And now it's February. The dreaded month of February. Thankfully, we have kept busy. There are a few amazing (to me) things I'd like to share about my homemaking project.
The way I do things is to start from the very basic root of the problem and work my further up until I get to the tips of the branches- a quality that usually takes a simple project and makes it into an outline worthy of a Nobel Peace Prize hopeful. Typically this means my project does not get finished. But it is what it is. I am sitting next to a 1,000 piece puzzle of a Renoir painting that I have been working on for who knows how long, a mess of homeschool books, a pile of laundry that has not been put away for a week, and a hodge-podge of various craft supplies, pencils, stuffed animals, and a Chinese Checkers game. But I do feel as though I have accomplished something. The evidence will not show for some time.
I have had so many ideas jumbled up in my mind and I needed direction. So I prayed for a vision, but from stubborn experience I knew this vision would not be my own, which is incredibly hard for me. I had to be from my husband, and it cannot be that I sit him down and demand a vision. Oh, talk about a faith project. Less than a week later it came unexpectedly. Clear as a bell. All of the pieces of that vision are not in place, but there is direction. A vision, down at the tip of the root, that may affect all decisions hereafter.
I am so proud of my husband for his adventurous dreams.
I have know for a while that things would go better if I revised our budget, which I abandoned a while back when things changed in our financial situation. I avoided it because dealing with money makes me cranky. Fortunately, it actually has given me more peace. It looks attainable, and I feel as sort of administrative sense of ease. If you are interested in learning more about a zero-balanced budget, this is a good read.
I am also resting in the fact that I don't do everything right financially, and that's okay. I have a vision now. I'm trusting that it will all come together.
Finally, I have to rid the clutter. Our current project is to clean out closets. I gave myself and each of the children the task of picking out seven nice outfits, seven everyday outfits, a handful of T-shirts and up to three dresses. I wanted them to put thought into what each outfit would consist of, and if they needed to purchase anything to complete them. The number has no particular meaning except there are seven days in a week, and I wanted everyone to feel as though they had a comfortable amount, yet a limit.
Most of our clothes are given to us or from Goodwill (4 kids...), but what happens is that we don't keep a good inventory and we think we need something that we don't and it's cheap enough we just get it. I am drowning in clothes, most of which we don't need. Not my own, mind you. I never know what to wear. I also want to fix that problem- less time worrying about what we wear since it is available. Outfits are complete- ones that we all feel confident in.
I have been pleased that the kids have taken this project seriously and it gave them a sense of responsibility. They recognized some things they needed and even used some Christmas money to buy socks and tights. It's fun to see them emerge from their rooms fully dressed and beaming with accomplishment. I suppose time will tell if it lasts :)
In the middle of work and outings and animal reports, progress is made. Thank you, Jesus.
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