I should be cleaning, but...

Today is a snow day.  An unexpected slot of time that I should devote to the desperately needed task of cleaning my house.  Instead, I've spent too much time trying to find this blog and its missing posts while watching old X-File episodes.

I feel guilt.  I am giving myself pep talks.  Still I sit here....

Things I'm doing to try and motivate myself:

1.  Looking at pictures of very messy houses, telling myself, "Don't let your house get this bad..."

    

 

2.  Thinking of the things I have accomplished:

• Scrubbed our bedroom shower, sink, toilet, and floor.
• Folded or hung up all the clothes in our bedroom and put them away.
• Washed 4 loads of clothes and put them away.
• Put clean sheets and blankets on our bed.
• Swept floor.
• De-cluttered the living room.
• Dusted, swept, and cleaned the living room carpet.
• swept carpeted hallway

3.  Made a To Do list:

 

Regular Cleaning-

• unload and reload dishwasher
• wash all pots and pans by hand
• clean out frig, wash inside and out
• wipe down counter tops, stove, woodwork
• take out trash
• take recycling to jeep
• sweep and mop
• de-clutter dining room
• water plants
• wash table, chairs, walls
• sweep
• wipe down wood floors with cleaner
• kids R.R.  clean toilet, tub, sink, walls, floor, scoop cat box
• de-clutter hall, wipe down walls & woodwork, sweep and wipe down floor

The Scary Basement, Part I-

• de-clutter by water cooler, sweep, mop w/ bleach
• put small frig there
• de-clutter bar top, cupboards, & chairs
• put Christmas tree away
• de-clutter pool table, sweep it, wipe down cover
• sort through mystery bags from Dad
• sort shoes & coats
• clean out wooden box, wipe with bleach
• sweep and clean floors with bleach

Scary Basement, Part II: 

• Organize art shelves
• Organize all book shelves
• de-clutter air hockey table, counter top, etc.
• sort, recycle, file papers
• sort bins
• sweep, clean carpets

4.  As soon as I include this step, I'm getting my butt up to clean or it will be sinful, since I'm now praying for motivation.

 

• Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10)
• Don't you know? Haven't you heard? The Lord is the everlasting God; he created all the world. He never grows tired or weary. No one understands his thoughts. He strengthens those who are weak and tired. – Isaiah 40:28-29 

 

Prayer for Strength, Energy & Motivation

 

My Lord and my Strength,

I pray that I may possess the energy and motivation I need in order to stop procrastinating.  Please  help me accomplish the cleaning tasks that need done.  Erase the doubt and confusion I feel when I have to decide what to throw/give away and what to keep.  Grant me the ability to be more concerned about my family and their enjoyment of our home rather than holding onto old memories by keeping possessions.  Remind me that keeping childish things will not make my adult children little again.   That keeping unknown items will not reveal their purpose.  Squash that voice that says, "I might need this some day..."  and help me know what to do with all of the piles of paper in my possession.

I want to be less concerned about my living and more anxious for what I make of my life.

Amen