Eyes 2 Jesus

The Home Management Binder

(New Note Made MANY YEARS After the Below Note: The below article has been left largely untouched, with only some weblinks removed - which are now dead links anyways. Thus, the formatting, the vocabulary, and the grammar and spelling mistakes are still there.)

NOTE: The below article was written years ago. My binder is different than it was then, which should be expected. Your HMB (Home Management Binder) is meant to change and grow with your family. The below article was written when my children were all quite young.

HOME MANAGEMENT BINDER 101

step by step - how to put together a binder, and love using it:

Get a three ring binder, and decorate it. Make it pretty. If your binder has a plastic pocket on the cover, then make up a pretty page, and slip it in the pocket of your cover. DO NOT proceed to the next step, until you have your binder beatiful. You'll know you're ready to go to the next step, when you look over at your binder, and it makes you smile.
Make sure you have plenty of page protectors and notebook paper handy. It's also a good idea to have a printer ready to do some heavy printing. I also suggest you have stick on index tabs, which will be used a little later, to organize your binder. Gather all of these things together, then proceed to the next step. NOTE: Always keep a pen or pencil in your binder.
If you have a pocket on the inside cover of your binder, then stick in several sheets of scratch paper, and your pen. If you don't have a pocket, does your binder have a clip board clip on it? If so, use that to hold the scratch paper and pen. If you don't have a pocket, or clip, then grab some tape, and tape a sheet of paper on the inside cover, and tie a short string to your pen, and attach the other end of the string to the top ring in your binder.

This scratch paper is important. For example, if you're taking a phone message for someone, you can quickly jot the message down on your scratch paper, then transfer it to the proper message paper after you get off of the phone. Also, when you need to remember to do something, but you don't have time to flip through your binder, and write it in, then just quickly write in on your scratch paper, and you can transfer the information later that day. Maybe before you go to bed. Scratch paper is a necessity. Inside the cover of your binder is a great place to keep it.
Here's the most time consuming step for some people: Creating your Master Schedule. If you already run on a schedule, then you may breeze through this section. However, if you don't, then you may find this section will take a while, but trust me, it's VERY worth the effort.

STEPS TO CREATING A MASTER SCHEDULE

1.- Write on a piece of paper your usual meal times (See, you're using your scratch paper already). Mine are around 8am, 12pm, and 6pm.

2.- Now, take out a different piece of paper, and write out tasks that you must get done each day. If you're feeling overwhelmed about this step, don't worry. :-) Below is a list that you can copy, and change if needed, to meet your and your family's needs:

cleaning

homeschooling the kids

exercising

meal preperations and cleanup

computer time

kid's baths

shower for you

time to relax and read

3.- Time to fill in times for the activities from your list, into your schedule. Here's a tip: Do the high energy stuff in the mornings. You'll get it out of the way, and you'll be more apt to get it done. If you're not sure of what schedule to make for yourself, then feel free to use the below example, and tweak it if needed:

7:00am - get up, make bed, get dressed, etc.

7:15am - cook breakfast

8:00am - eat breakfast

8:45am - clean up from breakfast

9:00am - brush teeth

9:05am - cleaning chores

10:00am - homeschool kids

11:00am - exercise, then take a 5 minute shower to clean off

12:00pm - make lunch

12:15pm - eat lunch

12:45pm - lunch clean up, then play with your kids - outside if you can

1:15pm - tuck in kids for naps, rest time, or quite time

1:25pm - work for 15 minutes on a project for your house. such as bleaching tile grout, organizing a cupboard, etc.

1:40pm - read or computer time if your sew or knit, nows a good time for that. but please don't plop down in front of the TV

2:30pm - homeschool kids

5:00pm - cook dinner, while kids do homeschool work at table

6:00pm - eat dinner

6:45pm - dinner clean up

7:00pm - kids baths

7:30pm - family fun time

8:00pm - kids brush teeth, story times, bed times

8:30pm - shower and brush teeth, etc

9:00pm - bible study

9:30pm - computer time

10:00pm - spend time with hubby

11:00pm - tidy up the house, then free time, or time to look over children's school work

12:00am - go to bed

4.- Create a before bed time routine. Stuff that you can get done, before going to bed, so that your mornings will be easier, and run smoother. Here's one that you can use, and tweak if needed:

prep for next day's meals

go through the house, put things away, and tidy up

empty dishwasher and clean sink

sew holes in clothes

take care of yourself - brush and floss your teeth, moisterize, etc.

