Luke In Operation Iraqi Freedom

Our nephew, Luke Harris, is in the Air Force and is serving in Iraq. He's been there 3 months so far and hates it. It's averaging 115-117 degrees Fahrenheit, the dust is so irritating and he misses home and family. He finally sent some photos home and I wanted to scrapbook his Iraq experience. I added a few additional photos from the Internet. Military scrapbooks are probably their most popular right now since the War has been going on for awhile. More and more men and women have military experiences. Whether Navy, Army, Air Force or Marine, it helps the serviceman and his family to work out their service and document their experiences with scrapbooks. There are the usual portrait photos but there are so many other things you can scrap about. I used Luke's photos about those horrible camel spiders, the sandstorm and the pitiful little office where they can spend time on the telephone. Then there are photos of their buddies and co-workers. I would love to have photos of the silly things they do to stave off boredom. For instance, Luke inherited a bicycle with no brakes and he has told us about his cycling back and forth in the compound and their attempts at small stunts. I have gone almost completely to digital scrapbooking and I was looking forward to making some digital layouts based on his photos from Iraq. I usually like to base my colors on what's in photos. Soldiers fatigues and the colors of the desert were what I was looking at and I didn't want to change his original photos by changing the colors so I would stick with the original photo colors. So here are my digital scrapbook pages of our soldier, or Airman.

Luke wrote a very heartfelt, moving letter about his feelings on being in Iraq and his feelings about his fellow servicemen. I wanted to include that on this page.






I used this swirling black paper and the oranges to pick up the theme of a sandstorm.

Glenn And James Water Skiing At Lake Bowen

Lake Bowen, New Prospect, SC was built 1959-1960. It's been a very important thing in the life of our family. Here is one of the earliest photos of the lake with Uncle Glenn on the right instructing 13 year old Uncle James on the left. They both became expert water skiers. I wanted to scrapbook this earliest photo of them skiing. I hope to get more photos of them skiing and do some more scrapbook layouts.

61 Hours by Lee Child

61 Hours by Lee Child
A Jack Reacher Novel

Jack Reacher, an ex-military policeman and ex-commander of the mysterious 110th (military intelligence), bums a ride on a tour bus which has an accident during a snow storm in little Bolton, South Dakota. This town has 2 distinguishing features: a brand new prison and an old military installation. The land is flat with a house shaped stone building which is an entrance to a mysterious underground tunnel system. No one in town knows what it really is and it was never used after being built. At the time of Jack Reacher's entrance to town, a motorcycle gang has taken over this military installation and planted a shed village around the building. The town's Sheriff and Chief Deputy welcome Jack's help with this problem. It seems that they know this biker group is into drugs and they think they may be using the tunnel system as a Meth Lab. They have a witness to a drug deal made on their streets and the witness is willing to testify in order for them to get a search warrant. Of course, that means this little old lady needs round the clock guards because her life is now in danger. But if the prison has a riot or escape, every policeman has to leave town and establish a protective perimeter around the prison. This was the deal for them to get the much needed money to keep the prison going and this means work and livelihoods to the town. They are worried that whoever is in charge of the drug situation will arrange something to happen at the prison which would leave the little old lady vulnerable to attack. The weakness in this story is that this little old lady didn't have to stay in town. She could have been smuggled somewhere else and kept guarded outside of town. Other than this weakness, the story was good and I enjoyed the read. I did have it figured out before I was 1/4 of the way through the book. But I still liked it and I look forward to reading more Jack Reacher novels.

Fever Dream by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Fever Dream by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
An Aloysius Pendergast Novel

FBI Agent Aloysius Pendergast was once married to Helen. They were only married a year when she was attacked, killed and eaten by a mysterious red mane lion while they were on a Safari. Now, twelve years later, he discovers that her gun had been loaded with blanks. No wonder she "missed". He realizes she was set up and murdered. He asks his friend, Lt. Vincent D'Agosta, to help him track the truth and murderers down. Traveling from Africa to New Orleans, New York to Florida, the two men find out she was fascinated with James Audubon and it had led to her death. Helen's mysterious obsession with Audubon's masterpiece known as the Black Frame drew enemies. The painting was never found, and Audubon's life ended in madness.

This was another great read by Preston and Child. It's also a To-Be-Continued book. Those loose ends are titillating. Can't wait for the next one.

Spontaneous Worship

I love worshipping like this!

How Do You Store Your Light Bulbs?

