The Good Portion, Which Will Not Be Taken Away

Do Mondays scare you?  They do me on occasion.  Every Monday requires a deep breath, this one requires several.  I sit down first thing every morning with my Bible, coffee, pen and paper.  I start putting the day together on paper after I read and pray.  This morning I could barely concentrate because of all the thoughts pinging around in my head.  After I had covered the front and back of a piece of paper with my to-do list, shopping list, and schedule, it hit me.  Satan is crafty.  He knows where to attack.  He isn't going to bother tempting me with drugs or alcohol, or pornography, or gambling, or stealing.  I'm not going to cheat or lie or murder anyone.  No, I know how to stay away from evil.  In fact, I hate it.  Satan will trick me using all the "good" stuff in my life.  He will try to distract me and pull me away from God.  He will use the good to keep me from hearing God's voice.  You see, it's not bad that I'm planning a birthday party or cleaning my house.  It's not evil to be a soccer mom.  However, if I allow my cooking and cleaning, soccer games, and baking to distract me to the point that I don't have time to read my bible, or in all of my errands and shopping I don't take any time to pray, Satan has a small victory.  He will use anything to keep us from walking closely with the Lord.  His goal is always to thwart the plans of God.  For Moms who love the Lord and their families Satan will even use laundry if he has to.  Whatever it takes to steal our peace or joy and keep us away from time with the Lord.  BEWARE Moms - Satan is prowling around seeking to destroy.  

Think Mary and Martha for a minute.  Read Luke 10:38-42.  Martha wasn't doing anything bad or evil was she?  Meals do have to be served.  Food isn't going to prepare itself and land on the table after all.  BUT, Jesus said that Mary had chosen that which is better.  Jesus said instead of fretting and worrying and being caught up in her work it would have been better for Martha to spend time with him.  I have a Martha struggle, always have.  Once I even got mad at my husband for spending so much time reading his bible and not helping me.  (I know, that is VERY embarrassing to admit, but I did.)  If Jesus says there is something better than what I'm doing I really should pay attention.  Time with Him is the best for us, even if that means a dirty oven and sticky floors.  I can't allow the good things, no matter how good they are, to take me away from the best.  

One last thing... we are going to reap what we sow in the lives of our children.  I've never heard of a mom reaping negative consequences in her children because she didn't keep her windows clean or her kitchen was a mess, but oh do I know of moms whose hearts are breaking and they regret not praying with their children, they regret not teaching their children the ways of God.  They would turn back time and let some of the to-do list go un-done if they could.  Children need us to show them the way.  The world is pointing them in the wrong direction and parents must take the time to teach and train and nurture relationships with their children while we can.  I have to remind myself often that the house and the laundry and the plans I make are not to be my top priority.   My walk with the Lord will show up in the lives of my children, good or bad.  

I'm making it a priority to spend time with the Lord this week even though my week has the potential to be my busiest week ever.  Make it a priority in yours and enjoy the good portion which will not be taken away!

Green Means Go

Do you ever feel as if you are saying the same things over and over?  It happens here.  Today I decided the children needed a visual reminder.  


I had the younger kids make stoplights

 using construction paper and glue.

I don't know where I will hang these permanently but for now I have put them on a shelf in the dining room (where we do most of our school work).  Each day the children will begin their morning on the green light.  I'm using clothes pins to mark the place.  If they do something they are told not to do (disobey) they get 1 warning and the clip moves to yellow.  If they get in trouble again, the clip will move to red.  At red, privileges are lost.  Where the clip is at the end of the school day will determine what they get to do after school.  If the clip is on green at the end of school time they can go outside to play.  If the clip is on red, they won't be getting to play outside after school and may have to do some extra work.  Keeping the clip in the green is very important if they want to keep their free time/play time.  I'm hoping the visual reminder will help them and will prevent me from giving so many warnings and repeating myself over and over.  I'm not recommending this for major disobedience such as lying or disrespecting parents.  I'm using this for things like talking during school time when they are supposed to work without talking or not doing as they're told. 
 

The clips are on green now.  I hope they stay there!

