Welcome and Blessings!

Thank you so much for stopping by! I have named this blog "Running to the Cross" because that is what I often find myself doing...running to be with my Lord Jesus! I often cover many aspects of life on my blog, as it is my journal. I used to write things down in all sorts of notebooks, but my writings would soon be lost. So I decided that it was time to start a blog and share my thoughts and ideas with others. Many topics you will find here are prayers, homemaking and organization, children and pregnancy, funny stories, and the challenges of parenting and motherhood. If you enjoy my blog and leave me a comment, you are likely to have me visit! I love meeting others and gleaning from the lives of others. May you be blessed! Your friend in Christ, Heather

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

A big, "DUH!" moment....

Now as the owner/moderator of Home Management for Large Families, you would think that I have it all together. I do, in my head. Ideas just seem to flow out of my head, and when reading my schedules, to-do lists, and other things, it SEEMS that you WILL end up with the clean and tidy home/organized schedule that you have always dreamed of! But reality strikes when you realize, most things take more time than that!

Anyway, to get to my point...
I enjoy reading other blogs that inspire me to get it all together, make things tidy, and give me hope that, I CAN DO IT!!!

So, I'm reading along... and it says, "Today we are going to wipe and dust everything in sight!"
Okay, that's easy, I can do that! But then as I look around, I find my, "DUH!" moment... No, I can't wipe everything down because I can't see a clean surface in sight! "DUH!"

So, I can print out all the ideas that I want, but in reality, I have to find my way by myself.

For those of you who are in the same boat that I am in, I sympathize. However, I did sit down the other day and write up a cleaning schedule that goes above and beyond normal cleaning so that we can find peace for Thanksgiving. I will share that here for any of you who DON't want to join a group right now, but do want to find organization waiting at your doorstep on Thanksgiving. ****Note: This schedule has already began, but most of the jobs can be added to the next several days so that you CAN potentially catch up... and I am behind as I find most evenings that I crash at 8:30 p.m. on the couch in front of the roaring fire in our fireplace. Something about the sizzling and cracking of burning wood that just sets me up for a peaceful slumber that I can't avoid without leaving the room.


****UPDATED: I did just realize something else that takes a lot of time... two things actually:
1) I have a very needy baby that requires a lot of attention. She is content quite a bit of the time, but she is only 15 months and learning to walk and getting in to things, she has discovered my cabinets and the things they contain.

2) I also have a wood stove to BABYSIT... meaning that I am constantly adding to the fire, trying to keep it going, if it has gone to long without wood, I have to get it going again which can take up to 30 minutes of my time.


Thanksgiving Planner
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Thanks-
giving DAY!
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Monday 11/10/08: Countdown to Thanksgiving…17 days!

¨ Try to do at least 4-6 loads of laundry. Follow all steps: Sort, Wash, Dry, Fold, Put away.

¨ Room Focus: Kitchen, make it sparkle!

¨ Straighten your computer desk. Clean pantry floor.

¨ Plan your menu for the week. Lay out any frozen items that you need for you meal today.

¨ Add any grocery items to your grocery list as you think of them, esp. any items needed for Thanksgiving.

¨ Have children keep floors clean, including their bedroom.

Tuesday 11/11/08: Countdown to Thanksgiving…16 days!

¨ Continue doing laundry, my goal is still 4-6 loads. Set your goal and press toward it! Follow steps!

¨ Room Focus: Living Room/ Hallways, clean up and clear the clutter!

¨ Clear counter tops & cabinets in your kitchen or living room that has attracted clutter.

¨ Look at menu, and soak beans, lay out meat, brown meat, make bread…something to assist you for meals.

¨ Continue working on grocery list.

¨ Encourage children to keep up on the floors, and straighten their bedroom…make sure you do yours, too.

Wednesday 11/12/08: Countdown to Thanksgiving…15 days!

¨ Laundry (an everyday task for us), my goal remains the same, 4-6 loads. Follow steps as above!