For some reason it seems we have lots of different light bulbs. I always keep spares or backups for all the different kinds of bulbs. Here is a list of the different lightbulbs I keep:
Regular 40, 60, 75, 100 watt bulbs
Energy saving 60 and 75 watt bulbs
Flourescent tubes for overhead, under counter and desk lamps
Halogens for indoor spots, outdoor spots, and the pendant lights (it seems that everything needs a different type halogen and they are expensive)
Candelabra bulbs for the chandeliers
Flood lights
Oven and Refrigerator bulbs
Nightlight bulbs
etc.

It is confusing and needs a little organization. Organizing your light bulbs or storing your light bulbs takes a little thought. What I've done for years is to have a large plastic storage box with lid. I keep the bulbs in their original packaging in this box. This holds all but the long flourescent tubes. But I did a Google search and found a couple of more ideas.


If the drink carton is too deep for your bulbs, then scrunch up some tissue paper for the bottom of the carton.









I would also suggest thinking "outside the box". It makes sense to me to keep my bulb box in the laundry room. To you it may make sense to store them in the garage, basement, pantry, utility closet/room. But if that's not working for you, think outside the box. How about a blanket chest? The large ottoman with storage? A drawer in your chest of drawers? A vintage suitcase? Over the door shoe hanger with the pockets? Christmas ornament boxes?

I like to corral all my bulbs together in one place. But maybe you would rather keep bulbs close to where they are used. For instance, keeping the bulbs for your office desklamps and overheads in an office drawer, a backup bulb for your bedside lamp in the bedside table drawer, vanity light bulb in the bathroom drawer. I have to let you decide which way works for you.

I have some more tips. You want to protect your bulbs so don't just toss the bulbs all together in a box. They can break if they are banging against each other. You need something separating them. I use the original packaging. Some nestle their bulbs on cut up egg crate foam. Egg cartons for small bulbs. Cupcake papers. For special bulbs I will keep them together and label them. For instance, I put all the halogen bulbs for the undercounter lights in a plastic sandwich bag and label it. Sometimes I snip the bulb packaging and keep it in the plastic bag so I'll know the product # when it comes time to purchase again. When you use the last of that type bulb, put it on your shopping list so you always have a backup. It might be helpful to make a complete list of all your different light bulbs with their product #, where you purchase them and where you use them. Keep this list in your household information. For example:
* Halogen Bi-Pin Base Reflector, 20 watt, Part #JCR-9323P, Purchased at Lowe's, Use in recessed ceiling lights in living room

Now go sort, organize and store your light bulbs!

Glenn Jr.'s Family At The Beach

This is a sweet picture of his family taken at the beach. I had seen a picture of a tree with words for the foliage and I wanted to try and do something like that digitally. I think it came out real well! I used a Photoshop brush for the tree trunk and then kept adding letters and the word "Family" until I was satisfied with the result. I used Photoshop brushes for the little bird border across the bottom. Again, I used colors from the actual photo. I used a journaling block and added a digi paper cut out bird embellishment. I'm satisfied with this scrapbook page.

Elaine and Ronnie 1976

This digital scrapbook page uses a photo of Elaine and Ronnie taken (I think) the Fall of 1976. I wanted to incorporate paper that reminded you of the 1970s. The 1970's came out in the plaid and colors. It was Fall so I chose colors that would pick that up. Ronnie is holding up her pony tail like she's a prize fish. So I used some fish brushes and string to look like a string of fish. Because they were teenagers and he was being funny, I wanted to add some quirkiness with the frame and title elements. I used a torn notepad paper for journaling with cursive writing to bring in the high school element.

Ideas For Storing Baking Sheets

Someone asked me for ideas on storing cookie sheets, muffin tins, roasting pans. They can be ungainly but cookie sheet storage can be done. Here are some ideas that I found on a Google search.

What a great way to gain some unexpected space by having these toe board drawers!























So I challenge you to go organize your baking pans!

Rev. Moses Freeman and Mary Fannie Ball

Rev. Moses Freeman and Mary Fannie Ball has a daughter named...
...Mary Jane Freeman who married Rev. William Rees and they had a son named...
......Green Hill Reese who married Tabitha Jane Freeman and they had a son named...
.........William Hanes Reese who married Nancy Rebecca Lunsford and they had a son named...
............Bailey Bright Reese who married Lillian Vianna Conner and they had a son named...
...............Wilford William Reese who married Geneva Margaret Lamb and they had a daughter named...
..................Eleanor Elaine Reese who married William Avery Huneycutt and they had ME!