Sometimes visual reminders can really help children exercise self control.  I make a lot of charts and things for that very reason.  It helps if things are clear and easy for children to understand.  If I'm not paying careful attention I will give too many warnings for the same thing.  With the help of this project I plan on giving only 1 warning and moving the clip to yellow.  I hope it never goes to red but I have a feeling someone might check to see if the stoplight really "works".  


I try to remember not to view behavior issues as another problem, but view them as training opportunities.  

Dinner Plan - this week

Friday:  Stuffed Crust Pizza, carrot and celery sticks
Saturday:  soccer team potluck
Sunday:  Crock Pot Mac and Cheese, salad, yeast rolls
Monday:  Mexican night - burritos, tacos, chips and salsa
Tuesday:  Fish fillet, tater tots, peas and corn
Wednesday:  Spaghetti, salad, garlic bread
Thursday:  Dinner out
Friday:  Cookout - hot dogs & all the fixins, cheesy potatoes 

Cupcake Liner Birthday Wreath

My youngest little gal is getting ready to celebrate her 1st birthday.  I don't know how 12 months could have possibly gone by so quickly, but it did.  (Maybe it has something to do with moving, or keeping up with 6 kids, or something like that - maybe!) 

 We are starting the preparations for a Minnie Mouse birthday party and I just finished up a wreath for the front door.  If you know me, or if you have followed this blog for very long, you know we love birthdays.  Actually, we love any reason to have a party!

I did this one a little different from my last one.  This time I wrapped my Styrofoam wreath in scraps of ribbon that I had left over from other projects.

I added the cupcake liners in little bunches and I used 2 different types of liners.

I made a little Happy Birthday sign and glued it on a piece of ribbon. I glued the ribbon across the back of the wreath.

We will hang this on the front door the day of her birthday.  It makes a cute, inexpensive decoration to greet party guests.  You could make any kind, any color, and could design it to match any party theme.  This project doesn't require a lot of time or a lot of money and those are the kind of projects I like.  

Linked to Chef-in-Training talent show

  

Spicy Apple-Glazed Meatballs

When I decided to try this recipe it was for a couple of reasons.  First, I had all of the ingredients on hand, and second, this recipe looked to be rather frugal.  I had no idea how much my family and I would LOVE this spicy, garlicky goodness.  My husband and my sons talked about it for days afterward. I have to tell you these are the best meatballs I have ever tasted in my whole life!

Spicy Meatballs

1 egg
1/4 cup milk
2 slices bread, torn
1 lb. lean ground beef
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 Tbsp. vegetable oil

Apple Glaze

1 cup apple juice
1/4 cup soy sauce
3 Tbsp. packed brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp. cornstarch
1 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
6 green onions, sliced

1. In large bowl whisk together egg and milk.  Add bread.  Let stand 10 minutes, just until bread is softened.  Add ground beef, garlic, black pepper, salt and cayenne pepper; mix thoroughly with hands or wooden spoon.  Shape beef mixture into about 48 one-inch balls.  
2. In 12 inch skillet heat oil over medium heat.  Cook meatballs, half at a time, turning occasionally, until brown and crusty on the outside and no longer pink inside, about 6 minutes per batch.  Transfer meatballs to covered dish to keep warm.  Drain fat from skillet; wipe out skillet.
3. For Apple Glaze, in bowl combine juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, cornstarch, ginger and cayenne.  In the same skillet over medium heat cook and stir sauce until thickened and bubbly (should be at a full boil).  Cook and stir 2 minutes more.  Return meatballs to skillet to glaze and heat through.  Transfer to serving dish.  Top with green onions.

Super Delicious!!  :)

I'm linked up with chef in training today.

Turtle Fudge Cake

Ingredients:

1 pkg devil's food cake mix (plus ingredients to make cake)

4 squares (1 ounce each) semi sweet chocolate for baking, coarsely chopped

1 jar (12 ounces) caramel ice cream topping, divided

1/2 cup pecan halves

Vanilla ice cream (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Prepare cake mix according to package directions.  Bake 30-35 minutes until knife inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool cake according to package directions.  Carefully invert onto round platter.  Place chocolate and half the caramel topping in microwave, uncovered, on HIGH 30 - 60 seconds or until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth.  Carefully spread caramel mixture over cake.  Coarsely chop pecans, sprinkle evenly over cake.  Drizzle with remaining caramel.  Let stand until topping is set.  Cut into wedges.  Serve with ice cream if desired.

