I rose early, resisting the temptation to snuggle close to my husband and drift back to dreamland. Tiptoeing across the hardwood floor to the kitchen, I squinted at the glowing numbers on our 1980’s microwave. Three hours. That’s all I had. I knew I couldn’t do everything I needed to in that amount of time.
But I could do something.
So I wiped the previous evening’s mascara from my eyes, brushed my teeth, and pulled open curtains to let the morning light softly awaken my home.
Time to work, I told myself softly.
As I hurried, I kept silently echoing a phrase: Love them enough to give them a soft place to land. Focused on that thought, I rapidly waded through clutter, scrubbed counters and swept floors, one eye continually on the clock.
Only three hours.
Here’s the difference:
“Our kitchens are where we pour love into the foods we make, reconnect as a family, entertain guests, sit and linger over coffee with friends, and where many childhood memories are made.” – Davonne Parks, Chaos to Clutter-Free
“Remember that the less there is, the less there is to clean. And, the less stuff there is, the more usable space you will have.” – Davonne Parks, Chaos to Clutter-Free
Wanting an easy success, I tackled the bathroom and hallway next. What you’re seeing on the toilet paper holder isn’t toilet paper – those are paper towels that I tore into fourths. #KeepingItReal
It took exactly 30 minutes to make the master bedroom feel clean and cozy(ish) again. Hemming curtains and replacing the mirror are on my mental to-do list.
And then I decided that, bad allergies or not, it was time for my sleeping beauties to rise and shine.
By this time I was tired and wanted to stop cleaning. But I decided I could push through for just a little longer and do a 30-minute power session in our school/play room.
Far from perfect. But so much better. Three hours (and sixteen minutes). That’s all it took to create a haven, a soft place for my family to land, at the end of a long day.
How would you bless your home if you had three extra hours?
$500 Cash Giveaway
Friends, I am so excited to share with you that housekeeping isn’t the only thing I’ve been working on – I’ve also gotten together with a group of bloggers to bless a family with $500 (Paypal) CASH!
Our hope is that we can monetarily bless a family so they can pay off a bill, be able to have their kids participate in extra curricular activities, begin an emergency fund, or take a little weekend getaway.
For your chance to win $500 CASH, simply use the Rafflecopter form below to enter –
Giveaway ends August 25th, 2015 at 11:59pm EDT. Must be at least 18 years of age. Selected winner will have 48 hours to respond to email notification to claim their prize or another winner will be drawn.
I’d love to hear – what would you do with an extra $500?
Teresa says
August 20, 2015 at 7:23 amTake my grandkids to an amusement park, have been working slot of hours all summer.
Davonne says
September 26, 2015 at 11:51 pmThat sounds lovely, Teresa!
Jessica whitd says
August 20, 2015 at 7:58 am$500 would be an incredible blessing to our family, it would allow us to pay off several bills that are hanging over our heads. Ones that we just don’t have the money for right now.
Sara says
August 20, 2015 at 8:25 amI would use to buy a laptop for homeschooling.
Stephanie Phelps says
August 20, 2015 at 8:48 amThis money would bless our family by giving me the money to make a better space for our homeschooling! Buying the table and chairs and supplies!
Diana Scholz says
August 20, 2015 at 8:58 amThis giveaway would do more than bless my family. I am a single mother and going through a bit of a rough patch finance wise! I would use this win to catch up on some bills and take a big grocery shopping trip!
Heather says
August 20, 2015 at 9:22 amWhat an Awesome Giveaway! We are entering a tight season financially as my husband is in school, but also has back problems so is taking off more work than usual. Baby #2 is also on the way! This would help with groceries & bills during this time 😉
Melissa Lynch says
August 20, 2015 at 9:26 amWinning this giveaway would bless our family by helping rebuild our emergency fund that we’ve had to use again and again (and again) this year; it would give my husband (and myself) peace.
Molly says
August 20, 2015 at 10:16 amHow cool! Y’all are so sweet! This could certainly help a family. We are so close to {finally} paying off our car — this would go a long way to get that done. (The first of our “snowballs” to debt free living.)
Regina says
August 20, 2015 at 10:44 amThat’s an awesome giveaway! If I won, l would pay off some medical bills and bless someone else in turn.
Jill says
August 20, 2015 at 1:18 pmWhat a wonderful giveaway! Thank you. If we won, we would put this towards paying off some of our bills on our way to being debt-free again!
Elizabeth says
August 20, 2015 at 3:10 pmIf we are blessed with winning the $500, it would go toward some car repairs and the rest in the emergency fund toward rebuilding that!
carol clark says
August 20, 2015 at 4:16 pmthis would help pay bills for a month so we could catch up and would be great to start saving for christmas when the bills are paid
Angela says
August 20, 2015 at 8:18 pmI would use the money to pay on our ever increasing medical bills.
jennifer says
August 20, 2015 at 9:58 pmI think I would use save the money for Christmas. I hope to get my kids e-readers to help with their schoolwork.
