The 3rd Annual Making Your Home a Haven Challenge Is Back!
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.
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 5th –Go 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!)
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)
My husband always says “If Mama isn’t happy, no one is happy” — We totally agree that tone of the home is set by mom!!! Exciting!!
I would llike to join the challenge, but I do not blog
Thank you for doing this, Courtney! I’m excited to read.
I’m not a blogger, but I lover your blog and your heart! I will be joining in on this Fall challenge. Thank you!
I am so in! Thanks for reminding us to do the little things that make a big difference!
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!
I LOVED doing this last year! I’m so excited to start back up! 🙂
I would love to join this challenge! Love ready your encouraging words, Courtney!
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!
Count me in! Blessings, Gin
I’m in! Can’t wait.
I’ll join through Instagram! Do you have a hash tag for this yet?! If not, I’ll just make one up for myself ;o)
I’m in!
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…
I would love to join.
What a wonderful challenge…I can’t wait to be a part of something very special.
Thank you so much!
Thank you for hosting. I’m excited the Making Your Home a Haven Challenge Is Back! Fun.
It sounds lovely! Thank you so much for hosting this today!
Yay..I was wondering if you were doing it again!!! Yay (squeal, squeal) I’m in!!!
Blessings,
Adrienne
I’m excited to join in……
Count me in!
∂ear Courtney,
what a wonderful, wonderful idea. I will pariticipate!
Thank you so much, you are such a blessing in my life!
Dear Courtney, I am still newlywed, working in an office, and in an desperate need of advices about homekeeping. Thank you for this challenge!
I will be joining, thanks for this, I needed this right now
I would like to join the making your home a haven but am not a blogger
I would love to be a part of this challenge. God bless you, Courtney.
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 🙂
Love this idea. I mentioned it on my blog. Thanks!
What a great idea! Looking forward to being a part of this challenge. Love your blogs! Just not a blogger myself! 🙂
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!
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!
Hey – excited about joining in! Can’t seem to get the button to show up properly on my blog, though…am I doing something wrong?
I’m in too! Looking forward to it!
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.
My family has been through some crazy stuff this year and I am looking forward to reclaiming our home!!! Looking forward to it!
I’m in!!
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.
I don’t have a bologna but I want to join the challenge.
Love this idea, I will definitely be joining you!
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.
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.
I’m a first timer for this challenge. It sounds like a great idea. Looking forward to it.
So glad I have found your blog. Just what I need. Thank you for sharing.
I will be joining Courtney!! This is just what I need right now! Thanks! 🙂
I’ve been so busy that I had forgotten about this. I’m in! I love this challenge. Thanks!
Love the idea……will do!!
Thanks for doing this! I want to make my home more of a haven, so this inspiration is just what I need!
With 7 kids I AM ALL IN!
Love this! I’m in!
Looking forward to it, Courtney!
I will definitely join in makimg my home a haven. Thank you sharing your thoughts, ideas and scripture readings!
I’m definitely in! Really looking forward to it! Thank you for taking the time to do this.
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 🙂
Definitely in! 🙂
Please sign me up for the Home/Haven Challenge. It sounds like fun + motivation! Thank you!
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!
I am not a blogger,but I would love to join the 31 day challenge.
I’m in for the challenge! 🙂
Peace! I always welcome peace in my home! I’m in! So thankful for you ; )
Can’t wait for this Challenge!! Thank you!! 🙂
Count us in! 🙂
I look forward to joining you along side my daughter, Bekah. May God be glorified!
Hi Courtney!
I’m not a blogger but I would love to join this challenge 🙂
I am in! What a wonderful prelude to Christmas!
Love ur site! Saw it on a friends FB page and YES I accept and welcome your challenge. TYSm!
I love this idea! Yes please send those tips my way;)
Count me in!! I couldn’t agree more that as wives and mothers, we set the tone of our entire home!
I would love to be included in the November Make your home a haven. Thanks!
I am up for the challenge. Please include me in the November Make Your Home a Haven!
This sounds really fun and uplifting. Count me in!
I’m in!! This should be a fun challenge, and ties right in with striving to be a Proverbs 31 woman!! Thank you Courtney!! 🙂
I would love to be added to this challenge! 🙂
Not a blogger, but would love to be challenged with this! Count me in 🙂
Would love to join in on this!!!
I’m so excited about this! I love this idea and my kids will love it too!
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.
I’d like to join the 31 day Making Home a Haven!
Thanks!
I would love to join!! Can’t wait!!!
