My Homekeeping Handbook Series :: Introduction

What is a Homekeeping Handbook?

A homekeeping handbook is simply a three ring binder that contains all the information you need to take care of your home and family. It is a simple and organized way to keep track of all the things that make your home run smoothly. A properly made up handbook is an extremely helpful tool, which allows you to have a guide for the running of your household. If you were sick or hospitalized your handbook will help whoever takes over your household tasks do so with ease—ensuring your home will be taken care of the way that you like.

How Do I Make One?

Making a homekeeping handbook is really a simple process and is really inexpensive. To start off, you will need to purchase a few supplies.

Supplies Needed:

* 1 three ring binder – I like the 3 inch binders, as this gives me a lot of room, but you can easily do it with smaller binders. Just make sure you get a binder with enough room for your needs. I like binders with the covers where you can slip in a decorated page so the binder is pretty.

* Page protectors – these come in handy for protecting the pages of your handbook. You don’t need one for every page; just the most used ones. I also use them to write on with dry erase markers, especially for my daily to-do list (to check off “done” items). This allows you to only have to print off one daily to-do and continue re-using it over and over.

* Index Tabs – These are sticky back tabs that you can attach to your index pages of each section of your handbook

Additional Supplies (not needed, but handy!)

* Pre-Printed forms – like those I will include in this series of posts.

* Computer and Printer – for making up your daily to-do list, printing forms, etc.

* Three ring pen pouch – this is just one of those pen pouches that are made to fit into your three ring binder. You can purchase these in the school supply section of most discount stores.

* Sticky Notes – these are for making temporary notes and reminders to your handbook. I store them in the pen pouch.

* Stamps – for mailing bills and cards, store in pen pouch.

* Pen, pencil & highlighter – for taking notes and writing needs, store in pen pouch.

* Small portable calculator – for quick math jobs, store in pen pouch.

* Paper clips – for keeping things together, store in pen pouch.

With just these few items, you can make a homekeeping handbook that will make your life so much easier and organized! You next step will be to set up the different sections of your handbook. In mine, I’ve included sections for calendars, cleaning, kitchen, family, homeschool, faith, addresses and miscellaneous. These are the basic components of you handbook.
.
Setting Up Your Handbook

1. Make a decorative page to slip into the front of the binder. This will personalize your handbook.

2. Make index pages for each section of your binder. I make these with pieces of cardstock (8-1/2 x 11). I slip them into page protectors to give them strength and for protection. To these, attach an index tab for ease of use and finding each area.

3. In the very front, I place the pen pouch with all of my supplies tucked in.

4. In the front, before the first tab, I place a copy of my family emergency contacts;

you can download a copy of the one I use by clicking here. I also keep a copy of this posted on the refrigerator and close to the main phone of the house.

5. Behind each section’s index page, I include the forms for that section that I use (I cover just what they are later in this series of posts) as well as, other information that applies to that section.

Now that the basic skeleton of your handbook it together, you can get started on personalizing each individual section. In the next days, I will cover what I use in my homekeeping handbook, how I set mine up, and some tips that I have found useful. There are many forms, which I will be including.

So this pretty much gets you started on setting up your Homekeeping Handbook. Tomorrow, I will cover the section on calendars.

Like this post? Never miss another one! Sign up to receive updates whenever new posts are added:

If/Then Chart & Family Rules

Amy over at Raising Arrows did a post back in September on the If/Then Chart. I ran across it today and low and behold, I was surprised to see a copy of the If/Then Chart I had made years ago on one of my other blogs which was lost when my old computer died. Granted this one had been slightly altered, but the basic form was the one I had originally created. I was excited to see that it was still floating around in one incarnation or another. So go on over there and take a look at it and download it if you’d like!

I’m no longer using that one with my family….when my computer died on me I lost it and I decided to re-create it to the best of my memory. So, now here are the current “Family Rules” that I have been using over the last few years. I created a basic form in word with 3 columns headed as: RULES, SCRIPTURE, & CONSEQUENCES. I typed in the rules and scriptures under each column, but not the consequences…I left that blank. I then printed them off and put them in a plastic page protector. I then write on the plastic page protector with one of those over-head marking pens, the conscequences of the behavior. This makes it easier to change things when I need to without having to print out a new copy.

