Making Your Home a Haven – Week 3 ~ Cooking

 

This week we use cooking to make your home a haven for your families turning our homes a haven of peace and joy for all who enter. #WomenLivingWell #homemaking #friendship #makingyourhomeahaven

This is such a fun week for cooking because it’s Thanksgiving Week!!! This means we have reason to be in the kitchen! But sometimes all the kitchen work can be overwhelming. Let’s face it we eat over 1,000 meals a year (that’s counting breakfast, lunch and dinner) – and if you have a family you provide all those meals for – and snacks too – cooking can become a chore.

When I first had children, I dreamed of them cooking along side of me. Then reality set in.  Bringing my kids along side of me in the kitchen was more work than I expected. They were messy and needed constant instruction – “stir slowly”, “stay away from the hot pot”, “be careful with the knife”, “don’t wipe your hands on your shirt”, “stop eating the dough”, “one at a time on the stool” and the list went on.  At some point, I threw in the towel literally and sent them off to play or watch Curious George so I could get dinner on the table in a timely fashion. And my dream bubble popped with the reality that inviting my children into the kitchen would be a sacrifice.

And here’s where “Making our Home a Haven” comes into the equation.

It is only when we as women learn how to lay down our lives for those in our home, that the home will begin to thrive. 

When we learn that creating a culture of love means sacrifice on our part – our homes will transform from being a shell – to being a place of hospitality, the breaking of bread, laughter, training, deep talks, loving embraces and fun memories.

Bringing the kids into the kitchen has been hard for me – but it’s worth the memories!

 

 

 

It starts with following Jesus – laying down our lives and our desires – so we can bless those who sleep under our roof.  And as we learn to lay down our lives – we model to our children how to lay down their lives for others.

We aren’t responsible for every home on the block…just the one God has given us.  God has given us one home to turn into a haven for his glory.  One home to use to shine brightly for him.  One home to subdue, manage and cause to flourish.  And when a home is flourishing – the souls that pass through your home are forever touched and changed by the work of your hands.

And so we come to this week’s challenge:

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.

Keep your candles and soft music going this week and add in tasty treats full of love.

Edith Shaeffer reminds us of how deeply food can bless those we prepare it for:

“Food cannot take care of the spiritual, psychological and emotional problems, but the feeling of being loved and cared for, the actual comfort of the beauty and flavour of food, the increase of blood sugar and physical well-being, help one to go on during the next hours better equipped to meet the problems.”

If you are participating in this challenge leave a comment below with how it’s going – if you are a blogger copy this button into your blog post, write about how it’s going and link up on Wednesday at the Women Living Well Wednesday Link-Up party!!

Thank you all so much for your accountability. I so appreciate you joining me on this journey!!! We are in it together!

Walk with the King,

Chime In: What are you cooking this week? And do you bring your kids into the kitchen with you? Do you have any tips to help other moms manage little ones in the kitchen?  We’d love to hear them!

63 Comments

  1. I’m new to your blog, but wanted you to know how much I am enjoying it! I have 2 children (ages 2,3) and my home tends to feel chaotic at times. I love your tips on how to make it more of a haven. I’ve always played praise music but have started lighting a candle in the morning. My 2 year old asks, “Is it my birthday!!!??” Thanks for being transparent and inspiring!

  2. This is a really nice series you’re doing. We are all really enjoying having the soft music on most of the day; it just seems to make the day more pleasant. I love how this challenge has caused me to look at ways I can be a peacemaker too within our home. My young son really enjoys helping me in the kitchen, so he will be thrilled as I make more effort to include him in those tasks this week and afterward. You are so great to share these thoughts on here. I was introduced to your blog this summer thru the Prov. 31 study, and it has truly revived my desire and commitment to reading the Bible and being a Prov 31 woman! Thank you.

