Whom do you serve?

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24

Over the last couple of weeks I have been thinking about this one question, "Whom do you serve?" I like to say that it doesn't really matter what people think about me. I like to think that only God matters. Those statements easily flow from my lips, but most days they are not flowing from my heart.

A couple of days ago I was in one of my "I really do not want to clean this house" today kind of moods, (yes I know this is my attitude pretty much every day). But I knew that I really had a lot to get done. The fun I have been having with my kids creating their Unforgettable Childhood. . .has really been doing a number on my house. Glue, little fingers and string = sticky chairs, table, counters, etc.

I went to my room and I pulled out my Bible and I turned to this verse. I sat and dwelled on it a bit. I read it and reread it. I was thinking to myself, I should clean and that would make my hubby really happy. But I realized I should be thinking of it as serving the Lord.

When my home is in shambles, the last thing I want to do is open it to others. My husband taught me a good lesson on Friday night as we stood in a restaurant. He invited friends over to our home for dessert. I almost had a heart attack right in the restaurant. Thankfully, my house was pretty put together and we got there before they did so I could make one final walk through.

So on this house cleaning day I put on some praise music, grabbed my cleaning supplies and praised God as I put stuff away. It was amazing how much easier it was with a good attitude and a servant's heart.

This may sound silly to you, but for anyone that knows me well, you know, cleaning is a huge struggle for me. I have been married for 10 years and believe me my husband does not love me for my housekeeping abilities.

My husband is always happy and a bit relieved when the house is clean, but a couple of days ago I wasn't doing it for him and the praise I get for doing it. (My top love language is words of affirmation so his words do help :-)

I was doing it for the Lord. Because I know that He wants me to have a clean house, too!

Home is. . .

Sandy the Reluctant Entertainer is hosting a fun Wednesday link up called Home is. . . This week she wants us to focus on an Easter Memory.

This Easter was full of memories for us. I will never forget this wonderful Easter.

Home is. . .

an Easter Memory

It started with Palm Sunday


There was a visit from the Easter Bunny.


Easter Egg hunting.


Fun on Grandma and Grandpa's Farm


And listening to little conversations between 4 year old cousins over a little Easter candy.



I have a lot of pictures to capture the memories shared between our family. The pictures don't capture the most important part. The conversations that were had between three beautiful girls and two parents. The conversations about Christ and His sacrifice for us. The questions about Good Friday and the day Jesus rose. Those are memories that are captured in our hearts.

I posted this picture last week, but it captures my favorite Easter Memory. . .

Simplifying For Sanity #1 Master Bedroom

I really wanted to do my living room this week. . .

But, on Wednesday 1400 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies embarked upon my house and well, there were cookies everywhere. So I decided to do the Master Bedroom. This is how it looked last week. . .


I had my work cut out for me.

I threw a lot of stuff away. I bagged up a few things for the Thrift Store. I put away the clean clothes and washed the dirty ones. I found every little toy and book, etc. that my little ones had brought to my room and I put them away.

Here is my finished product.



I know, the closet door is closed. My husband has a few things in there that he needs to sort out. I am boycotting doing it for him. Once he does his part I will post a pic of the clean closet, too. I promise.

I am not only cleaning and decluttering rooms, I am also working on my life. If you have a chance, check out my restoration post. I am so thankful that God isn't finished with me yet.

Martha Makeover Step #1

Well, it is time to get something done around here. I have been focusing on one area this week from the Martha Stewart Homekeeping Handbook.

She lists Six Things to Do Every Day:
1. Make the Bed: Tidiness begets tidiness. A crisply made bed makes the whole room seem more orderly, which makes it less likely that you'll get other things--such as clothes and papers--pile up around it. (I really think this is true, I hate walking into my room when the bed isn't made)

2. Manage Clutter: Whenever you leave a room, take a quick look around for anything that isn't where it should be. Pick it up and put it where it belongs. Insist that everyone in the house do the same. (We are working on this one. I think it is super hard with young kids that have toys. The toys seem to multiply in my living room)