*The night I made this I was out of pecans so that is why you don't see them in the picture.  The cake is just as wonderfully delicious with or without them!*

Chicken and Broccoli Braid

I tried this out on the family the other night and they LOVED it.  It's a good thing they did because I made two of these.  We all really did think it was delicious and I have already been asked when I will make it again.

Ingredients:

2 cups cooked chicken, chopped

1 cup broccoli

1 garlic clove, pressed

4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 tsp dill

1/4 tsp salt

2 (8 ounce) packages refrigerated crescent dinner rolls

1 egg white, lightly beaten

2 tablespoons slivered almonds

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Place chicken and broccoli in large bowl.  Press garlic over mixture.  Add cheese to mixture; mix gently.

You might want to chop your broccoli.  I didn't.  Add mayo, dill mix, and salt; mix well.  Unroll 1 package of crescent dough; do not separate.  Arrange longest sides of dough across a rectangular baking pan.  Repeat with remaining package of dough.  Using rolling pin, roll dough to seal perforations.  On longest sides of pan, cut dough into strips 1 1/2 inches apart, 3 inches deep using a pizza cutter (there will be 6 inches in the center for the filling).  Spread filling evenly over middle of dough.  To braid, lift strips of dough across mixture to meet in center, twisting each strip on turn.  Continue alternating strips to form a braid. Tuck ends under to seal at end of braid.  Brush egg white over dough using pastry brush.  Sprinkle with almonds. 

 Bake 25 minutes or until deep golden brown.

Bargain Hunting

Living in our home are a man and wife, six children, a cat, a dog, and 4 fish.  If you think things can get a little crazy sometimes, you are correct!  So, when I had the opportunity today to go on a shopping extravaganza with one of my best pals, I went for it.  (Every mom needs an outing once in a while!)  We hunted down bargains like ninjas and I'm positive it was more fun than I've had in a long time.  You know, the almost wet your pants laughing kind of fun.  Although it doesn't have to be that funny for this mama with 6 deliveries under my belt to run into accident trouble. 

If you are interested, here's some of what you can get in the Chattanooga area right now.

At CVS you can get five 12packs of Mountain Dew for $14.00. (That's $2.80 for a 12 pack, or 23 cents per can.  So much better than hubby putting money in the vending machine at work!)  And if you are lucky you just might get some ECBs printed on your receipt.  I got $1.00 today!

ALDI has pineapples for 99 cents!  They are nice and big and smell wonderful.  I haven't seen them anywhere for less than $3.00.  They also have beautiful strawberries for 79 cents per pound and boneless skinless chicken breasts for $1.69 a pound!  You should have seen the chicken we carried out of there. 

The Fresh Market has ground chuck for $2.99 per lb and milk is $2.99 per gallon.  I've been paying almost $4.00 for a gallon of milk so I was loving this.  (By the way, The Fresh Market has a special deal every Tuesday.)

Publix has the large boxes of Rice Krispies on sale for $2.00 per box and if you buy 2 boxes you get a FREE large bag of M&Ms.  My favorite deal at Publix is the $50.00 gas cards for $40.00.  Who doesn't love that when gas is right at $4.00 a gallon?  $10.00 worth of free gas!  I'm picking up a gift card every time I go in there until the deal ends.

If you are reading this and you are in the Chattanooga area this is only a tiny little bit of what you can get your hands on.  Wherever you are reading check your stores for sales and match up with coupons.  A lot of money can be saved and every Mama loves that!

If you asked me I would send you HERE or HERE! 

Dealing with Disappointment

For all of us there will be times of disappointment.  Things will never be perfect while we are here on earth.  How we deal with the disappointments of life has a profound impact on our lives, and the lives of our children.  I have some ways of dealing with disappointment and I will share them with you.  Perhaps someone reading is dealing with disappointment and one of these ideas might help.

Read and memorize scripture.  Being in the word is almost the only way to survive disappointment.  When I am going through disappointing circumstances I like to put on my fuzzy socks, curl up in my favorite chair with my Bible and a cup of coffee.  I love to read and choose verses to memorize.  I try to hide God's word in my heart so I won't sin against Him. 

