I'm reading The Power of a Praying Wife passive aggressively and Rob hasn't noticed.
Plus, what I'm reading, WEIRD coincidences, my new daily routine I can no longer live without and more in today's Sunday Digest.
I have a few books I rotate at night before bed. My friend Bunmi Laditan recommended The Power of a Praying Mom from Christian author, Stormie Omartian’s classic prayer series. But Rob’s been getting on my nerves lately so I started with The Power of a Praying Wife. And while I’m quite sure Stormie did not intend for me to use her book as a passive-aggressive jab at my husband, I admit that I did “accidentally” leave it on Rob’s office desk after we got into a tiff over how he cooks ground beef on the stove as if he’s blind, and then instead of “cleaning up” the grease splatters, he just swirls the fat around in circles with a dry cloth and then leaves the kitchen with pride as if it’s a job well done.
This is why a husband and wife both working from home, together, every single day, may not be what the good Lord intended. Anyway, Rob just came upstairs and said, “Hey, you left your book in my office,” so whatever, it didn’t work. I’ll just read the book sincerely now. Which is fine, I guess.
BUT, in another weird turn of events— I’m also reading Steve Martin’s memoir Born Standing Up. He’s a legend and I consider reading his work a masterclass. As I cozied into bed that evening, I began reading Stormie’s book and after a chapter, set it down and picked up Martin’s memoir, thumbing it open to my bookmark. First paragraph I read is about him falling in love with, and losing his virginity to, Stormie Omartian!
I mean, WHAT ARE THE ODDS. And while I guess her history here isn’t relevant to her life now as a Christian author, wife and mother, why isn’t she at least slipping this in somewhere? I mean, I would.
Although THE Steve Martin was madly in love with me years ago and I broke his heart, I pray for my children I share with my husband that isn’t Steve Martin every morning …
I’m just riffing here, but maybe you can work with this Stormie, let me know.
ANYWAY. Whenever a weird coincidence happens, I check to see if it’s providence. I pray and ask God if there’s any meaning there, and if I should be paying attention. But um, yeah, I don’t really see how this could have a deeper, more spiritual meaning. At least for me, personally. But I’m open …
Here’s how I’m doing my best (nervous laugh) this week:
My mom gives me a lot of advice, but this one was super basic, yet life changing. She said never go to bed with a dirty kitchen. Trying to get everyone fed and out the door with dishes piled up in the sink and marinara stuck on the countertop IS THE WORST, even if “the mess” isn’t even blipping on my radar because I’m distracted with life. A clean house feels good no matter how much I try to deny it!
I’ve stuck to this routine for years now. My family gives the kitchen a solid deep clean after dinner and that’s that.
But as my writing load has picked up, I’ve been having a hard time keeping up with the rest of the house. When I’m deep into writing a book, Rob and I hire someone bi-weekly to do the deep cleaning. But when I’m not in book writing mode, I like to do it myself (with my family) so I can invest the money towards other things.
Picking up clutter has never been an issue for us, but you know how our ceiling fans get huge chunks of dust on them? Or hairball tumbleweeds blow behind the door of a bathroom? Or a hard water crust forms at the base of a faucet? And god knows what pools at the base of our toilets, because we live with wild animals?
If it feels like a personal attack it’s because it is a personal attack.
So I thought I might try my mom’s kitchen philosophy on the entire house and deep clean, fast and frenzied, in 30 minute increments each day. I break it down like this:
Sunday: Laundry/Bedrooms.
Monday: Bathrooms
Tuesday: Family Room
Wednesday: Living Room/Floors
Thursday: Groceries/Errands/Car
Friday: Off
Saturday: Off
And I do this, right after we close up the kitchen, no matter how I feel about it at the moment which is never that great. But I go into robot mode, bark out orders to my begrudging crew, put on a fun podcast and consider it exercise.
Now it’s like my house is permanently clean everybody.
Wanna stop by and surprise me? Come on over! I won’t secretly be annoyed about it or panic scrub my guest toilet while you’re taking off your shoes.
Anyway, I don’t normally dole out cleaning advice and I won’t make a habit of it— but this has been so helpful to me, my peace of mind, and has been huge in making room for creativity— I thought I’d share it in case it helps those of you feeling overwhelmed.
Funny things you missed:
Why did our parents let us do this? We’re middle aged and still not over it! (be sure to check the hilarious comments)
The time Poppy got REAL petty is going viral again.
Exhibit A: (again, be sure to check the comments)
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