  3. My mom was so good at letting my sister and I help and take over in the kitchen. The mess never bothered her she was so patient with us. But I on the other had have to really control myself when my kiddos are int he kitchen with me. It has become easier, but I sometimes have to leave take a deep breath and return to the kitchen.

    This week I will be making over 50 pies for family friends and neighbors, so my kitchen will be busy busy busy….I may even keep my 14 year old home from school to help ; )

    My tip: would be it can always be cleaned up, don’t get too worried or crazy about letting your kids help in the kitchen, and the cleaning up part can be a learning moment too.

    Stay calm, and leave the room if you have to!!

  4. I have been participating. I have had my candle lit everyday and Christmas music playing for the last week. I am LOVING this!!! Thank you so much for this challenge.

  5. I’ve totally loved these weekly challenges. My little guy is almost two and he loves helping me in the kitchen so far. Covered in flour from making bread is a new favorite! 🙂 He’ll be making it on his own by the time he’s 3, if we keep at it, right? 🙂 I”m super excited about Thanksgiving and all the meals we will be sharing by making them or eating them together!

  6. Bringing my kids into the kitchen with me is the most challenging aspect of this so far. We have our fave Christian station playing 24 hours a day in one part of the house or another, and I have been trying to remember to light candles as part of my holiday decorations (though we are in and out so very much it often waits til dinnertime when we are home). I cook every single day, everything but the occasional breakfast cereal for my boys and rice pasta is homemade due to my 5 1/2 yr old daughter’s extensive (20+) food allergies to gluten, dairy, soy, corn, chocolate, olive., etc… so the cooking part is super easy. Right now, learning everything new without corn, oats, olive, mustard, chocolate, and banana is challenging me and I have not been so great about having my trio (5 1/2, 7, & almost 10) help — though the 7 yr old did get to help peel potatoes for fries last night. I will work much harder at having their help, maybe one kid at a time. Too much chaos could easily lead to a potentially deadly slip up.

  7. I have been following you series and love it! I always have kept a candle lit and like to change the scent with the season. We added Christmas music during school hours and my girls love it! My girls always help around the holidays to bake and make their special dishes. They are only 3 and 9 but this is a special time for them as they like to bake for anyone they can:) Tonight I taught my husband how to bake a sweet potato pie for his office party and it was so funny. We ended up having a great time and I think him bake helping me bake pies will become a new tradition!

  8. I am loving this series! What practical and simple ways we can be a blessing to our family and those that enter our home. I am also finding more peace in my own self too! Thanks for doing what you do!

  9. I have been doing this challenge ever since I read the first post about praying for peace. Peace has been desperately needed in our home these last couple years. Since our move 3 weeks ago it finally feels like Peace has decended on us. And lighting my candle serves as a great reminder of what to focus on.

    Along with this peace has come the desire to sing and praise the Lord with my voice (something I used to love but haven’t done for years). The day before I read last week’s challenge I had found a Christian radio station on my computer and hooked it up to our sound system so I could sing and dance with my kids. That challenge was filled before I even knew it existed.

    I plan to visit my sister and her new baby this week so I bought things to do a bunch of baking for her (because all new moms need healthy baking to eat one-handed while nursing!) so this challenge is right up my alley!

    God has really used your blog (and ebook and YouTube videos) to bless me these last weeks. Words can’t even describe how perfect the timing has been for me. God answered my prayers for bringing some serious positive changes into my home and family after a couple of very rough years. And your words have been a wonderful addition and encouragement to me in this journey!

  10. I have so enjoyed this little challenge. It always amazes me how litle things have such big impacts. I love having candles burning, however I must admit that most recently I have really been enjoying the Scentsy burner that I purchased (no worries about leaving it burning when I leave the house) and the house always smells wonderful. Music is a must in our house, we all enjoy it so much. I even leave it play for our dogs when we are not home. Cooking, we all love it. Yesturday the kids and I tried out a couple of new recipies, my kids and husband are frequently in the kitchen with me. We all enjoy cooking and baking alot, with the Christmas season just around the corner we will spend many hours in the kitchen together.
    Thanks so much for inspiring so many to make our homes into havens!!

