If you want to laminate your flashcards, I have this laminator and love it. I also bought a huge box of generic pouches that was so much cheaper and they work just fine!
Update: I have moved all of my homeschooling material to my other blog, Christian Homeschool Family. Â Go here to get these printable alphabet flashcards at the other blog.
I had several inspiring posts in my mind to write today. I was feeling so creative and organized. I had so much I wanted to share with you all about my latest homeschooling ideas, recipes, and homemaking tips.
Then real life stepped in.
I went to bed last night with the house a mess like it usually is on Sunday nights. That wasn't going to be a big problem, though. I was going to knock that out in a jiffy. My alarm was set for 6:30 am, and I was all geared up to get up early, get the cleaning knocked out, and spend the rest of the day having fun with the kids.
My well-laid plans were not to be, however. This morning I woke up with a start, rolled over, and saw that it was 11 o'clock! Upon closer inspection, I saw that my alarm clock was turned off. One of two things must have happened, and both are entirely possible. Either I turned the alarm off in my sleep when it went off this morning, or my sweet husband knew I needed more sleep after a long weekend and turned it off for me.
But 11 o'clock! I doubt he would have expected me to sleep that long! By the time I nursed the baby and got everybody dressed and fed, it was already noon. I still had two baskets full of laundry that needed to be folded and a sink full of dirty dishes that had to be done before I could even think about some of the other things I was hoping to do today.
Little people were nagging at me to get them a drink, read them a book, take them potty, etc. My oldest was bickering with his sister, and they both were resisting my commands to help me fold the clothes. Instead they decided to use the upside-down laundry basket as a trampoline, which did not withstand the weight of a 35 pound boy and now needs to be replaced.
The baby had a diaper blowout, didn't want anything I tried to feed him, and continued to cry because he was hungry.
The noise level combined with what felt like crisis after crisis rendered my home a scene of mass chaos.
The kids are quietly napping now, and I slipped away for a few moments to recharge and get ready for a second round.
I wanted to get upset today. I wanted to pout and stew and whine because my day was far from picture-perfect.
But I knew I couldn't do that. The Lord has already worked in my heart about what my attitude should be on days like this. I get frustrated when my children seem to forget the lessons I'm trying to teach them; why should I act the same way as God's child?
No, instead I will be thankful for the Holy Spirit's reminders. I will be thankful that he gives me the grace I need for whatever each day may hold. I will continue to put one foot in front of the other and rely on Him instead of myself. When things seem out of control, I will remember Psalm 61:2 – “When my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”
Real life is not always pretty, but the beauty of it is that His strength is made perfect in my weakness. (II Cor. 12:9)
This day didn't take God by surprise, and through Him I will have every ounce of strength I need to get things back into order.
As I rise from my time of rest, I can continue on, knowing that He is with me and cares about even such trivial things as a messy house.
Friend, when those “real life days” hit you, and everything doesn't go as planned, don't get upset. Just submit yourself to the Lord, trust in Him, and continue on through His strength.
I am a horribly disorganized person. I am one of those people that can have stacks of stuff sitting around, but yet I remember exactly which stack has what I need in it. Thankfully, I married a man who is exactly the opposite from me, and I've really progressed in the area of keeping things tidy.
You know the old saying “A place for everything, and everything in its place”?
Well, my house is not perfect, but if you knew the “former me”, you'd be quite impressed at how well I'm doing with having “a place for everything.” The “everything in its place” part is a little challenging with three little ones, but I'm teaching them to help tidy up after every activity, and we're managing to at least keep it from looking like a complete junkyard in this house!
So, if I'm doing pretty well at keeping the house organized, then why is this challenge entitled “Organize It”? Well, you know what I organized?
My schedule.
For weeks, I've made lovely to-do lists containing the item “Redo daily schedule”. But I've been procrastinating about actually sitting down and doing it.
Maybe I'm a rebel, I don't know, but I hate being told what to do, especially by a piece of paper. When I do make a schedule, I follow it for about a week (an extremely productive week usually), then I get bored and throw the schedule out the window. Not literally of course; that would be littering. And it would make my yard look junky. Then I'd have to clean it up.  Hey, at least I'd have another Anti-Procrastination Challenge to post: “Anti-Procrastination Challenge: Cleaning up the Yard”. Anyway, whatever. I'm getting totally sidetracked.
I've known for a while that I need to get back on a schedule, or at least some kind of routine. I have lots of excuses for not doing it. I don't do well with a schedule – I think I have ADD (not really); I sleep in too often since I've not been feeling well– that would mess up my schedule; the baby's schedule is always changing – it's a pain to always be changing my schedule; etc.
But the truth of the matter is, I just flat out get more done when I'm following at least a basic routine.
I sat down last night and ground out a brand new schedule. The only problem is, I have to follow it now. To tell the truth, I didn't even follow it today. I slept in again, and it threw my day off. I've got to figure out a good plan to get myself into a “sleeping-in day” routine. If anybody has any ideas how to get into a productive groove even when I've slept in, I'd love the advice. My schedule is based on getting up at 6 am, which I honestly enjoy doing, but until I get feeling better, that's not always practical. Maybe I should make a separate “sleeping-in” schedule. I don't know, then I might be tempted to sleep in every day.
Anyway, I'm kind of talking typing to myself now, so I'll get on with the challenge.
I don't know if it's your schedule you need to organize, or something in your house, or what, but you know what it is. So whatever it is, it's time to get it done.
If you'd like, leave me a comment and tell me what you're working on!
Oh, and if you have any advice about the sleeping-in thing, let me know that too!
Oh, and if you’re just now joining our Anti-Procrastination challenge, you can read all the details here. Be sure you’re subscribed to email updates or follow me on Facebook to receive each new challenge!
Whenever our family arrives home and unloads out of the van, my hands are usually full of kids, diaper bags, Sunday School papers, sippy cups, and a plethora of other miscellaneous objects. Thanks to my super-organized husband, who absolutely can't stand to have things a mess, there's not usually much left in there that doesn't belong. If there's more stuff than we can carry, he's usually the one to go back and clean it all out. I guess I sort of take it for granted that the van is always tidy, but that has nothing to do with me.
However, it does need a good vacuuming every once in a while. And the outside? Let's just say it doesn't get nearly as much attention as it needs.
I got my van washed and vacuumed this week; now it's your turn.
Go get it done!
If you’re just now joining our Anti-Procrastination challenge, you can read all the details here. Be sure you’re subscribed to email updates or follow me on Facebook to receive each new challenge!
I just didn't have it in my budget to purchase flashcards that I knew I could make.
As I finish making the various ones made that I need, I'll share them here on the blog so that anyone else that needs them can print them off too!
I have moved all of my homeschooling posts to christianhomeschoolfamily.com. You can go here to read this post at the new site.
You can go here to read this post at the new site.
Right now Amazon has the following home decor and organizing ebooks available for free! Be sure to double check the price before you click “buy” since it can go up at any time.
Don't have a Kindle?
Get one of these apps to read on your computer or other device.
Your Home Organized: A 31 Day Guide to an Organized Home
How to Organize Your Home: 101 Decluttering Tips and Organization Ideas
Home Decor on a Budget: Repurposing Tips and Decorating Ideas for Your Home