Add your before bed time routine into your Master Schedule. Literally put in every step, and in what order, etc.

5.- Create a morning routine. Here's one that you can use, and tweak if needed:

get up, make bed as you're getting out of it

check on kids

get dressed and ready for the day (don't just wear frumpy old sweats. dress nicely. dress modestly, feminine, in clothes you like, and that your hubby likes ;-) )

start a load of laundry

cook breakfast...

Now add your morning routine to your Master Schedule. Literally put in every step, and in what order, etc. You may not want to put in time incriments for each step, just have a time slot to get all of this done in. Same with the before bed time routine.

5.-Now you should have a schedule laid out for yourself, with your routines included. You're either excited, or scared at this point. (Hopefully excited, because you're about to get a lot done, and organized.) The next step is to include your kids into this schedule. They like knowing what's going to happen next. There will be no more "I'm bored-s" running around. You'll also learn what areas your children need more disipline training in; areas you may be blind to right now. Don't let it nip you in the bud later.

6.-To schedule your kids, I suggest you look at your schedule, and add a column next your schedule, for each kid. For example, if you have 5 kids, then you'd have a total of 7 columns. The first column will be where you write in the time for each scheduled task of the day. The second column is your schedule, and the other columns are for your kids. I suggest you start with the oldest, and work down to the youngest.

Do schedule in some free play time. However, it shouldn't be longer than a half hour at a time, if they are going to be playing with a sibling. When my kids play together, I supervise them, so that I can stop bad behavior before it starts. Here's some suggestions on adding your kids to your schedule:
- don't have them all doing the same things at the same times. For example, have one coloring at the table, while another is reading on the couch, another is doing their chores, another is studying in the dining room, another one is helping your cook dinner, etc.
- Currently, I do do a lot of the homeschooling at the same time. I have one child work on a worksheet or activity, while I do one on one with the other. Then, I have that child work on a worksheet, while I go to the next child, and do one on one with him. I teach my children at 4 years old, how to read at second grade level. This makes homeschooling easier for me. There doesn't have to be as much one on one, as they can read and write without my assistance. :-) If you'd like to teach your 4yr old to read, I highly recommend you buy a book called "Teach Your Child To Read In 100 Easy Lessons".
- Do most of your cleaning with your children. Ages 5 and up can go do simple chores independantly. Give them a spray bottle of water, with a bit of dish soap in it. Then give them a small duster, and some paper towels. Let them clean the outsides of the toilets, inside and outside of shower and bathtubs, counter tops and tables, sinks, etc. Ages 2 to 4 can play-clean with you, following you around the house.
  
  I usually do about an hour of cleaning a day. Mondays-Fridays. I have the kids clean with me for a half hour, then one goes on the computer, another watches a Chritian video, etc, while I finish my other half hour of cleaning.
- Keep your kids busy. Between homeschool, chores, family devotions, bible study, and family fun time, your kids will not only have an enriched, joyful life, but will also never be bored, and rarely up to mischeif.
7.- Don't worry about getting too nity grity about putting times, and time incriments on your schedule. Just put in the times where you know you need them. Some people's schedules will have everything with a time, even if it's a few minutes at a time. Other people prefer to have no time incriments. I do both. Most of my schedule has no times stated, only several parts do. Such as exercise time, homeschool time, etc. I usually don't fall behind on my schedule, as I know how long it takes me to get things done, such that I can meet the upcoming time increment with no problems.

8.-Done. You can either keep your Master Schedule written on paper, or you can go onto your computer, and create a table in MS Word or similiar program, and make out a Master Schedule in there. I suggest that you set a time each week (mine's on Mondays) when you can tweak and re-print your Master Schedule, if needed. My schedule is always evolving, getting better and better all the time. Plus, as my children get older, I need to change my schedule, to better fit their needs.