Anyway, here are the rules and the scriptures:

No as for the consequences, this runs the gambit and it also depends on who ‘s consequences they are. Riley might get time-out, while Colt may have to do something else. Another favorite is to have them write a paper about why they shouldn’t do what they’re doing. For example when Colt was having some issues with displays of anger, I gave him a concordance and had him look up “anger” and then had him write every verse in the Bible that talks about anger. This was very helpful! I try to make the concequences fit the behavior, for example if one of the boys is not picking up after their selves, I’d have them do their brother’s chores for the day or extra chores of some kind. Of if there’s a problem with sharing than the item being fought over is put a way for a set amount of time. If selfishness is a problem then I’d make them do a service for someone else. If there’s a constant problem with a certain behavior, I’d have them memorize scripture that warns them against such behavior. There’s so many different types of conscequences so I try to get to the root of the behavior and have the conscequences fit that. Anyway, this is what we do and it works pretty well for us and I have seen it stop some pretty upsetting behaviors.

Like this post? Never miss another one! Sign up to receive updates whenever new posts are added:

i heart faces – Week 2: Photo Challenge – “Best Face Photo”

Each week, i heart faces has a challenge. This week’s challenge theme is “Best Face Photo” and the photo entered has to be taken sometime during December 2009 and/or January 2010. This is a picture that I took of my niece, Rebecca, on January 1, 2010. For Christmas, I had received my very first digital SLR, an Olympus E-420. I’m still learning how to use it, but am so amazed at the quality of the photos that come from it. This photo just took my breath away, I was so surprised and pleased with it. I did play around with it some in PSE to change it to black and white and I LOVE how it turned out! Here’s the photo entry for this week’s challenge:

I heart faces is celebrating their 1st birthday with all sorts of giveaways and activities so don’t forget to stop by and enter some of the challenges and giveaways!

Also, don’t forget to enter their giveway for today (scroll down to the bottom)…a 20×24 gallery wrapped canvas of your favorite photo. This is a $115 value, and was donated by Color Inc.!

i heart faces – Fix-It Friday #40

This is my first time participating in Fix-it Friday over at i heart faces. I’m hoping that by participating, that I will learn to use my Photoshop Elements better at editing photos. Since Marty and the boys bought me a new digital SLR camera for Christmas, I plan on taking LOTS of pictures and learning how to use my camera and I just love looking at how other people edit their photos. In just the few weeks I’ve had my camera, I’ve already learned a ton from just looking around the web and reading tutorials. Each week i heart faces posts a photo that we are asked to “fix”. Here is this week’s photo:

This is the original photo that was provided

This is how I edited it

The first thing I did was adjust the hue/saturation to fix the color and take away the yellow cast to the photo. I then played around with the color curves and then ran the auto color correction. I ran the Coffee Shop “Little Perk” action on the photo and set the slider to 99%. I then applied Coffee Shop “Vignetter” action. I wanted to bring out the birthday boy, so I finally used the Coffee Shop “Teeny Tiny World” action on the photo, highlighting the boy and candle. Over all I think it turned out pretty well! Here’s a side-by-side view of the photo and my edit.

Why We Decided to Home-Church

I have to admit that we haven’t been attending church regularly. We discovered a year or more back that the church we were members of were doing some things that we did not agree with and decided to look for a new church, it was a IFB Church (Baptist). We visited several in the area and just haven’t found what we were looking for. I grew up Methodist and Marty grew up Baptist. We decided not to attend the Methodist church because in many ways it has become too liberal. We’ve visited many other churches and none have been quite what we’re looking for. One church was too loud, their main focus was entertainment with a rock band and nothing but praise songs (no traditional hymns). All denominational churches have manmade rules and laws that either take away or add to God’s Word. I don’t want to be a Baptist or Methodist…I want to be a Christian…PERIOD. I want to be a member of the church of CHRIST, not the denomination COC, but the church founded by Christ in the first century, not a church founded by any human man or woman.

Looking for a Church

This is what we were looking for in a church:

1. A church that is set up and is run in the Biblical way shown in the New Testament. There are no added man-made doctrine, is used the Bible for it’s sole doctrine (nothing added or taken away from the scripture).

