Monday - HBH

Mondays are my home blessing hour (HBH).

“What?” you ask.

Let me take you back to 2006. Our third daughter was getting married in the following January and we were blessed by some carpet from a family who were having their house re-carpeted but there was still plenty of life in the old carpet. Harry decided he would lay the carpet and underlay himself but as he was working that meant it would take a while. We moved all the furniture into the non-carpeted rooms and we had to live, work and prepare for a wedding around it.

At first I had thought it would be great to have the newer carpet especially for the wedding but once the place seemed to be tipped up-side-down I was a bit anxious – well probably 'a lot.'

At that time I also used to get a monthly magazine printed in Australia caked Notebook: Ideas for Living. They had an article that talked about a website with help in being organised, have good self-esteem and generally promoted well-being for women.
The magazine also had a forum that I was part of and quite a few of the women had started using this system and found it really great, so out of curiosity I investigated. The system is called Fly Lady – Finally Loving Yourself and is full of ideas, systems and encouragement started by a Christian woman in America called Marla Cilley 

I started the programme with the first steps she takes you through to put routines in place and I found through all the upheaval I found peace and order. She has many catch phrases and routines one of them being the Home Blessing Hour. Over time I have changed and adapted the systems to suit me and don’t receive the 10 or so emails a day but I certainly found her a huge benefit.

So Mondays I do a quick overall clean

• Change sheets 
• Clean mirrors and glass doors 
• Wipe down bathroom and toilet fixtures 
• Dust furniture with a feather duster 
• Clean around the fireplace and burn rubbish 
• Vacuum ‘centers’ of rooms 
• Mop

This actually takes a bit longer than an hour but I certainly go as quick as I can knowing it’s just a general tidy up type clean. Deeper more detailed and thorough cleaning is done in a different way (By this system) throughout the year.

So I went to work this  morning and had a busy day but not getting a lot done. I had phone calls and visitors - more so than I would have (one lady arriving just after 12.15pm and talking for over half an hour) so I just closed up leaving the place in a bit of a mess to carry on tomorrow. I work from 9.30am to 12 and most days I'm there until 12.30pm, but it’s just for finishing off.

Once I had delivered and posted the church newsletter around town to folk who hadn't been at church this week, after work, I got home to find Harry mowing the lawns. I hung the small load of washing thinking the day seemed fine after all, but - no - it soon started to drizzle but I did manage to get it mainly dry.

(Do you really want to know all this Sue?)

Yes those are our chooks following Harry around as he mows. As soon as he starts the mower if they are out they will follow behind pecking at the exposed bugs etc in the lawn.

I spent the next hour or so focusing on the HBH and as usual it took slightly longer than an hour.

I have managed to get it completed in an hour but I think I get distracted a bit and of course Harry wanted conversation between it all. And we had a cuppa while he watches "Tipping Point"

I harvested more vegetables from the garden and fruit from trees around the front yard for tea and to collect before the winds are due tomorrow. Cyclone Gita is passing over New Zealand over the next few days and although I don't expect we will badly affected here in the Waikato like other parts of New Zealand I do suspect we will get some strong winds and heavy rain.

I gathered all the fallen peaches from under the tree and later cooked them up topping them with some tiny meringues we got in a Christmas gift box to make a little pudding. I had roasted the chicken pieces, the potatoes and zucchini hunks for tea and popped the meringue topped peaches in the oven to warm through as it cooled down. I would have liked some whipped cream to go with it but instead we had some peaches and cream ice cream which complimented it nicely.

And the sunset – nope not today.
It’s raining.

Change the Thinking

So once again Christmas has come and gone with all the hype and build up, the worry and the joy, the mystery and surprises. What you did in preparation and what you didn’t, really doesn’t matter now as (using the words from the Lion King) “It’s in the past”.