When you start following your Master Schedule, you may find that there are parts of the schedule that you didn't follow. Maybe you opted to zone out instead. If you find parts of your schedule that you almost never follow, then you need to tweak your schedule - it needs fixed. It's broken. ;-) Put those tasks you're not doing in a different time slot. Move things around. Keep doing small changes to your schedule until it's one that you can just glide through, and enjoy doing so.

I've noticed that if I don't follow my schedule, I can quicly start feeling overwhelmed and grumpy. My schedule removes so much stress from my life. It's worth it, to commit to following your schedule. It takes one month for the mind to form a habit. This means that the first month is the hardest part. Push through, and MAKE yourself do it. It will pay off BIG in the end.

Most people fail at following their Master Schedule after a short time. This is usually for one or more of the following reasons:
- they are not commited
- their schedule needs to be changed to one that they'd enjoy more. maybe they need to do the more high energy stuff in the mornings, and their sit down work in the afternoons and evenings
- they don't want to (see first reason in this list)
The key to overcoming the above problems? Tweak, tweak, tweak (no, I'm not pretending to be a little birdy). Keep making minor changes to your schedule until you get the "perfect" one. It IS possible, and with the three P's (Patience, Practise, Persistance) it's possible.

If you've never been successfully on a schedule before, then don't expect it to be candy-canes and lolly-pops. You're embarking on something new. When someone wants to run a charity marathon, they need to train. That's precisely what you need to do - train. Train yourself. Get the commitment and self disipline to do it. (This goes for other things in life too; like exercise.)
Yay, the hardest parts are over! :-D You have your binder, and needed materials, and now you have a Master Schedule set up for you and your kids. The next step is to write a page of your and your children's cleaning routines. I suggest the following:

Candy's Cleaning Schedule

NOTE - This is not to be done on just one room a day. The below cleaning schedule is for all of the house. Do each scheduled task in each applicable room for each day.

MONDAYS - Take apart and clean stove top; clean all appliances; do all bedding laundry; spend 15 minutes on a project.

TUESDAYS - Dust; clean all surfaces; clean tv screens, computer monitors, and mirrors; do all towel and wash cloth laundry; and spend 15 minutes on a project.

WEDNESDAYS - Sinks; bathtubs/showers; toilets; do some children's laundry; and spend 15 minutes on a project.

THURSDAYS - Hard floors; do the rest of the children's laundry; and spend 15 minutes on a project.

FRIDAYS - Carpets and rugs; do your and spouse's laundry; and spend 15 minutes on a project.

What is a Project?

Notice how each day's schedule says to "spend 15 minutes on a project". Sit down and make out a project list of special cleaning that needs to be done for your house. Such as:

bleach tile grout
wash inside and outside of windows
wash out trash cans
organize children's toys
declutter certain rooms in your house
organize cupboards and drawers, etc.

After you've finished your designated cleaning for the day, spend 15 minutes, and only that, on a project from your list. Don't push yourself; you don't want to get burned out. You'll be amazed at what you can accomplish in just 15 minutes. Set a timer, and go at it. When the timer goes off, put away your cleaning stuff, and rejoice! You're house is clean, you're closer to finishing a goal on your project list, and you're done for the day.

As for your children's cleaning schedule, decide what jobs you want them to do for each day, and write them down.

You may also want to write down your table chores on this page, if needed. Table chores are the chores that need to be done after each meal. My table chore routine is this:

1.- Clear table, put dirty dishes in sink, left-overs in fridge, throw away napkins, etc.

2.-Clean place mats and table. Put place mats away.

3.-Sweep the floor around and under the table.

4.-Rinse dishes and put in dishwasher, or wash dishes in sink, and put on drying rack.

5.-Wipe down counters.

6.-Clean sink with sponge and soapy water

7.-Dry counters and sink with paper towel

8.-If it's dinner clean up, then replace wash clothes and dishtowes with fresh clean ones, for the next day's use.

I have my children helping me with this, so it goes extra fast.

