Hey sweet friends,
I know it’s been a long time since I’ve truly caught up with you all—and I just want to start by saying thank you. From the bottom of my heart. The prayers, the messages, and the encouragement over the past few months have meant more to our family than you could ever know. Truly. You carried us in ways you probably didn’t even realize.
Now that things are settling again, I’m so excited to reconnect with you.
Many of you have been asking about the printable charts we use in our home—the ones that help our days run so much more smoothly. And let me tell you… With seven kids, smooth doesn’t mean silent, but it does mean peaceful, predictable, and far less chaotic.
These charts have honestly been our biggest “mom hack.”Because each child has their own responsibilities, the house is almost always tidy (not magazine-perfect, but lived-in and cared for). The routines become habits, the kids know what’s expected, and suddenly, mom isn’t the only one holding everything together.
Chad designed these charts to be printable, fillable, and easy to laminate. We hang them where the kids can reach them, and they check off their tasks each day with a dry-erase marker. We don’t use strict times—we just follow the same rhythm every day, which keeps things flexible but consistent. Here are the links:
Chore Chart Download
School Chart Download
Here’s a sample of what one of the kids’ charts looks like:
A few things that have helped us tremendously:
• We do a 20-minute cleanup right after lunch
• Another 20-minute cleanup before bedtime
→ This means we wake up to a clean house (which feels like a gift every morning)
Every Saturday, we also do a one–to two-hour “Deep Clean” together—mopping, dusting, windows, all the things. It resets the whole house and keeps everything from piling up.
And honestly? We make it fun. I turn on happy music, we work side by side, and it’s become something we actually enjoy together. It has taken such a huge mental and physical load off of me as a mom.
As we step into this new year, I also just want to gently encourage you: don’t feel pressured to overhaul everything at once. It’s usually the small changes, made consistently, that create the biggest impact over time.
And sweet mama—if you’re in the thick of raising little ones, know this: you are doing kingdom work. Investing in your children, loving them, discipling them, pointing them to Christ every day… that matters deeply. You are serving the Lord right where you are. You are making an eternal difference.
I’m so thankful to be back here, sharing again now that my health is so much better. I’m incredibly grateful for Chad stepping in and carrying this space for so long—he truly is my hero. His emails have encouraged and challenged me each week, too.
Thank you for being here. Thank you for following along. Thank you for walking this journey with us. I’m grateful for each of you, and I love knowing we’re growing together.
With so much love,
Erin
