The 3rd Annual Making Your Home a Haven Challenge Is Back!

Join me in making your home a haven for your families. Together we'll make our homes a haven of peace, joy, tranquility, and fun for all who enter. #WomenLivingWell #homemaking #friendship #makingyourhomeahaven

For the past 2 years we’ve done this challenge, and an overwhelming number have been asking where it is this fall?! So it’s back and I’m excited to get started! Each week I will give you one practical tip and one spiritual tip that you can do to create a haven in your home.

Stuffed full calendars and to-do lists sky high can leave the entire family feeling tense during the holiday season. I believe we can create a physical environment, as well as a spiritual environment, that can bring peace, harmony and a sense of calmness to our homes if we are willing to be intentional.

So let me introduce you to the “Making Your Home a Haven” 3rd Annual Fall Challenge. I  am writing fresh material this year so I hope you will join me again.
This challenge will begin next Monday, November 5th and run through the month of November. Check out last year’s video and topics below:

Here’s the topic schedule for those who want to link up each week (the content of the posts will be new for those returning from the previous years)

 

November 5thGo buy an extra large candle and light a candle everyday in your home. I will be starting mine in the morning! But you can start yours at dinner time. Do what makes sense for your family. I will be placing mine in the kitchen – the main hub of my home. Each time the candle catches your eye, say a prayer for peace in your home.

 

November 12th Play soft music everyday in your home. Choose worship, classical or another form of peaceful music that the family enjoys. I’ll be playing Christmas music!  Focus on using peaceful words and maintaining peaceful relationships. Work on gentleness this week.

 

November 19th – Focus on the kitchen, the heart of the home. Cook things with pleasant aromas – like homemade bread, pies, and cookies.  Don’t wait to have a reason to make something special – do it simply to show love to your family. Invite your kids and/or hubby to cook along side of you – make memories in the kitchen – test tasting, being creative, laughing and loving. Remove discontentment and give thanks to God for the home God has given you in which to create a haven for your family.

 

November 26th – Decorate! The holidays are upon us.  Ann Voskamp says “Creating is good theology.  In the beginning God created.”  Be creative as you make your home warm, cozy and inviting for the holidays.  Think about ways you can keep Christ in Christmas even in the way you decorate.

 

Jesus said in John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled.”

 

I have been lighting my candle all winter, spring and summer long. It’s my daily habit to light my kitchen candle and then say a prayer for peace in our home. Join me today – light a candle in your kitchen and say a prayer for your family.

 

Bloggers – I invite you to place the wreathe button on your blog and link up your “Making Your Home a Haven” post here! If you are not a blogger, leave a comment in the comment section to let me know that you would like to join the challenge.

Walk with the King,

 

 

 

If you have never taken the time to check out these other bloggers – you are missing out! The ladies that link-up below are amazing writers and creators and I just know that one of them is going to encourage you today! So you’re invited to come on in!

Join the fun, do a little blog hopping and don’t forget if you link-up below -please add the Women Living Well Wednesdays button to your post so your readers can find us here!

(Posts can include the topics of marriage, parenting, homemaking, homeschooling, finances, recipes, organization and more!)

 

To find the code go to the sidebar – or right click and “save as” the button and then upload it into your post! 🙂



187 Comments

  1. Yay, Courtney! I heard about this from another blogging friend. This is perfect timing for me…I am hosting a self-discipline challenge on my blog for the next 3 weeks, and there are still some things we need to do to make our new rental a “haven” (lots more downsizing! This place is tiny! lol)

  2. I am not a blogger but recently joined your site & Unveiled Wife. You ladies are such a blessing to me & God has spoken to me through yor studies & posts ! I would absolutely love to join this 🙂 Thank You!

  3. Yes, I would love to be part of this challenge! I can`t wait till we get started! You are so calming and informative for me!

