I’m Amy Clark Scheren, but most people around here just call me “Mom.” I’ve been married to my best friend for twenty-two years (over half my life!), and we have three incredible kids.
When I was twenty years old, I married my “lucky” guy in a Las Vegas wedding chapel. No, I’m not joking. And, no, Elvis was not there…but thanks for asking.
A little over a year later, when I was twenty-one, we had our first child. He’s now a twenty-one-year-old college senior. So, basically, that means I’m really old (I’ll let you do the math).
We also have a seventeen-year-old daughter and a fourteen-year-old son. When your youngest kid becomes a teenager while your other kid is learning to drive, you do a lot of praying – and some crying – but mostly praying. For real.
The longer I live, the more I realize how much I need prayer for every area of my life. (Can I get an “AMEN”?) That’s why I’m so thankful for God’s amazing, unstoppable grace. I’m grateful He didn’t let me go through life running from Him like the twenty-year-old kid who stood in that Las Vegas chapel.
God is still working on this rebellious heart of mine. He’s continually chipping away at my pride and selfishness, using the trials He knows will hit me right where I need the most refining. I’m certainly a work in progress!
So, there you go – my life in a nutshell. I’m a wife, a mom, the child of a loving God. I’m also a housecleaner, a cook, an organizer, a finance manager, and a taxi-driver. And I live out all those roles (very imperfectly) in this place we call “home.”
My Journey
Many, many years ago, when we were first married and I was probably pregnant (since that happened just a few months into married life), I would get up with Brian before the crack of dawn on the weekends to see him off to work. Because that’s what you do when you’re young and in love.
I still do that sort of thing. Because I’m still young and in love.
Anyway…
After Brian left for work, I would turn on the TV to one of the four channels we got with our rabbit-ear antennae and sit in the early morning darkness watching Martha Stewart’s television show. That was back when you could see Martha just once a week, and even then only if you set an alarm.
(See? I told you I’m old.)
I couldn’t wait to watch that show each weekend. While my kitchen cabinets were sparsely stocked with one pan, one skillet, one mixing bowl, and one spatula, I began dreaming of the meals I could make and the pies I could create. I dreamed of the style and the beauty. I dreamed of the lovely perfection.
In all honesty, it was a good kind of dream. I didn’t feel deprived or envious; I felt inspired.
And all these years later, I’m still dreaming of that lovely perfection.
Ever since those early days, I’ve wanted to be an exceptional homemaker. I’ve wanted to bake, and create, and sew, and do everything just right. I’ve wanted to effortlessly clean and organize. I’ve wanted it all to come naturally. And perfectly.
Unfortunately, I’m me. Let me tell you, I’m no Martha.
I don’t have a perfectly organized house, always-clean floors, or a special system to make my laundry wash itself. That perfect home I want to create doesn’t come naturally to me. It takes effort. A lot of effort.
And even then I’m not perfect. I struggle to keep my house clean, and I struggle to manage meals, and kids, and life.
I’m normal, ordinary, average. But just maybe you are, too.
Maybe you look at those lovely pictures on Pinterest and the amazing posts on your favorite blogs and wonder how it is that everyone else is so good at life. How is it that everyone else seems to have it all together, while you (and I) seem to struggle just to get by?
Well, I love reading those “perfect” blogs and looking at those lovely pictures because they still inspire me, just like Martha used to. But sometimes I think we all could use a dose of “normal.” We all need a little bit of encouragement and help for our ordinary homes.
Instead of trying to force our families into a mold that might be great for someone else but a burden for us, maybe it’s time to find some balance and discover everyday solutions for our everyday lives. It’s time to stop getting hung up on how to do everything “right” and start taking control of our homes in a way that will bless our families right where we are.
What You’ll Find at SimpleEverydayHome.com
I’d like to tell you how perfect I am when it comes to simplifying life, organizing a home, managing a family, and keeping every inch of my house clean and shiny, but the fact is you won’t find a whole lot of perfection around here.
But even though I’m far from perfect, I’ve been at this gig a long time, and I’ve learned a thing or two about homemaking. I’m still learning!
- I’ll share practical tips and resources for getting rid of clutter and cleaning your home.
- I’ll talk about developing routines, saving money, and making simple recipes you’ll all love.
- You’ll find honest encouragement for the struggles of making a home and loving your family.
- We’ll journey toward a simpler life that works in real life.
It’s not about making home perfect; it’s about making home simply better.
Let’s make it happen together!
Be sure to subscribe to the free Simple Everyday Home email newsletter for extra encouragement and links to posts you might have missed. Plus, when you subscribe you’ll receive a FREE Cleansheet To-Do List with daily routines and a weekly cleaning list for managing all those things you wish you really want to do but can’t seem to conquer. It’s what I use to keep my home from falling apart!
Let’s join together in this journey towards a Simple Everyday Home!
Be sure to check out my eBook: Clutter-Free Clean
This eBook has practical tips and cleaning lists for tackling clutter throughout your entire house!
Not sure where to go next? Check out these favorites:
Where to Begin When You’re Overwhelmed by a Messy House
Save Time and Money with a Menu Plan
18 Ways to Save Money in the Kitchen