It would seem that so often we allow what goes on around us and the demands and expectations of the media or others, dictate our thoughts and actions whether we want it to or not. The desire to ‘please’ can sap the very joy we want to portray, from us. Even without realising it these outside forces and the news we hear over the days around Christmas will control our very mood if we are not aware this is what is actually happening. Without us realizing it we are propelled into action or reaction and before we know it we are caught up and what is normal for us has gone out the window, so to speak.

When the guests are gone, half the decorations have fallen down and the fridge is still crammed with left overs you are brought to your senses and desire to get back what you had control of in the past. You desire to have the joy and contentment that you treasured. Or maybe you haven’t felt that joy and long to know it.

In reflection I was reading from my book Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. I hadn’t picked it up for a few days and this day 28th December I read….

I am your refuge and strength, an ever-present Help in trouble. Therefore, you don’t need to be afraid of anything – not even cataclysmic circumstances. The media are increasingly devoted to fear-inducing subject matter: terrorism, serial killers, environmental catastrophes. If you focus on such dangers and forget that I am your Refuge in all circumstances, you will become increasingly fearful. Every day I manifest My grace in countless places and situations, but the media take no notice. I shower not only blessings but also outright miracles on your planet. 
As you grow closer to Me, I open your eyes to see more and more of My Presence all around you Things that most people hardly notice, like shifting shades of sunlight, fill you with heart-bursting Joy. You have eyes that see and ears that hear, so proclaim My abiding Presence in the world.

Psalm 46:1-3 
1 God is our refuge and strength, 
 an ever-present help in trouble. 
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way 
 and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 
3 though its waters roar and foam 
 and the mountains quake with their surging. 

Psalm 89:15 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.

The news seems to be filling of famous people dying. Looking back over the past year with all its earthquakes, floods and killings and I did wonder where the news of God’s work was.

I follow the blog Club Organized by Pam Young and one of her recent posts had a similar theme in that she talked about our moods being influenced by the things going on around us. How we can get in the habit of being in a bad mood with a bad thought and feeding it with negative thoughts.

So what can we do…


Take a deep breath and sit. Be in a place where you can see the beauty of God’s creation around you. By a window or out on a deck. If you are in the northern hemisphere by a burning fire or under a cosy rug. Take a note of the quiet sounds around you and find something to smile about. Close your eyes and allow it to be a focus in your mind. Be thankful for it and see if you can find a couple more things to be thankful for. Allow yourself to take control of your breathing and slow it down. Maybe even go for a walk and go to an area where you will not be distracted by traffic, shops or other people. Slow your walk pace and take note of God’s creation as you pass. In this time let the negatives go from your thoughts and grab hold of a positive, a blessing, of someone you love.

As you allow your mind and thoughts to be transferred from the negative to the positive take it slowly to get back into what needs to be done around you and know that God is good. He showers us with blessings every day but we just have to recognise them and allow them to be the influence of how we feel and act.

Christmas is really about love, joy and peace – let the peace of God be with you always from this day on.

Routines Turning to Habits

Continuing on from the post yesterday about sticking to routines, Fly Lady says that the bed time routine is more important than the mooring one.

I hadn’t been one to really do this as at bed time I was ready to just fall into bed and not even think about whether I had done a routine!

But Fly lady also has said to start it early. Over time I have done that and after a while I could see the good in it.

I have narrowed it down to suit and also realise I have started doing some of the things as habit anyway.

I also discovered although Harry has not seen the site he has actually been doing his own bed time routine for years. Our children have joked at him being OCD to an extent but I now know he is just setting everything up so he doesn’t have to worry about the morning, it’s just all there ready for him. He gets his clothes out the night before and gets them in the living area where he gets changed. His breakfast is all set up and things to make his lunch, the tablets he needs to take and he even has his cigarettes pre-rolled for the whole day, all this of his own doing.

I start in the late afternoon getting the things ready and just allowing me to have everything organised so that by the time I am ready for bed all is done. One would argue its not a 'night time' routine then but you know what I mean!