Rev. Moses Freeman was born 9/14/1774 in Wilkes County, NC to Aaron Freeman, Sr. (1745-1825) and Mary Bentley (Abt 1745-Bet 1830 and 1833). About 1793 he married Mary Fannie Ball. Mary Fannie Ball was born about 1778 in Wilkes County, NC to Daniel Ball (Abt 1745 - Abt 1794) and Elizabeth Osborne (? - ?).

1800 U.S. Census of Bertie, North Carolina; Roll: 30; Page: 44; Image: 51; Family History Library Film: 337906, "Moses Freeman", living next door to his father and uncles
Name: Moses Freeman
Free White Males 10 to 15: 2
Free White Males 16 to 25: 1
Free White Males 45 and Over : 1
Free White Females 16 to 25 : 1
Free White Females 45 and Over : 1
Number of Slaves: 14
Number of Household Members Under 16 : 2
Number of Household Members Over 25 : 2
Number of Household Members: 6



In 1806, Moses Freeman moved his family to Buncombe County. The county was formed in 1791 from parts of Burke County and Rutherford County. It was named for Edward Buncombe, a colonel in the American Revolutionary War, who was captured at the Battle of Germantown. In 1808 the western part of Buncombe County became Haywood County. In 1833 parts of Burke County and Buncombe County were combined to form Yancey County, and in 1838 the southern part of what was left of Buncombe County became Henderson County. In 1851 parts of Buncombe County and Yancey County were combined to form Madison County. Finally, in 1925 the Broad River township of McDowell County was transferred to Buncombe County. It's county seat is Asheville.

He preached his first sermon at B. Gregory's in what is now Madison County, NC on John 11:44. This same year he was involved in the organization of the French Broad Baptist Association.

1810 U.S. Census of Buncombe, North Carolina; Roll 39; Page: 283; Family History Number: 0337912; Image: 00175, "Moses Freeman"
Name: Moses Freeman
Free White Males Under 10: 2
Free White Males 10 to 15: 1
Free White Males 16 to 25: 1
Free White Males 26 to 44: 1
Free White Females Under 10: 2
Free White Females 10 to 15: 2
Free White Females 26 to 44: 1
Number of Household Members Under 16: 7
Number of Household Members Over 25: 2
Number of Household Members: 10




Moses Freeman was baptised by William Dodson at Little River Baptist Church, Burke County, NC. The coordinates are: Latitude: 35° 58' 53.14" N , Longitude: 81° 13' 14.13" W

In 1812 he and his family moved their membership to Little Ivy Baptist Church, in what is now Madison County, NC. In that same year he was a delegate from Little Ivy Baptist Church to French Broad Baptist Association. He was ordained on 8 Aug 1812 at Little Ivy Baptist Church. The coordinates are: Latitude: 35° 50' 3.48" N , Longitude: 82° 31' 32.81" W

In 1818 he became the pastor and a charter member of the newly formed Bull Creek Baptist Church. He served as this church's pastor until his death in 1859. The Bull Creek Baptist Church is still alive and they have the original (or similar) log church beside the current church and it is kept as a museum for the church history. The coordinates are: Latitude: 35° 49' 18.79" N, Longitude: 82° 34' 38.50" W , Bull Creek Baptist Church, 237 Bull Creek Rd., Mars Hill, Madison County, NC 28754.

On 9 Dec 1828 he purchased 50 acres at Case Bolt's Ford (now known as Casey Bow Branch), Buncombe County (now Madison County), NC. I looked up "Casey Bow Branch" and got these coordinates: Latitude: 35° 47' 29.40" N , Longitude: 82° 40' 28.56" W

1830 U.S. Census of Buncombe, North Carolina, Page: 263; NARA Roll: M19-118; Family History Film: 0018084, "Freeman, Moses, Sr."
Name: Moses Freeman Senior
Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 15 thru 19: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 50 thru 59: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 60 thru 69: 1
Slaves - Males - 24 thru 35: 1
Slaves - Females - Under 10: 1
Free White Persons - Under 20: 3
Total Free White Persons: 5
Total Slaves: 2

In 1834 he began pastoring at Newfound Baptist Church, Buncombe County, NC. There is a Newfound Baptist Church in Leicester but their website did not contain any of the church history so I don't know if this is the same church or not. I didn't find another Newfound Baptist Church.