One of my favorite ways to deal with disappointment is to plan something really special for the kids.  When I am dealing with disappointment I get myself busy making the kids their favorite meal, or planning a picnic, or a game night, or I invite friends over.  I keep my mind busy and focused working on and planning something that the kids will love and refuse to allow my thoughts to stay on the disappointment.

I pray and ask God for help in dealing with disappointment.  Asking God for help is step one in anything we attempt to do as Moms.  I need a daily filling of His spirit.  It is only by His grace that I can function in the right way as a wife and mother.  Staying close to Him is my only chance of survival in this world.  Disappointment has been known to knock me over but because of the Lord's working in my life I don't stay down.

I go for a walk or I craft.  Sound crazy?  That is what I do!  I'm not going to sit around and let Satan get the best of me!  I'm not going to dwell on the things that are disappointing.  The last time I was really down after reading an email I immediately tied on my shoes and went for a walk.  I hit delete, and hit the door!  It was wonderful!  I've been known to come up with my best craft projects when I'm dealing with some sort of disappointment.  I get busy on a project and the thoughts of disappointment are pushed out of my head.

I throw myself into what I need to do.  I focus on cleaning the house, getting the laundry done, making sure we are having a delicious dinner and try to be the best teacher I can be.  I will not spend too much time thinking about what others SHOULD or COULD do.  I just make myself think about what I should be doing and then I do it with all I have and focus on being the best I can be.

I treat others the way I want to be treated.  Hard?  Yes, sometimes, but God always blesses.  I do what I can to make our home a warm hospitable place for those who visit.  I make sure every friend and family member knows they are always welcome in our home.  I ask God to remind me not to return evil for evil and to help me treat others the way I would like to be treated.  Our home and our hearts are always open to our family members, even the ones who shut their hearts and homes toward us. 

I make a thankfulness list.  Do you want to drive away disappointment quickly?  Grab a pen and paper and start making a list of everything you are thankful for!  Forget those disappointing circumstances, look at the blessings in your life!  Count them!!  Literally.  Number 1 - 20 on a piece of paper and just start writing.  In less than a minute you will be thanking God for all of the amazing blessings He has bestowed on you!


Here's what I DON'T do when dealing with disappointment...

I don't eat. (needs no explanation, right?)
I don't shop.  (well, maybe a time or two but not as a practice.)
I don't dwell on it.  This too shall pass!
I don't withhold forgiveness.  I will forgive much because my Heavenly Father has forgiven me MUCH!

 
James 1:2-5 says,  "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.  But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him". 

Disappointments are trials in our lives.  Dealing with disappointment is a reality for all of us at some time or another.  Friends can leave us, family can let us down, jobs can be lost, and our circumstances will not always turn out the way we had hoped.  Many of us have lost people we care about, been lied to, lied about, been hurt, let down, mistreated and DISAPPOINTED.
BUT GOD loves us, gave His Son for us and will never leave us!  Disappointment pales in the light of those facts.  Put your disappointment aside and look to Jesus.  Follow Him and find your contentment in Him.  There is JOY in serving the Lord and caring for your family and this is what we must do to properly deal with the disappointments of life. 

Crock Pot Beef and Broccoli

I tried a new recipe last night (found it here) and it was so good I had to share.  My family absolutely loved it.  You gotta GOTTA try it! 

Crock Pot Beef & Broccoli

1 lb boneless beef chuck roast sliced into thin strips.

1 cup beef consomme

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 tablespoon sesame oil

3 garlic cloves, minced

2 tablespoons cornstarch

2 tablespoons water

Place beef in crock pot.  In a small bowl combine consomme, soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil and garlic.  Mix well and pour over beef.  Cook on low 6 - 8 hours. 

In a cup, stir cornstarch and water until smooth.  Add to crock pot.  Stir well to combine.  Blanch broccoli and add to crock pot.  Stir.  Cover and cook 20 more minutes.  Serve over white rice.  Delish!

(I tripled this recipe to feed my family of 8, which includes 3 teenage boys and a hungry husband.  Everyone was very full and we had a tiny bit leftover.  Hope that helps your planning.)

Relaxed Homeschooling - Eternity in View

To enjoy relaxed homeschooling you must have eternity in view.  A mother with eternity in view will see the importance of relaxing and enjoying her children.  School work and housework are temporary. 