So my night time routine is 

1.      Check the calendar

a.      Collect items that are needed (it maybe items
to return, bills to pay etc)

b.      Set out clothes

c.      Arrange afternoon/evening (informing Harry
and Katrina if I am not going to be home)

2.      Kitchen/living areas

a.      Do the dishes

b.      Shine the sink (a Flylady saying)

c.      Hotspots* (this is a Fly lady expression and explained below)

3.      Bed

a.      Wash face and brush teeth

b.      Get into pyjamas

c.      Read

You may think living by routines is a bind and “who would let someone else tell you how to live” but I have seen the sense in it and after a while it just becomes a habit but it means all is in order. It’s adapted to me and our home, meaning it is “mine” not someone else’s control of me.

It works for me and gives me a sense of calm. If things pop up that are out of the ordinary the routine is still a part of me so it gets done and I am not “thrown off” by the change. 

It takes 21 days to form a habit so if you do anything daily for long enough it will just become apart of who you are and this applies to good and bad habits. It also means that if you want to break a bad habit its not something you can do over night but takes a daily commitment to 'fighting' it and putting something in place to change it.

*Hotspots are explained by Marla the Fly lady as a place where clutter or mess build and soon become an untidy mess. It’s the sort of place, where if it is kept tidy or clear, it will look good. But as soon as something is placed there, that shouldn’t be, it seems to attract more and so soon becomes an out of controlled mess. She suggests you keep working on these places keeping them clear. If it is cleared daily it won’t combust into a “burning mess”.

I find that the bench in the kitchen, the dining table and coffee table are all areas where this can happen so I try to keep them clear and tidy.

Routines

Is it not surprising once again to read the daily reading this morning and feel God is still talking to and encouraging me!

3rd August  Was titled Doing God's Will and starts with  a reading from Psalm 40 

1 I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry

2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my fee on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.

4 Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.

5 Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.

6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced; burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require.

7 Then I said, “Here I am, I have come— it is written about me in the scroll.

8 I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”

Often when we're starting out, we dream of doing earth-changing things and the thought of tackling them intimidates us. That is yet another reason to start small. Don't try to help everyone, just try to help someone! 

Do that, and in time you may find yourself living what Francis of Assisi described when he said, 

'Start doing what is necessary; then do what is possible; and suddenly, you are doing the impossible.' Even if you never get to do big things, you can find great fulfilment in doing right things. No act of kindness is too small to be worth doing.

John Maxwell writes: 

'Little did I realise when I started with a desire to add significance to others, that it would add significance to me! Now I understand. We should not receive anything without giving, and we cannot give anything without receiving.'  

The truth is, your dream isn't worthy of your life if it doesn't bless others. President Woodrow Wilson stated: 

'You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand.'

There's an old Middle Eastern blessing that says, 'When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. May you live your life so that when you die, the world will cry and you will rejoice.'  

 

This encouraged me to share more with you...

One of the things I have used over the past few years is the Fly lady website. (Finally Loving Yourself)

At first I tried to do everything she said but I found I came across aspects of it that were not for me. 

It is American based so things were done a little different because of the different cultures and seasons. However Marla (the lady behind Flying) taught me ideas and ways to ‘gain control’ so to speak.

She talks about routines and I started with what she does and tried to do the same. I soon found it wasn’t working so I adapted it to suit me. 

It was funny as I thought I had to do it her way but realised in time I was actually fighting over it and so relaxed and used the tool for me rather than being used by the tool!

And this is actually one of the things she talks about; feeling we had to measure up to some expectation when really anything done in the home is a blessing.

 

I start my day with a cuppa that Harry brings me and do my bible reading and write in my diary. Then its time to get up and start my my morning routine.

It’s divided into four parts just as Fly lady does but I have reduced/combined mine.

1.      Getting started

a.      Get out of bed and make it.

b.      Shower and get dressed, fixing face, hair and shoes.

c.      Swish and swipe. (wipe the bathroom basin and sink, and swish the toilet bowl)

2.      Moving on

a.      Start a load of washing.

b.      Get something out for tea.

c.      Check the calendar for appointments.

