Large Family Logistics - Appendixes

Hi!  Today I am linking to 4 Moms, 35 Kids (Raising Olives, Life in a Shoe, Smockity Frocks, and The Common Room) to discuss the book "Large Family Logistics  The Art of Science of Managing the Large Family" by Kim Brenneman.  Today's post will cover the appendixes.

Appendix A covers Coping while Exhausted and Overwhelmed.  Appendix B is about Moving Beyond Survival Mode.  Using these appendixes is a great incentive to get started.  This book is so large (318 oversized pages!).  So I can imagine how it might not seem doable to decide where to start.  That is why these appendixes are so valuable.  Great design of this book! 

I am having some health problems of my own.  I have large fibroid tumors in my abdomen.  The doctors say the only cure for this is surgery, which I am trying very hard to avoid.  So some days I don't feel like doing a lot.  Appendix A, I think, will be a big help to me.  Baby steps when I need them!  I also have  some family stress going on lately involving a prodigal daughter.  This causes me to be distracted more often than I should be.  I am going to study this book and get my home back on track!  I'm sure my husband will be grateful for my effort!

I believe this is the last link up discussion of "Large Family Logistics".  I have really enjoyed the opportunity to be a part of this.  Thank you for stopping by!  Honey

I am linking to http://raisingolives.com/

Large Family Logistics - Part Two B

Hi!  Today I am linking to 4 Moms, 35 Kids (Raising Olives, Life in a Shoe, Smockity Frocks, and The Common Room) to discuss the book "Large Family Logistics  The Art of Science of Managing the Large Family" by Kim Brenneman.  Today's post will cover chapters 28 through 47.

Chapters 28 through 38 cover your family's daily routines.  During 28 years of marriage, we have tried many routines.  Today, there are less of us living here, and for the most part we are all adults.  So our routines are different these days.  I wish our daughters would help out more and take an active part in our family management.  Pappy really wishes I would make this happen.  But so far, I have not been successful with this.  Morning routines are pretty much the same every day.  I get up, make coffee, let the dog out.  I check in with my Maximize Your Morning Group on Twitter.  I read my Bible in 90 Days reading.  I get dressed and wake whoever needs to get up.  I lay out or plan what we will have for dinner.  Then I leave for work.  In the car, I plan my day, and pray for my family. 

At this time of my life, this morning routine is probably the best, most consistant routine I have.  I know this comes from being at a different stage in life than the other ladies reading this book.  They have small children at home, and I no longer do.  When our girls were small, we always had read aloud time before bed.  We read many chapter books during those times.  Books that were my favorites as a child.  We had family devotionals during dinner.  My husband is not a believer.  So while my husband and children ate dinner, I would read from the Bible.  When I was through with the reading, or they had finished dinner, then I would eat.  I wish we had started that earlier, when they were small. 

We didn't really have a buddy system.  Our girls were all the same age.  We had three babies in 13 months.  The twins were 13 months old when our baby was born.  So they were really more like a gang!  But our youngest was always slower to pick up new tasks, so her sisters would watch after her and make sure everything was all right.  They were good sisters.  If only they could stay little like that forever. 

A routine I NEED to institute now is a Health and Wellness one.  I really need to start exercising, for many reasons.  One is to stay active.  I have scoliosis, and get very stiff.  So remaining active is a must.  I believe I will try that soon. 

This seems to be a year for growth and change, as far as routines in my life goes.  I have started trying to streamline my life in many areas.  I am hoping to minimize these routines as much as possible.  I am in the process of downsizing our household belongings.  My goal is to average 10 items a day for the year.  I am doing pretty good, I think.  But we didn't get this stuff in a year, so it will take to thin it out.

Well, I guess that's all for me.  I have enjoyed this book and the opportunity to link up with such great women.  Thanks for stopping by.  Honey

I am linking to http://raisingolives.com/

Large Family Logistics - Part Two

Today I am linking to 4 Moms, 35 Kids (Raising Olives, Life in a Shoe, Smockity Frocks, and The Common Room) to discuss the book "Large Family Logistics  The Art of Science of Managing the Large Family" by Kim Brenneman.  This book covers everything anyone would need to know about running a household. 

In this section of the book Kim talks about how she schedules her days to take care of her family and home.  This is a chore that I should take on and work out a schedule for my family.  I do not have any type of home management book or system at this time.  When my children were small I did use a few different systems at different times of our life.  I know once I used a file box and card system.  Now the kids are grown and we pretty much take care of ourselves.  I have started in recent months grocery shopping once a month.  This is working well, and I feel saves us money.  I should now spend time working on menus.  Another chore I have adopted for the last year is doing laundry once a month.  This is my personal clothes, not any thing else.  This is also working well.  I feel the need to minimize my wardrobe, but if I do, I will have to wash clothes more often.  I'm not brave enough to minimize my clothes yet!