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. –Hebrews 13:8-9

For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. –Revelations 22:18-19

But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. –Matthew 15:9

And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. –Mark 7:9

2. A family oriented church. What I mean by this is that I don’t want my children or myself pushed into “Children’s Church” or Youth Groups. I want my children to sit with me during the service and not be constantly asked or expected to take them to children’s church. I also would like to see other children/teens dressed and acting appropriately. I’ve been appalled by the lack of modesty in some of the girls…sorry, I would rather not have to look at a teen girls cleavage and entirely too short skirts, nor do I want my boys associating with them. Also, if they are in children’s church or youth groups, I can’t be sure what they are being taught and exposed to.

My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: –Proverbs 1:8

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. –Proverbs 22:6

And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. –Deuteronomy 11:19

3. We want a small congregation where we can really get to know the other families, something more like an extended family than where you’re just a familiar face in the crowd.

4. We want a church that teaches Biblical truth, not Christian Pop Culture literature (no “Purpose Driven Church”.) We want our preaching based on scripture alone.

5. We would also find like-minded believers, with similar beliefs as our own. Along with strong male leadership to help lead the men in growing as the Spiritual heads of their families and strong Titus 2 type women to help the women grow as the helpmeets to their husbands. I’ve been amazed that this is one of the hardest criteria to find in local churches! I’ve visited many churches over the last year where other women have treated me like a non-person because I’m a homemaker instead of having a career. Or I’ve been looked at strangely because I wear dresses/skirts only and dress modestly.

6. We would like to also have some homeschoolers that we could spend time with when we do things like field trips and such with. This isn’t a must, but it would be nice.

Can you believe that we haven’t been able to find a church with these criteria (LOL!)? So, we’ve finally decided that maybe Home-Churching would be the best choice for us right now. Last Sunday, Marty and I, along with his Brother Ben and his wife Alysha met with a home-church pastor to learn how to “do” home-church. It was a very interesting meeting and has confirmed to us, that at this time, home-churching is the way we need to go.

So who is to lead the service?

“But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man: and the head of Christ is God.” — I Corinthians 11:3

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. – Ephesians 5:23-27

So, it’s clear to me that the husbands as head of the woman and head of the home is to lead the service. The husband is called to be the Spiritual leader of the home. He is to teach and guide the family in their Spiritual growth. But what if the husband is not familiar with the Bible or it’s teachings. What if the wife is? Should she take over the teaching because she’s more knowledgeable? No.

Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. –I Timothy 2:11-14

What a wife can do then, in that instance, is help her husband? This is the place where Marty and I are right now. I’m much more familiar with the Bible and it’s teachings than Marty is. So what do I do? I make sure he has a good Bible, a concordance (such as Strong’s or Cruden’s) and a dictionary (Webster’s 1828). That and prayer goes a LONG way! This doesn’t mean that I don’t have any say or opinion about what message he teaches, but he’s the final say. He comes to me and asks me what I see that the family needs to hear in a message (assessment). He can even ask my opinion about a Scripture verse (my interpretation), but the final say is his and the Lord’s. Since I’m with the children more each day, I have a better view of what the children need to hear. He takes my suggestions, and adds his own, from what he sees or from leading from the Lord. Then he prayerfully chooses the topic of the message and goes from there. Just because he’s the Spiritual head of our family, doesn’t mean he can’t consult me for help and understanding. When asked, I’m happy to give him my opinion, but the final decision is his. From there, with prayer, he writes up the message.

Home-Church Framework

We feel that the home-church should be free from structure. What I mean from that is that we shouldn’t frame it up where we say the same prayers and sing only 3 songs at every service. Basically we’re not tied to a structure that is binding; we allow ourselves the freedom to mix things up a bit. This helps us not to feel like we HAVE to do certain things at each service or at certain times during the service. But, for us, we feel that each service should contain the basics.

Invocation or opening prayer – This is an opening prayer asking for blessings and growth for the family as they hear the message presented. The husband should do this.

Worship Songs – This can be with or without music, sung to praise and please God. We generally sing a minimum of 4, one per person, but often sing more. We try to make the last song match the theme of the message, but that’s not a must. You can do them all at once or mix them throughout the service. I’m currently working on making a family hymnbook with a mixture of hymns, favorite praise songs, and Children’s Bible songs. When I get it finished, I will try to post a link where you can download it if you’d like.

Intercessory Prayer – This is where we pray for those on our prayer list. I keep track of the people on our list and present the list to Marty so he knows who is in need of prayer and for what. It is also a time where we pray that the message to be presented helps us to grow as a family and as Christians. Again this prayer is led by Marty as the Spiritual head of our home.

