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Ash Wednesday & Lent in Two Minutes {a video}
When Does Life Begin?
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| Source: www.prolifemusic.com |
The Virginia House approves bill:
Life begins at conception!
Yes you read that correctly.
“The Republican-led Virginia House of Delegates passed a bill today, by a vote of 66 to 32, which states that unborn children “at every stage of development,” that is, from the moment of conception, are considered persons – although the sponsor of the bill says it will not directly affect abortion access in the state.” ~ Thaddeus Baklinski of LifeSiteNews.com
Similar personhood legislation introduced by delegate who introduced it, Robert G. Marshall (R-Prince William), in 2007. Then it failed to pass in the House. But he doesn’t give up! In 2011 the bill passed in the House but was quashed by the pro-abortion Democrats in the Senate.
The bill, entitled HB 1 states that: “unborn children at every stage of development enjoy all the rights, privileges, and immunities available to other persons, citizens, and residents of the commonwealth, subject only to the laws and constitutions of Virginia and the United States, precedents of the United States Supreme Court, and provisions to the contrary in the statutes of the commonwealth.”
I’m so happy for the state of Virginia! But it doesn’t end there….the bill now heads to the Virginia Senate where it reportedly faces a more difficult battle. Please keep them in your prayers! 🙂
The full text of Bill HB 1 is available here.
Please show this brave man your support::
Delegate Robert G. Marshall
General Assembly Building
P.O. Box 406
Richmond, Virginia 23218
Phone: (804) 698-1013
Fax: (804) 698-6713
Email: DelBMarshall@house.virginia.gov
So you know what the usual liberal agenda is going to say about this right? Yeah, you know…I don’t need to waster internet space on that. I don’t even bother looking at their comments anymore, it’s the same illogical comments or hateful ones as well. I did however come across an image on Facebook that well, it was, well, see for yourself:
I have no idea where this picture is from or who created it, I only see the name OzzyAmos in the bottom right corner, so I’m assuming it’s a guy. Notice that the poster only shows fetal development through the first week or so? They don’t show an embryo at three weeks… when the heart is already beating. They’ve now sunk to, “well, if we kill it right away it isn’t a person… even though it has unique DNA from conception.” Pathetic.
Here’s a BETTER, a more scientific, approach to this basic Biological issue:
Protect the unborn! If you have trouble with this and still think it’s a “blob” just think for a moment of the Eagle or a Sea Turtle egg. There is a possibility of a bird or a turtle coming out of that egg, you can’t see it with your bare eyes, well if you put it up to a light you can (kinda like an ultrasound), you will see the fetus forming. A human can only be a human, nothing else. Are you a visual learner like me? Here:
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A Simple “Recipe” for Spiritual Happiness
Do you feel like everything you plan just doesn’t work out? Looking around and seeing so many people moving forward in life in so many levels but you feel like you’re stuck in neutral? Do you sometimes feel like you pray, and pray, and pray and maybe God is not listening? Do you feel like He is punishing you for something you have done in the past? Do you feel spiritually dry?
We’ve been there and felt that way. The economy is so bad, so many people out of work, it can get a bit depressing. But looking back, I remember specific things we did to get out of this and move forward WITH God! Here is a recipe that worked for us. (DH was laid off 5 times in less than 4 years, so imagine).
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| Click on picture above to read this wonderful book! |
1. Give all your worries and finances over to God. Trust the HE will provide for you, not you, not your DH.
2. Trust in God’s will for you. Say, “I would love this Lord but I want your Will to be Done not mine.” (I know this is easier said than done but trust me one you really do ask God for His will not yours, the graces start to fall because you trust the Lord.) The BEST thing that happened to me was coming across a book by Saint Alphonsus de Ligouri entitled, “Uniformity with God’s Will.” And if you click on the picture there >>> you have FREE access to the book 🙂
3. Go to Confession and Mass as often as possible.
4. Keep on praying even if you don’t feel like it.
5. Get your kids to pray for your situation, teach them to say, “Lord let your will be done for our family.” Pray the Rosary as a family.
6. If you can, have your home blessed at least once a year and have your home Consecrated to the Immaculate and Sacred Hearts.