Perfect timing! I’ve been working on trying to make our home, well, more homey and this challenge is terrific.
Thanks!
Love this challenge .. I was hoping you were starting soon!
I am not a blogger, but am excited to join this challenge! I want my home to be an oasis of peace.
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. 🙂
I love this idea!! and I’m in!! I’ll start my candle tonight!!
I love this!! I am so in!!
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!
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!
Love it! Count me in!
I would love to join you! Thank you for doing this 🙂
My friend led me to your blog. I’m going to do this challenge with her. God bless you and all participants!
Paige
I WOULD LIKE JOIN. I LOVE THIS TOPIC. THANKS FROM MÉXICO.
I love a good challenge 🙂 Looking forward to creating a happy and peaceful haven in my home.
I want to be a part of this challenge! I always look forward to your blogs! God bless!
I wan to join the challenge!
I would love to join this challenge! I sure do need it! lol Thanks so much for doing it!
I would like to join the challenge! See you November 5th!
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!
“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!
What a wonderful idea. I am in. I love being home and making it a place of rest and peace.
Can’t wait to take part in this challenge! 🙂 Thanks for sharing with me!
Definitely count me in!!! Can’t wait till Monday!!!
Yes I would like to join this challenge
Tammy
count me in 🙂
I’m in…looking foward to Monday!!
I would like to join the 31 day Fall challenge!
I would like to join the challenge…thank you!
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!!!
Looking forward to the challenge!!!
Count me in. Would love to join the challenge with you.
I’m interested in the challenge. Please add me to your list!
I’m in!!! Please add to me to your list. Need the challenge!
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 🙂
I would love to participate in the challenge!
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.
What a awesome idea. I am excited to do this one.
Blessings for all your efforts to impove our homes, families and our spirtual efforts.
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 🙂
I would love to join the challenge!
I wouId love to do the challenge, but I don’t blog.
I do not blog but I would like to be a part of this! 🙂
I’m in! Can’t wait!
I am looking forward to the challenge 🙂
I’m in!! 🙂 Excited to get started!! My hubby will love the yummy food week, :p
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! 🙂
Hi! I would love to join this challenge! Looking forward to it! Thanks!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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!!!!
I look FORWARD to this challenge. What a blessing this will be! 🙂
I am looking forward to this challenge!
Yes! I look forward to this challenge. It is right on time. 🙂
Hi! I would love to join this challenge!
yes I would love to join in this challenge!! Sounds great!
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 !
Please count me in, bought a big candle today!! Thank you 🙂
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.
I’m not a blogger, but I love your blog and your heart! I will be joining in on this challenge. Thank you!
I would love to do this too.
Looking forward to joining this challenge and promoting it on my blog and facebook! 🙂
I am not a blogger but I would like to join the challenge as well.
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.
I am not a blogger, but would like to join the challenge:)
I would love to join in on this challenge! What a great idea!
Yes, this challenge is exactly what we need to slow down and create a peaceful atmosphere!! Thanks!!
I do not blog but found you through a friend. I would love to join in : )
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
Id like to join this challenge!
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
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~
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!
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.
Not a blogger but would like to join the challenge.
Looking forward to participating in the challenge! Thank you and God Bless
I do not blog, but I love to read them. Include me in your challenge!
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.
Just lit my candle!
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!
I am not a blogger but do follow several and certainly enjoy yours. I would love to join the challenge. Blessings to all!
I’m not a blogger and I would like to join your challenge. Thank you!
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
I am so sincerely sorry for your loss Jackie. 🙁
My prayers are with you and your family tonight.
Lots of Love,
Courtney
I’m really looking forward to this challenge! Thank you for all of the encouragement you offer on your blog! You are a blessing!
I’m very excited about this challenge it lines up perfect with my series this month too!! 🙂
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.
I just saw this! I am in!
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!
I started the challenge today, thank you 🙂 Tara (The Proverbs 31 Sanctuary)
Yes! I want to do the challenge 🙂
I would also like to do the challenge!
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. 🙂
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
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
I will be posting each week on my blog about how this challenge is helping me! Thanks for being so encouraging!
Thanks so much! This is going to be so fun and encouraging.
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.
Love it!
I would LOVE to join! Is it too late ?!
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!
Useful info. Lucky me I discovered your web site unintentionally, and
I am surprised why this accident did not happened in advance!
I bookmarked it.
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Yes, I want to do the challenge.
Yes, I would love to do the challenge. What a FANTASTIC idea! Thank you!
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I would like to join in the challenge too! Thank you!