Cleaning for the Heart and Home, Nuance!

This is a continuation of my attempts to follow through with the 31 Days to Clean: How to Have a Martha Home The Mary Way by Sarah Mae. I have to say I love the book and the concept. I'd just thought I'd let you know some of my thoughts with the following days. The great thing with the Martha challenges is that it only works on one room at a time and when I first started I thought when it said clean windows and window treatments it meant for the entire house but it is for one room only...sigh of relief, I think I can cope with that now I have realised!

The short snippet video's are helpful in showing you how simple it all is, really.

Day 4. Stay a Spell
Mary Challenge: I don't want to have an untouchable home. I would like my visitors to feel at ease, to relax and feel peaceful  here. So go ahead get comfy, you won't wear out your welcome.  My kettle is always ready, lets have a cuppa, tell me how's everything?
Martha Challenge: Oven and microwave....no problem. I wipe these out regularly so it was pretty easy and I use oven bags when I do a roast so there's no splatter or burnt bits and all the flavours and juices stay with the meat.

Day 5. What Comes First
I need to regularly consider whether my life reflects that I wish for God to have first priority in my life? I find I slip in and out of this priority day to day. When I realised I've snapped at one of the children I also realise I haven't responded lovingly or asking God to guide my relationship with my lovely children. I know that I am weak in my own strength so why do I continue to make this mistake? Oh that's right I'm human.
Mary Challenge: Here is what I like to think (hehehe) my priorities are:
i) God - I want to be in constant communion with my Lord
"In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch." Ps 5:3
"For I satisfy the weary ones and refresh everyone who languishes." Jer 31:25
ii) Husband - I want to be his biggest fan, his best friend.
"She does him good and not evil all the days of his life." Prov 31:12
iii) Children - My promise to my children: I am your parent, friend and partner. I will walk by your side, listen to you, seek to understand you & be understood by you, play with you, provide a wonderful environment for you to thrive & develop in, work with you to solve problems, defend you & protect you as best I am able, because I love you! You will NEVER find someone who loves, prays and cares for you more than I do. What I will try not to squish the life out of you, hound you or make you miserable!
iv) Home - I want a fresh, creative space of freedom, warmth, security, love and to take care of what God has given us.
"Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord..." Col 3:23
" Do all things without grumbling." Phil2:14
v) Gifts - I want to use what God has given me. To do what I am good at and to find out what my 'gifts' may be. I honestly am not quite sure what these may be, so this will be a learning goal for me.
"As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." 1 Pet 4:10
Martha Challenge: Wash windows and window treatments for kitchen only. Done

Day 6. The Six List! 
Mary Challenge -  The Famous $100 Million Piece of Advice Make my own Six list and what I don't get done that day put it at the top of the next days list, OK simple...?
i) Up, showered, dressed ready for time with God before I start any other to-do's.
ii) 1 load of laundry.
iii)Family time with The Bible and Thanking God for the day ahead.
iv) Home ed book work done with children.
v) Cook a healthful snack with the children or have them take part in cooking a main meal.
vi) Do Day 1 of my bible Study. This is a big thing for me. I attend a weekly bible study group (my children come with me) because I usually leave it to the night before to do the lot, so I plan to make it a more thoughtful execution rather than quick!
Martha Challenge - Clean out and organise all kitchen cabinets in the kitchen. Done

Day 7. The Curse - Work is not the curse; unproductive work is the curse.
Mary Challenge: to read Romans 8:20-21
Martha Challenge: Sort & Clean Pantry. I have a walk in pantry that doubles as homeschool storage, craft, store-all and food pantry. This job is also taking more than one day so I have decided to do a shelf or two a day.

Day 8. Overcoming - Keep an eye on the eternal value of your work.
Mary Challenge: Thank God for a time where He refined your character.
Martha Challenge: clean & organise drawers, very achievable and done! But I still have too much, things that I don't use. My mum always said special things aren't just for special times, they are for special people, so I try to use what I have in our everyday.

Day 9. Lazy, me?
Mary Challenge: Every time I hear myself put something off, pray. ask God to help you with a spirit of diligence and then if you fail allow his grace to lift you up and begin again. Simple right? You just have to get to the point of confessing first!
Martha Challenge: Sweep, vacuum, mop kitchen floors. Done.....and....add fresh flowers, this I like and will collect some bush flowers on our next nature walk.

Day 10. No More! - The...."I'm -so-behind-on-life" feeling.
These tips help me: One room or one task at a time, be generous to your trash can, get rid of toys & twaddle that are not used or get rid of half the toys in your household. Be more discerning in what your children use. Put your favourite music on. Get off the computer. Change something in your house (I tend to go a little crazy here and rearrange whole rooms, and love it!) JUST DO SOMETHING!
Mary Challenge: Time out to think about what would make home a nicer place, remembering your big picture desire for your home.
Martha Challenge: Move to the living room and clean windows. I'm getting there, nearly done.

De-cluttering and giving away as I go. The idea of one spiritual thing and one physical thing a day I am enjoying. Always keeping my eyes on our big picture goal from Day 1.