End of Summer

It seems hard to believe that we are almost to the end of August and the summer. All right, I know that Fall, doesn't officially start until mid September, but as the local school heads back to being in session starting on Tuesday, it seems like the end of the summer to me. As we soon approach a new season, I still see all that is yet to be accomplished with the house cleaning process.

As I write this I am awaiting my kitchen floor to dry so I can make myself some lunch. My guys have gone to the local Corn Festival, to help out as Boy Scouts, cleaning off tables. While they were gone I figured it would be a good time to tackle some of the cleaning in the kitchen. I was busy vacuuming on top of the cupboards where we have lighting. Then I saw the floor that was in desperate need of a good scrubbing. It took me quite a while to do it on my hands and knees. Next I had to get all the excess water off the floor, and finally shine it with a layer of wax.

I have not gotten as far as I would have liked with getting the house clean and in good order. It has been a slow process. My husband has been and continues to be under constant stress at his job, so I often don't get as many things accomplished as I would like to do. I know that it is more important to be there and be the helpmeet that he needs. So when I have some spare time and I'm not too tired, I try to accomplish a little more with the house.

Keeping the house clean and orderly has always been a struggle for me. I could say it is because my husband and I are both collectors and tend to be on the messy side. But I feel that God has been teaching and leading me into new areas of growth. One of those is trying to get the house clean. It is overwhelming and very daunting at times, but I am trying not to get discouraged by my slow progress.

I see small areas of improvement. I have managed to keep my kitchen sink clean and shiny for months now. Last weekend I cleared off the kitchen counter and worked on sorting a few cabinets. I can't tell you how freeing it was this week to be able to have plenty of counter space to choose from as I work on assembling supper, or various meals, desserts. I wonder why I haven't done this a long time ago? I still have some more cupboards and small areas to clean in the kitchen, but soon it will be completely clean, sorted and organized. I find that when I have a clean open area, I am more interested in cooking and baking. Not something I always have enjoyed.

I pray that as Fall approaches I will continue my journey of getting my house clean, organized and orderly. For now I am focusing on the main floor that we live on. One step at a time, before I focus on the downstairs. But I pray that as I clean, sort, throw away and donate that God will clean out my heart and life and make it into what He what He desires for me to be. May I be a woman with God's own heart.