¨ Room Focus: Bedrooms/Stairway or Porch, clean up and clear the clutter!

¨ Clear a table or dresser somewhere in your house! Then clean out your refrigerator!

¨ Make sure you are ready for today’s meal, get things started or put them in the crock pot!

¨ Yes, grocery list time… keep it going so you won’t forget ANYTHING!

¨ Children, as always, need to help clean the floors… Want it done really good? Help them out!

Thursday 11/13/08: Countdown to Thanksgiving…14 days!

¨ Take a break from laundry (if you can)…clean off your dryer, and wipe down washer/dryer, also take a vacuum and sweep out the lint from the inside of your dryer!

¨ Room Focus: Clean Office and wash windows, clean up and clear the clutter!

¨ Since today we are doing the windows, go to every window sill and remove all clutter!

¨ Do you have a meal in the crock pot yet? Maybe you can brown your meat and prepare it, and put it in the crock pot on low.

¨ Do you remember something that you needed? Write it down on your grocery list! Maybe today is errand day…things are starting to take shape, so go run your errands!

¨ Children should have this down by now, but make sure that do their part in cleaning the floors!

Friday 11/14/08: Countdown to Thanksgiving…13 days!

¨ Laundry: Wash Sheets! Make Beds! My goal is again, 4-6 loads…large families make large laundry messes!

¨ Room Focus: Bathroom(s)…make them sparkle AND dust, dust, dust!!!

¨ Rubba Scrubba Scrubbing day! Once children have cleaned the floors, time to scrub them (and/or vacuum to edges), wipe baseboards, vacuum cobwebs from corners and walls!

¨ Do you have leftovers to serve from your refrigerator? Make something new, serve up those leftovers, or freeze them and order pizzas for Movie night!

¨ We should have everything under control as far as groceries are concerned, but nobody’s perfect… Write down a new list or add to the old!

¨ Children need to quickly clean the floors…this should be easy since it was already done today! The floors need to be ready for this evening so you can enjoy a movie as a family! I suggest watching the Waltons!

Saturday 11/15/08: Countdown to Thanksgiving…12 days!

¨ Laundry…make sure things are ready for church tomorrow. Everything laid out and ready to wear down to the shoes! Washing shouldn’t be necessary if you have kept up the rest of the week, but if not…catch up today!

¨ Room Focus: NONE!!! Today we focus on Preparing for the Lord’s Day!

¨ Family Fun Day OR Baking day! Make you breads, desserts, and snacks for tomorrow and the following week! Or have a fun day with family!

¨ Get you meal in the crock pot for Sunday and plan a picnic for Family Fun Day!

¨ Don’t bother yourself with your grocery list today!

¨ Tidy up before your day of baking or fun! Then clean up when done!

Sunday 11/16/08: Countdown to Thanksgiving…11 days!

¨ Lord’s Day! You should be prepared for church so that your getting ready goes smoothly and peacefully!

¨ No activities planned for this day except to plug in your crock pot before church (or the night before).

¨ Spend time fellowshipping with friends and family.

¨ Meal clean-up should be a family thing today, to ease one another’s burdens!

Monday 11/17/08: Countdown to Thanksgiving…10 days!

¨ Wash weekend laundry so stains don’t set in (from Sunday’s meal). My goal 4-6 loads.

¨ Room Focus: Is your kitchen still sparkling? If not, make it sparkle! How is your entry way? Shine it up too!

¨ Make things easier Day!!! Today we are going to hunt down and gather those items that keep us from keeping things tidy! You know what they are! Mine are toys! Today, I will gather up extra toys and put them away until our family has enjoyed Thanksgiving with friends!

¨ Plan menu for the week and get things laid out for today!

¨ Keep that grocery list going!

¨ Children, get after those floors! Many hands make light work.

Tuesday 11/18/08: Countdown to Thanksgiving…9 days!

¨ Continue doing laundry, my goal is still 4-6 loads. Sort, Wash, Dry, Fold, Put Away!

