Now that summer is officially here, I’m in “purge mode” and have been working my way through the bottoms of closets and piles and totes of clothes.
And that’s when I came across it……
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The Brass Bucket Approach
I’m certain I’m not alone in this…
Every single day miscellaneous items seem to find themselves into rooms of the house where they don’t belong. You know, like the neon yellow golf ball, the medal we got from visiting the Sea Life Aquarium at the Mall of America, my son’s velcro Minion wallet, a spiral notepad that was in a stocking from Christmas, a random black racquetball from Dick’s Sporting Goods (even though my husband hasn’t played racquetball in months), and handfuls of LEGO (so many LEGO!)…
I used to spend minutes on end every single day returning every random piece to its rightful room and place. It was an exhaustive attempt to create peace and order on the floors and surfaces of my home.
Now, I’m not sure if I got smarter (or lazier), but upon moving into our new home last August, I established “The Brass Bucket Approach” into our daily rhythm and routine.
In essence, the brass bucket sits on my kitchen counter in a very obscure corner and catches every random, miscellaneous piece on the main level of my home throughout the day and week.
When I find something that would take more time putting away than tossing in, I toss it in. When one of my children is missing something, I send them first to the Brass Bucket to check for what they were searching for. When the Brass Bucket fills to the brim (and it will), we dump the entire contents out onto the counter and then - together - categorize the miscellaneous items and return them to their respective rooms and places in the house.
It’s simple, brilliant, and honestly one small way to create a little more order in our home and in my heart!
Go ahead and make it yours!
What you’ll need:
your own “Brass Bucket” - truly any bucket/basket of your choosing…
a designated place or space for it
time each week (or every other week) devoted to putting everything away in its rightful place
a smile and pat on the back for establishing this new approach
It's All Good, Babe
I took the time to schedule a Family Photo Shoot last October. My amazingly-talented photographer, Candace Claeys, took the time to drive all the way to the spot I had requested. My family took the time to get all ready with "Mom-approved" outfits. The older three were compliant. Titus James just wasn't having it - refusing to smile in every. single. picture.
It was frustrating, and slightly embarrassing.
And then, I scooped Titus up in my arms and looked at my amazing husband. His eyes assured me that we were just going to roll with it. I found comfort there. Assurance there. An "it's all good, Babe" there.
We shared a laugh and Jeremiah brought me back down to the reality that this is us - Randleman’s rolling with it.
And then *click*... Candace captured a moment that wasn't planned or posed. Just me looking at my favorite person in the whole world who gave me the most incredible gifts that spill and gush and cry - and even scream - JOY.
If you need a photographer, book her. She's brilliant.
If you need a moment, take it.
And if you need to know that "it's all good, Babe" - take a look at this moment and enjoy my absolute favorite picture of our entire October Family Photo Shoot.
Momma Says Series: Saying No. 4
The way we treat others is important! In fact, Jesus gave us some pretty radical guidelines:
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
Mark 12:30-31
And the path to doing just that is to:
Show Respect. Choose Kind.
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Momma Says Series: Saying No. 3
In order to grow in patience, we must work our patience!
On a seemingly daily basis, I tell my children:
“Work your patience (in order for your patience to work).”
It’s helpful to picture patience as a muscle. And in order for a muscle to get stronger - it must be worked! It must be stretched, used, and even pushed past its breaking point……
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Momma Says Series: Saying No. 2
As my children continue to grow and mature, I hold them accountable to more and more of their mess. They often hear me say:
“If you make a mess, you make it right.”
In the process, they become aware that their little world doesn’t revolve around Momma being at their beck and call. They learn to take responsibility for their actions. They realize that they also have two hands and feet and can help themselves - as well as help out when it’s an “all hands on deck” type of scramble……
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Momma Says Series: Saying No. 1
I chuckle as I think back on some of the sayings that I grew up with. Then I began to write down all of the sayings that I’ve found myself using with my children. I’ve deemed them shareable, so here’s the start of the Momma Says Series. I hope these will encourage you - and perhaps challenge you……
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The Kid Drawer
Teaching your children to be responsible begins with giving them responsibility - even one spoon/fork/plate/bowl/cup at a time……
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Tent Tuesday
Living in Eastern Iowa with winters that seem to last half the year, pushes me to get creative for our high-energy children who get a little stir-crazy.
I started to think back on some fun things from my own childhood and remembered my fondness for tents……
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Laundry Lessons
“Maturity comes not with age but with the acceptance of responsibility. You are only young once but immaturity can last a lifetime!” - Edwin Louis Cole
Raising successful, mature adults begins with giving children responsibility - even simple things like folding kitchen washrags and towels……
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