It's Raining, It's Pouring

We've officially entered cyclone season here, and last night a tropical low passed right over the top of us... dumping a bunch of rain but causing little damage. It made for a lovely cool evening, and today is also incredibly pleasant, even though the rain hasn't let up at all. I love where I live for many reasons. One of those reasons is that I very rarely, if ever hear anyone complain about the rain. We don't see it for 8 months of the year, so we revel in it when it does arrive :)


The rain is set to continue for the next few days, and we are closely watching the low, as it is due to turn into a catagory 1 storm later today and should progress to a 3 in two days time. You too can keep watch, if you wish!

Today, I managed to get the bathroom completely done! It was hard work, and took me 3 hours. I cannot fathom how my children manage to make our walls so putrid. Adam is woking on the kitchen, but he works slower than me, and takes many breaks ;) He went up to the store just now for the first time in as long as I can remember, simply to get out of doing more *grin* He even called his mother. *rolls eyes* LOL!

But we are on track. Sort of. I've washed dried AND put away 4 loads of laundry today, so that makes me feel a bit better about where we are at.

Our electrician friend stopped by to see what he's going to have to get to complete a few jobs we've asked him to do... all our light fixtures are breaking whenever we try to chabge a light bulb... they are over 10 years old, so we figure we'll just change the lot throughout the house. Also, two ceiling fans in The Big Room have broken motors, so they need replacing. I'll be sending my mother an email in the next couple of days asking for her to wire the money through to fix them, as we agreed when she was over here the other month.

My brother also stopped by, with some money for us all for Christmas, as he will be at sea over the holidays. I was so happy... it means I don't have to stress about the food situation! The kids won't notice if there is one less gift for them under the tree... they will notice if there is no ham! :) And wow, is it ever expensive. For a 13lb ham... $84!! I nearly fell over. ANd we have even more people arriving on Christmas day now, so we are going to need it!

The kids are behaving rather well today. Playing together and hardly fighting. This is a miracle from the throne room of heaven if there ever was one :)

(not quite) Mass Mayhem

Braved the shops on payday today to go do our Christmas shopping. I did ok. Still have a few things to get, but they can be collected next week.

I'm still slogging away at the cleaning, though slowly... I did some of the bathroom done today... it's all scritched out over there on the left... but I think that list will change in the next day or so because Adam and I have declared this weekend "Get It All Done Or Else".

Also known as "The Kids Are Now On Holidays And It's Impossible To Clean With Them At Home All Day Every Day For Six Whole Weeks"

I'm hoping that this little bog o' mine will get more exciting later on... It's been so long since I've kept something like this that I've almost forgotten how to do it. I know I used to attempt deepness and humour... often simultaneously... over on my Xanga... but Xanga is now no longer what it was, and while that makes me sad, I'm hoping this here will become a new place for me to unwravel what's going on in my head, heart and home.

Because I Like Nothing Better Than Deadlines, and the Whooshing Noise They Make as They Go Past.

Do you think, if I did this:

I'll be more likely to get all that stuff over there on the left done?

Adam has promised to pitch in over the weekend as well, and in the next couple of days so I can get it finished.

I'll have to get batteries for the camera.

And hide them from the kids.

Christmas Cleaning

It's December 1st here today.

I should be putting up my Christmas decorations, but my house isn't clean enough. I cannot fathom fluffing the house for the festive season unless it's pristine.

I have 1 husband, 5 children, a cat and a dog. My house is never pristine. But, as I suffer from MagazineCover-itis in it's most chronic form, I still expect it to be.

As you can probably gather, my expectations are rarely met.

However, as I am having a house full of guests over for Christmas dinner this year... a total of 7 adults and as many children in this tiny little house... I feel the need to have it sparkling.

Of course, I want it to be perfect for my family as well, during the rest of the year, but I find the task so overwhelmingly insurmountable most days, it... isn't. It's something I've been working on for many years, and I think I'm beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. For the last month I've been tossing umpteen garbage bags a week of miscellaneous crap to the op-shop... which in itself is wonderfully therapeutic... not actually having that stuff in the house to clean up or find a home for any more. But I'm still not noticing the house getting any cleaner.

