Making Your Home a Haven Fall Challenge

I came across Courtney's Fall Challenge today and thought it sounded like a great fit for what i've been feeling lately. So i'm going to go ahead and join in. Reading through her post was definitley enlightening for me. She listed out characteristics of two different homes. Home number one, which is our home. This doesn't show me in a very good light, but i'm being honest and i know i need to work on some of this. I am distant at times, i love to bury myself in my books or tv or sometimes its not even stuff i really enjoy that i distance myself with, housework, laundry, cooking, preparing for something else coming up. I'm distracted, i always feel like there is too much to do, not enough time and we are always late and rushing around to get out of the house. Crabby, um yeah, guilty. Discontent, i've been working on this a lot lately, trying to make myself think of things in a different light, but i still have a ways to go. Doesn't pray, guilty again, i try sometimes but i don't think i do it enough and sometimes i wait too long.
What i'm going to be striving for so that our home is a haven.
1. Be engaged - aware of what's going on, be there if someone needs praise, correction, encouragement, love.
2. Better time management - not cram so much into a day, making sure we are better prepared for the day/week/month. (Guess this means i should get through that mountain of ironing i have, and put away all those clean clothes.)
3. Having a pleasant demeanor - getting enough rest, being patient with my season of life. Work diligently, trusting God with the results of my labor.
4. Content - nothing is perfect, be content and thankful for what God has given me today.
5. Pray - depend completely upon God to provide all that i need to fulfill all my roles. Mother, wife, friend, employee.

The first part of the challenge was to buy a big candle light it everyday and say a prayer for a peaceful home whenever the flickering light catches your eye. So today i lit a candle at my desk and said repeated prayers for peace in my home. Head over to Women Living Well if you would like to join in on the challenge.

The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.  Proverbs 14:1