Vol. II, No. 14 The Teaching Home Newsletter
Posted by: homenews <homenews@...>
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The Teaching Home
E-MAIL NEWSLETTER
Information, Inspiration, and Encouragement
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Volume II, Number 14 Sept. 16, 2002
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Table of Contents
- Back-to-HOME-School: Organization (Part 3 of 4)
- 1. Get Motivated
- 2. Plan Your Attack
- 3. Start with Clutter
- 4. Prevent Clutter
- 5. Free Resources
- Useful Link: How Stuff Works
- Sunny Side Up (Humorous Anecdote)
Greetings!
We are still getting Back-to-HOME-School. . .
Each of us desires our home to be a peaceful place in
the midst of this world's turmoil. Organization can be a
key that opens the door to that dream.
Of course, putting the Lord first in all that we do is
the most important prerequisite to a life of peace.
Seek ye first the kingdom of God
and His righteousness;
And all these things shall be added unto you.
Matthew 6:33
In this issue we offer specific and do-able suggestions
for organizing your life. You do not have to get it all
done today. Just choose one or two areas and work on them
until they become habits; then add a little more each month
until you meet your goal.
You might notice that I have assumed that everyone else
has the same need that I have -- to be more organized. If
you are not one of us and are already well organized, please
look around and find someone you can encourage by your help
and prayer; it probably won't be hard to find someone!
May the Lord bless you as you work to make your home
more peaceful for the good of your family and for His glory.
Sincerely,
Sue Welch
for Pat, Sue, Heather, Holly, and Brian Welch
The Teaching Home is a home-school family business
produced in our home since 1980.
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Teaching Tools for Home & School
From Creative Teaching Associates. Educational
games for ages 4 and up, covering math, phonics, language
development, problem solving, financial accountability,
and more. Free shipping at:
http://www.mastercta.com
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Organization: A Key to a Peaceful Life
by Cindy Short and Sue Welch, editors
Get Motivated:
Review the Benefits of Organization
In a peaceful, organized home, relationships can
flourish, learning can blossom, and children can grow in
all dimensions of their personalities, unhampered by the
distractions and stress of disorganization.
Organization and planning help the home-school family
to keep their lives and belongings in order and to maintain
their priorities in both education and family living.
Organization is a paradox of limitation and freedom.
It consists of imposing limits on our behavior, our time,
our belongings, and our lives. Yet it is an essential tool
for achieving freedom, peace, and plenty.
Human nature tends to throw off constraints, and then
we do what we feel like moment by moment. The result is
chaos in our home environment.
Personal victory in the area of organization will bring
many benefits to our families:
1. Health that comes from well-planned meals, time for
exercise and rest, and a clean, safe environment.
2. Possessions that are in good repair and easy to find
when needed, saving the time, money, and stress of looking
for things or buying duplicates of unfound items.
3. A home that is a haven from the world for our families,
friends, and guests.
4. Time to do the best and most important things in life.
5. A calm, peaceful environment for efficient work and
study.
6. Relaxation that is well-earned and guilt-free each
evening after the day's work and each Sunday after the week.
7. The ability to practice hospitality and to open the door
and say "Come on in!" to unexpected visitors.
(Organization is continued below.)
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The Teaching Home Back Issues
The Teaching Home Back Issues never go out of date.
They are timeless classics, always applicable to your
needs today.
- Easy & Secure Ordering!
- 51 Back Issues Available Individually or in Sets.
- Each Issue Is Pictured and All Articles Are Listed.
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Make your teaching easier, more fun, and more enriching
by reading through The Teaching Home Back Issues.
http://TheTeachingHomen.goemerchant7.com
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Organization (Continued)
Plan Your Attack
How do you get from chaos and clutter to order? Try the
following steps, one by one.
1. Pray & Praise
The first step is to pray that the Holy Spirit will
show you the areas of your life that need to be changed as
you daily read God's Word and seek His direction. Cast your
care upon the Lord and don't forget to praise and thank Him
for all your blessings.
2. Read & Research
Read through the suggestions in this newsletter. They
were gathered from many people and sources. The recommended
websites within this article contain much more information
and encouragement to help you along.
3. Plan & Set Goals
Set life goals, yearly goals, quarterly goals, and
family goals which you periodically re-evaluate together
with your husband. These will help you prioritize your time
and effort, enabling you to do what is most important to
your family first.
4. Enlist the Help of Family & Friends
Ask your family and friends to support you in prayer if
you are struggling to become more organized.
Also, training your child to help with chores will
benefit him in the future and be a practical and valuable
help to you now.
5. Start Slow & Steady
Clutter and disorganization can only be effectively
overcome gradually. It takes time to establish new habits
and routines. If you set your eye on the goal and make slow
and steady progress each day and week, you will be delighted
to see a real difference in your home and life sooner than
you might expect.
(Organization is continued below.)
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Take your Family on a Short-Term Mission with STEM!
* Give your children a learning experience they'll never forget!
* Build a unit around preparation for your short-term mission.
* Then GO and touch lives together!
* Call 1-877-783-6646 for a free DVD to share with your group.
http://www.stemmin.org
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Organization (Continued)
Start with Clutter
Save yourself time and effort by eliminating the
clutter in your home.
* Why organize clutter that shouldn't be there in the first
place?
* You don't want to spend so much time dealing with your
stuff -- buying it, finding it, organizing it, and
cleaning it -- that you don't have enough time to spend
with your family.
* It is much easier to clean a clutter-free room.