One part of the book that stood out to me was the part that talked about planning vacations and parties.  I have that down pat!  Fun things I can plan!  No problem.  Now bathroom cleaning and other chores, not so fun.  But I'm sure when I no longer work outside our home, I will be more organized.  I know.  Famous last words. 

I am looking forward to the next section in this amazing book!  Thanks for stopping by!  Honey

Large Family Logistics - Part One

Today I am linking to 4 Moms, 35 Kids (Raising Olives, Life in a Shoe, Smockity Frocks, and The Common Room) to discuss the book "Large Family Logistics  The Art of Science of Managing the Large Family" by Kim Brenneman. This is a beautiful book to look at, and the contents are amazing.  I am really enjoying this book in my leisure. 

The chapters are arranged as follows:
Chapter 1 - The Wise Woman
Chapter 2 - Goals
Chapter 3 - Systems
Chapter 4 - Self-Discipline - It Starts with You
Chapter 5 - Attitude is Critical
Chapter 6 - Where Does Time Go?
Chapter 7 - The Interrupted Day
Chapter 8 - The Psalms - Your Spiritual Multi-Vitamin
Chapter 9 - Give Your Children A Work Ethic
Chapter 10 - Repeating Yourself
Chapter 11 - Teaching A New Chore
Chapter 12 - Rejecting Me-Centerdness, Redeeming Time Alone
Chapter 13 - Life with Littles
Chapter 14 - Baby Balance
Chapter 15 - The Family Dynamic
Chapter 16 - Your Own personal Spa
Chapter 17 - Dress for Success

This layout makes it easy to find, in a hurry, any information you need.  I'm sure this is a book that will be used for years to come. 

My husband and I have been married for 28 years.  Our daughters are basically grown now, although some still live at home. My husband recently retired.  We are now grandparents of a beautiful, bright little boy.  We have had grandparents live with us in the last few years.  We've closed a business.  So our life is going through lots of changes.  I'm trying to develop routines for our new life, and see how having four adults in our home will work.  What I know so far, is that it is MUCH easier when the children are small! 

Some things that stood out to me while I thumbed through the book. 

In Chapter 2, we are told to make goals with our husband.  This always makes for a happy husband and and a happy home.  Also, we should write these goals down so we can see them.  I post mine throughout the house.  On my kitchen cabinets, on the bathroom mirror, beside my bed.  I know most people don't do things like this, and I know my house doesn't look like a magazine layout.  But it works for me, and that is what counts.

Chapter 3 talks about having a system in place.  This always works well.  I'm having to learn that our systems look different at different stages of our life.  When my children were little, I washed loads of clothes all day long on Saturday.  Out laundry room was outside, and it was COLD in the winter!  But that system never changed then, unless there was an emergency and we had to wash something during the week.  When the girls were older, we opened a child care center at a location away from our home.  Suddenly  I was gone from home for extended hours a day.  The girls were 11, 11, and 10.  They took over the laundry.  They were very good at it.  We had rotating chore charts, and they would keep a chore about a quarter of the year.  Usually I did my own laundry, because some of my clothing needed special care.  Now everyone does their own laundry.  I have enough clothing now that I only wash clothes about once a month.  I am struggling currently with telling myself I should down-size my wardrobe.  But that would mean washing my laundry more often than once a month, and I'm afraid that I will not have time or forget.  So I'm still working on this.  I think the first step is the down-sizing.  Then I won't have a choice!

Chapter 5 says that attitude is critical.  That is so true.  The mother's attitude sets the attitude of the whole home.  So put a smile on your face, and watch your children smile too.  I liked the part on page 58 that talks about the mothers getting in line with Jesus, and their daughters will follow.  That is so true.  Consistency is the key!  I wish I had been more consistent.  Live that life that says "follow me, girls" as Kim suggests.  No one can be that example to your daughters like you can.  I think the reason I didn't do as good a job with this area as I would have liked is because I didn't grow up in a Christian home.  It is hard to model something you have not seen.  I hope my girls do a better job, and I will gladly help them from the sidelines.

Chapter 7.  "An interrupted day is God's plan for the life of a mother."  I like this a lot.  So many times in my life I have felt guilty when things didn't get done as I had planned.  I do believe in the Lord's will for my life.  I'm going to remember this the next time the Lord has a different path for my day. 

Chapter 16.  I'm definitely going to try out the bathroom cleaning routine.  I can use a cleaner bathroom as well as the workout!

Well, that is a quick review of my quick review of Part 1 of this wonderful book.  I hope you decide to give it a look.  To view the other posts, go to http://raisingolives.com/. 

Thanks for stopping by! Honey