7. Say the Old St. Joseph Novena daily until the perfect job comes.
Saint Joseph, I, your unworthy child, greet you. You are the faithful protector and intercessor of all who love and venerate you. You know that I have special confidence in you and that, after Jesus and Mary, I place all my hope of salvation in you, for you are especially powerful with God and will never abandon your faithful servants. Therefore I humbly invoke you and commend myself, with all who are dear to me and all that belong to me, to your intercession. I beg of you, by your love for Jesus and Mary, not to abandon me during life and to assist me at the hour of my death.
Glorious Saint Joseph, spouse of the Immaculate Virgin, obtain for me a pure, humble, charitable mind, and perfect resignation to the divine Will. Be my guide, my father, and my model through life that I may merit to die as you did in the arms of Jesus and Mary.
Loving Saint Joseph, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, I raise my heart to you to implore your powerful intercession in obtaining from the Divine Heart of Jesus all the graces necessary for my spiritual and temporal welfare, particularly the grace of a happy death, and the special grace I now implore:
(Mention your request & don’t forget to ask for God’s will to be done with your family!)
Guardian of the Word Incarnate, I feel confident that your prayers in my behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God. Amen.
8. Don’t be shy to ask family, friends, and even strangers for prayers. (SUPER IMPORTANT)
9. Be thankful for every. little. tiny. thing you have. I was even thankful we had running water, no kidding.
10. Accept the answer God gives you with grace and a smile on your face, sometimes the answer is NO, and not necessarily an unanswered prayer.
It is my hopes in sharing this (and this really is the “recipe” my family used to get out of this cycle) it might help you or someone you know. God is there the whole time, in the good times and the bad times.
Please leave me a message asking for prayers as I will be praying for you!
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Christians: The Most Persecuted Religious Group in the World, Part 2
Mr. A. M. Rosenthal of The New York Times unfortunately is dead and cannot explain to us why Christians are being killed with impunity and many of our elites, particularly in the media, remain silent about the “ethnocide” of Christians taking place in Islamic countries. And yet it must be made clear that fortunately not all Muslims are involved. However, perhaps some reasons can be offered for this silence:
- American elites, especially those in academia and in the media, are engaged in a war to extinguish Christianity from the “public square” in the United States, and to spread anti-Christian and eugenic practices worldwide, and therefore have very little sympathy for Christians suffering persecution.
- American businesses and foreign policy leaders need the support of some Islamic countries to have their interests succeed in the Muslim world, and they find the protection of Christians to be a distraction and an embarrassing point in their diplomatic discussions with Islamic states, and so they abandon the Christians.
- Americans have an infatuation with the United Nations and want to work with it to achieve their goals, but the biggest voting bloc in this organization is the Islamic Conference (53 countries), whose objective is to promote Islam throughout the world, so no policy to help the Christians will pass these United Nations, even though the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the UN advocates religious freedom.
- The Islamic Conference bloc of Muslim countries has even rejected the right which appeared in the original Universal Declaration of Human Rights for people, including Muslims, to change their religion.
- Christians, for the most part, have totally abandoned their brothers and sisters in the faith through their ignorance, sloth, indifference and fear, and their loss of Christian identity and solidarity, among other factors.
- There might be good people among our political leadership and even in the United Nations trying to help the persecuted, but the obstacles they face are very difficult and they tend to be isolated.
How Can Christians Be Protected?
Christians need to hurry and find ways of helping persecuted Christians in Africa and Asia before they disappear like they did from many areas which were Christian before they turned Islamic by the “sword”, by excessive taxation, by forced conversion, by religious discrimination, and by unwanted emigration.
The proposals to help Christians must avoid negative unintended consequences for “the road to hell is paved with good intentions”. Whatever is implemented to help persecuted Christians must not make their lives more difficult. The following includes some ideas for discussion:
- Immediate suspension of immigration from Islamic countries whose governments either engage in religious discrimination and violence, or permit their people to engage in these activities.
- End of American financial assistance to any Islamic country which does not permit religious freedom.
- Termination of all American military nation-building activities in the Islamic world, which have, for whatever reasons, led to so many deaths, financial debt, the rise of governments which deny religious freedom, and have put the Christians at risk, such as in Egypt, in Iraq, in Lebanon, and in Pakistan, among other places.
- Creation of a temporary “wall of separation” between the Muslim world and the United States, until Muslims themselves have been able to reform Islam, so that it can permit both democracy and freedom, especially freedom of religion which is the most important civil liberty, and until much of Islam ceases to be a political movement in search of political power to control everyone.