3. Sort the Mail: Take a few minutes to open, read, and sort mail as soon as you bring it inside. Keep a trash bin near your sorting area for junk mail. Drop the other mail into one of four in-boxes: personal correspondence, bills, catalogs, and filing. (I still need to set up a mail station, but I am trying to go through the mail right away and throw away any junk that is accumulating)

4. Clean As You Cook: Instead of filling the sink with pots and dishes, wash them or put them in the dishwasher as you prepare a meal. (I do not have a dishwasher so if I do not do my dishes right away they are a huge eyesore. I have been making sure that all of my dishes are done before I go to bed at night. This really helps me start my day off in a good mood)

5. Wipe up Spills While They're Fresh: Whether it's tomato sauce on the cooktop or makeup on the bathroom counter, almost anything is faster and easier to remove if you attend to it immediately. (Now if I could just teach my hubby this one. . .)

6. Sweep the Kitchen Floor: Every evening once you've finished washing up after dinner, sweep the floor. This will keep tough-to-clean dirt and grime from builing up, which will make the weekly mopping much quicker. (It is amazing how much stuff can accumulate on the floor in just one day.)

Here is the checklist I have hanging on the fridge for my reminder.



I can't wait to share with you my newest organization project when it is complete. It started as this. . .



How do you manage to keep your home clean and organized with kids?

Help me Martha Stewart

I am sitting here watching the Martha Stewart Show today. It is her blog show. I love her show and her magazine. I wish I could craft and cook like her. But there is something I need to learn from her more than anything else. I have the book, I have read the book, but I still have not applied the book to my life.


I asked for Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook for Christmas two years ago. I need to give you a little background on why in the world I would ask for a Homekeeping book for Christmas.

I grew up with a mom that did everything. She cleaned, did the dishes, did the laundry. Bottom line, I was spoiled. The problem with this is. . .I don't know how to clean. Honestly, my poor husband didn't know what he was getting himself into. We have been married for almost 10 years and I am still kind of a mess when it comes to cleaning.

When we first got married we discovered that we love to entertain. The only problem was that our house was never really ready for entertaining. We would decide to invite some friends over and then I would clean like a maniac and cook like crazy until our friends walked through the door. I loved to do it, but by the time our friends arrived I had a massive headache from stressing myself out about getting ready for the night. I really don't want to be such a disaster in my house, but I just have not figured it out yet.

Back when I saw the movie Julie and Julia I told my family that I didn't want to cook through a cookbook, I needed to clean through my Homekeeping Handbook. For those of you that know me well, you know this will not be an easy task for me. There is very little I hate more than to clean. But there is not much I love more than entertaining. I do realize that I need to do the first in order to enjoy the second.

I will begin sharing pictures, vlogs and posts on my process. I know that it is important for me to open my home to others. . .but some days I would be horrified to have you stop by. I may never be the Proverbs 31 woman, or Martha Stewart, but I am going to try.

This is my canvas, I hope you enjoy this adventure.

Proverbs 31 Woman

This morning when I woke up I was thinking about the Proverbs 31 Wife of Noble Character. It must be because I was looking around my house at all of the things I need to get done today and thinking how much I would like to sit down with a cup of coffee and a good book. I haven't left the house since Wednesday night so I am a little stir crazy watching the snow continue to come down. And although it was snowing outside yesterday, the inside of my house looks like a tornado hit it. My girls don't like to clean up any more than I do apparently. . .

Proverbs 31 woman, I am not.
Although some days I do give it a shot.

I woke up this morning with dishes to do.
A mess in every corner and a pile of laundry, too.

My little one wants me to play.
And my thoughts are on what to cook today.

My husband went to work when I was barely awake.
My daughter wanted to start her day with a cupcake.

My day is filled with a list of to-dos.
What should I do first it is so hard to choose.

Before I know it the day will be done.
And I haven't stopped to spend time with the One.

The One that can help me get through this day.
I think it is time for me to stop and pray.

If I don't stop now and spend time with Him,
The rest of my day could be very dim.

All of my dishes will still be there.
My kids have a closet of clean clothes to wear.

And the very best lesson my toddler can see,
Is my bible in hand and the Lord teaching me.

Have a Blessed Day!