Chaos to Order (free ebook) Review and Link

Yesterday was a slower day than usual. We finished our school lessons early, the kids were busy playing, and I had a few extra minutes to read some emails and browse some helpful homeschooling sites.

One site that I am subscribed to is Homeschool Freebie of the Day. Every day they offer some free online resource, sometimes it's a video clip, many times it's an educational ebook. Lately, I have been working on getting our home more conducive to homeschooling, eliminating the unnecessary and rearranging schedules and furniture to make life easier. So, I was happy when I saw yesterday's freebie was an ebook called From Chaos to Order: 25 Tools Bringing Organization to your Home.

I had opportunity yesterday to read through the ebook. It is not your typical how-to-get-organized book. It has nothing to do with where to put your papers or how to organize your sock drawer. This book is about restoring order to your life, and doing it biblically. Each 'tool' is presented first with a verse from Scripture. God created everything to have order, and Malia Russel uses the Bible to show God's design for order in the different areas of our lives.

This was the most helpful and encouraging book I have ever read on the subject of getting organized. It is biblical, and it makes sense. Here is the description on the back of the book:

Women have a yearning to create a home, a place of order, beauty,

comfort and peace. However, the compulsion to do it right often collides

with feelings of guilt, inadequacy and frustration.

This encouraging book is solidly based on the fundamental truth of

God’s Word, Malia’s personal experiences, and insight gained from

practical information, personal application and Scripture references.

working with hundreds of women every year. Each chapter is filled with

This book will help turn modern homemakers from overwhelmed to

overjoyed!

I highly recommend this book to any mom who, like me, gets overwhelmed, frustrated, and just plain needs help and direction! I plan on reading through this again, and probably again. :) You can get get the free download here (it's the resource for Jan. 31). And you should also check out Malia Russel's website, Homemaking 911.

 

A New Year

So, I'm a little late getting a new post up for the new year... but I've been a little preoccupied with life. We took two weeks off at Christmas time and travelled to Maine to be with family. It was a good visit, we really needed the time away, but I was glad to come back home and get at things again.

Joy has finally settled into a mostly predictable routine. It has been challenging with three older ones to focus on the baby and figure out her needs, but I'm getting there. She is growing well and smiling big smiles and starting to babble and coo. :) I have not been good about taking pictures, but I will try to get some new ones soon. (On a side note, you can read her birth story here if you are interested.)

I always love the beginning of a new year. A time to reevaluate and refocus. I don't usually make resolutions, too much pressure. But I usually make a mental list of some things I'd like to focus on. My main focus right now is homeschooling.

I started Emma with kindergarten last summer, thinking I'd get ahead and be able to take time off when the baby came. Well, we didn't get too far, and we didn't do school all over November and December. So I've picked up where we left off, and we've been on a roll for the past two weeks. I have been using the kindergarten curriculum from My Father's World. It has been fun, and easy from a teaching point of view since it includes everything you need.

I have also been doing some lite preschool work for Julianna and Ethan. It is mostly to give them something to focus on, and to give them some special attention so that I can give Emma the attention she needs without the younger two needing to be in on it as well. It is working well, and I'm encouraged that this homeschooling business can be done. For the younger two we sit down and do some reading, focus on letters and numbers, and learn some songs and poems. I have been loosely following this free preschool curriculum. It is easy to do with both Julianna and Ethan, and doesn't take very long. They feel like they are doing something special.

This new season in my life is incredibly busy. It takes a lot of energy and focus to keep up with four kids, a husband, and a house to run. But I am learning, and there have been plenty of curves!

I will be sharing when I can, I've got some things in mind.... So stay tuned! :)

One Month

Wow. I can't believe the Little Peanut is one month old! It has been a crazy-busy month adjusting to life with a new little one! But we are getting there, wherever that is!

We had a nice Thanksgiving - it was just the six of us. My parents came for a visit the week after. It was really good to spend some time with them. (I was very grateful for the extra hands too!) The kids had a great time playing with Grammie and Grampa. :)

Life is busier than I ever imagined it would be. Each day brings new challenges, and being overtired all the time makes things that much harder. I know these days won't last forever (although some days feel like they will never end!). And I don't want to wish them away, but I do look forward to the day when the chaos is a bit more controlled, everyone is a little more rested, and the routine is a bit more predictable.

I will be taking a blogging break until next year. Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas season!