- American energy independence from the Muslim world so that our governments do not have to get involved with dysfunctional countries in that region, and the Christians can survive “under the radar”.
- Increase in immigration to the United States of Christians persecuted by Muslims, and of a limited number of Muslims persecuted for advocating religious freedom and non-political Islam.
- Awareness by Americans that many Muslims want to enter the United States not to make Islam equal in rights to other religions but to make it the dominant faith, as they have done in their countries of origin.
- Donations to organizations which help Christians in need worldwide.
Conclusion
Christians are being discriminated, persecuted and murdered like no other group in the world. Our elites do not care. Even fellow Christians have failed to come to the rescue of these desperate people. A partial reason is that Christians in the West have lost much of their Christian identity and a sense of the Mystical Body of Christ which is the Church.
The time has come to help/ our fellow Christians worldwide. This effort will have miraculous powers as it revives in us what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ, which requires us to come to the help of our neighbor. This battle involves also helping those non-Christians who are being persecuted.
The world mobilized to help South Africans get rid of racial apartheid practiced against blacks. Many supported helping Russian Jews leave the oppressive Soviet Union. And the United States has also gone to the rescue of Muslims in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Kuwait, and Serbia, among other places.
How about the Christians?
About the Guest BloggerDr.Germán Muñoz was born in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, on July 13, 1950. He attended the Jesuit Colegio Dolores. Upon emigrating to the United States, he studied at the Salesian orphanage Mary Help of Christians School in Tampa, Florida, and at the Belen Jesuit Preparatory High School in Miami, Florida. Dr. Muñoz earned a B.S. in Psychology at the Jesuit Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama, a Masters of Arts in International Relations, and a Doctorate in Political History at the University of Miami, Coral Gables in May 1981.
He is the producer of the award-winning Social Science Lecture Series, of the Faculty Forum and of The Public Affairs Forum. He is the author of Background Lessons on Global Affairs (1997), of The Social Environment: A Primer on World Civics, 11th Edition, 2008, and International Relations: a Primer on Global Affairs (2004). Dr. Germán Muñoz is the recipient of the following awards: “John Barret Prize for Best Dissertation on Hispanic and Latin American Affairs,”, “Excellence in Curriculum and Instruction Award,” 1987, by the Florida Association of Community Colleges, “The Times Teaching Excellence Award,” 1990, by the National-American Association of Community Colleges, “The Reverend Glen C. James Endowed Teaching Chair,” 1992-1994, “The Award for Outstanding Community College Chairs Who Encourage Teaching Excellence,” 1993, by the National Community College Academy, “The David Pierce Department Chair Quality Leadership Award,” 1995, “The National Initiative for Leadership and Institutional Effectiveness,” by North Carolina State University, “The First Union Endowed Teaching Chair,” 1996-1998, “The Excellence in the Social Sciences Award 1854-2004”, by Belen Jesuit Preparatory in 2004, The Collinfontanum Award for Professional Achievement 1831-2006, by Spring Hill College in 2006. Dr. Germàn Muñoz has served in the following boards: St. Kevin’s Catholic School Advisory Board; Miami Archbishop John C. Favalora’s Board of Catholic Education; the Florida Fund for Minority Teachers, Inc., and the Socio-Economic Development Council of Miami Dade County. Dr. German Muñoz worked at Miami Dade College, the largest college in the United States, from August 1976 through August 2011. He was the Chairperson of the Department of Social Sciences from 1983-2011. Dr. Muñoz retired on August 2011 due to ALS. The College awarded him Professor Emeritus status and has created the Dr. German Muñoz endowed teaching chair.
Contact Dr. Muñoz: Via E-Mail or on the Web
Reposted with permission given to Raising {& Teaching} Little Saints.
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My Search for the Perfect Valentine!
Valentine’s Day is a very special day for me and not for the reasons you might think. Around midnight, 14 years ago today, I could not sleep…see what seemed an eternity (which was only a short nine months) had finally arrived! Although I was a newbie at this then, I knew it was THE time. I waited it out all night, trying to rest as much as possible in anticipation for the next day. I remember praying a lot that night, asking God to keep us safe.