And I'm pretty sure I've figured out why.

I stopped writing myself lists. A plan of attack for the day. Something to keep me on track. Without lists, I could waste my whole day looking for the perfect Christmas tags on Etsy (which I may or may not have done yesterday).

So, I'm beginning again. Only this time, I'm going to add it to my left side bar, so you can see it, and it should keep me accountable. I'm going to give myself until Friday night to have it done. That's two and a half days. I shall have Pride and Prejudice on in the background... I find it the most wonderful thing to clean to.

If you are feeling the urge to deep clean your house, feel free to join me.

Come on over, Come on Over Baby

Head on over to my Xanga and see how much housework I get done today!

I can't work the strikethough here on blogger without it doing it to my entire blog, so we'll have a bit of a clicky party, ok? :)

So, you know that thing I was supposed to be doing this week?

I got sick. Really sick. Like, I-am-going-to-be-praising-God-if-I-survive-the-night sick.

No kidding, I was sure I was going to drown in my own mucus, my head has been that full. I've been sleeping the last two nights with 4 pillows, so as to be semi-upright so I can breathe.

It's always the way. Anytime I make plans to make some headway on the house I get sick, or the baby has a clingy day, or I need to spend most of the day in the car running around after people or something.

Always something.

I know who does it. And I know why.

The enemy knows it frustrates me. He knows it drives my husband crazy. He knows we don't function well in a messy house. He knows the kids are always naughtier, and we argue more. He knows it stresses us out. He knows it impedes hospitality. He knows it keeps us too busy to do anything else. He knows it makes me feel guilty, overwhelmed, belittled and a failure. He knows it makes me even more OCD and he knows the battle I struggle with to keep it at bay and not to let it take over (which results in the most bizarre outcome, but never mind that). He also knows it's a way to isolate me, as I'm too proud and embarrassed to ask for help. He knows it's the best way to keep me uncontented.

He knows it is the best thing to keep us unproductive for the kingdom.

I will get it done. I know I will. As soon as I kick this illness somewhat I'm just going to have to get in there. Write me another list, and set to work crossing it off. I need to find some scriptures to pray first thing in the morning that will help me get motivated, and know that God is on my side, cheering me on, and carrying me through. I'd really love to get a big poster with Colossians 3:23&24 on it and stick it somewhere prominent.

So I'm going to ask all of you something.

What are the scriptures that help you in your mothering/wifing life? What words encourage you, motivate you and help you feel less alone? What should I have scattered around my home in certain places for me to read and lift my spirits and my flagging momentum?

Feel free to bombard. Ask your friends and family, and help a sister out.

Make Your Home a Haven.... week

Crystal at Biblical Woomanhood often runs Make Your Home a Haven Monday's, but, you know, she moved interstate, is pregnant, has a three year-old, so it's been on the back burner for a bit. However, Monica at The Homespun Heart is running a week long version.

I adore things like this. Keeps me focused and motivated.

Most people unclutter and fluff during these. I will be you know, cleaning. I'll even take photos, perhaps. It really is quite frightening, my house. Adam and I got fed up with having boxes of miscelaneous stuff still from the move, so in a moment of insanity no, genious no, not quite sure what exactly, we just dumped them all out on the floor, figuring if it's on the floor, we'll be more likely to pick it up.

*ahem*

There is a pile in my dining room that's been there for two weeks.

There is all our laundry in our bedroom. Unfolded.

Please don't look at my kitchen. I know I try not to.

So. My plan of attack looks like this:

Monday: Master Bedroom (incuding sorting clothes and tidying cupboards) and washing laundry. Folding negotiable.
Tuesday: Kids Bedrooms (see above note) & Bathroom/toilet/laundry (including linen press and organising the bathroom cupboards)
Wednesday: Kitchen and Dining Room (including buffet, linen chest and organising kitchen cupboards and shelves)
Thursday: The "Big Room" (including sorting books, toys and picking the rocks out of the decking. My children are delightful)
Friday: Organise the garage for Adam to tackle on Saturday. Put stuff for the dump in an easy to get to place. Separate keep from donate.

Anyone else joining in? I'll post pictures if you will.