3.      Breakfast

a.      Eat some breakfast

b.      Fill my water bottle

c.      Take my tablets

4.      Finishing off

a.      Dishes (either unpack or finish packing and start the dishwasher)

b.      Hotspots* (this is a Fly lady expression and explained below)

c.      Animals ( feed, check for clean water and let out)

For me I have worked the routine out to be four lots of three things which made it 

easier to remember them, but now they have become so routine I almost do them automatically. I find that sticking to these gets me ready for the day. 

When I do them in order I know that when I leave the house not only am I ready, 

but I am leaving the house in order and a place that is a welcome to come home to.

*Hotspots are explained by Marla the Fly lady as a place where clutter or mess build and soon become an untidy mess. It’s the sort of place, where if it is kept tidy or clear, it will look good. But as soon as something is placed there, that shouldn’t be, it seems to attract more and so soon becomes an out of controlled mess. She suggests you keep working on these places keeping them clear. If it is cleared daily it won’t combust into a “burning mess”.

I find that the bench in the kitchen, the dining table and coffee table are all areas where this can happen so I try to keep them clear and tidy.

All scripture is from (New International Version 1984)

A New Start

This morning I woke in a slightly better frame of mind than I have for some time.

I have been struggling over the last 12 months or so with issues. It’s hard to pin point anything in particular but lots of things; family (at home and afar), health (both mine and family), work for Harry and myself, personal aspects of my life and just general demands on my time.

I realised that everything has sort of got out-of-control by being pulled in all directions and not being strong to myself. I have made attempts at speaking out or putting things back to the way they were but it didn’t seem to work or others didn’t appreciate me thinking of myself.

I know from the past, a few years ago now, that if I wasn’t able to look after myself I would suffer and so in time those around me too. If I didn’t take steps for self-preservation I would crumble. I needed to take control of who I am and what was happening in my life.

I will admit I had let things ‘fall’ down. I wasn’t sticking to my routines, reading my bible daily, exercising or eating, sleeping and even thinking right. Nearly everything was suffering and it was either because I had time stealers in my life, or depression and/or laziness had crept it. It seemed the more I noticed things weren’t being done or done well, the more I seemed to give up. 

This morning I woke with time to think and realised I needed to get back to what I knew.

I often see a new… day, month, year whatever, is like an opportunity to start again and leave the past behind and although we are already into the month of August I though “New month - start afresh”.

I follow an adapted version of Fly lady and one of her slogans is “you’re not behind, jump in right where you are”.

I opened my bible and started on the new readings from the new Word for Today booklet from Radio Rhema.

As usual it spoke to me, not just today's but yesterdays too. This often happens whenever I am searching. Let me share.

 

1^st August said

...it's not just the opportunity - it's often the attitude that meets the opportunity that determines the outcome. God will give you chances to win, but it's your commitment that determines the size of your victory.

'Is your heart in what you're doing? Are you giving it your all?'

2^nd August was titled

Maximise This Day                                                The reading was taken from Psalm 118

God determines the number of your days, but you determine how they are spent. Yesterday is a cancelled cheque, tomorrow is a promissory note, today is all you've got.

And you can begin your life over today, if you live by these words:

'Today I will delete from my diary two days - yesterday and tomorrow.

Yesterday was for learning; tomorrow will be a consequence of what I do today.

Today I will face life with the conviction that this day will never return, that it may be the last opportunity I'll have to contribute because there's no guarantee I'll see tomorrow.

Today I will be courageous enough not to let opportunity pass me by; my only alternative will be to succeed.

Today I will invest my most valuable resource, my time, into my most important possession, the life God has given me.

I'll spend each minute purposefully, making today a unique opportunity.

I'll tackle each obstacle knowing that with God's help I can overcome it.

Today I will resist doubt and pessimism and warm my world with a smile.

I'll maintain a strong faith, expect nothing but the best, take time to be happy, see every task as an opportunity to honour the Lord, and endeavour to leave His footprints on the hearts of those I meet.'