  4. I need this challenge!! I have enjoyed your blog immensely. Thank you for doing as God leads you. I really need to work on making our home a haven, so I will be joining the challenge (but I’m not a blogger. It helps to have motivation and challenges to inspire you! All is grace…

  5. ∂ear Courtney,
    what a wonderful, wonderful idea. I will pariticipate!
    Thank you so much, you are such a blessing in my life!

  6. Dear Courtney, I am still newlywed, working in an office, and in an desperate need of advices about homekeeping. Thank you for this challenge!

  7. I know this sounds crazy but can we see your candle?! I have heard about it for the past 2 challenges and really, I just want to know what it looks like in your home 🙂

  8. What a great idea! Looking forward to being a part of this challenge. Love your blogs! Just not a blogger myself! 🙂

  9. i am absolutely excited about this! So true – accountability and also upholding our husbands and family with our home and attitude. I teach year-round, am ending one class, beginning another this week, and am also finishing up a degree online – the frenetic pace is getting to be ridiculous and i’ve got to stop and slow down to listen for God. Your helpful reminders each week will help me even more. Thanks!

  10. I was hoping that you would do this challenge again this year! When the weather turned cold again I started lighting my candle in the kitchen again and I am looking forward to working more on making my home a haven this year!

  11. I am not a blogger at this time, but I am SO going to join in on this! My husband and I were thisclose to a divorce earlier this year, but God has moved in both of us and we have reconciled. We are working to make a new life together, wanting nothing of what the past 21 years have been. Peace and joy have been absent from our home for far too long.

  12. My family has been through some crazy stuff this year and I am looking forward to reclaiming our home!!! Looking forward to it!

  13. I am totally in! I LOVE this time of year! And I miss my decorations. A couple of years ago, we made a very quick move. A decision in which we didn’t have a place or job to move to when we first made it. So, a lot of our stuff went to a storage in a town where we had friends to stay with until we could find something. We did, thankfully, before we actually made the big move, but our stuff remains in that storage where we can’t get to. And that is where all of my fall and most of my Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations are. I’ve collected a couple of things over the past couple of years, but the majority of my stuff is there. This challenge will give me a chance to use what I do have to bless my family and be greatful for what I do have. Thank you.

  14. This will be my first year doing this! I love this idea and I just lit my candle. I will be joining you!

    Thank you for this opportunity to focus on the quiet of our family.

  15. I’m excited to start this for the first year; it’s something I’m always striving to do and am excited to have new ideas to incorporate.

  16. I will definitely join in makimg my home a haven. Thank you sharing your thoughts, ideas and scripture readings!

  17. I’m in! I think my family (and I) would really benefit from this. And I LOVE candles so that first one is no problem 🙂

  18. I am 17 weeks pregnant with our 5th child, and just pulling out of a rather trying first trimester. Needless to say, I am feeling rather behind and overwelmed in housework and organization. I’m slowly working to get back on track… you’d better believe I’ll be following this series! 🙂

    Thank you for the lovely link-up… I just love Wednesdays in bloggy land!

  19. I’m in!! This should be a fun challenge, and ties right in with striving to be a Proverbs 31 woman!! Thank you Courtney!! 🙂

  20. I would love to join this challenge. My husband isn’t into the holidays so this will be great to help me keep the spirit in the house.

  21. I haven’t linked up yet and might forget due to a huge writing challenge during November (and, let’s face it, an already-faulty memory without such a challenge) but I’m already starting the candle. Turns out I’ve had two large scented candles just waiting for me to remember them. 🙂

  22. I usually have several candles going in various places – In the kitchen, unless something yummy is baking. I love making our bread and other things. I also love having our fireplaces going. When I’m home alone I just keep the upstairs one lit if it is chilly – so comforting. This is a wonderful challenge. Have a great day!

  23. I am not a blogger but I would LOVE to join your Fall Challenge! Thank you for your obedience to serve God by encouraging others like me! Thank you and I look forward to the challenge!