Schedule Regular Times To Declutter
The consistency of even small efforts -- just 15
minutes to 1 hour a day -- will pay off immensely. Or you
could schedule 2 - 4 hours once or twice a week.
You can go through your house in any order: from
"public" living areas to storage, more cluttered rooms first
or last, or perhaps a different room for each day of the
week.
The Four-Box Method
This method is recommended by many experts.
1. Get three boxes and a trash can and label them:
* Put Away
* Give Away (You may want a separate box
for things you want to sell.)
* Storage
* Trash
2. As you go through the items in your current work zone,
force yourself to make a decision about each item you pick
up and place it in the correct box.
3. At the end of your appointed time (marked by a timer),
appropriately dispose of box contents:
* Relocate Put-Away items.
* Place Give-Away items in car to take to donation center.
* Put storage items, as well as items for your summer yard
sale, in clearly labeled boxes in your storage area.
* Throw away the rest quickly without a second thought.
(Organization is continued below.)
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7 Steps to Bible Skills
Easy step-by-step guide for young people: outline of
each book's content, preservation and translation, plus how
to look up scripture and use Bible study helps. Paperback,
167 Pages, 52 Lessons. Special: $11.99 (reg. $15.99)
http://www.HensleyPublishing.com/item_detail.asp?lang=en&id=28&amp;
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Organization (Continued)
Prevent Clutter
To prevent clutter from growing back, try one or all of
the following suggestions.
1. Hold Your Ground
After a particular area (as small as one counter top)
has been cleared, do a daily clutter check to make sure no
clutter is permitted to return.
2. Find a Place for Everything
Every item needs a home and all your family needs to
know where that home is.
Keep eliminating stuff until everything fits in the
space you have available, rather than wishing for something
you do not have -- more space for more stuff!
3. Build Good Habits
Work hard on the habit of returning items to their
homes and dealing with clutter the "Four Box" way.
4. "One Comes In, One Goes Out" Rule
When you buy a new item, a like item must be discarded,
recycled or donated. This keeps the sheer number of items
below the clutter point. It can also save money as you
consider if you really need or want to buy a new item badly
enough to release one you already have.
5. Don't Buy It
It is more cost effective to rent some items or to
borrow them from your public, church, or home-school
library. This is another way to keep down the amount of
things in your home.
(Organization is continued below.)
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Speedy Spanish & Educational Specialties
Speedy Spanish 1 - "A compact, Christian, easy-to-use
curriculum" suitable for grades 3-12.
Christian Ethics for Youth - a study of wisdom from
Proverbs for ages 13-19.
School Days Devotional Praise - 36 weeks of devotionals
for grades 1-8. (Bechtel Books: [email protected])
http://www.AnabaptistBooks.com/services/bechtel.html
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Organization (Continued)
Free Resources
These two website contain a wealth of free, practical,
and encouraging information.
Organized Home.Com
Many pages of free information about how to organize,
declutter, simplify, and clean you home including:
* Clutter and Personality Type - to help you lick your
clutter plus clutterbusting articles.
* Guide to menus and meal planning including a complete
guide to once-a-month cooking with recipes, equipment guide,
and tips.
* Cleaning tips, lessons, strategies, and charts.
* Much more!
http://www.organizedhome.com
FlyLady.net
Are you living in CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over
Syndrome)? When told to "Just do the next thing," do you
look around overwhelmed and ask, "What is the next thing"?
The FlyLady takes you by the hand and gently leads you
step by baby step through her housecleaning and organizing
program.
When you join FlyLady (free), you will receive daily
e-mails that will help you set up routines, get rid of your
clutter, and put your home and life in order. FlyLady's
approach has worked for thousands.
http://www.FlyLady.net
(Organization will be continued in the next newsletter and
will include: Clean & Maintain Your Home, Organize
Your Home School, and Take Control of Your Time.)
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Useful Link: How Stuff Works
How Stuff Works offers in-depth, colorfully
illustrated articles that explain the world from the inside
out in a clear, easy-to-read and understand manner.
With more than 2,500 articles and 2,000 graphics, this
eclectic encyclopedia covers 15 searchable categories
including automotive, body & health, computers, electronics,
money, science & technology, and transportation. Many links
to other sites are offered for more information.
It is worthwhile, on your first visit, to take the new
visitor's tour of the website (in pop-up window). You can
sign up for a free newsletter (archives available) and get
advertising-free site access with faster downloads for
$12/year.
Your child could learn a great deal from this website
while satisfying his natural curiosity in a fascinating
way! Just remember to be your child's safety net on the
internet. Although there should be no objectionable
material or links, there is no substitute to being in the
room with him when he is on the internet.
http://www.HowStuffWorks.com
Thanks to Nancy L. in Oklahoma for recommending this site.
You are also invited to send your suggestions.
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Sunny Side Up: So What's Our Excuse?
While driving with our daughters, Hannah, 5, and Sarah,
4, a song we were listening to talks about "Stand up, stand
up for Jesus!" The girls sang along loudly in the back seat.
After the song finished, I asked, "So, girls, would you
want to stand up for Jesus too?"
Hannah answered, "I can't, Mom."
I wondered, "Why not, Hannah?"
She answered, "Mom, I can't stand up for Jesus because
my seatbelt is on."
Submitted by Binky S., Jersey City, N.J.
You are invited to send a humorous anecdote too.
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God Loves You.
Because we were separated from God by sin, Jesus Christ
died in our place, then rose to life again. If we trust Jesus
Christ as our Savior and Lord, He will give us eternal life.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a
result of works, that no one should boast" (Ephesians 2:8, 9).
http://www.TeachingHome.com/about/salvation.cfm
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