Making "My" Home a Haven Week 2

I am participating in "Making Your Home a Haven Fall 2010" hosted by Courtney at "Women Living Well".

Last week I did well with the challenge to light a candle everyday.  I usually do this anyway.  I also added the habit of praying for peace in my family and home.  There were times when I actually sought out the flickering fame of the candle to pray for peace.  I'm going to try to continue this and make a daily tradition.

The challenge for Week 2 is:

This week's challenge is two-fold also: Play soft music everyday in your home. Choose worship, classical or another form of peaceful music that the family enjoys. Focus on using peaceful words and maintaining peaceful relationships. Remind your family to avoid seething anger, tattling, criticism or back talk. Role model gentleness this week.

Soft music-  I usually have music playing everyday.  When I'm cleaning or cooking, I need some up tempo music to help me get moving and make the work go faster.  A little dancing in the kitchen can go a long way!

Other times, I need a little music to relax to.  This is when I'll get out my praise cd's.  I admit that I usually listen to country music while doing my work.  I don't have a very large inspirational music library.  Most of what we have are children's praise cd's and they are usually upbeat also.  Maybe I'll look into an instrumental hymn cd.

Peaceful words and peaceful relationships-  I think having peaceful relationships is what we all dream of and I think that using peaceful words will go a long way toward accomplishing this in our home.  If I can work on using peaceful words myself, then I can encourage others, especially my girls, to use peaceful words also.  They mostly have a hard time speaking nicely to each other! 

I sometimes wonder why we can speak so nicely to strangers and yet so be so nasty to the people we love.  I'll definitely try to work on this and motivate my family to do so also.

So, this week as I see the flickering flame of the my candle, I'll be praying for peace in my home but also taking the first steps toward accomplishing this goal.

Come join along with Making Your Home a Haven.  I know we all would like to have a little more peace.

Making "My" Home a Haven Week 1

I am participating in "Making Your Home a Haven Fall 2010" hosted by Courtney at "Women Living Well".

The challenge for Week 1 is:

Go buy an extra large candle and light a candle everyday in your home.  Each time the candle catches your eye, say a prayer for peace in your home.

This is an easy one for me.  I already do this every day.  Candles are a regular on my grocery list. 

I have one in the kitchen:

 and one in the family room on top the entertainment center:

Right now they are the same scent:  "Cinnamon Bun".

Courtney also asks "What makes a home a haven?"  The answer is, we do.  She goes on to describe two different types of women who have 2 very different types of homes.  Click here to see more about these two homes.

I want to live in Home #2 where the woman of the home is:

1.  Engaged in her family.
2.  Wise with time management.
3.  Has a pleasant demeanor.
4.  Is content.
5.  Prays

Maybe someday I'll get there.  With God's help!

Praying for our families is key.  As part of the candle challenge, I am going to pray for my family everytime I see the flickering of the candle flame.

Why don't you come join in as well?  Who wouldn't want to make her home a haven?