  11. I will have to go back and read week 2 but I have been keeping our candle burning in the kitchen and for me it really has made a difference. I want to keep the counters and sink clear and empty and even when they aren’t the burning candle helps me to remember to have a peaceful spirit any way and I will get to the kitchen soon. I’m excited about baking some yummy goodies this week! Thanks for inspiring Courtney! Your an amazing wife, mother, and homemaker.

  12. I am really loving this challenge. This week will be a great streatch. I also struggle with letting my boys in the kitchen. I always feel like it slows me down (huuummm I must need to slow down!). I will embrace them with patience and create memories with them as we prepare our thanksgiving feast.

  13. The last two challenges have been easy in my house. This week’s will be a true challenge for me. I’m a “neat freak” in the kitchen so I rarely allow my child in there to help me cook. This week I’m trying a new bread recipe. I’ll remember to invite him in to help me measure and knead. He loves homemade bread. I know he’ll love it more if he helped make it. <3

  14. I have been loving this challenge, been lighting our candle, and playing thanksgiving and Christmas music. We are loving it. Thank you so much, I love this next challenge, my girls will love it.

    Blessings,
    Adrienne R

  15. Thank you, Courtney, for this wonderful reminder, and inspiration! Involving the children in the kitchen is something they LOVE to do, and is such a blessing to them. It is sometimes a sacrifice on my part, as the cooking/baking takes longer with them pitching in, but it is so worth it to spend that quality time with them…

  16. I love to cook and bake, so this will be easy for me, especially since my husband and I had to cut down on eating out due to finances.

  17. I LOVE reading posts specifically about homemaking and how WE as women set the tone in the home. I need a CONSTANT reminder of that.

    I am very guilty of not letting my kids help me, or at least my older son (he’s 7 – youngest is too young lol). A lot of it, if I’m honest, is because it’s too much work. I like to relax while I’m cooking (hubby is the main cook so I don’t get to do it often) and having kids up my butt isn’t relaxing lol!

    Courtney you are definitely a blessing to us homemakers!

  18. Thank you so much Courtney for this post……I have raised 6 sons and have brought them all into the kitchen with me. Oh, it was not easy, but so rewarding. We all love to cook together. Thank you for encouraging women to make their homes a haven. Now, that my children are grown and away from home, it is just me cooking, well sometimes they occasionally help out, but I have such sweet memories of them and the times we had together. Last Christmas I made recipes books for them of their favorites and some new things….my guys loved it. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

  19. I too have struggled with letting my son in the kitchen with me and now that he is almost 17 years old I look back and see how I should have done things differently. I have often said, “If I knew then what I know now things would be a whole lot different.” Oh how I wish I could turn the clock back and make the correct decisions. With that being said since I cannot I have chosen to start in the here and now and make the most of what time I have left with him before he rolls off to college. I have so enjoyed all of your posts and they have made me be a better person and to wake up and calm down. Thank you so much Courtney!!

  20. I love this series. I love the soft music playing in the background. I love that everytime my six year old sees the candle he now says a prayer for our home! I know that week will bring more warm memories into my home. Thank you!

  21. I wasn’t really taught to cook by my Mom. I did learn how to make mashed potatoes and that’s about it. I was acidentally scalded by a boiling pot of water as she was dumping the noodles in the pot into a strainer when I was like 3 or 4. That kinda scarred me from wanting to cook, I think.

    I’ll be working Tuesday night through Friday night so there won’t be any time for me to enjoy a hot Thanksgiving meal with my family. They like to eat at noon and well, I’ll be sleeping. C’est la vie. Hubby will be deep frying our turkey and the side dishes are ones that can be heated in the microwave. Mashed potatoes, vegetables and stuffing. I’m hoping my Mom will save some of her homemade stuffing for me! It’s the best!!

