The Homemakers Haven Week of November 15, 2009

Can you believe Thanksgiving is next week? Time certainly does go quickly at this time of year.

The hectic holiday times can really break up schedules and routines and can cause some stress in our lives as we finalize preparations, cook, clean, shop and everything else that goes with this season. This year I am really purposing to choose joy and not let the holiday demands make me lose my focus on making my home a haven for my family. My attitude creates the atmosphere in my home, and when mama is happy, everyone is happy!

Are you ready to make your home a special place for your family and all who enter it today? Let’s get started! Join me in one (or all!) of the challenges below or do whatever the Lord leads. Remember what’s important in making your home a haven!

1) Begin Your day in God’s Word

Even if you only have 5 minutes, spend that time reading a portion of Scripture and asking God into your day.

*Challenge: Share what you have read in His word that has encouraged you today with others on your blog or in the comments.

2) Complete Your Morning Routine

Do you have a morning routine established yet? If not, why not create one easily by writing down a list of 5-10 things you want to do in order each day. Post it in a prominent place and commit to doing those things every day. You will be amazed at how smoothly your days go with a simple routine in place!

*Challenge: Share your morning routine on your blog and cross it out as you complete each item

3) Have A Plan

Pour yourself a cup of herbal tea and sit down to make a to do list for today. Then prioritize your list. You may not get everything done today, but a to-do list is so helpful in keeping focused!

**Challenge: Share your to do list on your blog, and cross each item off as you finish it! Don’t worry if you don’t get everything done, but try to use your list as a guide to stay focused and motivated throughout your day. Don’t forget to plan for some special time with your husband and children! That is just as important as cleaning or organizing your home!

My list today:

1. Dust

2. Sweep and wash floors

3. Do 3 loads of laundry

4. Exercise

5. Make appointment for tire change

6. Make menu plan and grocery list

4) What’s For Dinner?

Before you get busy with your day, have you thought about what is for dinner this evening? Do you need to unthaw or prep anything ahead of time? I try to have my dinner preparations done by 1:00 each day, with just a few things left to do right before the meal. This has been so helpful to me and creates a much more relaxing evening for my family! We had a delicious turkey dinner last night, so I am planning out ways to use up the leftovers throughout this week in a variety of dishes.

*Challenge: Try to plan a menu out for this week and share it on your blog. If a whole weekly menu seems like too much for you, then just share what you are having for dinner tonight! I also challenge you to plan a meal that you can make from your pantry. This is one great way to cut grocery costs. Don’t be afraid to substitute some ingredients in a recipe with what you have instead of buying it at the store. If you have found a great meal creation from what you have on hand, definitely share it with us!

5) Complete a Project!

Choose something that you have been procrastinating on that needs to be done.  I try to have 1-3 projects going each week in my home. This week my projects are:

1. Sort and Store Summer/Winter Clothing

2. Make holiday cards with children

3. Spend 30 minutes per day organizing my basement

**Challenge: Choose a larger project to complete in your home today. Be sure to make it manageable. I find a large project is easier to complete if I set a goal of working on it for a set amount of time per day instead of trying to tackle it all at once (like my basement!).

I look forward to your progress today as you make your home a haven. I will share an update on how I am doing later on today. Let’s all encourage and inspire each other as we focus on the Lord, our priorities and our homes today!

To join in, post on your blog (or mention in the comments) what  you are doing to make your home a haven (see how to particpate here) and link  up below. You can follow along with me, or you can create your own things to do. The goal is to do something to make your home a more peaceful and enjoyable place, even if it is just one of the items mentioned above.  If you have some time, I encourage you to visit others and leave a comment for them that will inspire them in their homemaking! And remember, you can jump in any time!