Hence, your cleaning page should be the next page in your binder, after your Master Schedule. On the cleaning page, should be your daily cleaning routines, children's cleaning chores, and possibly table chores, etc.

The next section in your binder should be the homeschooling section. Keep your lesson plans, notes, etc here.

After the homeschooling section, make a Table Time, or Family Fun Time list. This is simply a list, with check boxes next to each item. The items listed, should be activities and fun things that you'd like to do with your children each evening. Things such as making scrap books, building things with Legos, singing, playing with Tinker Toys, etc. For older children, this can be a time when you work on projects together. Maybe something you're building.

The next page in your binder, should be your projects list. Earlier in this article, I suggested a cleaning schedule for you. I also mentioned projects, that you should spend 15 minutes a day working on (Mon. - Fri.). Now it's time to make that Projects List, and put it in your binder.

Here's an example projects list to get you started:

bleach tile grout in bathroom

clean out trash cans

wipe down walls

clean inside and outside of windows

organize all books, videos, DVDs and CDs

organize kitchen cupboards

organize desks, and everything in office

go through all clothes

etc...

After your projects list, should be your menu plan. Divide the paper into three sections (if you write or type small), or use three separate pieces of paper. You need to make out a menu plan for breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. For breakfasts and lunches, I suggest you serve the same thing, depending on the day of the week. For dinners, I suggest you take inventory of your cupboards, freezer, fridge, and pantry, and plan meals around what you have, then plan the rest of the meals off of what you need to buy, to supliment what you have, etc.

I like to plan my dinners once a month. When my menu list is exhausted, I sit down for 20 minutes, and make a new menu list.

Next in your binder, you may want to have a plan for an Emergency Quick Clean. This is handy when life's circumstances come up, and you haven't been able to clean your house for a while. Here's the Emergency Quick Clean plan I keep in my binder:

Emergency Quick Clean - step by step

1.- First things first - Go to each toilet in your house, lift the seat, and put in toilet bowl cleaner. Let it sit in your toilets, as you go through the next few steps. We'll come back to the toilets later.

2.- Go into your kitchen, and wash your dishes. If you have a dishwasher, then use it. It's one of your many "servants".

3.- Go to every sink in your house, and spray them all down with spray cleaner, and let sit. We'll get back to the sinks later.

4.- Depending on the amount of mess in your house, this step may be the longest one for you... Go through every room in your house, and throw away any trash, and put away things that have wandered away from their homes.

5.- The hard part's over. Grab a washcloth, and a spray cleaner, and wipe down your kitchen/dining room table, kitchen counters, and bathroom counters.

6.- Get back to those toilets and sinks! Time to wipe them down, the cleaner has been sitting in them long enough.

7.- Almost done! Grab your broom, and do a quick sweep of your kitchen and bathrooms. This is a quick sweep - that means you just sweep the middles of the floors. Don't worry about moving chairs, ect, just sweep around them.

8.- Time to spot mop. Turn on the hot water in your kitchen sink, get your mop wet, then look at the floor for messy spots, mop over each messy spot. Remember, this is an Emergency Quick Clean, so we're not mopping the whole floor, just the visibly dirty spots. Now do this in your bathrooms as well.

9.-Quick Vacuum time... Vacuum your living room and dining room. Focus on the middles. Don't worry about the edges, or under furnature, ect.

I suggest the next thing in your binder be a Training Time list. Through the week, watch your children. When you notice something they need to be taught, or improved in, write it down on your Training Time list. Then, schedule in an hour once a week (I suggest every Saturday), and work with that child on something from the list. It may only take a few minutes to train that child on something. While that child is practising, train another one of your children on something, etc.

Next in your binder, I suggest you keep a personal an emergency phone and address book. :-)

after that, print out some things from the internet that have really helped you, and inspired you in your home management journey.

I keep a book mark in my binder, always somewhere in my print outs. You may want to do the same. ;-)

In the back of my binder, I have some cooking recipes. This is a great place to put those, as I just need to open the back cover of my binder, and flip through a few pages, and I'm quickly to my recipes.

