Spring Fever usually hits me around this time of year. I tend to go into "cleaning mode", and I pull things out of closets and sort through stashes of papers and magazines. Last year, I weeded out our library, motivated by the fact that I no longer need any primary school book, as my youngest homeschooler is in his teens. I was also appalled by a relative's home, and decided that I do not want to be a hoarder. I don't want to keep things "just in case". I don't want to have ten of anything when one or two will do.
Last year, I gave away 140 BOXES full of books. 140.
I don't regret it for a second. Our library is now more open and airy, and my hubby now has a bigger space for his office. (One of my goals is to sort and organize his office, but that's a post for another day.)
I just happened across a page on the internet a few days ago. It inspired and challenged me.
#40BAGSIN40DAYS
Ann Marie was inspired by another blogger, and took the plunge a couple of years ago, ridding her house of 40 bags of stuff in 40 days. The stuff was given away, sold, or thrown in the trash... no matter the size of the bag, there were 40 bags of things that she didn't need gone from her home, for good!
http://www.whitehouseblackshutters.com/40-bags-in-40-days-2014/
So, I took the challenge.
^Before. After:
I cleaned out my desk drawers. I got rid of a bag full of garbage, and put everything in its place.
I cleaned a small cupboard by my desk, filed all of my stickers, and put all of the electronics neatly in a drawer. I also filed my bills and set up a file box for finances, another one for our church, and another one for a "tickle" file for my personal use. I then cleaned up my roll top (craft desk):
Today, I cleaned the rest of the drawers in the roll top desk, and threw out old envelopes, moldy papers, etc. My desk is now completely organized and ready for me to enjoy.
Results so far?
- gave towels and glasses to Elena
- got rid of four bags of garbage
- organized my entire desk, all the drawers, and filing system
- tidied and sorted craft desk; labelled containers so everything's easy to find
- found my original birth certificate from Jeffrey Hales Hospital
- found pictures and love notes from my kids and hubby
Five days down, thirty-five to go! I can do this!
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Homemaking is an opportunity to demonstrate love and care for my family. A bit of hard work makes my home a more welcoming place, so we can show hospitality to others in the name of Jesus. Having a place for everything and everything in its place will give me a sense of preparedness and peace, so I don't waste time looking for something that should be easily found.
I can do this. I can rid my home of 40 bags of stuff - either trash or treasures for others - in 40 days.
Joanna was telling me about Kaitlyn being a "girly girl". In spite of having two brothers, Kaitlyn is all about the pretty things and romance.
Joanna got her some new hair doodads. Kaitlyn loved them! Joanna was pleased.
But little did she know that the new hair things would show her what a girly girl her daughter is.
Kaitlyn was playing quietly by herself with two of the hair baubles. Joanna listened.
"Mommy," Kaitlyn said, as she bounced a hair bauble in her left hand.
"Daddy," Kaitlyn said, doing the same with one in her right hand.
But the next thing she did was the kicker.
She brought the two baubles together, bouncing them happily along, then smacking them together.
"K I S S", came the sound.
I wonder what SHE sees at her house. :D
Check out the new Poetry Blog that Jacqueline started. I linked it in my sidebar under "Links I like".
The children are learning about the great Explorers in our Co-op Homeschool. We discussed how God confounded the language of the people of Babel, so that they spread out throughout the world. Brave souls decided years later to travel, seeking wealth or lands. We discussed what it would have been like to travel across seas and oceans in small ships, or through mountain passes on pack-horses. Danger would have been all around - sometimes real, sometimes perceived. There was no "edge of the world", there were no "sea monsters"...yet the explorers thought there might be. So, they were courageous as they travelled far from home.
We gave the children an assignment:
History - Explorers Project.
| Explorer | Researcher | | Balboa | Critter | | Frobisher | Justin | | Cabot | Ethan | | Alexander | Trenton | | Columbus | Tiana | | Drake | Quinlan | | Vikings | Nathan | | Marco Polo | Elena | | Vespucci | Daniel | | Magellan | Linda | This is a research project. Go to the library, use encyclopaedia, or the internet (LAST!) to find out information about your explorer. Where did he live? When? What form of travel did he use? Where did he go? Did he claim any land for his liege? Were there any conflicts during his travels? Was his life in danger?
Find out some interesting facts about your explorer. Include a map of his travels.
Use the template to copy figures onto cardstock. Decorate the explorer to reflect something of his culture or character. (Sword, moustache, horse, uniform, equipment, etc.)
You will be giving a report on your explorer next week, and putting your guy up on the timeline. You could even include a page for the other students to fill in with facts about your explorer.
Around the World in Math When we were finished with History, we played "Around the World". The children line up, and the first volunteer stands behind the first in line. I call out math facts, and the two of them compete to see who can be the first to call out the correct answer. The winner moves to the next person in line, and continues "around the world". The first one to get all the way around gets to sit down.
There's a lot of pressure to do well, and some of the kids like competition, while others feel upset when they get a wrong answer. But with plenty of encouragement, they persevered, and everybody had fun.
I'm sure they're going to practice their math before the next co-op day.
Truthfully, they're not so little anymore.
But my six youngest and my friend's three youngest children (the littles in their respective large families) tackled the back yard today.
The garden was a mess. If you look carefully at the following picture, you'll see the garden fence, with lots of stuff that needs to be raked:
There was paraphernalia left over from finishing off the siding last fall. There was an old door, tossed aside when the back door was replaced. There were weeds and dry old vines and rocks and bits of glass and screws and nails. Lots of junk to clean. UGH.
 Here you can see that the fence has been removed, and the garden area has been raked and cleaned.
Elena is rejoicing...we're almost done:
Josh, Dan & Pat took turns driving the tractor around. Here's Joshua taking a turn.
They gathered garbage, taking it to the burn pile. They pulled out the fence, which we plan to re-install after we till and make our garden about 50% larger than last year's. They pulled out two posts that used to belong to our old wooden swing set, which collapsed a couple of years ago under the weight of a fallen maple tree.
Linda, Elena, Tiana, Jessie and Joy used rakes and shovels to get rid of weeds and debris. They worked tirelessly for hours, making a dreary task fun by working together.
Christopher did lots of running for the older kids. He picked up some nails and screws. He ran and got buckets when we needed them.
"Job well done, kids! Now it's time for a tea, but just let me get a final picture of the back yard. C'mon, everybody line up so I can get your picture."
"Aww, do we HAVE to?" (Half the kids had already made it inside...)
"Naww... it's okay...I know you're tired. Snap."
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