'Time is your life - nothing more, nothing less. The way you spend your hours and your days, is the way you spend your life.'- John Boykin

Talk about having God tell me He knew exactly where I was and what I needed.

So I prayed that God would order my day and allow what needs to be done to get done.

I knew I had to get back into what I knew worked for me and instead of jumping out of bed to dive into everything I thought “I know it doesn’t work when I am down whether it be not feeling well or being depressed or lazy, I have to work at ‘coming back’ slowly so it doesn’t overwhelmed me.”

I have different routines I have put into place for me. One is a daily morning routine and also a bedtime routine; another is jobs in the house done weekly but only certain jobs each day; and still another is setting aside time each day for me to either read, knit, garden, bake or whatever as well as do some exercise. If I tried to start all over with all of these I know I would fail as so much has lapsed and left undone. 

So being gentle I have given myself a week for each group to be put back into place.

I am also entitled to some holiday from work and as I can choose as to when these are I will ‘sort’ things out so that when the holiday is taken I can have it for myself and not running around trying to catch up. 

It gives me a sense of excitement to work towards too.

 

Psalm 118   Parts that spoke to me

5 In my anguish I cried to the Lord, and he answered by setting me free.

6 The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

7 The Lord is with me; he is my helper.  I will look in triumph on my enemies.

14 The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.

28 You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you.

29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

All scripture is from the New International Version 1984

Finally Looking After Myself

I am ‘finally looking after myself’ which is the catch phrase for FLYLADY.

It’s been a month since I posted the first day of the rest of my life and I thought it was good just to take stock of where I am at, and I am pleased to say I am doing well.

I have watched what I eat by having a good wholesome breakfast to start off the day. I only have one or two ‘sweet’ things during the day and have that with a sit down hot cup of something so I know I have had it and enjoy it. I have started to drink a lot more water as I often felt hungry but discovered I was really just thirsty and besides the glass or two of water filled me up.

I also eat at lease two pieces of fruit a day sometimes that is just at breakfast and I have more during the day.

I now go for a walk every two to three days and I am up to 30 minutes a walk. If the weather isn’t too good I have started to do the house work in a sort of rush just to keep the body warmed up and exercised.

And the reward is I have lost 2 kilograms in a month.

I have also had a hair cut and been to the dentist and had two fillings fixed up. One was disintegrating and I had a split in the other. I had 1 week holiday from work just to blob out and it was good and helped me to gain control.

I get on with my Flylady routines and have found I feel in control and not always thinking I am behind and ‘failing’.

I burnt my wrist about a month ago on the chimney of the wood burner. It blistered and was painful. When the blister burst it seemed to be infected. I put antiseptic cream on it and kept it covered with gauze. Hubby kept telling g me to go to the doctors but I put it off thinking it would come right. Then I developed a sore ear and a boil under my arm, all on the same side as the burn.
On Sunday I had prayer for this and the people who prayed noticed that my arm was swollen. It was thought that I had may have had ‘bad blood’.

Acts 3:16

16By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.

We all claimed healing in the name of Jesus and I waited to see what happened.

Today – four days later – my ear is healed, the boil has gone down, so has the swelling in my arm and the burn is healing with a good scab on it (sorry about the details!!)

God is good

All scripture is from (New International Version)

The First Day of The Rest of My Life

This morning I was woken by the phone. The walk around phone wasn't beside the bed and neither was my husband so I thought he would answer it. He didn't and after a little doze it rung again. I rushed to the living area to answer it and realised it was 9.30am. What a sleep in!! I needed it.

But I seemed to waste the rest of the morning and I felt a sense of lowness and depression on me. Living with mental illness around you can bring you down too.
Catching sight of myself in the mirror after I had showered, I was shocked at what looked back at me. I am now the heaviest I have ever been [75kg] and my hands and feet are swelling. I can't bend down to put on my shoes. I comfort eat and haven't walked or done any exercise in months.
"Oh Lord" I cried' "This is enough. I need your help"

The words from a song came to mind.