Every day is a blessing and should be viewed as such.  Each day should be fun and filled with joy.  A messy house, unfinished school work, and dirty clothes will be of no consequence 100 years from now. 

Nothing really matters except enjoying God's presence.

I'm not suggesting, of course, that we don't need to work in our homes or that we don't need to teach our children.  I am suggesting that we shouldn't be consumed with worry and stress.  We need to relax! 

Teaching the children should be fun for us and for the children.  We should keep our minds and hearts focused on eternity and not on the things of this world.  Our homes should be cozy and peaceful learning environments.

Spend lots of time with your children having fun.  Think of ways to turn work and responsibility into joy.  Win their hearts.  Smile!

Bird's Nests and My Easter Menu

Melt 24 oz chocolate chips in microwave.  Mix with chow mein noodles.

Using wax paper, press into muffin pan to make nests.
Set in refrigerator.

Add Peeps and candy.

We packaged ours up to give to our neighbors.

Our Easter Menu:

Ham

Green Beans

Snowy Mashed Potatoes

Broccoli Casserole

Macaroni and Cheese

7-Up Salad

Deviled Eggs

Yeast Rolls

Iced Tea, Lemonade, Coffee

Coconut (Bunny) Cake

Here are the recipes for 2 of the things I must make every Easter.  My honey and kids don't think it's Easter without 7-Up Salad and Snowy Mashed Potatoes.  Oh, and deviled eggs too!  We can't have Easter dinner without those!

7-UP JELLO SALAD 

1 8oz pkg cream cheese

1 small can crushed pineapple

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1 pkg lemon jello

1 cup boiling water

1 cup 7-Up

Dissolve jello in boiling water, cream cheese is added with electric mixer.  Stir in remaining ingredients with 7-Up last.  Pour in mold and chill.

Snowy Mashed Potato Casserole 

Cook 12 medium potatoes in boiling salted water; drain.

Mash potatoes in large bowl.

Add:

1 8oz pkg cream cheese

1 cup sour cream

2 tsp salt

1/8 tsp pepper

1 clove garlic - crushed

Beat at high speed until light and fluffy.  Stir in 1/4 cup chopped chives.  Spoon into lightly greased baking dish.  Sprinkle with 1/2 tsp paprika and dot with 1 TBS butter.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Easter Cookie Recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup whole pecans
1 teaspoon vinegar
3 egg whites
1 cup sugar
pinch of salt

Also you will need:

tape
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
Bible

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.  (Do this now so the oven is ready by the time you reach step 8.)

1.  Place the pecans in the baggie and let the kids beat them with the wooden spoon to break them into pieces.  Explain that after Jesus was arrested He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. 
Read John 19:1-3

2.  Pour the vinegar into a mixing bowl.  Let each child smell the vinegar.  Explain that when Jesus was on the cross and He became thirsty; He was offered vinegar to drink. 
Read John 19:28-30

3.  Add the egg whites to the vinegar.  The eggs represent life.  Explain that Jesus gave up His life, so that we could have life. 
Read John 10:10-11

4.  Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand for him to taste.  Put the rest in the bowl.  Explain that this salt represents the salty tears shed by the followers of Jesus and the bitterness of our own sin. 
Read Luke 23:27

5.  So far the ingredients are not very appetizing.  Add 1 cup of sugar.  Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus loves us.  He wants us to love Him and trust in Him. 
Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16

6.  Use a mixer on high speed to beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form (12-15 minutes).  Explain that in God's eyes, the color white represents the purity of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.  
Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3

7.  Fold in the broken nuts.  Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper on a cookie sheet.  Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid to rest.  
Read Matthew 27:57-60

8.  Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door, and turn off the oven.  

9.  Give each child a piece of tape to help seal the door.  Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed.  
Read Matthew 27:65-66

10.  Go to bed.  Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight, and that Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.  
Read John 16:20-22

11.  On Easter Morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie.  Notice the cracked surface and take a bite.  The cookies are hollow!
Read Matthew 28:1-9

Funny Bunnies and Jelly Beans

If you want to make these, here's what you need.

And maybe a helper!