¨ Room Focus: Living Room/ Hall ways…dust, wash baseboards, straighten shelves, vacuum furniture!

¨ Clear a cabinet, fireplace mantel, or piano in your living room that has attracted clutter.

¨ Look at menu, and soak beans, lay out meat, brown meat, make bread…something to assist you for meals. If you have fresh pumpkin, cut it in half, scoop out the seeds, bake it in the oven at 350ยบ in a large dish cut sides down with a little water in the bottom for about an hour. Then when it is done, scoop it out of the shell, puree it, and freeze it for Thanksgiving!

¨ Continue working on grocery list.

¨ Encourage children to keep up on the floors, and ask them straighten their bedrooms…make sure you do yours, too.

Wednesday 11/19/08: Countdown to Thanksgiving…8 days!

¨ Laundry, my goal remains the same, 4-6 loads. Follow steps as above!

¨ Room Focus: Bedrooms/Stairway or Porch!

¨ Run through the house and clean the cluttered spots, that is dressers, tables, exercise equipment, hanging mail baskets, and sewing areas! Then clean out your refrigerator!

¨ Make sure you are ready for today’s meal, get things started or put them in the crock pot!

¨ Yes, grocery list time… keep it going so you won’t forget ANYTHING!

¨ Children, as always, need to help clean the floors… Want it done really good? Help them out!

¨ EXTRA JOB: Straighten pantry so it is ready for cooking for Thanksgiving!

Thursday 11/20/08: Countdown to Thanksgiving…7 days!

¨ Take a break from laundry (if you can)…clean off your dryer, and wipe down washer/dryer, also take a vacuum and sweep out the lint from the inside of your dryer!

¨ Room Focus: Office… straighten desk & shelves, then dust!

¨ Clean off top of refrigerator & microwave. Didn’t finish the panty? Finish it next!

¨ Do you have a meal in the crock pot yet? Maybe you can brown your meat and prepare it, and put it in the crock pot on low.

¨ Grab grocery list and make a run for the door! Make sure you have the fixings for THANKSGIVING!!! OR stay home and tidy up!

¨ Children should clean the floors!

Friday 11/21/08: Countdown to Thanksgiving…6 days!

¨ Laundry: Wash Sheets! Make Beds! My goal is again, 4-6 loads.

¨ Room Focus: Bathroom(s)…make sure they sparkle!!!

¨ Rubba Scrubba Scrubbing day! Once children have cleaned the floors, time to scrub them (and/or vacuum to edges), wipe baseboards, vacuum cobwebs from corners and walls!

¨ Use those leftovers & LAY OUT TURKEY!!! (in refrigerator)

¨ Groceries: Write down a new list or add to the old!

¨ Children need to quickly clean the floors…this should be easy since it was already done today! The floors need to be ready for this evening so you can enjoy a movie as a family! I suggest watching the Waltons!

Saturday 11/22/08: Countdown to Thanksgiving…5 days!

¨ Laundry…make sure things are ready for church tomorrow. Everything laid out and ready to wear down to the shoes! Washing shouldn’t be necessary if you have kept up the rest of the week, but if not…catch up today!

¨ Room Focus: Guest room…usually I focus solely on getting ready for the Lord’s Day, but due to Thanksgiving, I make sure things are ready in the guest room. Dust, sweep, mop, freshly made beds.

¨ Prepare for the Lord’s day!

¨ Make cranberry sauce, & cheese ball for Thanksgiving. Make a few loaves of bread for M/T/W.

¨ Get you meal in the crock pot for Sunday and make your easy meal for today!

¨ Write down any last minute items you need for Thanksgiving!

¨ Children, tidy floors! Mom, clean up kitchen mess when finished… must keep kitchen CLEAN!

Sunday 11/23/08: Countdown to Thanksgiving…4 days!

¨ Lord’s Day! You should be prepared for church so that your getting ready goes smoothly and peacefully!