  22. I am participating in the challenge. This week with the cooking will be different. I love to cook and bake, but I don’t do a whole lot of baking for my family because we just don’t eat a whole lot of sweets. My children LOVE sweets, so this will be a treat for them. I do, sometimes, allow my children to help. I will probably let them help this week definitely.

  23. Thank you for your ministry. I really enjoy following your blog as I learn to be the wife God wants me to be. We will be baking pumpkin cookies this week for Thanksgiving dessert, but we are always baking something! We do a lot of cookie making for Christmas so I can’t wait til next month!

    Here’s a tip for the moms of little ones: They just want to be where we are so you could find them a spot on the kitchen floor, give them measuring cups and spoons, and a dishpan of water or some dry beans and a muffin tin. If you spread out a beach towel under them clean up is easier too.

  24. I am missing my children. They are grown and have they’re own children. During this challenge, it gives me some moments of reflexions. I remember a few times with my children in the kitchen. Yes, it got messy, but it was fun! The joy that you saw on their faces was so worth it. The best thing, is knowing that my children are able to take care of their families and provide home meals. I had three children, two boys and one girl. My one son loves to cook and the “other son ” at least can get a meal if he chooses to. I live in Maine and my family is in Ohio, so I don’t get the chance to even have my grandchild over, but I still love following along with this challenge for the love my husband.

  25. I love cooking with my little girls (2&4) but hated the fighting over which ingredients hey would do so I half the recipe. It ensures everyone gets to do the fun ingredients like flour and chocolate chips and keeps me on my toes for doing fractions! I also will frequently wash up the floor FIRST then put everything on the floor so no little ones keep falling on the floor. As I am on Canada, our thanksgiving is long over so yesterday we make homemade hot chocolate mix for jars and topped them with marshmallows for Christmas gifts. Yummy!

  26. I love this challenge…the aroma of the candles and the soft music are such a wonderful touch when I am home with the children, however I have to contend with a grumpy hubby who says the house stinks and he can’t hear the TV over that constant noise!! I pray some fresh baked goodies will warm him up.

  27. My Candle is going… my music is playing (still going to blog about that) and then this week of course is a week full of cooking. Looking forward to bringing my kids in the kitchen with me on Wednesday as we cook away! 🙂

  28. I started this challenge with you on week one. My candle is almost burned out…lol! So off to the store I will go this week to get a new one. I love the suggestion this week. Cooking with my three year old son at times can be a task, BUT the sheer joy he receives just for adding ingredients or stirring cake batter is so worth it. Yes, it takes extra time, patience and cleanup :-)….but the memories are priceless. Thank you for this suggestion and what a wonderful idea to start as a tradition on Thanksgiving. Pick a simple side dish or dessert and let your children be responsible for it. Help may be required but at least they can know that they helped with the special dinner of the day! Blessings everyone!!!

  29. We aren’t doing the music in our home, because we live in an apartment and are currently sharing it. But, we’ve been lighting a candle when we get home and then both of us will hang out around the candle, rather than settling in opposite parts of the house. I’ll be baking something sweet to take to our Thanksgiving and weekend away with family!

  30. I am going to start this challenge today. Me and my husband are going to celebrate our first year anniversary this month and I know that I’ve slacked off in the kitchen. It’s not that I don’t like to cook, it just seems like such a chore sometimes with the preparing, cooking, and then cleaning. But I know how much it would mean to him to actually see me do it instead of putting it off until we have to find a snack instead for dinner! Thanks for the reminder!

  31. I am participating this week and am looking forward to it. My kids are 11 & 13 and I wish I had involved them more in kitchen duties and fun when they were younger. They enjoy it now, but I know we missed a lot of good times in the kitchen! I need to be able to lay my perfectionistic tendencies aside and draw them in!!

  32. Your patience now will really pay dividends in the future. Its like putting money in the bank.

    My two daughters gave me a week off menu and meal planning for my BD so I can work on a book that is due the first week of January.