On 9 Nov 1837, Freeman purchased 50 acres on the west side of Bailey's Branch, Buncombe County (what is now Madison County), NC. The coordinates are: Latitude: 35° 47' 30.01" N , Longitude: 82° 42' 3.96" W

1840 U.S. Census of Sourthern Division, Buncombe County, NC; Roll 178; Page: 354; Image: 364; Family History Library Film: 0018092, "Moses Freeman"
Rev. Moses Freeman - Free White Persons - Males - Under 5:
Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 15 thru 19: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 60 thru 69: 1
Slaves - Males - 10 thru 23: 3
Slaves - Males - 36 thru 54: 1
Slaves - Females - 36 thru 54: 1
Total - All Persons (Free White, Free Colored, Slaves): 9
Persons Employed in Agriculture: 3
Persons Employed in Learned Professional Engineers: 1
Free White Persons - Under 20: 3
Total Free White Persons: 4
Total Slaves: 5
Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves: 9



Rev. Moses and Mary Freeman had 11 children.
1) Elizabeth Freeman (DOB: ? at ? ; DOD: ? at ? ) married John Goforth.
2) Green Hill Freeman (DOB: Abt 1794 at ? ; DOD: Aug, 1867 at ? ) married Rachel Payne.
3) Moses Freeman, Jr. (DOB: Abt 1796 in Flat Creek, Buncombe County, NC; DOD: Aft 1860 at ? ) married Elizabeth Edwards.
4) Tabitha Freeman (DOB: Abt 1797 in Old Buncombe County, NC; DOD: Abt 1850 in Cherokee County, NC) married John Jackson Reese.
5) Lydia Freeman (DOB: 8/17/1799 in Buncombe County, NC; DOD: 1/31/1867 in Flat Creek, Buncombe County, NC) married Joshua Judson Roberts.
6) William Freeman (DOB: Abt 1800 in Buncombe County, NC; DOD: ? in ? ) married Ann Cathey and/or Nancy Dockery. There is some question whether it was Ann or Nancy or both. I appreciate both theories and if anyone finds definitive proof and documentation, please share!
7) Mary Jane Freeman (DOB: Abt 1801 in Buncombe County, NC; DOD: 2/1884 in Big Pine, Madison County, NC) married Rev. William Reese.
8) Alcey Freeman (DOB: Abt 1806 in Buncombe County, NC; DOD: ? in ? ) married William Blackwell.
9) Elisha Freeman (DOB: Abt 1809 in Buncombe County, NC; DOD: 2/8/1956 in Collinsville, DeKalb County, AL) married Rebecca Ann Coker "Annie".
10) Susan Freeman (DOB: Abt 1811 in Buncombe County, NC; DOD: Abt 1860 in DeKalb County, AL) married William Henderson Coker.



Mary Fannie Ball Freeman died around 1845. Moses remarried to Elizabeth Jarvis Ball "Betsy" in 1845. Betsy Jarvis had previously been married to Joel Ball who had died about 1843. Joel was the son of Jabez Ball. Betsy and Joel Ball had 7 children: Alsey, Mandy, Noah, Nancy, Merinda, Celia Ann, James Manley. We have a marriage settlement between Moses and Betsy dated 28 Dec 1845.


DEED BOOK 23, PAGE 302, BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. ARCHIVES, DATED DECEMBER 28, 1845
"Agreement between Moses Freeman and Elizabeth (Jarvis) Ball"
"A order of agreement entered into between Moses Freeman and Elizabeth Ball previous to the sollemnizing the rights of matrimony. The conditions is such that the said Moses Freeman takes the following property, vz.: One horse worth $40; 22 head of hogs $32; 5 head cattle $32; 9 head sheep $10; and household and kitchen furniture $60/$174. The above amount of one hundred and seventy four dollars, the property of sd. Elizabeth Ball, and I the sd. Moses Freeman do have and to take the above named property, and hold it subject to the use of sd. Elizabeth Ball or her heirs at her or my death. Given under our hands and seals this 28 of December 1845 in presence of: D.E. Freeman, Jurratt, William Fortner, James Rector. Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, April Term, 1846."


In 1848 he began pastoring at Walnut Baptist Church, Buncombe County, NC.

