longer workable…do not be sentimental.

-Clean off all lids and containers so that they are pleasant to work with.

-Organize your  deli-meat, cheese, fruit and vegetables:

Cheeses and meats should be wrapped in a manner that allows easy access  and yet protects the product.  They both lend themselves to storage in drawers within the refrigerator.

Now for the fruits and vegetables…this is where you can add a beautiful touch to your refrigerator’s interior appearance.  Utilize attractive containers for storage.   It’s great to open your refrigerator and see inviting bowls of pretty fruit and vegetables.

Apples store nicely carefully placed in the larger fruit bins after they  are washed.

-Eggs appear fresh and lovely arranged in a bowl or metal basket.

-Left overs can even look particularly presentable if they are stored properly.  I tend to like glass storage containers with locking lids as opposed to plastic.  They look nicer and do not take on the color or odor of food stored in them.

-Drinks, including large containers of milk and juice, can be stored in a pleasant manner if they are simply kept clean.

Now, just arrange the items in a pleasing, useful manner on the shelves.

Everyone in the family will enjoy the look and usefulness of your refrigerator.