Your Paycheck

“The less stuff you have, the less stuff you have to take care of.”

“The more special stuff you have, the less special each item is.”

“One pretty knick-knack is a masterpiece.

Three pretty knick-knacks are an arrangement. 

Twelve pretty knick-knacks is a mess.

Only keep the best and most special.”

When you walk into a room, notice what it looks like. Enjoy the parts you have cleaned. This is your paycheck (well, and...

• being able to find what you need when you need it
• invite company over without two weeks prep
• the fact that after you have gone all the way around the house with the big-clean, your daily chores will be MUCH quicker.)

Take Sunday off of everything but washing dishes and coking. This is the time to rest your body and you mind and enjoy your family.

Make sure you take time every week or two to have lunch with a friend or do something else fun and away from the house.

If something messes up your schedule, go with the flow. Just take up where you left off when you get back unless it is time to start supper. Than just skip the rest for the day. Start new tomorrow. No big deal. If you are sick, do what you can, but rest more and for longer. When you feel better, start where you left off.

If you play an instrument or do art work (or want to learn), add an hour of that before stopping to fix supper. This is your reward for working so hard. 

STAY OFF THE COMPUTER until that hour before supper. It is addictive and once you are on you will have trouble getting off. 

Frequently read good books about homemaking. This is your “continuing education” that most jobs require.

Some good choices:

•  “The Hidden Art of Homemaking” by Edith Schaffer
•  “Home Comforts” by Cheryl Mendelssohn
•  Anything by Don Aslett
•  Anything by Sandra Felton
• “Shine Your Sink” by The FlyLady 
• “Managers of their Homes” by the Maxwells

• Sue Gregg’s cookbooks
• “Nourishing Traditions” by Sally Fellon

• Anything by Shonda Parker

• “Created to be His Help Meet” by Debi Pearl (In fact, any book by the Pearls)
• “Housewives Desperately Seeking God”
• “Rubies, Silk and Chocolate Covered Peanuts” by Betty Tracy (Me:-)

• “The Right Choice” by Chris Clicka
• Anything by Mary Pride
• “Homeschool: Why What How” by Betty Tracy (Me:-)
• “The Well Trained Mind” by Susan Wise Buear and Jessie Wise
• “Teaching the Trivium” by the Bluedorns
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