Cover work space in wax paper.  Use a fork to mix 3/4 cup shredded coconut, 1/3 cup powdered sugar, and 2 tablespoons condensed milk. 

Roll the mixture into balls for the bunnies.  Use sprinkles or candy for eyes and noses and sliced almonds for bunny ears.

To make grass, put 1/2 cup coconut and 2 drops green food coloring into a plastic zipper bag and seal.  Shake to mix. 

Spread a little condensed milk on top of the mini peanut butter cups.  Sprinkle on green coconut.

Add bunnies and jelly beans.

Crisis Cleaning

I want to share with you what I do when I'm in a hurry to get the house cleaned.  This is not what I recommend for a cleaning schedule, just what I do in a "crisis".  If you get yourself on a cleaning schedule you can pretty much keep your house clean all the time.  Doing a little bit each day is best, but sometimes you just need to do a fast clean of the whole house. 

This morning I did a crisis clean because some precious friends from out of town were coming to visit.  Lately it seems our house has gotten a little out of control.  Our focus has been on school, and if you home-school then you know what that can do to your house.  School, plus laundry, 3 meals a day, a baby, and soccer, well let's just say the house hasn't gotten the attention it needs.  Knowing our friends were on their way kicked my fanny in gear.  There's a lot to be said for the pressure of having company coming.  It's good for me!

Here's my Crisis Cleaning 101:  (Most of this I got from Flylady, who I've loved since I found her in 2001.  Her system really changed the way I do things and I just love her ideas!)   

• Get dressed all the way to your shoes.  Fix your hair and put your moisturizer or makeup on.  Put on some music.  I love to listen to praise and worship music while I clean.  Light a candle.  A lot of people ask why they should shower, dress, and do hair and makeup when they are going to be cleaning.  I will tell you why.  You work faster if your shoes are on.  You feel "ready to go".  Cleaning in your pajamas slows you down.  Also, and I'm speaking from experience here, someone could drop by or your company could show up early.  I used to clean in my pajamas and then when I was all finished cleaning the house I would take a shower and get dressed.  Inevitably, every time I did that someone would stop by to visit and there I would be in my pajamas half way into the day.  Forget that I had been working since 8 a.m.  It appears, since I'm in my pajamas at 11 o'clock, that I'm a slug and have stayed in bed all morning. 
• Start with the kitchen.  As the kitchen goes, so does the rest of the house.  Set a timer and work for 15 minutes in the kitchen.  Fill your sink with hot soapy water and clean the sink first and then clear off the right and left counters.  Empty the dishwasher.  When the timer goes off, stop what you are doing and head to the family room.
• Set the timer again for 15 minutes and start picking up toys and newspapers.  Clean off the coffee table.  Concentrate on one thing at a time.  Get a laundry basket and put the things that don't belong in the family room into the basket.  Take a bag into the room with you as well and start throwing away the trash.  When the timer goes off, go back to the kitchen.
• In the kitchen set the timer for another 15 minutes.  Work on cleaning the counters.  Don't get sidetracked and start cleaning out a cabinet or the refrigerator.  Just surface clean until the timer goes off. 
• Take a break for 15 minutes.  Set the timer and drink a cup of coffee, or tea, or whatever you love and just relax.  Look around at all you have accomplished in just 45 minutes.  When the timer goes off get back in work mode.
• Do a 15 minute session in the bathroom.  Clean the sink first, then pick up towels and dirty clothes and put them in the hamper.  Don't get sidetracked and start a load of laundry.  Laundry will come later. 
• Go back in the kitchen for 15 more minutes.  Keep working until the timer goes off.  Then go to the family room once again. 
• In the family room continue to pick up and put away, then dust and vacuum.  Vacuum only the middles.  In a crisis clean I'm not pulling the furniture out from the walls and using the attachment. 
• Every 45 minutes take a 15 minute break.  You are going to be surprised at how much you get done in two hours or spread out across the day.

You get the picture.  Adapt this schedule to fit your children's needs.  If your children are old enough, get them involved in the cleaning with you.  Make it fun.  Children as young as 2 years old can do a lot.  Have them put toys away or put trash in the trashcan.  When it comes to cleaning, the timer really is my best friend.  The timer will help you stay focused.  It is also helpful to race the clock.  Kids in particular enjoy this.