The Message – The message is presented by the husband. Basically he has a list of topics in which he prayerfully considers and then chooses one. It could be based on a single word (word study), on a phrase or a life issue. Life issues are ongoing family needs (what do we need) such as behavioral issues, sinful attitudes, and things like that. For example if we were having a problem with talking-back from the boys, what is the heart issue at play? Is it disrespect for your parents or something different. This is where prayer helps a lot, as the Lord will lead Marty to the message that we need to hear. He usually chooses a “theme” verse from the Bible in which to base the message on and he is free to use both the Old and New Testaments and is based on Scripture alone.

So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. –Nehemiah 8:8

But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: –Titus 2:1

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: –2 Timothy 3:16

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. –Romans 15:4

Benediction – This is the closing prayer of thanksgiving and blessing done by the husband.

So that’s the basic framework we’re working with for our home-church services. I think it will work well for us.

What About…

The Lord’s Supper? –This is something we’re currently praying about (the frequency). We plan on using homemade unleavened bread and grape juice.

Baptism – The husband can do this as the Spiritual leader of our homes when the person being baptized has made a real decision to accept Christ, to repent and ask forgiveness. We believe in dunking, so this would most likely require a trip to the river

Age of Accountability – The wife can continue teaching her boys the Bible until they reach the age of accountability and make a decision to accept Christ. After a boy has been baptized the wife should no longer instruct him in Biblical things; this now falls on the father to instruct him and/or self-instruction.

Meeting with Other Believers – Since both Marty and are Christian and so is Colt, we meet that requirement…we are meeting with other Christians.

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. –Hebrews 10:25

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. –Matthew 18:20

Conclusion

We don’t have all the answers on this, but really do feel that this is the way the Lord is leading us. If you have any question or suggestions please feel free to leave a comment. If you currently home-church, I would LOVE to hear about how you do it, tips or ideas!

In Christ!

Like this post? Never miss another one! Sign up to receive updates whenever new posts are added:

Simple Knitted Cowl

I whipped up this knitted cowl in just a couple of days, and I’m a ssslllooowww knitter. I wanted to create something that would warm my neck, yet not have ends that hang down. When working on the farm feeding animals, etc it’s not too fun to have the ends of a scarf dragging around in the mud and the muck, so for me a cowl was a great option. I looked around the web and found a similar one to this one online, but the pattern required circular knitting needles and I have yet to be able to teach myself to knit in the round. So I decided to knit it flat and then sew up the seam. That worked great and I’m now enjoying my new cowl. Here’s the basic instructions for making one like I did:

Simple Knitted Cowl
(C) 2010 Susan Godfrey/Homestead Momma, all rights reserved.

Materials:
1 skein worsted weight yarn (I used Red Hart color #0931 Seagrass)
Size 10 Knitting needles
Yarn needle

Cast on 80 stitches.

Ribbing Rows:
2 knit, 2 purl across. Repeat for 1 inch

Body Rows:
stockinette stitch for 10-12 inches (depends on the size you want, I did 10 inches)

Ribbing Rows:
2 knit, 2 purl across. Repeat for 1 inch

Bind off. Sew seam using an invisible side seam (I used the mattress stitch). Here’s a video about how to do the mattress stitch:

Here’s what it looks like wearing:

And my Dad found a couple of unique additional ways to wear it (love you Dad!):

Like this post? Never miss another one! Sign up to receive updates whenever new posts are added:

Christmas and Recovering From Christmas

Be forwarned….this is a photo heavy post! LOL! OH, and family members, if you see any photos you would like to have, email me!

I am so thankful that the holidays are over! It’s not that I don’t enjoy them, it’s just that we travel so much during them. We left on 12/23 for my parent’s and we had a really nice visit with them, as well as with my brother and his family. The boys were so excited, Colt received an air rifle, plus money to go towards the computer he’s saving up for. Riley got a kids digital camera, a Vtech V-smile Pocket learning system (he already had a V-Smile Motion game that hooks up to the TV the portible one works with the same games). He also got a cute Batcave and a bunch of Batman toys. But the biggest surprise of the day was the digital SLR that Marty surprised me with! I was so excited!! I have a wonderfully, amazing husband

The rest of the time there we visited with everyone and the boys got to play with their cousins, Elijah & Abby. Alot of us adults played cards, we enjoyed several hands of “Hand & Foot”. Here are pictures from our stay:

Me getting my new digital SLR from my wonderful husband and boys! I think they may regret it….lol! So far I’ve kept the camera running constantly

Colt & the air rifle he got from us.