¨ No activities planned for this day except to plug in your crock pot before church (or the night before).

¨ Spend time fellowshipping with friends and family. OR rest up for the busyness of this week!

¨ Meal clean-up should be a family thing today, to ease one another’s burdens!

Monday 11/24/08: Countdown to Thanksgiving…3 days!

¨ Wash weekend laundry so stains don’t set in (from Sunday’s meal). My goal 4-6 loads.

¨ Room Focus: Keep that kitchen sparkling, entryway sparkling, and living room sparkling.

¨ Today we make sure things are tidy and stay that way! Find something you missed and attack!!!

¨ Plan EASY MEALS for the week and get things laid out for today!

¨ Forget the groceries! Make pie crusts, lay out cool whip, chop veggies for stuffing.

¨ Children, get after those floors, tidy rooms and clean up the yard!

Tuesday 11/25/08: Countdown to Thanksgiving…2 days!

¨ Do minimal laundry, we should be caught up by now!

¨ Room Focus: Make sure bathrooms are sparkling… including a clean shower curtain for guests!

¨ Dust all surfaces!

¨ Get that meal ready early, THEN make up veggie tray, make corn bread for stuffing, and make pumpkin pies.

¨ Clean up kitchen as you go! Wipe cabinet fronts while waiting for pies.

¨ Encourage children to keep up on the floors, and straighten bedrooms. MOM, make sure you do yours, too! We are preparing for company!!! Yeah!

Wednesday 11/26/08: Countdown to Thanksgiving…1 day!

¨ Do minimal laundry, if any!

¨ Room Focus: Quick tidy of entire house!

¨ Thanksgiving prep: Make crescent rolls, remaining pies, mix mushroom soup into green beans for green bean casserole and put back into refrigerator, cook sweet potatoes.

¨ Eat up those leftovers or make something super easy! Make & bake a breakfast casserole.

¨ Keep cleaning up your cooking messes!

¨ Help children do a super job cleaning the floors.

¨ Set time for your Thanksgiving meal tomorrow, then plan to have turkey done one hour before so you can cook your green bean casserole & pan of stuffing at the very last.

Thursday 11/27/08: Thanksgiving Day!

¨ Get up early and put turkey in oven! Once finished, make gravy from broth.

¨ Cook potatoes for mashed potatoes, mash and put in crock pot.

¨ Room Focus: Be prepared! Rooms should be tidy, but make a quick check! Make sure bathrooms have plenty of soap, towels, and toilet paper!

¨ Make sure dishes stay washed!

¨ Clean up breakfast mess quickly, THEN set the table for Thanksgiving dinner.

¨ Warm up sweet potatoes and prepare them as desired, remember you can put them in a crock pot if you have an extra one. If they have a topping, it can be added at the end and placed in the oven for 15 minutes to crisp up!

¨ Light candles, put on some light music & set out veggie tray & cheese ball or other appetizer just before guests arrive.

¨ Children should help where needed.

¨ Finally, enjoy your day of thanksgiving!

Last year’s Menu

Appetizers

~Cheese Ball with Crackers

~Veggie Tray with dip (celery, pickles, olives, carrots, pretzels, ranch & French onion dip)

Main Meal

~Turkey

~Dressing

~Candied Sweet Potatoes/or Sweet Potato Casserole

~Rice/or Mashed Potatoes

~Gravy

~Crescent Rolls

~Green Bean Casserole & Regular Green beans

~Cranberry Sauce

Dessert

~Pumpkin Pie w/whipped topping

~Pecan Pie

~Pumpkin Streusel Cake

Making a Thanksgiving Menu is helpful to keep you focused and on task. It also helps when you begin to set things out so that you don’t forget anything! One year I forgot to set out my cranberry sauce!!! Boy, was I embarrassed! Ever since then I have made a list of my menu!

***If you need recipes or instructions on how to prepare any of the items I have listed, just leave me a comment!


Blessing!

Heather