At Noon, on our due date (and Valentine’s Day) I gave birth to the most perfect baby boy in the whole world! Thank you son for making me the happiest person ever! My world stopped and changed completely on this day! I thank God everyday of my life that I have you here to call you my son. I love you! You make me so proud in all you do! May the Lord continue to bless you always! Te quiero mucho, mi Nene lindo!
Happy Birthday, Guillermo!
Since he was born on Valentine’s Day, the nurses suggested naming him Valentino. I had other plans for his name, he was named after family members instead but his connection to St. Valentine would always remain. My Valentine’s Day, 14 years ago, changed my life forever. As my search for the perfect Valentine had ended and I had become a mom, the greatest love on Earth, to hold your child in your arms.
So what about the REAL St. Valentine’s? A friend posted this beautiful short video of the REAL deal, enjoy!:
Happy Saint Valentine’s Day, dear friends!
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Christians: The Most Persecuted Religious Group in the World, Part 1
Freedom of Worship Is Not Freedom of Religion
Being a Christian, in my case a Catholic, has been a wonderful gift. This is why it was a nightmare when the communist government of Cuba began to discriminate, persecute and murder Christians.
The regime even banned Christmas and kicked out of the island most of the Cuban priests and religious. Catholic schools and seminaries were closed. Christians attending religious services were discriminated in jobs, professions, and other categories.
Many Cubans died by firing squads, shouting “Long Lives Christ the King”. This type of violence against religious people is a characteristic of Communism, which has been manifested in many places, including France, Russia, China, Mexico, Vietnam, and North Korea, among other countries.
As a result of experiencing persecution for being Christian, religious freedom has become the most important civil liberty for many of us. However, this is not to be confused with freedom of religious worship, that is, the right to attend religious services only inside churches.
In other words, we want instead freedom of religion, the right to express our faith not only inside our religious buildings, but also throughout the entire society. Christians and others deserve the freedom to live their faith everywhere, including in the streets, in the media, in the schools and in the political life.
Many dictatorships and the corrupt United Nations are trying to substitute freedom of religion with freedom of worship. This will prevent people from practicing their faith in the “public square”. It is another way for tyrants to control their people.
The Persecution of Christians in Islamic Countries
The writings of A. M. Rosenthal, a Jew, former editor of The New York Times, and an incisive writer, caught our attention many years ago when he scolded his fellow journalists in the United States for failing to write about the attacks and murders of Christians all over the world.
Unfortunately, the lack of coverage by the media of the war against Christianity is now even worse. Presently, the persecution is worse in those Islamic countries which use a literal interpretation of the Koran. They implement the last declarations of Mohammad which forbid religious freedom and urge the humiliation and the fighting against the Christians (Koran 9:29).
This view also is against Muslims making friends with the Christians. Several articles on Islam documenting these assertions can be found at my blog Dr. German Munoz dot com.
For these reasons, the discrimination, persecution and murder of Christians are taking place even in countries and areas which are considered democratic because they have had some type of elections recently with American help:
- Afghanistan
- Gaza
- Egypt
- Iraq
- Northern Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Turkey
- Others
The persecution against Christians takes many forms depending on the country being considered, but they include the following actions:
- Outright murder.
- Threatening Christian girls with rape so that they convert to Islam.
- Destruction of churches and the legal impediment to repair them.
- Imposition of blasphemy laws which make it illegal to criticize Islam, and can lead to the death of the accused.
- Arrest for holding religious services in private and public places.
- Impossibility of creating religious monasteries and seminaries to train priests and religious.
Democracy is not Freedom
The United States and other liberal democracies share some responsibility for the plight of the Christians. They have promoted the insane notion that you could develop democracy in an Islamic country before building the institutions for freedom which are essential to protect religious minorities. It is as if elections were a magic which by itself could bring freedom and security.
For example, allowing voting among people of a culture that does not believe in tolerance and respect for the rights of ethnic, political and religious minorities leads to tyranny and to violence against them. Democracy is not freedom.
Therefore, developing such civil liberties as religious freedom, freedom of the press, freedom of speech, freedom to organize politically, freedom from arbitrary arrest, and so on, should have preceded so-called democratic elections in Islamic states.
For instance, recent popular unrest overthrew the government of Egypt and elections have taken place. And yet, 88 per cent of Egyptians support the killing of Muslims who convert to Christianity. While these people might know how to vote, they are still unable to understand tolerance and the freedom of religion which should permit everyone to choose their own faith without losing their lives.