Riley and his Batcave from Grammy & Grandpa

Riley posing next to one of the MANY santa’s that my Mom collects.

Just me, I gave Marty a chance to play with my new camera

The McNiel cousins, Riley, Abby J, Elijah & Colt (in back)

Playing Hand and Foot with my brother and parents

Elijah, Abby & Riley in their Christmas P.J.’s that Grammy bought them.

Marty, Colt, Riley & I

My Dad & Mom

Dad with the grandsons

The McNiel Family:
Jack Jr (Bubba), Kathy J (holding Abby J), Colt, Riley (in front), Marty, Me, Kathy L (Mom), Elijah (in front), Jack Sr. (Dad)

Riley wearting the super cute Batman shirt that he got from Uncle Bubba & Aunt Kathy.

Riley and Colt at McDonald’s

Riley and his candy cane heart

On Monday 12/28, we drove up to Burleson to visit my Nanny. We all had a great time and we took Nanny out to eat at Whataburger. She LOVES that! She enjoyed seeing all the kids and visiting with us all. From there my brother and family headed back to Missouri and we took Nanny back home and visited a bit longer. Then we drove back to my parent’s house. We came home on 12/29 but were only home a few days before heading out of town again. Here are pictures from our visit with Nanny.

Charley Belle Rogers Stanley (Nanny)

Riley outside Nanny’s nursing home.

Elijah, Colt, Abby J, Riley & Nanny at Whataburger.

Colt & Abby J.

Riley & Nanny

On 12/31 we headed down to Marty’s brother’s house for Christmas with his side of the family. We were happy to see all the nieces and their parents, as well as Marty’s Dad and Step-Mom. Again, the kids had a great time (we did too). The kiddos recieved lots of fun things and so did we. It was great visiting with everyone. Alysha (my SIL) and I kept busy feeding everyone and cleaning up the kitchen (when there’s 12 of us there, it feels like we NEVER leave the kitchen..lol!). I made Alysha a big batch of homemade BBQ sauce, which we all enjoyed…yummy stuff! I left her a BIG pot of it which I imagine she’ll either can or freeze. On Sunday 1/3 we had home-church which we really enjoyed. Ben had requested that the teacher give a lesson on how to hold a home-church meeting in your on home. Basically to teach he and Marty how to hold one as the Spiritual leaders of our homes. It was a great lesson and I think Marty learned a lot, and so did I. We came home Sunday evening to a COLD house and pretty much just went to bed, as Marty had to get up the next day for work. Overall, it was a great couple of weeks and it makes me SO thankful that Marty get’s all the time off during the holidays. Here are pictures from our visit with the Godfrey side of the family.

Rebecca

Abby G

Abby G & Emily

Grace & Abby G

Riley & Rebecca. Rebecca is only 6 months older than Riley

Me holding Lilly

\
Abby G, Colt, Emily, Suz & Ronnie (Pa-Paw)

Pa-Paw, Riley & Grace

Riley with the monster truck from Pa-Paw

Marty made sling shots for several of the folks for Christmas…he decided to try on on….??

My SMIL, Suz

Emily

Grace

Yesterday, I spent the day running errands, paying bills, and buying groceries. Today, we’re back to homeschooling for the first time since the holidays. So far that’s going well…no first-day-back melt-downs…lol! We’re going to have soup and sandwiches for lunch and I think it’s going to be a productive, yet quiet day. I need to do laundry, but our pipes froze last night so we have no water, so laundry is out until they thaw

I’m also working on, homeschool schedules for Colt, which I just finished up. We’re going to try things a bit differently for a while, I’ll post the new schedule up in the sidebar sometime today. I’m also going to be working on making a song book for our home-church. I think we’ve pretty much decided that instead of going to church, we’ll just have home-church with Marty leading the service. It’s what we feel led to do and I think it will be a great growing experience for us all.

Well I need to get off of here and on to other things! I hope you all had a blessed Christmas and New Years!

In Christ,

Like this post? Never miss another one! Sign up to receive updates whenever new posts are added: