FOCUS for January 14-18, 2013

Happy Monday! After a nice weekend with my family I am ready to start another busy week. Below as promised you will find my Focus goals for the week. It seems long but much of this will stay the same every week. This is my plan, but even best plans have to adjust as we go, so I will be flexible. Already first thing this morning I am reminded that we are not in control. This week’s first twist, 2 kids home sick today!

FOCUS for January 14-18, 2013

The value of consistent prayer  is not that God will hear us, but that we will hear God.”

   Willliam McGill                 

Goals for a Better Home

1. Personal Focus to better my relationship with God.

Daily: Start and end each day with prayer. Read two chapters in the Bible.

Weekly: Read one article from the Leaven Newspaper and one chapter in Reasons to Believe (I have been working on this book for awhile) to learn more about my Faith.

Monthly: Find and order a Bible Study for Lent (Starts Feb 13)

2. Remove distractions at key times.

Daily: No computer 6:30-8:00am and 3:00-5:00(or after everyone is home for the day)

                Weekly: Less TV and computer for my husband and me after the kids are in bed.

                Monthly: Plan a NO Electronics evening for the family.

3. Add something to give more of me to my family.

Daily: Give my family a proper send off and welcome home each day. Focused one on one time with each kid and my husband every day! Read out of the children’s Bible before bedtime prayers. 

Weekly:  Discuss, at each of their age levels, what the baby bottle collection for Mary's Choices  that we brought home from church is for. Plan child #4’s Birthday party.

Monthly: Plan a study for the family for Lent.

Goals for a Better House

1. Daily: Have 3 daily “Check Points” for daily chores or routines.

Check Point 1(9:00): Kitchen straightened, previous day catch up, get dressed, make bed, one load of laundry started, pets fed, have a plan for dinner.

Check Point 2(3:30): Laundry/Mud room, kitchen, dining & living room straighten. Kids’ beds made (hopefully this will become their habit). Daily laundry folded and put away.

Check Point 3 (After Dinner): Kitchen, dining room and living room straightened up, backpacks ready for the morning.

2.  Weekly: Daily Tasks

Monday:   Weekly planning; make a to do list, update the calendar, and pay bills.

Tuesday: Make a house cleaning schedule, kid’s chores schedule, and Household Purge schedule (see below). Print all and hang them in view!

Wednesday: Plan meal menu for the next week (Thurs-Weds), make grocery list, balance checkbook (Dec monthly balance, and this weeks deposit, finish budget).

Thursday: Weekly errands; Christmas returns, drop off recycles, go to bank, and Grocery shop. Help kids straighten their rooms in the evening.

Friday: Cleaning Day and weekly catch up!

3. Monthly: Projects (big and small)

Start my 2013 “Household Purge”! I plan to tackle one room or at a time. Some may only take a day others a week.  This week is the Laundry/Mud room; I started this room last month so it should be an easy one.