Ansewering the Most Asked Question

This is the first email I have done based on email feedback.  I have gotten more email messages and facebook messages and people asking "How do you do so much?" then any other question.  I usually brush it off or say, "I don't" or say "with a lot of help".....all of which are true....

However I keep getting the question....I'm finally realizing that I think it is a practical how to question.

This so this is my response to the often asked question.

1.  I generally (except on Friday) get up early.  My alarm is set for 6:45....BUT I literally pray over my day at bedtime and what "needs to be done" and ask the Lord to grant me the sleep I need and ask him to awaken me when I need to get up.  I like to sleep.....so do my kids.....so this is a biggie for me.  I usually wake up between 4-6 without an alarm.  I usually wakeup very refreshed.  When I get up I usually spend a few minutes pondering a passage and pray a few minutes about what is on my heart and for focus and purpose for my day.  Then I blog, check emails, check facebook.  Then I get ready, make coffee, unload dishwasher, load up school boxes for the day....and GO

2.  I have a weekly and daily plan.   WARNINGThis part of the post is long because it seems to be what people are wondering.....so here it goes.  Over the weekend I make a sheet on my computer listing each day of the week. 
I go through and list the things that don't change under each day first. On my list I include times.

Sunday-
Church
Monday
School
Lincoln
Sophie Odyssey Practice
Guitar Lesson for Andrew
Basketball Practice for Sophie
Tuesday
School
Lincoln
Basketball Practice for Andrew
Dance for Lydia
Wednesday
School
Lincoln
Church
Thursday
Lincoln
Co-op
Audrey Dance
Friday
School
Andrew Basketball Practice
Saturday
Jackson Basketball Practice
Jackson Basketball Game
Sophie Basketball Game

Then I look at my calendar and go back and add variables that have a time for this week but are not always the same....

Tuesday
Birthday Party for Neighbor
Wednesday
Go get passports for kids
Andrew apt. for consult with ENT
Thursday
Randy/Kim Coffee Date with friends
Friday
Andrew Basketball Game
Sophie extra Odyssey Practice
Saturday
Randy Basketball Game
Girls Sunday School Dinner

Then I plan meals based on the day.  This week I knew was busy....so I planned 2 meals for the crock pot and I pre-made spaghetti sauce on Saturday and a huge pot of chili.  I froze half the chili and put half in the fridge for us to have for dinner this week.  So most of my meals are pretty much ready or very close to ready.  I also make sure to take out the meat for the week so I am not caught waiting for something to defrost.

So
Sunday-
Taco Salad
Monday-
Roast beef in the crock pot
Tuesday-
Chili with baked potatoes
Wednesday-
Rigatoni
Thursday-
Pulled chicken sandwiches (meat cooked in crock pot)
Friday-
Out
Saturday-
Pancakes for dinner for kids/Randy.  Kim Out

Then I plug in the rest of what needs to be done each particular week:

Sunday-
NAP (This is a need)
Get all laundry put up
Monday-
Call about finding a new speech therapist for Jackson
Call about getting Andrew into a ENT doctor.
Go to bank
Fill cars with Gas
Run to pickup stuff: dog food, printer paper, coffee filters, kid shampoo
Drop off stuff: at Goodwill, Library books, and Redbox movie
Tuesday-
Color hair....PLEASE!
Wednesday-
gather supplies and load stuff for co-op
get gifts for Sunday school party.
Thursday-
I rarely plan extras for Thursday because that day is full and exhausting enough with co-op
Friday-
Clean House
Saturday
Grocery store
Plan for week

FINALLY
I plan any fun extra stuff I just want to do:  This doesn't go on a list....it just happens if I find any extra time.
Finish reading Kisses from Katie....I HIGHLY SUGGEST NOT READING THIS BOOK UNLESS YOU WANT TO HAVE YOUR WORLD ROCKED.  OH MY WORD.......Best gift ever Marci Bailes....I LOVE YOU!
Write thank you note.....
Make double batch of chocolate chip cookie bars to share......

This is what it ends up looking like:

Sunday-
Church
NAP
Taco Salad
Put away all laundry with kids help
Monday
School
Lincoln
Sophie Odyssey Practice
Call about finding a new speech therapist for Jackson
Call about getting Andrew into a ENT doctor.
Go to bank
Fill cars with Gas
Run to pickup stuff: dog food, printer paper, coffee filters, kid shampoo
Drop off stuff: at Goodwill, Library books, and Redbox movie
Crock pot Roast Beef
Guitar Lesson for Andrew
Basketball Practice for Sophie
Tuesday
School
Lincoln
Basketball Practice for Andrew
Birthday Party for Neighbor
Chili and Baked Potato with Chocolate Chip Bars
Dance for Lydia
Color Hair!
Wednesday
Passport for kids
School
ENT for Andrew
Lincoln
gather supplies and load stuff for co-op
get gifts for Sunday school party.
Rigatoni
Church
Thursday
Lincoln
Co-op
Audrey Dance
Pulled Chicken Sandwiches
Coffee Date with Randy and friends
Friday
School
Clean House
Sophie Extra Odyssey Practice
Andrew Basketball Game
OUT
Saturday
Jackson Basketball Practice
Jackson Basketball Game
Sophie Basketball Game
Plan for Week
Grocery Store
Randy Basketball Game
Kim Sunday School Ladies Dinner
Randy make pancakes for him and the kids
If I have extra time:
Read Kisses with Katie
Make bows
Make chocolate chip cookie bars
Write thank you note.


Then....On a separate sheet of paper.I do a school plan for each child for the week and a plan for Lincoln which includes: craft, special toy for the day (he has a set of toys but I also add one toy each day for variety), story, and special activity....

Whew....so now everyone knows what needs to be done.  I do not schedule Randy :)  Although he knows I would be happy too :)

3.  I give myself a  lot of grace....an example would be my hair.  If it doesn't get done....I just move it to the next day and hope it gets done then.  I try to focus on what I do accomplish....instead of what I do not accomplish.  I do not always usually get everything done.

4.  I prioritize....must get done.....school.....need to get done....appointments.....want to get done.....fun.

5.  I rest...I say no to things I want to do because I need down time.  I don't talk on the phone much.  I don't go out a whole lot.  I don't visit much. I  TAKE A NAP EVERY SUNDAY AFTERNOON SO FEEL FREE NOT TO CALL ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON! :)  LOVE YOU!  When my head hits the pillow at night.....I sleep! I am also VERY strict about room time.  Andrew is the only child who no longer has room time....but he does practice guitar and read during room time so I still get a break!  HAHA!

6.  I have a high tolerance for mess....especially upstairs.  My kids have to clean up every Friday.  I like them to pickup after room time each day....but I don't care much....except on Friday.  I pick up each night before bed downstairs....but i do not obsess....except on Fridays.....which helps!  If I had to have everything just right all the time.....it would NOT happen and I would be a mess!

That is about it.....

Get up early, Plan a lot, Give yourself a lot of grace, Prioritize, Rest, and Realize it is messy!

Hope that answers the questions....cause that is all I've got!  This is not meant to be discouraging for those who don't feel they do as much....you do....it is probably just different.  If you wrote it all down you and I would be impressed too!  This is simply a response to a question I get at least 2 or 3 times a week......hope this helps!

Love,
Kim

Whew...this took much longer to write out then I expected....2 days.....I don't spend that long scheduling....I was just trying to make it clear.