Day 5 - Floor Moldings and Door Jambs

Today, I tried to make up for yesterday and eventually had to let that pipe dream go.  

This little missie was not happy today.  Nothing some tylenol couldn't fix.  What?  Only 12 more teeth to go?

Nadia was running away from the camara so...no picture.  

From Nadia yesterday "What does God look like?"

I had to take a picture of my kitchen table and share my tablecloth with you.  

I started using tablecloths about a year or two ago to dampen the noise at dinner but also to make meal time more festive and special.  It was a lot of extra laundry but worth it.  One day, I remembered that I had this huge piece of upholstery fabric (intended for reupholstering the family room couch which after reading u-tube videos on how "easy" it was, I was completely overwhelmed) that was the perfect size.  I LOVE IT!!!  

It looks fancy and because the fabric is a little more durable I can leave it on the table for 3-4 sometimes even 7 days with just brushing crumbs and wiping spills.  I was getting so fed up with buying plastic that the kids would wreck in less than a year.  I highly recommend this for busy households!!! 

NO, I am not going to smile today Mom!! 

Some molding to work on. Cheerios to pick up after Madilyn got at the bag before I had the chance to put it away.  

A nice messy door. 

All the supplies.  A magic eraser is a must have.  

See the table cloth???  I'm just so happy with it!!!  

So...I did not get anywhere near done today and I worked HARD. Like, 3 hours of manual

labor.  Maybe I'm half done - maybe not.  Tomorrow, I am not going to be able to work at all.  

That's okay, I need a break!!!  Thursday is the Senior's Lunch at our church so we'll see if I feel like cleaning when I get home.  Maybe, maybe not.  

If you have been following along - keep up the hard work!!  

Have a great few days in God's Hands. 

God Doesn't Need My Help!!!

Good morning!!!  I am about to embark on the daily cleaning journey but since I did not blog yesterday I thought I would write something to let you know that I am still in the game!!  Yesterday was just one of those days when EVERYTHING needs to get done AND you have extra things to do on top of that.  On days like that I can get easily overwhelmed.  Prioritizing is the key.  Where does that leave spring cleaning?
Well, it's on the bottom of the priority list.  Feeding people and clothing people comes first!!!  I don't even feel like I have to excuse or explain myself because that is just my life right now.  I am very thankful for feeling no guilt and very thankful for all the work I have been given.

While working in the kitchen this morning I was listening to KARI 550 radio. I think it was Kevin Leaman (??) Not sure about how reformed he is but he had good words to say.  He was preaching about David and Goliath.  One phrase stood out.  "When you are fully trusting God than you realize that God doesn't need your help!!"  Okay, LORD.  Thanks for bringing me to my knees again.  I like to help though.  I want to be a part of things and create occasions or create tangible pieces of love.  "That's okay" the LORD could be saying to me "just don't forget who I am and that I will take care of you and your family through it all".   Then I say, like I have said hundreds of times before

"Oh Father!! I am so sorry for doubting, just like Thomas. I didn't really believe anymore that you would do that.  Please forgive my unbelief, my self pride and buoy me up in your warm arms of love.  Carry me through and let all my strength come only from YOU!!"

Day 4 - Clean Oven

Before

 

The Process

I soaked the element bottoms in baking soda. 

I sprayed the interior of the oven with half part vinegar and half part water spray. Then I sprinkled baking soda all over.  Then it's supposed to brew over night - I did it in the morning and scrubbed in the afternoon. In hind sight I wish I had made a paste because as you can see not all the baking soda stuck. 

Can you see the little finger marks there?  That is the very reason why I like to use chemicals (after all, baking soda and vinegar are compounds that are composed of chemicals) that are "basic" and will not harm a child.  

Doing this type of work in the evening when the kids are in bed is not physically possible!!! 

I've been thinking of creating a housecleaning or springcleaning work out - do you think it would sell :)?

Top all clean!! 

Over all, I was happy with the results.  The black junk came off so easy.  

Madilyn was reading Scripture to me while I was working. 

It's sandbox season!!  I'm both happy and not.  

Today, Will is renovating the upstairs bathroom.  This is what it looked like at 11am. 