    How nice is that! Wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t taken the time to let them make messes. By the way – I still have one that makes messes, but she is very creative and enjoys trying new recipes so she makes our lives a lot brighter. I usually just volunteer for KP.

    This Thanksgiving we (dh & I) are going to oversee our 3 make the dinner. They learn better by doing rather than watching so we’ll sip our tea and tell them what’s next.

    Blessings, Phyllis

  33. My son just turned one… I can’t wait to bring him into the kitchen to help me in the future! Thank you for these wonderful ideas to make wonderful memories for our families!

    God bless,
    Jessica @ Proverbs Living

  34. Thank you for sharing this series. This is actually something I have already been doing. I just incorporated the participation with it being more fun doing it with others. I have always put on soft praise music, especially right before my husband gets home from work. Candles are a must in our home and not just to get a bad smell out. Cooking. Yes, I totally agree that it can turn into a chore. But this month, I’ve made it more about cooking with Love. Your daughter looks so sweet. I have 3 boys and they do help me cook, clean and grocery shop. Then they head out to the backyard for some tackle football. Making your home a haven is truly from the Lord. Again, thank you for challenging us all.

  35. Our children are now 27 (daughter) and 31 (son). Our daughter loved helping in the kitchen except for the dishes. haha My son, not so much, only doing special things at holidays. Today my daughter is a wonderful cook and loves having friends in their home. 3 years ago our DIL left her family no longer wanting the responsibilities of a wife, mom and youth pastor’s wife. My daughter and I have taken on the role of having our granddaughters (ages 5 and 7) in the kitchen with us when they visit. We have so much fun (and yes, it can get very messy) and they are so excited to tell Daddy or Papa that they helped make the meal or most times made the dessert all by themselves. Such sweet, sweet memories!!

  36. I love this week’s challenge. I am a educator and home all this week with my children. They are 12 and 10 and the kitchen(food) is what brings us together to sit in one spot. We are constantly running for church functions, sports or school. I am super excited to see God work this week.

  37. I bought a candle (finally) last week – it’s already almost burned out of wax. Guess I need a bigger one!!! We’ve also been playing the Classical Christmas Station on Pandora – and it has been great! This week my hubby is hosting a big bike ride up a mountain, so I get to bake cookies and make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for 25 people, so I think this will be a great chance to get the kids in the kitchen to help with the assembly line! And I think my 4 year old can handle dropping all the ingredients into my crock pot for our traditional cream corn recipe we’ll be making to take to Thanksgiving dinner at Grandma’s! Thanks for the idea to get them more involved. Gee, maybe if I do this often enough when they are older I can have each child be in charge of cooking the whole family dinner once in a while! 😉

  38. I’m participating. Just got to the store to buy a candle last week, but caught up 🙂 I’ve not told anyone in my home what I’m doing (or trying to do). I just hope they feel a different atmosphere and feel loved.
    Going to give thought today how I can bring something special from my kitchen this week, each day.

    Thank you for this series. These are things I feel I can actually do.

  39. I’m fairly new to your blog, and have been lurking so far, but I just had to comment on this post because it brought up so much of my own childhood and how I try to parent now…especially in the kitchen. My mum wouldn’t let me cook or bake alongside her in the kitchen when I was growing up. It was just to much of a hassle and too messy, just like you described above. So all my baking memories come from going next door and baking with my neighbour. I find that so sad. Not only did we both miss out on great bonding experiences this way, but I was also totally unprepared the day I had to take over and cook all family meals because she took a job outside the home. Sometimes I find myself cross and irritated when my kids are in the kitchen with me, but I do it anyway. I ask the Lord to help me see how He sees, then slow down to their speed and ability. I have to remind myself ‘m not doing this to get dinner on the table as quickly as possible, but to serve, and train, and show them how to serve. Thanks for the reminder.