After the recipes, I have extra clear page protectors and notebook paper. I also keep extra stick on index tabs in the pocket of my back cover. Speaking of index tabs - now that your binder is put together, get out those index tabs. Arrange them in your binder, to keep it organized, and ready for quick reference to different sections. I don't write on my index tabs, I just color code things. I have pink for child rearing and housework, orange for laws, warnings and cautions, and green for all others.

If you were to look at how the tabs in my binder were set up, you'd probably be confused. Most people who see my binder are. However, it works for me and that strange brain of mine. ;-)

Now that your binder's put together, it's time to get to know your "best friend". Have that binder in the kitchen durring the day, in a central location. Don't carry it around with you. It's heavey, and you don't want to lose it. You can always reference it when you need it, right there in your kitchen. If you were to come to my house, you'd probably see my binder in my kitchen, on a table off to the side. The binder would be wide open, and turned to whatever page I'm at, at the time. If I were cleaning, the page would be turned to cleaning routines. (Yes, I do have these memorized, so I don't always need to turn to them, but it's handy to, because then if someone comes to the door, or the phone rings, I can always look at my cleaning page in my binder, and it'll remind me where I left off.)

If we're doing homeschool or family fun time, then guess what pages my binder will be opened to? Always have your Master Schedule as the first page in your binder. That way, you can flip to it instantly. That's the page my binder is opened to most of the day.

While you're getting to know your new binder, I suggest you take it to bed with you. I don't mean sleep with it, I mean read some of the great stuff you printed out, each night before you go to bed. Read through your binder at least a couple of times. It'll help motivate you do get up the next morning, and follow your Master Schedule. ;-) It's another psycological trick, to helping you succeed with your new "best friend".

Enjoy your binder! If you have any questions, then please ask them, in the 'comments' section below. :-)

Build Your Foundation on the Rock of Salvation

The terms "Christian" and "personal relationship with Jesus Christ" have been thrown around so much, that for many people, they have lost their original savor. What is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? Is it going to church? Is it being a "good person?" Is it via doing certain rituals, or following certain traditions? No, it is so much simpler than that.

"Look! I’m standing at the door and knocking. If any hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to be with them, and will have dinner with them, and they will have dinner with me." -Revelation 3:20 CEB

Let Jesus into your heart and life. Put your faith and trust in Him, and in Him alone.

Why did Jesus Christ come to this earth? He came to pay for our sins. Have you ever broken any of the Ten Commandments? Did you know that Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount that just looking at someone with lust in your heart is the same thing as committing adultery in your heart?

Many people will say I'm a good person. Sure, I've stolen a few paper clips in my time, and I've told some lies, but I've never killed anyone, so I'm good enough for heaven. Don't be so sure. Have you ever felt hatred toward someone? If so, then you are guilty of committing murder in your heart:

"Everyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that murderers don’t have eternal life residing in them." -1 John 3:15 CEB

If you have stolen, lied, lusted after someone, hated someone, loved someone or something more than God, etc., then you have broken at least 5 of the Ten Commandments. Do you really think you'd make it to heaven? Not according to God's Word:

"Don’t you know that people who are unjust won’t inherit God’s kingdom? Don’t be deceived. Those who are sexually immoral, those who worship false gods, adulterers, both participants in same-sex intercourse, thieves, the greedy, drunks, abusive people, and swindlers won’t inherit God’s kingdom." -1 Corinthians 6:9-10 CEB

"That is what some of you used to be! But you were washed clean, you were made holy to God, and you were made right with God in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God." -1 Corinthians 6:11 CEB

Even Mary, the woman chosen by God to be a vessel that would carry Jesus in her womb, was a sinner, and in need of a Savior:

"In the depths of who I am I rejoice in God my savior." - Mary said this in Luke 1:47 (CEB). Only sinners need a Savior, and Mary also accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior.