1850 U.S. Census of Buncombe County, North Carolina; Roll M432_622; Page: 268B; Image: 164, Lines 38-41 and next pg Line 1, "Freeman, Moses"
Freeman, Moses, 77 yrs old (DOB would be about 1773), M(ale), W(hite), Bapt. Clergyman, $450 Real Estate Value, Born in NC
Freeman, Elizabeth, 50 yrs old (DOB would be about 1800), F, W, Born in NC
Ball, Nancy, 22 yrs old (DOB would be about 1828), F, W, Born in NC
Ball, Marinda (sic), 18 yrs old (DOB would be about 1832), F, W, Born in NC
Ball, Coena (sic, should be Celia), 17 yrs old (DOB would be about 1833), F, W, Born in NC




In 1852, he began pastoring at Bear Creek Baptist Church, Madison County, NC. I found two Bear Creek churches. I don't know if these are the same or which one. They are both on Bear Creek Rd. One is a tiny white clapboard church and the other is a tiny brick church.

Rev. Moses Freeman died 18 Jan 1859 in Madison County, NC and he is buried in the Freeman Family Cemetery off Lower Brush Creek Rd. The coordinates are: Latitude: 35° 50' 23.58" N , Longitude: 82° 43' 51.60" W . It's an unmarked cemetery that is not kept up and the graves are now unmarked with the rocks that used to mark them piled under a tree. There is supposedly 5 graves there. It is on private property and there shouldn't be any trespassing. I think Mary Fannie Freeman and Elizabeth Freeman are also buried there and supposedly 2 of his children.

At the time of his death, Rev. Moses Freeman owned a large amount of property, including land and slaves. He died intestate, meaning without a will, and the estate reportedly went into dispute. Madison County, NC probate records for the estate of Rev. Moses Freeman in 1859 named surviving children as: (son) Green H. Freeman; (daughter) Lydia, wife of Joshua Rubalm (sic, should be Roberts); (daughter) Mary, wife of William Rees; (son) Moses Freeman; (daughter) Susan, wife of William Henderson; and (son) Elisha Freeman. Deceased children named in the probate record included: (son) William Freeman, married to Ann Cathey, and (daughter) Ailsay (sic, should be Alcey), married to William Blackwell. William Freeman’s heirs were named as children: Lazarus Freeman, Hugh Freeman, Loreno Freeman [HIS GIVEN NAME APPROXIMATED FROM DIFFICULT TO READ CURSIVE DOCUMENT, SO IT MAY ACTUALLY BE SOMETHING OTHER THAN “LORENO”.], and Maria Cornwell [THE WIFE OF RICHARD HENRY CORNWELL, ALSO KNOWN AS “MARY”]. Heirs of Alsey (Freeman) Blackwell were named as: (spouse) William Blackwell; D.A. Blackwell, E.C. Blackwell, N.R. Blackwell, L.L. Blackwell, M.M. Blackwell, and Lydia Blackwell [THE LATTER THREE IDENTIFIED AS UNDER THE AGE OF MAJORITY]. Rev. Moses Freeman’s grandson, Lazarus (married to Rhoda "Rhody" Freeman), filed a document giving a lawyer in Madison Co., North Carolina Power of Attorney on his behalf to represent him in obtaining his portion of his deceased father’s estate.


**Note from Alice Pierson-Forest/Freeman Family, dated 9/11/2013
There are those who believe that this same Lazarus was the son of Isaac and Spicey which I believe more on what you have here than I do finding Lazarus in the Isaac family.
I can envision the story of Isaac and Lazarus taking the slaves and moving on to Akansas where they are both found, but not as Father and Son. Rhoda can be found amoung people's findings in Isaac's household. If William died in 1858 before Moses death in 1859, then maybe he was too sickly to go on the journeyon through Missouri and Arkansas for the task they undertook taking Indians with them and moving them to the Oklahoma/Arkansas New Territories. Just a thought I have. Lazarus being a young lad, and Rhoda going anyway with Father and siblings, could have married Lazarus easily, even though they were cousins.
The Tale states:
Isaac was involved in the "Trail of Tears" leading (Creek ?) Indians out of North Carolina. In 1845 he first removed from Buncombe County, North Carolina settling 2 miles north of Lurton near Tarleton Cemetery. With slaves brought with him from North Carolina, he proved and received title to his land. Row 1, Plot 8 of Tarleton Cemetery contains a Freeman black woman believed to have been the first burial in the cemetery about 1865. Tradition around Lurton says the slave was helping Isaac put out a fire used to clear ground. Drinking cold spring water after being overheat ed she died of a heat stroke and was the first person to be buried in the Tarleton Cemetery. She is reported to have been one of Isaac Freeman 's slaves brought with him from North Carolina with her child. A marker is on the grave in the southeast corner of the Tarlton Cemetery with t he inscription "Freeman Colored Woman."
Name: Rhoda "Rhody" Freeman
· Sex: F
· Birth: ABT 1834 in North Carolina
· Death: BEF 8 AUG 1865
· Reference Number: 24208
· Note: 1. Rhoda died before Lazarus returned home from the Civil War according to Charles Harris of Ft. Douglas who stated he was present when "Rhody" Freeman died and he helped bury her.
Others are convinced that William was Lazarus' Father and not Isaac. But without following them from NC to Arkansas..and the record you have copy of, Mose's Will, one could not determine the facts.**


