Thanks for the advice

Leanne, I read your blog entry to Lynda and she loved it also. Lynda loved the way you do things so well and make us all feel great about ourselves. We all want to be more like Leanne. We started talking and came up with our own lists also. I'm not creative without some help, so we worked together and this is what we came up with. I have to clarify that these are all great things that my sisters have taught me - but I'm a bit slow on the uptake so they are not all learned (more of a work in progress and a want list than anything).

Things my sisters and mother have taught me:

MOM: #1 Mom taught me how to deep clean. She taught me how to scrub down a bathroom until it shines, a stovetop until you see your reflection, a refrigerator until it is completely white. . . and work until you get every corner clean. #2 This one comes from Lynda, but I loved it. Mom's bedroom was always a sanctuary. Everything was always in place, dusted, and clean. There were never stacks of clothes in the corner or books stacked up on the dresser. I love to picture mom kneeling at her blue bed in prayer.

JEAN: When I was at Jean's recently, I was using the ironing board and Kylee brought me a sheet also - I couldn't figure out what I needed the sheet for, so I set it aside. I found out later that Jean always puts a sheet on the ground when she irons and uses spray starch. Makes sense. I still haven't pulled out a sheet but I think about Jean when I iron now . Lynda talked about how everything is in order in Jean's cupboards. Everything has it's place and she can find it (unlike me this morning - I was late for school because I couldn't find Scotty's birth certificate)

KAREN: Lynda and I both agreed how great Karen is at decluttering and keeping clutter out of the way. I love that about Karen - I have yet to learn that one also. I like to keep way too many things. I also like Karen's "5 minute room clean up." Spend 5 minutes in each room and see how much you can get done.

LYNDA: Probably about 10 years ago (has it really been that long), Lynda introduced me to her card cleaning system. I love it when I use it. It's a way to keep track of what things should be done daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly. You just move the cards to the next day, week, month, etc. when you are done with the job. Lynda mentioned something that Grandma Andersen told her - "It's always more effective and fun to clean when you have help." Lynda and I have spent many hours on the phone "helping" each other clean.

JANET: Lynda told me I had to add myself on her. She said that I always have a gimmick of some sort to help me clean. It can change from minute to minute or week to week, but I'm always coming up with some gimmick or another.

MARILYN: Marilyn loves to do laundry and it shows. Lynda and I both commented on her boys "clean, white shirts." When Lynda asked her about it at Jake's farewell, her response was that she always hangs the boys shirts up right when they get home from church.

LEANNE: Leanne just does everything right. To Leanne, being a mom is most important. She has taught me to include my children in all that I do. She gives her kids responsibilities and they follow through. How do you do that, Leanne?

STEPHANIE: Stephanie's house is always clean but you never see her cleaning - it must be because she always is on top of it. Also, a neat thing about Stephanie is that she contributes her clean house to her husband and how he has taught her.

CATHY: Cathy told me once that she never goes to bed without turning her dishwasher on. I loved that little advice (I just wish I always heeded it.) Cathy is also a great entertainer and it's always easy to help at Cathy's house.

SARAH: I imagine that Sarah cleans as well as she does everything else - with a smile and always thinking of others!