This title makes me laugh because I can’t help but start singing the Blink-182 song. Any other millenials out there? And can you believe that song was released TWENTY years ago? I feel old.

Anyway, all the small things. This phrase has been going through my mind a lot lately. Because all the small things actually add up into what can feel like a big overwhelming mess of things.

There are seemingly small decisions, choices, and moments throughout our days that come together to form the very lives we live. We have to learn the ways that work best for us to walk with intentionality.

In case you missed it, here’s my social media post from last week about getting my home in order:

Here’s the deal! I love a clean and organized house – it brings me peace – but it doesn’t get cleaned and organized by itself. Amen?! Sure, I tidy up as needed, especially if we’re expecting company. And I feel like I’m constantly washing dishes and clothes.

But I’ve been drowning a bit. My pre-teen daughter even complained to me via letter about the mess. #wakeupcall

Enter this amazing book! Because I don’t just want a Martha Home. I want a Mary Heart. My Washington best friend completed this challenge with me 3 years ago when we lived in the same town. And guess what? She’s going through it with me again, even though we’re on opposite sides of the country.

You may have time and space to keep your fridge free from crumbs and the gunk scrubbed out of your sink. Me? I need someone to tell me to do it. Thank you Sarah Mae, for being that person 💕

God is speaking so clearly through so many unique avenues… the little things matter. He’s with me and it can be an act of worship because He’s always worthy. But as my friend said, the menial, mundane things are also important. Not just to Him, but to us and our families.

So, while I focus on my health through the #last90days challenge, my home is also getting some much needed attention. One task and day at a time. #HavingAMarthaHomeTheMaryWay

Let me know if you’d like to join me on this journey!

I am still going strong with my #last90days challenge, as well as the #HavingAMarthaHomeTheMaryWay plan. But I’ve had a few realizations in the past ten days.

I’ve discovered that part of how I’m wired thrives on challenges like these. I need accountability. I need direction. Simple and straightforward. Lists help me stay intentional, focused, and disciplined. And friends participating alongside me are an encouragement and strength.

I am setting healthy habits, helpful rhythms. Otherwise, I’m in survival mode. We weren’t made to just get through our days.

“How we take care of our homes is all about our response to God… Will we respond grudgingly and feel hopeless because it’s just another rule to follow, or will we accept our tasks with joy, giving thanks for all the goodness and blessings we have been given?” – Sarah Mae, Having A Martha Home The Mary Way

How we take care of our homes, and how we take care of ourselves, matters. How are we responding to our Heavenly Father? Are we being faithful with what He’s placed in our care? Are we sitting at His feet and being filled by Him? Are we being who He’s created us to be? And are we doing what He’s called us to do?

This book really is an incredible resource.

After the Day 1 challenge was complete, I found a significant problem in my thought process. Once the thing was clean, I wanted everyone in my home to keep it clean. Example: I scrubbed our kitchen sink and it may have even sparkled a little bit.

Later that evening, my daughter proceeded to put a dirty knife in the sink and I literally gasped. Out loud. “I just cleaned that!”

To which she replied, “A sink is meant to be dirty.”

I had to pause and reflect. The purpose of a sink is to gather dirty dishes, and then to wash them. My desire to not use the sink in order to keep it perfectly clean actually keeps the sink from fulfilling its purpose and its destiny.

Since then, I have realized that I am truly creating a rhythm and habit of clean. I will start again next month when I get through the 31-day challenge. I will go through the list again. I will keep going. And if I miss a day? I will embrace grace and progress over perfection and start again tomorrow.

Find out how you work and what works for you.

I’m also seeing that clean counters create space to breathe and slow down. I’m not hurrying by the mess. I’m admiring the order and peace. The openness. My breathing slows and my heart lingers in this place.

A few other resources I’m loving in this season:

• The Next Right Thing by Emily P. Freeman… “Any small thing counts if it helps to place you in God’s presence and reminds you that you are loved.”
• Dear Daughters by Susie Davis… “Much of my time is spent doing the menial thing… I am reminded that when I am doing those simple, little things, I am pleasing Him.”
• Rhythms of Renewal by Rebekah Lyons… I haven’t officially started the book yet but the podcast has been amazing!

❤

Oftentimes I’m overwhelmed by all the things, so instead I don’t do anything. I freeze. I’m paralyzed. I’m stuck in the moment. And I do nothing.

It’s times like these that I cling to this truth: “She did what she could.” (Mark 14:8)

I recently came to the conclusion that I can’t do everything, but I can do something. I can’t do all the things, but I can do small things.

And it all adds up.

I hope you made it this far, and I hope you keep going. I know this week’s blog is very practical but I pray it motivates you to take your next step, whatever that looks like.

As I read people’s responses last week to my cleaning post, my heart sank a little, because most of us clean our homes with chemicals. I can only share my experience, and I feel like I have to speak this truth since this is a cleaning challenge and I have the opportunity to share from my journey: I would strongly recommend ditching chemicals from your cleaning routine. 

To be completely honest, I would almost rather you not clean than use chemicals. I apologize if that’s harsh, but I’d rather be blunt than harm your health.

It matters, because you matter and your family matters.

I’m not saying to do it all overnight but take one small thing at a time. Make one switch today. Take baby steps. Research. Do what you can. If you need resources, talk to me! I’ll share a few below but this is just a sliver. I know it feels like a lot and it did for me too, but as a family we have made some drastic changes over the last two and a half years. And it has been so worth it. Slowly, over time, we’ve gotten better. We certainly haven’t arrived, but we are learning and growing in this area.

God used two friends in Washington a few months before we moved to Pennsylvania to radically change my wellness path. Chelsea and Shannon introduced me to Young Living as well as making switches from chemicals. They have taught me so much!

One of my all-around favorite products is Thieves Household Cleaner from Young Living. It can be used for so many things, and a little bit goes a long way!

My cleaning challenge yesterday was the bathroom; between Thieves Household Cleaner, baking soda, distilled white vinegar, and a few essential oils, my bathroom is sparkly clean, smells amazing, and I wasn’t exposed to a ton of harmful chemicals in the process.

I make my own shower cleaner and mopping solution and they are amazing and they actually work!

• Shower Cleaner (For the dish soap I use ECOS)
• Mopping Solution – 1 cup apple cider vinegar, 1 gallon hot water, 5 drops each of Lavender, Orange, Tea Tree & Peppermint pure essential oils (half the recipe for the bathroom)

I haven’t tried to make my own dishwasher detergent or laundry detergent. Yet. Remember, baby steps. But I do try to select ones that are safe or approved, or simply better options based on ingredients. The EWG site has been such a helpful resource for me, as well as my oily friends on Facebook!

Here’s what I currently use:

• Seventh Generation Dish Detergent
• GreenShield Organic Laundry Detergent
• ECOS Dish Soap

A couple other switches:

• No dryer sheets. Instead, wool dryer balls with a couple drops of pure essential oils.
• No candles. Instead, diffusers and essential oils.

This is just scratching the surface on cleaning and home items. I’m personally just beginning to tap into food choices, but cosmetics and beauty products have been a highlight the last couple years. I’ll share some tips and switches in next week’s blog!

Please know – you can do this. You can clean, and you can do it without chemicals. Three years ago I was caught up in using whatever was cheap and on sale. What I knew to use. When I started to learn about the impact of chemicals, I was overwhelmed by all the things I’d have to swap. She did what she could. Do you what you can, one switch at a time. My heart isn’t to compare or judge; it’s to inspire and encourage. I’m here if you need help. Because all the small things matter, and they add up to something beautiful.