This madness of confusing democracy with freedom is also demonstrated by the countries of Afghanistan and Iraq, two countries created with the bloody sacrifice of many Americans, mostly Christians. And yet, they are both grounded on Islamic law which does not accept religious freedom. Christians are currently being murdered in both countries and the governments are not providing protection to them.
Part II
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About the Guest BloggerDr.Germán Muñoz was born in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, on July 13, 1950. He attended the Jesuit Colegio Dolores. Upon emigrating to the United States, he studied at the Salesian orphanage Mary Help of Christians School in Tampa, Florida, and at the Belen Jesuit Preparatory High School in Miami, Florida. Dr. Muñoz earned a B.S. in Psychology at the Jesuit Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama, a Masters of Arts in International Relations, and a Doctorate in Political History at the University of Miami, Coral Gables in May 1981.
He is the producer of the award-winning Social Science Lecture Series, of the Faculty Forum and of The Public Affairs Forum. He is the author of Background Lessons on Global Affairs (1997), of The Social Environment: A Primer on World Civics, 11th Edition, 2008, and International Relations: a Primer on Global Affairs (2004). Dr. Germán Muñoz is the recipient of the following awards: “John Barret Prize for Best Dissertation on Hispanic and Latin American Affairs,”, “Excellence in Curriculum and Instruction Award,” 1987, by the Florida Association of Community Colleges, “The Times Teaching Excellence Award,” 1990, by the National-American Association of Community Colleges, “The Reverend Glen C. James Endowed Teaching Chair,” 1992-1994, “The Award for Outstanding Community College Chairs Who Encourage Teaching Excellence,” 1993, by the National Community College Academy, “The David Pierce Department Chair Quality Leadership Award,” 1995, “The National Initiative for Leadership and Institutional Effectiveness,” by North Carolina State University, “The First Union Endowed Teaching Chair,” 1996-1998, “The Excellence in the Social Sciences Award 1854-2004”, by Belen Jesuit Preparatory in 2004, The Collinfontanum Award for Professional Achievement 1831-2006, by Spring Hill College in 2006. Dr. Germàn Muñoz has served in the following boards: St. Kevin’s Catholic School Advisory Board; Miami Archbishop John C. Favalora’s Board of Catholic Education; the Florida Fund for Minority Teachers, Inc., and the Socio-Economic Development Council of Miami Dade County. Dr. German Muñoz worked at Miami Dade College, the largest college in the United States, from August 1976 through August 2011. He was the Chairperson of the Department of Social Sciences from 1983-2011. Dr. Muñoz retired on August 2011 due to ALS. The College awarded him Professor Emeritus status and has created the Dr. German Muñoz endowed teaching chair.
Contact Dr. Muñoz: Via E-Mail or on the Web
Reposted with permission given to Raising {& Teaching} Little Saints.
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Catholic Bloggers Network Share-A-Thon (Giveaway) $350 in Prizes Ends 2/27/12
Here it is! The first ever Catholic Bloggers Network Colossal Giveaway. Prizes total over $350 (with shipping) and up to 16 winners!
What are we giving away?
Thanks to all of the participating Blogs!
- My Life’s a Treasure
- The Rosary Chick
- Crafolic ~ Catholic Crafts and More!
- Day by Day in Our World
- A Catholic Life
- Equipping Catholic Families (Arma Dei)
- Homeschooling With Joy
- Raising {& Teaching} Little Saints
How do you enter? Please follow the Rafflecopter form below! Each action is worth a certain number of entries….Best of luck!
Good luck friends! 🙂
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Hands off my body!
I’ve told you before, I am pro-choice.
“Let’s get one thing clear about the debate. NO ONE has the right to tell a woman what she can and cannot do with her body. “Hands off my body” is the rule we need to operate on when it comes to the health and well-being of every living woman. She gets to choose medical procedures for her own body.”
I just ask one thing, if you KNOW scientifically a unique Human’s DNA is created at conception (this potential baby already has predetermined hair color, eye color, features, etc.), and then at only 22 days after conception his/her heart starts beating, BEFORE most women even know they are pregnant!
- At week three you see eyes and ears.
- Week 6, fingers and toes.
- Week 7: Baby’s head develops.
- Week 8: Baby’s eyes are visible.
