seventy times seven

I had a revelation the other day about some of those daily chores that we do over and over again. I sat down on the couch thinking I would have a chance to relax for a minute, when my eye caught all sorts of particles reflecting the afternoon light as they took their rest on my hardwood floors. I grimaced & then ran to the closet to gather my weapon -- the broom. As I swept down the hall and into the living room, I couldn't help feeling a bit of deja vu. Hadn't I done this same chore earlier that day? How was it possible that so much dust & debris had accumulated in a matter of hours? The story of the disciples querying Jesus about how many times they had to forgive their brother came to mind. Shall we forgive our brother seven times? In my mind, I hear myself asking if I had to sweep seven times a day? And, what is the answer, ladies? No, you must do it seventy times seven. So, that little phrase now dances through my head anytime I feel that I must have already done this task for the millionth time! Obviously, we must not equate forgiveness with a swept floor or clean laundry, but, this simple ditty reminds me that these minutiae of housewifeliness will "always be with us." It will be rare that I will achieve a completely clean house to enjoy for days! That's the nature of truly living in your home. What's clean one moment will be cluttered the next. So, for me, my seventy times seven is sweeping. Maybe you're in a stage of life where dragging your child to the potty is your "seventy times seven." You get the picture. So, now I pick up a broom knowing that I'll have to do it again and again, and that's okay. The task is ongoing, not a one time thing. Plus, when I can get a little helper like this, who couldn't help but be encouraged!

H2O

Unbelievable! The pretty perfect cleaning solution has been dripping from my faucet, pouring out of my showerhead, and burning my hands as I wash dishes because I used water that's a smidgen too hot -- plain, unadulterated water. Yesterday, armed with spray bottle, HOT water from the tap, and terry cloth cover (that I already had and is 100% washable), I mopped my kitchen floor. It made the floor FEEL clean which is my number one must-have, and it didn't strip the floor of its natural sheen. Many thanks to Stephanie and Renee for letting me in on that secret.

Rain drops keep falling on my head!
And just like the guy whose feet were too big for his bed
Nothing seems to fit
Rain drops keep falling on my head
They keep falling
Because I'm free!

If you can make sense of this song -- let me know!

How Clean Can You Be?

Hello everyone. I'm looking for a little feedback about cleaning hardwood floors. I'm in the market for a vacuum that works well on hw and I have just started reading about dry/wet vacs that clean & dry hard floors. I currently sweep with two different brooms, and mop SUPER rarely because it's a third step! Also, I've bought two mops within the past 2 years because I couldn't find replacement mop heads (completely FRUSTRATING!)
So, my questions are:
If you have hardwoods, what do you use to clean them?
Do you have a vacuum that you use on hardwoods?
Have you used a Hard Floor Cleaner like this one? What did you think of it?
Thanks!

A Mother's Hands

Watching my body, mind, and heart transition into those of a mother has been interesting. One of the more interesting changes has been in my hands. They are more sensitive than they ever used to be. After going out shopping or running errands, my hands feel the build up of external grime in a way I never used to feel before. I'm motivated to wash my hands way more often than I ever used to. I'm sure this is because my hands are in charge of this little four month old daughter of mine. They bathe, change diapers, serve as pacifiers, teething toys, mobiles, tickle monsters, pick noses and ears and serve as overall buffers, protectors, and mediums between Kate's world and the rest of the world. Consequently, they are not the soft, sweet things they used to be. I'm sure the process will only continue as more years of housework and mothering take their toll. But, I'm proud of these hands -- they are given to us to use in the work God has placed before us.

Household Drama

I thought I would let you in on a household funny. I forgot that I had started a sinkful of suds -- and we had a minor catastrophe. Thankfully, no permanent damage ensued.

This was after I had already let the water out. Then I went for the camera.