  40. I am loving this challenge. I have had my candle burning, Christmas music playing since last week, and have plans to be in the kitchen a lot this week. 🙂 Thanks for the simple steps and reminder!

  41. Thank you so much for this post. I so needed it!! I too started out with high hopes of spending tons of time in the kitchen with my children but quickly learned that requires a LOT of patience. For the last several months I have sent my children away while I prepare dinner. Thank you so much for challenging me to bring them back in and to lay down my need for control and speed and efficiency in exchange for the opportunity to teach and mold and create memories. I definitely needed the boost I got from this post. Thank you!

  42. I am participating and LOVING IT! I’ll admit that Christmas is not my favorite time of the year because I let stress take over my life, so I’m faithfully participating in this challenge, and it has been such a blessing. Each Monday night our family enjoys what has been dubbed “Monday Night Cookie Night” so the good smells coming from my kitchen tonight will be COOKIES and my 7th grader will be cooking right along with me. Thank you for helping me find joy in the simple things this holiday season. By the way, I am so very excited about beginning the advent study. God bless you and yours!

  43. My husband has ZERO desire to help me cook. He loves to eat, however 🙂

    My 3 year old son LOVES to help in the kitchen–he asks every night if he can help with supper, and on the weekends, if I bake muffins or other goodies, if he can help. I let him help stir batter, or put food in a pan, or put the steamable veggies bag in the microwave. I also let him help with topping foods with cheese, or stirring in sour cream, etc. He also loves to help with loading and unloading the dishwasher,

    I have learned to let the time be what it is–his happy little face is so worth a little extra time–plus, my home is so FAR feom clean and neat, that a little more mess and time makes little difference. My one problem is that I am scared to let him near things that are hot or sharp–I don’t think he is ready for that. When is a good age to start easing into stirring something on the stove, or helping cut up the fruits and veggies? I am sure he will be thrilled–and I want him to be able to do these things for himself one day.

    Thanks! This has been a blessing!

    Carissa in eastern Iowa

  44. I always have a candle burning (found my Spiced Pumpkin candle finally)! The soft music “interferes with us, mommy” so it is only on at certain times.
    We are going to family’s homes for 2 Thanksgiving dinners so there is not a lot of cooking for us in that way. Tonight’s dinner is either going to be White Chicken Alfredo Lasagna or Chicken Alfredo Roll-ups. I am so in the mood to bake but that is limited by my husband. He doesn’t want all the sweets and bake-y things in the house tempting him. 🙁 I really want to make a pie, but you can’t really bake half a pie.

  45. Have tried the candle… this week going to try the candle, music and cookies. Love this challenge.

    My birthday is on Thanksgiving this year and so thanksgiving dinner is going to be a double blessing.

  46. I have been I lighting my candle, while I read my Bible & devotion in the morning. Praying for peace in our home & Israel, as well. The music I play at work during the day, christian station. My grandson (12) made me tomato soup & grilled cheese after shopping yesterday. Sweet! My younger one (5 yrs) likes to help me make pie crust! So, hopefully they will be willing to help me this week!

  47. Love the series. It is hard for me to have my two girls in the kitchen helping. They argue over who’s turn it is to do what, the mess etc. But I have taken the challenge and have let them in helping. What fun! I just let go and let God. We made apple snack cake today and it was great! Messes can be cleaned. The memories made working all together as a team is priceless. Thank you Courtney!

  48. Just wanted to pop in and let you know I turned on a local Christian station as the 24/7 music last week. I am looking at trying to invest in more candles because it is a calming factor. Thanks for this!

  49. Made chicken and apples in my crockpot. I am going to make bread pudding to bring to family Thanksgiving celebration. Can’t wait!!

  50. Courtney, I love you and your site! Today I was looking through and was especially tickled to see a Diet Coke on your counter…it’s nice to know I am not the only one with that particular vice! 🙂

    God bless you and your beautiful family!

