Happy New Year plus a Day! Since yesterday was New Year’s Day, I wanted to take the opportunity to wish you a Happy New Year. Thank you for reading my newsletter and responding to my emails. I love hearing from you, whether it is a question or an encouraging note.

Being on this side of the computer and writing to you daily is a blessing for me. Homeschool moms are heroes. We give up a lot of things to teach our children. Sometimes we lack for adult conversation until our husband gets home from work, and sometimes the house is messy and dinner is not ready. But we would not trade our time teaching our children for anything. It is a calling to homeschool, and I want to tell you that you are doing a great job!

My hope for these articles is to encourage you and give you helpful tips on organizing your home. I want you to have peace and happiness and fun in your home. Using routines and playing games with your children can help you maintain your home. I don’t want you to feel like your house is a museum that is picture perfect all the time. I want you to have order about your home and enjoy being in your home and having people over.

Have you set a goal for the year? Send me an email and let me know about it.

• Make Your Bed (Do this as soon as you get up.)
• Get Dressed Down to Your Shoes
• Swish and Swipe
• Start Your Laundry
• Decide on Dinner
• Check Your Calendar
• Start the Day off with a Shiny Sink. Don’t leave the breakfast dishes sitting.
• Daily Movement for 15 Minutes

School: Let’s get back to the basics this week. If you don’t have a full week planned, start with reading or math.

• Eat Lunch
• Clear off One Hot Spot
• Reboot the Laundry
• Declutter for 15 Minutes (Be sure to have your children declutter, too.)
• Drink Your Water