  24. My friend led me to your blog. I’m going to do this challenge with her. God bless you and all participants!
    Paige

  25. Looking forward to “Making my Home a Haven” Thank you for offering this and providing a quick synopsis of what to look forward to. Will be obtaining a big candle!

  26. “Ann Voskamp says “Creating is good theology. In the beginning God created.” Ann does have wonderful thoughts to quote! i LOVE the idea od making an effort on a regular basis to keep our homes full of creative thinking…taking action to light a candle, hang a wreath…brings joy to the eyes and the soul!

  27. Sounds awesome! I so excited to join the challenge. I’ll even share with our Ladies Bible Study class to help encourage them as well.
    Thanks!!!

  28. So excited to have found your challenge, I’m definitely in! There’s nothing worse than having the desire but not the knowledge, looking forward to all the new tricks I’m going to learn 🙂

  29. Hello! I’m a new follower of your blog. I’ve enjoyed seeing the energy and spirit pour out of you in your videos. I particularly liked the Christmas notebook video because I love to organize and make lists! I’ve decided to join in the 31 Day Fall Challenge, even though I travel quite a bit and will be in/out town all month. I made a point to purchase my candle today (a vanilla & sandalwood scented soy candle) so that I’m ready to go next week. I’ve added the button to my website at http://www.kenyafairley.com. Thanks for all that you’re doing to help women live their lives well, happy and whole! 🙂 Take good care.

  30. This is a very touching thing to do, I’m looking forward to starting. God knows I could use some extra peace in my house right now. Thank you 🙂

  31. I have never heard of this!
    I do not blog, but I want to be part of the 31 day fall challenge!
    I’ll start lighting my candle! 🙂

  32. Would love to join in and excited to do this! I have a child who has been very sick with Lyme disease and we cannot do scented candles. But, I ‘ll bet I can do the rest! 🙂 My life has been so wrapped up in her, that the rest of my life and kids have been a bit neglected, its time to begin to rebuild a home and happy memories again! Thank you for doing this!

    1. I’m sorry your little one is sick. If you can’t burn a candle, you may want to get a candle that uses batteries. We bought some for Christmas last year and I have been putting them around the house and praying for peace when I walk by….and I was looking for a birthday present for a close friend and wanted to get her a candle and share the prayer idea but she is sensitive to some scents so I bought her a pretty flameless one..I gave her the gift at school where we teach and shared the idea…then she gave me an idea…we would keep a flameless one at school and pray for the students in our classrooms. I am loving having it in my classroom! I pray your child is healed.

  33. I’m excited to join in and do this. It’s time to make happy memories and know the challenge will be worth it. I’m not a blogger ,but I want to participate.

  34. I enjoy your writings so much. You truly have a God given talent. I look forward to doing the Fall Challenge, I love candles burning in our home and praying.

  35. God bless you! It seems that I can always find inspiration here. So many times I’ve asked God for spiritual support for certain weaknesses in my life, and He leads me here to this blog. I’m not a blogger myself, but I will be participating. I also plan to tell my Christian sisters at church about it. Keep on keeping on for God!

  36. I am new to this website and am very excited to turn my home into a haven during the month of November and hopefully to continue on into the other months!

  37. I am so excited about this and it comes a GREAT time for me 🙂 Thank you as I want and need my home to our haven 🙂 Thank you!!!!

  38. Thank you for taking the time to organize the “Make your Home a Haven” blog series. I would love to be part of the wisdom you will be sharing.

    Blessings !

  39. Thanks I have a running blog but on Sunday’s I do a “Inspiration for your Perspiration” christian themed post. I thank you for sharing this and I hope it is ok that I re-post it to my site. BTW I heard about it from my friend who blogs at Running for Him.

  40. I’m not a blogger, but I love your blog and your heart! I will be joining in on this challenge. Thank you!

  41. Yes Courtney I would like to try this challenge again. I need to find a way to create peace in my home when I get home from work. I’m the last one to arrive home, but I still have hope I can create something for my husband and two youngs boys to create calm and peace.