  51. Courtney, Thanks for this Making your home a Haven series. I have had the candle burning and soft music playing and I love the relaxed atmosphere it brings into my home! This week’s challenge will be a tough one for me – I tend to be territorial in my kitchen! My youngest daughter is almost 8 and she wants to help a lot, but I tend to be perfectionistic and don’t do well with “help”! This is a great time of year to work on relaxing a little and teach her cooking and baking skills AND have fun with her in the kitchen. Thanks for the inspiration – we’re going to have fun!! (LOVE the pictures of you and your daughter!)

  52. This week I’m cooking my very first Thanksgiving meal. I just left home, moved overseas, and as an au pair I have an insta-family. For me, that means three little girls under 6 years old. I love them dearly but cooking with them is an experience for sure… I have Thursday afternoon off to cook and there are definitely things I don’t think are safe for the girls to help with (like the turkey) but thank you again for the reminder to bring them alongside me when I can. To peel the sweet potatoes, to mix the ingredients for the stuffing, all of that. Even the baby (17 months) can help with something. But Thursday needs to start with prayer and journaling so I’ll have the strength of G-d to be patient enough.

  53. Hi Courtney!

    Loved this post – and this series. I’ve truly appreciated all your encouragement, because since becoming pregnant with my fourth, I have felt like my home is anything but a haven! It is hard to have the time or energy to do a lot of things. But the simple little things are so helpful.

    As a mom of three (soon to be four) boys, though, I wish you had also included your son in this post! I’m sure that you do include him in the kitchen activities (I hope) because although I have no problem with traditional male/female roles and activities (I myself do all the cooking – if my husband did it, we’d have frozen pizza every night!), I think it’s still important to include the boys in these activities. There’s so much that they can learn, plus they just enjoy being with their mamas! And it never hurts to give a boy a few kitchen skills along the way. 🙂

    I hope you take this comment in the loving way I intended it – not meant to be criticizing in any way. I know you are a great mama, doing the best you can. I have certainly learned a lot from you!

    Thanks again for your posts – I do appreciate them all!
    Jess

  54. God is so amazing! I hadn’t even checked to see what this week was to bring in the challenge and I had done exactly what it was! What!?
    I made a beef stew and my husband along with the Dad of the daughter I watch both said how yummy it smelled in the house. 🙂
    I’ve been lighting a candle and playing my Christmas music everyday.
    Thanks for the great inspiration.
    Today I’m going to make the bread that I ran out of time to make yesterday.
    Yeah for tasty smelling foods and what it brings to us inside.

  55. Womp womp… I must confess that I am not succeeding at your specific challenges BUT I have been making my home a haven in other ways and I love your encouraging blog!
    I don’t use a candle (I did for a couple days) but Scentsy makes my home smell good. I do always listen to music so that’s good. And as for this week… I blogged about it, but it’s more of a stress.
    But I’m not discouraged and am still following along!

  56. We had our freshman is pretty comfortable in the kitchen. Cheesy eggs are his specialty – which makes for a nice breakfast surprise. Yeah, it’s a lot of extra work when they are in the kitchen – but you are teaching them a skill they’ll be able to use for life! 🙂
    ~Blessings,
    Dana
    CookingAtCafeD.com

  57. Candle still burning daily, Christmas music playing, and baked Apple Cinnamon muffins last week for my hubby. We even tag-teamed dinner twice last week too! Thanksgiving for us was celebrated on Saturday and I’m thankful I didn’t have to host 😉 but was happy to help out with decorating & preparations beforehand. Looking forward to this week’s challenge! Thanks Courtney!

  58. I’ve just come home in the past week after 27+ years of a ‘career’. I love having my children help in the kitchen. I am following this series late but better late than never! Love you and your blog Courtney!

  59. Courtney,

    I’m loving your blog! Just what I needed to hear at this point in my life! Wondering how old your daughters are? Thinking mine might be capable of way more than I let her do. Ideas on what you let them help with and a what age would rock!

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