- Week 9: Baby’s toes form.
- Week 10: Baby’s neck begins to develop
- By week 11 she/he can smile and frown AND genitals develop. YEP as early as week 11 (about 2 months), we can see if a boy or girl (but harder to see of course).
- Week 12: Baby’s fingernails develop. That is ONLY first trimester.
I didn’t make this up, I found all these details on the Mayo Clinic website. Interesting enough, at week 6 they stop calling it a fetus and switch to calling it a baby! WHY? “Just four weeks after conception, the neural tube along your baby’s back is closing and your baby’s heart is pumping blood.” HMMMM….heart is beating…
Why would anyone think it’s okay to kill that life (call it a baby or a fetus, I don’t care). Biologically speaking only…alive means one thing = life. Why would it be OKAY for anyone to kill? Just because you can’t see that life? Just because the fetus can’t live outside of the womb? Killing is killing no matter how you put it. No matter how popular it is. For those that say this is a religious perspective, no, this is not about a Bible this is very simple it’s simple Biology.
Still not convinced? Watch this video and see people finish this sentence, “Killing a baby in the womb is okay when…”
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Catholic Bloggers Unite!
I am now a new contributor to the new Catholic Bloggers Network. If you haven’t had a chance to visit, please do. A group of Catholic bloggers from all walks of life are contributing and participating in this endeavor.
It is really a neat concept there are weekly round ups, content shares, an online Facebook community, a Blog Academy where you can learn neat tips and even a place to link up items you are selling in the Catholic Shoppe.
Here is the mission of the group:
In acknowledgment of the Vatican’s strong interest to embrace social media for evangelization, this Catholic Bloggers Network was created to enhance communication of Catholic social media users. Here Catholic bloggers can connect and share efforts to bring the Catholic faith into the social media discourse. By creating this webpage directory of Catholic bloggers and connecting the online portals they use, our Catholic community grows larger. Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam!
And now a group of bloggers are getting together to have a colossal give away. So if you are a blogger and want to participate in this, here are the details:
————————–
The First EVER
Catholic Bloggers’ Colossal Share-a-Thon (&; Giveaway)
An opportunity for all of our Catholic Bloggers to
share and promote their Catholic products,
share and promote their Catholic products,
receive new followers and discover new Catholic blogs
…and to WIN awesome prizes!
…and to WIN awesome prizes!
All Catholic Bloggers are invited to participate…
small entry fees will be collected from Bloggers who want to participate
(and receive new followers) but don’t sell Catholic products through their blogs.
small entry fees will be collected from Bloggers who want to participate
(and receive new followers) but don’t sell Catholic products through their blogs.
The cash collected will comprise the cash giveaways!
Lots of prizes, lots of chances to win and lots of winners!
Just fill out the form below and hit the ‘submit’ button…
to be a part of this Rafflecopter
to be a part of this Rafflecopter
Catholic Bloggers’ Colossal Share-a-Thon!
Spread the word.
The GIVEAWAY will be live for 2 weeks
and ANYONE can enter to WIN!
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A Laundry System that Works!
I love this little cartoon I found last year, a little humor before we start talking Laundry Systems:
Are you or your children allergic to laundry? Do you dread when it’s laundry day? or is laundry day every day at your home? Well I have the remedy for your agony! Once you use my laundry system, adapted from my dear friend Stephanie, you are going to never think laundry is a chore…you will embrace it!
Here are some easy steps to help you get started:
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
1. CLOTHING: Make sure that each person/child has about 12 to 14 outfits to their name. This does not include under clothing and socks, just outfits. For underclothing and socks, I’d recommend a little more than the number of outfits just in case, especially when potty training. 😉 Also, make sure that your child has their drawers organized and easy to find where everything goes. If need-be, give them a tour of their drawers and where their hangers are so that putting clothing away is easy-peasy!
2. BASKETS: Get one laundry basket per person, if you want, you can color code them or do like I did, I bought two rounds for the smaller children and three squares for the bigger ones. I avoided the rectangular shapes ones because of the small space I have for each basket. You could also label each basket with your child’s name. My husband and I share a basket and this is the only one that I actually sort anymore…we share only because we don’t have the space to have two baskets in there.