  42. I would love to join!! With baby#3 due in 5 weeks, and we just bought a larger home in town, and will be moving after Christmas I want to keep things as settled as I can!! Thx

  43. I’m not a blogger but would love to read all of them I love the 31 day challenge and all the other things I’ve read on your site

  44. Hi Courtney,

    I LOVE your blog! I am not a blogger, however, I read your’s daily! I found it about 1 month ago. Please sign me up for the 3rd annual Making Your Home A Haven. What a blessing you are. Thank you for all that you do! = ) Your light shines so brightly~

  45. I love your Women Living Well newsletter. I am a new subscriber. I am interested in your Making Your Home A Haven challenge. I do not blog or read blogs as I am so busy. I am interested in my home becoming more peaceful and comforting rather than stressful. I have two teens in high school and college looming next fall so I am buried in scholarships, college apps, financial aid, etc. I pray God will guide us through this maze. Thank you for your hard work!

  46. So excited to be joining this challenge! We are selling our current home and with people coming and going and the anticipation of our new home, it is important that we remember that our home is truly where we (my family) are.

    Best to you.

  47. I’m so excited about this challenge! We moved into a new home in June and it needs some focus. I didn’t have a single thing up on any wall until today.:) I lit my candle today. What a nice little touch! I’m joining the challenge.

  48. I’m so looking forward to joining you in your “making your home a haven” challenge! It sounds wonderful! So glad I found your site. Thank you!

  49. I am not a blogger but do follow several and certainly enjoy yours. I would love to join the challenge. Blessings to all!

  50. I am not a blogger but would love to join in for the make your home a haven challenge. This is a very hard time for me. Our son,who was in the Army died July 23 and I am not looking forward to the holidays. However I do so want to focus onmaking our home a haven. I want my husband and I to be able to look forward to a space that says it is so good to be home again after work each day. Thank you for this challenge.

    Jackie

  51. I’m really looking forward to this challenge! Thank you for all of the encouragement you offer on your blog! You are a blessing!

  52. I am very excited to participate in this challenge. This will be my first time doing this. I look forward to it and the encouragement of all the other ladies who are participating. Thank you Courtney.

  53. I just found your week 1 challenge on Pinterest. I will be getting a nice large candle to start tomorrow! I’d love to join the challenge!

  54. I am taking the Making Your Home a Haven challenge…I usually have candles going in my home and since I am in school full-time to be a nurse, plus trying to manage my job as a wife, mother of 3, and and a homemaker. Due to this I like to have a candle going because there is something about the smell of pumpkin or apple spice wafting in the air that calms the spirit and helps me to concentrate as I sit and do homework for about 5-6 hours a day. I love the idea of saying a prayer every time I see the flame, it makes it an easy reminder to pray for the family, home, and even friends. 🙂

  55. Im in! I so need encouragement at this time. I have candles sitting in my closet that I have never lit. Thanks for the wonderful idea Blessings, norma

  56. Hello!
    I am so blessed to find this 31 day challenge! Even if I am a day late! 😉
    I am wondering can I post this to my blog…do I copy the lil-fall wreath pic?
    Or can you when you have time let me know how I do this?
    Thank you & Thanks for being a vessel of the Lord’s to encourage
    other women & bless them so they will be a blessing in their home! 🙂
    Blessings to you & yours~
    Lori

  57. I love this idea, it really has made me stop and think about my family and what who we are. TO this idea I am also saying a prayer that my husband and I will raise our boy’s to be Godly men. Thank you again so much for this beautiful idea.

  58. Thank you for this idea. I love having candles around in our home now that our kids are teenagers. Your idea sparked me to place a flameless candle in my classroom so I will remember to pray and show God’s light in all I do- I may be the only Jesus my students see! I am using some flameless ones in our home, as well.
    God bless you!

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