He was quite happy that most of the drywall was still dry!!   As you can see with the blue tub and toilet that some updating was sorely needed.  Yah!!!  

Here's more of my little helper as I did the drawer today.  She went and found a rag and started cleaning with me!!!  

It's also fun to stand in. 

Nice and clean. 

Looking good!!!  

See you next week!!! 

Thank-you!!

I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who has been following along and commenting/encouraging me on this cleaning journey.  You know why?  Because I really need it!!!
It really motivates me and helps me finish the goals that I have set for the house.  I don't think I would do it otherwise.  I am far too full of excuses to get things done.

So...in order to show my heartfelt appreciation for coming here everyday to cheer me on I have a giveaway planned.  By the end of the 14 days if you have left a comment I will enter your name into a draw for something special (read: I haven't figured out what it is yet!).  I just feel really blessed - like everyone of you has come into my kitchen with a mug of tea (or coffee, if you prefer) and are there with me to hold me accountable and keep me going.  When this is all finished - that is one of my goals off the internet - I would like to have more tea time with others!!  It is too easy for me to isolate myself and say I'm busy but that's not healthy or up-lifting. Nadia and Madilyn love to visit others too!!!

I'm not quite done the oven today (It is hard physically and a BIG job) yet so stay tuned for pictures tomorrow.  Until then, God bless you and keep you.

Day 3 - Heat Registers

I'm avoiding that oven!!!  Truly, I woke up with my cold worse than yesterday. 

I worked on the oven door and that lasted on so long...

This chore took all of 10 minutes plus the 3 hours (!!) it takes for our dishwasher to run

I still have to dry them and put them all back but if I leave it long enough, they will mostly air dry and perhaps some children would like to help :).   

This register is being guarded by the Pink Giraffe. 

"Hi! I am much happier today.  Having mouth pain is not fun let me tell you and when it's gone I will smile until the cows come home!"

Small tip - If you have a piano near a heat register - stick insulation in it so that the air movement does not cause the wood to expand and contract too much, thus wrecking your piano.

Will I get to doing the oven tomorrow?  I just realized I need it for the casserole for dinner.  I shall have to clean it before then!!  No more procrastinating for me!!  

BTW: My blog is currently under construction - baby woke up so I have to stop half way. 

I will do the stove top and drawer tomorrow. 

See you then!! . 

Day 2 - Cobwebs

I decided to dust all the cobwebs today because I woke up with a cold and we had company. 

The oven needed time to brew anyway.  

The point of having a list is not to add stress.  It should be one's guide and servant not one's master.

So...my list may not be followed to the "T" but I will keep going.

Here I share one of my favorite verses :

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own"  Matthew 6:34

I heard a quote from one of my favorite authors yesterday...

"Each day we are given what we need for the burdens of the day.  It's when we take on the burdens of the next days that we then can no longer stand up"  

George MacDonald 

Day One - Clean Fridge

See my red cheek?  I'm teething and Mom has other plans!!! 

I'm happy as long as I get to help!!!

A poem Will found for me - I look at it every day and take a DEEP breath.  

An outside shot.  This job will not be bad I am guessing because our fridge died in October (?) and this is our new (to us) one so therefore it's not very dirty.  

Mommy!!!  I am hanging on your legs as you take those pictures.  Can't you see me???  

Freezer

Freezer door. 

The fridge - for us this is an empty phase.  

Fridge Door. 

The veggie drawers. 

Tomorrow or Thursday will be grocery day. 

These are the after pictures now - see all the soothers in the freezer?  

I gave Madilyn an oatmeal in her booster seat and that kept her happy for 45 minutes. 

I moved the chocolate stash up a shelf because Nadia can reach it now. 

I threw some old magnets away. 

Voila!!! 

Altogether this took me 1 hour and 20 minutes (I had to take a break half way through).  

Feels good to be done!!  13 more to go!!!  

What a blessing to have a fridge that works - we went 4 days without one in October and it was doable and interesting (not as stressful as I thought it would be) but made me thankful for this appliance that we all too often take for granted.  Thank you LORD!!!