ALSO, I have TWO more baskets in the bathroom closet one for towels and another for linens. These are my old rectangular laundry baskets, by the way. So in my case, a family with five kids, we have 5 kid baskets + 2 linen/towel baskets +1 parent basket = 8 baskets. Notice, you are already sorted out the laundry this way! 😉
Here are some choices of baskets that aren’t so bulky but hold the same amount of clothing as a larger rectangular basket:
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| I have three of these for the bigger children. |
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| I have two of these for the smaller children. |
When my first kids where smaller, I had these as laundry baskets and while they are super cute and you can color coordinate with your kids room, I honestly hated them and got rid of them when I implemented this system, so I don’t recommend them. BUT if you can’t purchase new baskets and these are the ones you have, don’t let this stop you from reading on.:
3. LAUNDRY ROOM: Have a “catch-all” basket in your laundry room, especially if it’s on the first floor and your kids’ rooms are on a second, or vice-versa. I really like this one (the one I have has only two compartments) but you can just have a general one…here is where I place my kitchen towels, etc.:
Also, make sure you add all the items you use for your laundry room on your grocery shopping list. This will remind you to check before leaving to the store and always have items in stock. 🙂
THE SYSTEM
1. SORTING: Since each child has his/her own laundry basket the clothing is already sorted. My kids have a bad habit of turning their clothing inside out when they take it off. If they do this, they stand next to me and flip them back out and they also get a lesson in putting the clothing in the wash. Trust me, once you get them to do this often enough, they start remembering to turn the clothing the right side the next time the change.
2. ROTATIONS: You have to ways of doing this.
A) once a basket is full, the child (if able to do so) brings his/her basket to the laundry room to get it washed OR like I do,
B) have an assigned day to wash per person. So here’s our rotations:
Mondays: Dad and Mom
Tuesdays: Child 1
Wednesdays: Child 2
Thursdays: Child 3
Fridays: Child 4
Saturdays: Child 5
Sundays: NO LAUNDRY, it’s the Lord’s day! 😉
Using this rotation, you will do laundry every two weeks or so. 🙂 So in essence when you look at a two week (14 days) time period, you have six days of laundry (if you have as many kids as I do) and eight days off without laundry! If you have less kids then you have less time between laundry days! If you have more kids than we do, I’d double up on kids so child 1 and 2 on Mondays, child 3 and 4 on Tuesdays…ect. OR if you want to have less laundry days do this as well. When I know we are going to have a busy week and it’s time for laundry, I double or triple up.
We don’t sort whites and darks, we wash the kids clothing all together….about every 2-3 months, I do grab underclothing and socks that might need bleaching and do sort but I don’t do this every laundry cycle.
3. FOLDING & PUTTING AWAY: The key for this system to work is that you fold the clothing as they come out of the dryer. Sometimes we have an errand to run and I have to tumble the clothing for about 10 minutes to de-wrinkle them. I fold and put back in their assigned basket. Each kid (if of age and able to) helps fold and take their own baskets back up. Some with supervision, I get them to put their clothing away on their own. 🙂 When folding stack all the pants together, all the shirts together, etc. so that when you or your child puts the clothing away everything is sorted and organized to easily put away. Then grab the basket and put it so that they have it back in the designated location. If they changed clothing while their basket was gone, I have them put the clothing on the floor where the basket is normally placed so that when returned, they just put it in the basket.
4. SPACE: If you have space issues and one basket per person is a pain to your ears, this is my solution for you:
Tips on pesty lost socks: Teach your kids to put socks one inside the other when they take them off, this keeps them from getting lost. Also, don’t buy the same style for all the boys or all the girls if they are different sizes, this makes putting socks back together a pain!
Once I started using this system, I really didn’t hate doing laundry! Also remember every toilet scrubbed with love gets us an inch closer to Heaven! (includes tantrums and gentle guidance towards little people that test our motherly patience as well, lol)…Todd calls it the PASS technique = Purgatory Avoidance Suffering System!
Here are other systems that I have seen that worked too:
1. A Laundry System for Large Families…and small ones too! (Liz and I were trained by Stephanie, a mom to 6)
2. I love doing the laundry, really!
3. A Laundry System that Works!
4. Finding a Laundry System That Works for You
5. Home Organizing Tip #3: The Laundry
Have you learned to tame the laundry monster? Tell me how you did it and if you blogged about it, please leave a comment with a link!
Thanks for stopping by! Remember organization + clean = peace!
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