This is the day, This is the day,

That the Lord has made,

That the Lord has made

I will rejoice,

I will rejoice and be glad in it,

and be glad in it.

This is the day that Lord has made,

I will rejoice and be glad in it.

This is the day, this is the day

that the Lord has made.

I made a commitment to myself - 'This is the first day of the rest of my life' - and with God on my side I will
return to who He has made me to be.
Where to start? A few changes and getting back to routines.

• stop the junk food and sweet comfort eating
• drink more water
• go for a daily walk
• re-start my flylady routines

That was enough for one week - I don't want to make the list unachievable.
Breakfast was 1/4 cup of canned fruit salad with a small handful of sultanas, pumpkin seeds and a sliced banana.
I filled my water bottle and started my daily routine adapted from Flylady
• Get out of bed and make it
• Shower, weigh, get dressed to shoes fixing make up, hair and jewellery
• Swish and wipe the bathroom and toilet
• Start a load of washing
• Get meat out for tea
• Check calendar for appointments
• Have breakfast
• Take tablets
• Fill water bottle
• Empty dishwasher
• Clear hot spots
• Feed animals.

Looking at this photo taken this morning makes me feel awful bit it also makes me determined to love myself and be well.
As much as I love my new purple slippers, wearing clean shoes inside gives you a sense of purpose; lipstick, perfume and jewellery makes me feel good.
I made the bed making the room feel relaxing and welcoming.
The list of basic chores gets the house in order ready for what ever else needs doing.
Just completing this routine gives a great sense of satisfaction.
I went for two walks today and didn't eat any junk food or cakes.

I will see how I feel after a week.

Home Blessing Hour

Home blessing hour you may be saying, what is this??
It is a "flylady" thing Finally Loving Yourself. Check out her web site.
http://www.flylady.net/
She helps you to organise yourselves, home and lives through routines and great self boosting ways.
I have been using her systems adapted to suit me (it is an American site) for three years now. She helped me to learn to de clutter and alter/make my routines.

One of her routines is the Home Blessing Hour. (HBH)
Once a week on a Monday I go around the house and do a basic clean. It is supposed to take one hour but I spend a bit longer sometimes - well most but I know its done in at least an hour and a half.
Its a good feeling to know these basic things are done each week. Flylady also works on a different "zone" in the house each new week so you are always on top of the cleaning.

Home Blessing Hour
Change sheets on beds
Sort recycling (recycling day every second Tuesday)
Empty rubbish bins (rubbish day Tuesdays)
Clean mirrors and door windows
Dust with a feather duster
Polish wooden furniture
Vacuum
Mop
Clean fireplace (In the winter)

I have always done a main wash on a Monday so this suited well.
I do all the towels and bath mats if they haven't been done this day too.
Surprisingly enough it tends to be fine on a Monday even in the winter most of the times so I very really have baskets of washing piling up, nor do I use the dryer much at all. Having had five children and only used cloth nappies it was just part of my day to do two or three loads each day.
We had lines in the garage for nappies and sheets, and an old wooden fold out clothes horse that I still use. I also try to fold the washing as I take it off the line - saves double handling.

Getting the rubbish and recycling sorted and out, helps to stop build ups of clutter.

A quick whiz around the house with a feather duster gets rid of most of the surface dust as well as in-between things or items up high e.g. pictures, light shades, with out having to move things. I use an ostrich feather duster (like my mother used) available from Mitre 10 or Mega stores. A good clean of the surfaces is done at different times when I do a zone.

Doing mirrors and door windows just makes the place feel brighter and so does polishing my "real" wooden tables.

The vacuming and mopping is just a quick surface clean (I vacum again later in the week) and thorough floor cleans are done at zone weeks too.

If you do join Flylady be aware that you get emails each day (up to about 6) but you don't have to read them and just be in control with your mouse and click them away, but they are good to remind you until you are confident in the routines you want to stick to. She also has a forum you can join.

It's good to "bless" the house on Monday after everyone has been home in the weekend and when it's finished I sit and relax with a cuppa not having to look at mess!!