"This is the message that we have heard from him and announce to you: “God is light and there is no darkness in him at all.” If we claim, “We have fellowship with him,” and live in the darkness, we are lying and do not act truthfully. But if we live in the light in the same way as he is in the light, we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from every sin. If we claim, “We don’t have any sin,” we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." -1 John 1:5-8 CEB

The blood of Jesus Christ is what cleanses us from all sins. Jesus came to this earth to die to pay for our sins. You see, Leviticus tells us that 'the life is in the blood,' and that it takes spilt blood to atone for sin.

When we choose to truly believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, and to live our lives for Christ, then Christ's spilt blood cleanses us from our sins:

"Come now, and let’s settle this, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be white as snow. If they are red as crimson, they will become like wool." -Isaiah 1:18 CEB

"God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him won’t perish but will have eternal life. God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him isn’t judged; whoever doesn’t believe in him is already judged, because they don’t believe in the name of God’s only Son." - Jesus said this, in John 3:16-18 (CEB)

"Because if you confess with your mouth “Jesus is Lord” and in your heart you have faith that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Trusting with the heart leads to righteousness, and confessing with the mouth leads to salvation. The scripture says, All who have faith in him won’t be put to shame." -Romans 10:9-11 CEB

"There is one God and one mediator between God and humanity, the human Christ Jesus" -1 Timothy 2:5 CEB

"Also, let’s hold on to the confession since we have a great high priest who passed through the heavens, who is Jesus, God’s Son; because we don’t have a high priest who can’t sympathize with our weaknesses but instead one who was tempted in every way that we are, except without sin." -Hebrews 4:14-15 CEB

"Jesus replied, “Why do you break the command of God by keeping the rules handed down to you?" -Matthew 15:3 CEB

"Without question, the mystery of godliness is great: he was revealed as a human, declared righteous by the Spirit, seen by angels, preached throughout the nations, believed in around the world, and taken up in glory." -1 Timothy 3:16 CEB

If Jesus isn't the Lord of your life, then I hope that you will let Him into your heart and life this very moment.

"But God shows his love for us, because while we were still sinners Christ died for us." -Romans 5:8 CEB

Jesus is the way. If you would like to receive Jesus into your heart and life, then let Him know. Pray to the Lord, telling Him that you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and that you believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay the death penalty for your sins. Tell this to God in your own words, from your heart.

"The wages that sin pays are death, but God’s gift is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." -Romans 6:23 CEB

"You too heard the word of truth in Christ, which is the good news of your salvation. You were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit because you believed in Christ." -Ephesians 1:13 CEB

When you believe on Jesus Christ, you receive the Holy Spirit. You are sealed as a child of God.

If you have accepted Jesus Christ into your heart and life as your Lord and Savior, and you believe that Jesus died on the cross in your place, to pay the death penalty for your sins, and that Christ rose from the dead three days later, and you are ready to let Him lead your life, and you will live for Him, then you are saved, and born again.

You are now a saved Child of God, with the Holy Spirit living within you. Dedicate your life to the Lord, and live for Him. Please get a Bible (I suggest the Common English Bible - CEB) and turn to the Gospel of John. That is the fourth book in the New Testament. If you don't have a Bible, then you can read it for free, online - here.

After you've read the Gospel of John, go on to read Acts, and then Romans. These three books will bring you through the Gospel, the early church, and basic Christian doctrine. After you've read these three, then turn to the beginning of the New Testament, and read it all the way through. After that, read both the Old and New Testaments.

You should also follow the Lord and get baptized in water. A Believer's Baptism doesn't save you. Only faith in Christ saves you. A Believer's Baptism is an outward showing of your salvation. It symbolizes you being born again. When you are lowered under the water, it shows you dying to your old self, and when you are raised up out of the water, it symbolizes you being born again, as a new creature in Christ. This is called a Believer's Baptism, because, according to the Bible, a person is supposed to get baptized after they have believed on Christ. Anyone who was "baptized" before having faith in Christ just got wet - nothing more. You don't need to find a church to get baptized in. Any born again Christian can baptize you in any acceptable body of water - even a public swimming pool.

Find a good, local church congregation to attend. Search in your area for a Nazarene church, Foursquare church, or non-denominational Full-Gospel church.

Immerse yourself in the Bible. The Bible is God's love letter to you. It is also your Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.