Moses Freeman and his wife and some of his children were buried in the "Moses Freeman Family Cemetery". There were only about 5 graves there and it's about lost. My husband, father and I found it but it's on private land. I took good photos so you don't have to run the risk of trespassing to see it. It's slogging through a creek and up a steep ridge.

This photo shows the little intersection. Across from the intersection is a creek, meadow and a wooded ridge. It's up that ridge beneath a big tree and a big rock.


This is the meadow. The creek runs between the road and the meadow.




Here is the bottom of the wooded ridge you have to climb.


My Dad is waiting for me to quit taking photos and slog through the creek. My feet were wet and cold the rest of the day.


This is the crest of the ridge. The ridge follows up to the backyard of a private home.

This picture is taken from farther up the ridge, looking back towards the graves and the road.  The graves are smack in the middle of the photo, in the background, about where the dead tree is. The graves are grouped. The rocks that did cover the graves have been removed and stacked. The graves are barely discernible.


Standing at the big tree and rock where the graves are and looking back up the ridge.



Remember, this is private property and we were able to meet the owner. I hope these photos will document the gravesites and you are welcome to click on the photos, and then right click on the photos and "Save As" to your own computer. You won't find any more there than we did. It's sad that they are almost lost.

For more information on Moses Freeman's parents see my post on Aaron Freeman

If you have any corrections, comments or further information, please contact me at Mom25dogs@gmail.com

What's The Difference?

Now look at the next set of pictures. Can you tell me what the difference is?







What do you think is the difference? One set of photos show filthy houses. The next set of photos show clean houses. I particularly chose photos (in the 2nd bunch) that show simple, inexpensive but clean rooms. You see, there is nothing expensive about it. It's simple cleaning.

You don't have to have matching furniture, decorator taste, expensive accessories... you just need some elbow grease and maintenance. You can decide how you want to live. You can live in a mess or you can expend the energy and clean it up and keep it clean. You can take out the trash, wipe the counter, wash the dishes, do your laundry, put sheets on the bed and keep them changed. Or you can live in your own filth. If you are physically capable of cleaning, then it becomes your choice.

You might need to think about other things that come with a filthy house.
* It can contribute to allergies. (dust, dust mites, mold/mildew, etc)
* It can make you sick. (bacteria and germs)
* You lose whatever value you had in your home or in your home furnishings. If you paid $150,000 for your home and you let it get that filthy, you will be lucky to sell it for $75,000 if anyone will even buy it! I.e. it costs you money!
* It attracts pests such as mice, spiders, roaches, ants, snakes.
* If you have children, what are they learning? You don't want them to grow up and live like this. They need to be trained how to clean and how to keep a home clean.
* It costs you socially. You cannot invite someone to your home. And if you let your home get that filthy, there is a good chance that you have some hygiene issues yourself which will affect you socially. Your hygiene is affected when you don't wash your clothes, you take baths in filthy bathrooms, etc. No one wants to get close to someone who is grimy, dirty, smells. It will affect your love life!

Cleaning is hard work. Learning how to clean, organize and manage your time takes time. Taking out the trash, scrubbing the shower/tub, cleaning out a closet can take time, effort and you get some aches and pains. But the end result is so worth it and so necessary. To me it's not even a choice. I go for clean! I'm not obsessive compulsive about cleaning. I can leave a sink of dirty dishes overnight. But I know it has to be done and I'm the one to do it so I choose clean! I think people can be obsessive compulsive about NOT cleaning. For someone to NEVER put trash in the trash can (leave it laying around) is OCD in a way that never uses a trash can. Instead of germ-o-phobic they are clean-o-phobic.

Use your God given abilities to create a clean environment. God has given you a brain, intelligence, energy, muscles, time... don't waste those gifts but use them to care for what He has blessed you with. Your home doesn't have to match, be expensive, or be fancy. It can and should be clean.

David, Candace and Preston At The Beach

Scrapbook Page of Melinda's Art Photos