Little Laundry Life Hack

Little Laundry Life Hack

For anyone out there who has a dust buster (the small, handheld, battery powered vacuums), I have a wonderful discovery to share.  Anyone who doesn’t have one, you should get one.  They are awesome!

We have one because the kids can use it and have been vacuuming cereal and other crumbs from around the table since they were each about 2.

Anyway, here is my life hack.  You know how annoying it can be to pull the lint trap out of the dryer and have it drop stuff all over the top or floor (depending on where your trap is)?  This is especially bad living on a farm because there are always wood shavings in the trap.  They go EVERYWHERE!  Also, sometimes, it can be hard to get all of the lint off of the trap itself.

Well, grab your dust buster!  Vacuum the lint trap itself!  Vacuum up everything it drops out of it.  Vacuum the opening to the place where the trap goes in.  It is awesome!!

That’s it!

Sundays and New Beginnings

This entry is a little dated.  I originally wrote it on the first Sunday that we had animals on the farm, but it is just as relevant now.

DD seemed to have a tummy bug over the last few days so she couldn’t go to Sunday school.  She and I stayed home while DH and DS went to church.  Since DD is not even 3 and always loves to be doing something, we only had a short time of worship together – we read a Bible story, her choice, Noah’s ark, and talked about how wonderful it was that God gave the world a new beginning with the ark and an even better one with our redemption through Jesus.  Then we prayed and thanked God for those new beginnings and for our new beginning here on the farm.  We then spent some time singing praise songs together while she played.

Then I busied myself with things around the house.  It hit me as I thought about everything that always needs to get done that now more than ever, I need to remember to rest.  God commanded the Israelites to “Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.” (Exodus 20:8)  Jesus reminded the Pharisees “The Sabbath was created for man…” (Mark 2:27) (yes I know that I am taking that a little out of context but just go with me for a moment) 🙂

God created us and knows that in our crazy, fallen, need for control lives, we over do, over commit, and STRESS about everything that WE have put on our plates.  He created and commanded a day of rest so we could recharge.  So our families could recharge and reconnect.  I don’t think that God needed to rest on the 7th day of creation.  I think He, in His infinite wisdom, was modeling what He wanted us to do.

God does everything and creates everything for His glory.  We can use our days and times of rest, no matter how long or short they may be, to glorify Him.  We need to slow down and thank Him for providing an inborn need for rest and be willing to make it a priority.

I need to remember this and show my kids that rest is important.  Spending time just being and not always doing is more than important, it is essential.  Without it, we get crabby and tunnel-visioned, and make ourselves sick.  We alienate ourselves because we are so tired that we are poor company.

There is always work to do on a farm and in a family.  I need to be willing to stop and let some of it go until tomorrow.  Those dishes and dirty clothes will be fine until tomorrow.  Those baskets of clean shirts can go unfolded for 1 more day.  That grass won’t grow too much overnight.  We only have so much time to cherish the ones we love.  Carve out time for them.  Join me in making a fresh start and taking time to rest.

Grocery Shopping with Kids

Grocery Shopping with Kids

Ok, I know a lot of you out there will think that I am probably crazy after reading the next sentence.  I really like going grocery shopping with my kids.  I know, I know.  You are all thinking that I have lost my mind or been out working in the sun too long today.  I really do enjoy it (most of the time). 🙂

I try to set up stopping points around the store where the kids can do something fun.  We usually stop in the toys and look at a few things.  Both kids are earning an allowance every week now, so they usually have enough for at least a $1 car.  One store in particular is great because they have a fish tank at the back of the store and a lobster tank near the produce department and a penny pony ride at the front.  We do some shopping.  Stop and look at the toys.  Do some more shopping.  Stop and say “hi” to the fishies.  Do some more shopping.  Go say “hi” to the lobsters.  If they are good during the whole trip, including check out, then they get a couple penny rides on the pony.

Things don’t always go smoothly (kids are kids) but usually things go fairly well.  They like to be part of things.  DS helps put cartons of milk in the bottom of the cart.  DD helps me count how many boxes or cans or cartons go in the basket.  They both love to scan the groceries at check out.  It took less than a minute to teach them what a bar code looks like, and now they scan everything that it’s breakable or damageable (we’re still working on being gentle with stuff).

They also feel like they have some control because they are part of some of the decisions.  Simple questions teach them to make decisions.  What type of macaroni and cheese should we get this time?  We only are going to buy 2 boxes of cereal today, what kinds should we get?  What color peppers would you like to eat this week?  It also teaches them about consequences.  When they complain about having to eat the same type of macaroni and cheese several times in a row, I simply tell them that that was the only kind that they wanted to buy last time.

It also teaches them about budgeting and money management and setting purchasing priorities.  They are learning that just because we want something or we are out of a favorite cereal, doesn’t mean we always buy it.  If it’s not on sale or we don’t have a coupon, we usually don’t bring it home.  They also seem to be learning that groceries don’t magically end up at home.

Beyond teaching them, it really can be fun.  We have “friends” who always work on particular days or in particular departments and we try to go find them to say hello (which also teaches them about outreach and taking time for others).  We race down an aisle then stop suddenly.  We look for numbers and letters.  We sing songs and dance as we walk around.  We see if we can find things that make us think of nursery rhymes or songs.   We just get goofy and laugh.  They learn (and I am reminded) that even things that have to get done in life don’t have to be boring.  We get a few hours of quality time while I get a necessary chore done.  They learn life skills without even knowing it.  It’s a win all around!