Trisha says
August 20, 2015 at 10:01 pmWe would use the money to pay some bills and pay for a birthday party for our son.
Jennie says
August 20, 2015 at 11:19 pmThis would be such a treat. It would be so nice to go on a little vacation with this money! 🙂
Kim says
August 20, 2015 at 11:46 pmIt would be awesome to win the $500 and use it to help pay for some much needed home repairs! Thank you!
M.Clark says
August 21, 2015 at 1:57 amThis cash would help with paying bills.
Elisa says
August 21, 2015 at 2:45 amIt’s hard to pick just one! We’re having a cash flow problem right now as I’ve stopped working in preparation for baby number three (due in two weeks!). So just keeping on top of the essentials without having to go further into debt would be great!
Julia says
August 21, 2015 at 10:39 amWe’d use it to help with extra curricular activities line soccer and gymnastics
Kellie W says
August 21, 2015 at 10:49 amWe have some much needed technology updates (for school) that we are holding off on until the money is available.
Kaeli says
August 21, 2015 at 11:06 amWe are in the year where all our large appliances are starting to go, our washing machine is slowly dying (no more repairs can be done), our microwave has started to growl, the water heater is passing the 10 year mark (so we know it is a matter of time) and our dryer is having episodes, ha! This would bless us with extra cash to get appliances replaced.
Mallory says
August 21, 2015 at 11:26 amIt would bless us in so many ways! We hit a financial road block several months ago and have since been struggling to get back on our feet. We’re getting there slowly but surely!
Rachel @ Smart Mom Smart Ideas says
August 22, 2015 at 11:36 amIt would be a blessing to meet a number of expenses we have especially with back to school.
Candy says
August 23, 2015 at 7:06 amI would help my daughter pay for college tuition and books.
Marlo says
August 24, 2015 at 4:53 pmI live your blog and your heart. Thank you for writing and for the giveaway chance. The money would bless our large family as we school and as we look to make repairs we have waited to make to our home.
Bekah says
August 25, 2015 at 8:30 amGreat idea! $500 would be awesome for our family. My youngest needs therapy for sensory/reflex issues and it would help pay for some sessions and needed equipment. Thanks for the chance to win!
Jen E says
August 25, 2015 at 5:21 pmWinning this would really bless my family. We have been on a tight budget lately and we have been looking to purge our closet and splurge on updating with just a few new (to us) pieces to complete the closet, rather than a whole bunch of – this is just ok – that currently fills it.
Hannah Adams says
September 18, 2015 at 4:38 pmI LOVE this post! It was most encouraging to me how you started out by making that always-tough decision to just get out of bed and get started! (That’s always my biggest challenge!) 😉 But I know the rewards are always amazing, as your pictures show. What a simple transformation that helps the inner peace of every family member!
I’m reading a book right now called Shelter for the Spirit: How to Make Your Home a Haven in a Hectic World by Victoria Moran. It is very, very good! I know we kind of have similar reading-interests, so I thought I’d recommend it if you haven’t heard of it already, since it goes right along with your post! I have it checked out from our local library!
I love everything you write and I love you!
Davonne says
September 26, 2015 at 11:48 pmThank you so much, Hannah! I have not heard of that book – I will have to check it out because you make wonderful book selections. I hope you’re adjusting well with your new move – email or call me anytime <3
Molly Donohue says
September 23, 2015 at 11:49 amThank you Davonne, for the inspiring post on how to help create a home haven in 3 hours-ish. Really loved the pictures and the minutes included! How encouraging! I found your site from the Daily Marriage Prayers I get via email from Darlene Schacht (Time-Warp Wife Ministries). I am looking forward to the 31 days of Prayer through Proverbs.
What a special blessing you bestowed on Janelle W with the $500 cash giveaway you had in August. That gave me chills!
I’m looking forward to returning to your site time and time again.
Keep doing what you’re doing!
Joyfully,
Molly
Davonne says
September 26, 2015 at 11:47 pmThank you for your kind encouragement Molly! I am looking forward to the series as well, working on it thus far has been an incredible honor. So glad you’re joining in.
Liz says
December 5, 2015 at 8:15 pmWhat a great blog post! I really needed it; seeing the before and afters along with how long it took you opened my eyes to what I really can accomplish. Often times I get so overwhelmed with the mess in our small apartment full of 5 people that I just don’t know where to start.
Davonne says
December 5, 2015 at 11:18 pmThank you so much, Liz! I can imagine that keeping an apartment organized with 5 people in it is a challenge. Here are a few online spaces I think may help you:
1) When your house is just too small article: http://www.davonneparks.com/house-isnt-big-enough/
2) A short video I made for when housekeeping feels overwhelming: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSxwVG_k3LE
3) Top 10 Housekeeping Tips series that I’m currently running on my new blog: http://www.thetidymom.com/category/top-ten-housekeeping-tips/
4) The private Tidy Up club on Facebook, where the community shares photos, inspiration, and encouragement on a near-daily basis: https://www.facebook.com/groups/405997082909230/
I can’t wait to hear about the difference three hours makes in your home!