Fall Challenge 2011 - music maestro!

This second week of the Fall Challenge over at Women Living Well is all about music!

Play soft music everyday in your home. Choose music that the family enjoys.
Then, focus on using peaceful words and maintaining peaceful relationships. Role model gentleness with your words this week and while you’re add it have a little fun.  Since the music is going,  grab your husband or children and dance!


I have been listening to soft piano music a lot already! I've started doing this last year during the same Fall Challenge... I love George Winston and David Nevue (I've discovered this last one over at Mrs Southern Bride!).

Yesterday Jeff invited some of his friends to watch a soccer game (He just LOVES soccer!) so I went upstairs for some studying. There was a "little bit of noise" because the upstairs room isn't completely separated from our living room so at first I felt a bit cranky for them not being sensitive to the fact that I was studying!

But then I thought "du-uh, they're watching soccer... I can't expect them to be quiet!" and I put on some beautiful music!!
I enjoyed it so so much! Didn't do all that much studying but it kinda worked :)

 I loved seeing him so happy :)

Even though we lost... Poor guys...

I haven't danced yet, but hey, who knows? ;)

Tonight we'll be going to our first evening of a 8week marriage course!
It's a candle lit dinner for two (there will be several tables, one for each couple!) with a DVD series and a handbook... I'm so excited!! Jeff and I will both dress up a little :)
I bought my first OPI nail polish just for tonight hah!! It's called "I'm Suzi & I'm a Chocoholic" :)

A dark red it will be!
I'm so excited!! Pictures will be posted ;)

Fall Challenge 2011!

Today, the 31 Day Fall Challenge started over at Women Living Well!

I've been waiting for this thing since... Last year?
Last year I was participating in my dorm room, just for myself. Now I can look at how my husband reacts to it :) So exciting!! It feels way more important because the love of my life could be affected by this...

31 days long we'll be doing this challenge, every week something new will be added to the previous "challenge".
This week's challenge:

“The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.”

Light a candle and begin praying over your home every time the glimmer of the candle catches your eye.

I've cheated a bit and I bought 2 big candles at the Ikea on saturday already! I knew the challenge was coming up and I knew I wouldn't be able to find reasonably priced candles in this still unknown city, so when we were in the Ikea I talked Jeff into buying 2 candles (you never know how long they last, do you?)

So here is my candle!
We've had a hard weekend, and we really need some prayer and some peace in our home... So I'm happy for this little reminder!

I'll be lighting the candle during my quiet time, when I'm at our living room and from the moment Jeff arrives.

Why don't you consider taking the challenge too? It's just for one month but it could change so much!!

My everyday reads!

Kelly is doing a link-up about showing your favourite blogs!
I love thislink-up :)

My favs, in no particular order:

Kelly's Korner
ofcourse! I love her sharing of her faith and her 2 precious girls!

Blue-eyed Bride Erin:
she was one of the first blogs I read and I love her sense of humour, her no-nonsense posts and her honesty in sharing her life (at least I think she's being honest, lol)

Women Living Well
Courteney is one of my favs because she has a women's ministry. I learn so much about married life (even when I wasn't married yet, I could learn so much about how to prepare for marriage and how to solve possible future problems), about what it means to live for Jesus as a woman.
"Walk with the King!" :)

The High-Heeled Housewife
I can relate to her because she's married and has no children (yet! She struggles with infertility but I'll keep praying for that!)
She shares her faith, her ideas about how you could be a better (house) wife, how to get a better spiritual walk with God. She's a bit struggling with how to handle her blog right now, but I have faith she'll come back ;)

Mackey Madness
I LOVE Megan! She's so genuinly sweet and she always takes a look around my blog, which makes me feel like she really likes it when people visit her blog. It feels like you can create a bond with her, because she's so open! (Hi Megan, I know you'll read this haha!)

Living Life and Loving It
Tatiana is such a sweety! She's so down to earth, she just posts whatever she thinks about. (At least, that's how it feels to me!) And as a bonus: she has SUCH a sweet little baby girl! I wish I knew them irl :)

South Africa meets Belgium
yeah, I couldn't leave Joke out of this list. We just discovered each other yesterday but I love her blog!
I also loved how excited she was when she (im)patiently was waiting for her boyfriend to stop talking so she could "pleeeease tell you what we've discovered?!" :) Priceless!!

Go check them all out, they're such good blogs!
Enjoy :)

30-day Challenge

I've found a cool 30-day blog challenge thing so I decided to take the challenge!! Jeej :)

Here's the scheme:

Day 0: The 30 Day Challenge Explanation and Description
Day 1: Introduce, recent picture of yourself, 15 interesting facts
Day 2: Meaning behind your blog name
Day 3: Your first love
Day 4: Your parents
Day 5: A song to match your mood
Day 6: A picture of something that makes you happy
Day 7: Favorite movies
Day 8: A place you've traveled to
Day 9: A favorite picture of your best friend
Day 10: Something you're afraid of
Day 11: Favorite tv shows
Day 12: Something you don't leave the house without
Day 13: Goals
Day 14: A picture of you last year - how have you changed?
Day 15: Bible verse
Day 16: Dream house
Day 17: Something you're looking forward to
Day 18: Favorite Place to Eat
Day 19: Something you miss
Day 20: Nicknames
Day 21: Favorite Picture of yourself ALL TIME Why?
Day 22: What's in your purse?
Day 23: Favorite Movie
Day 24: Something you've learned
Day 25: Put your iPod on shuffle, first 10 songs
Day 26: Your Dream Wedding
Day 27: Original Photo of the city you live in
Day 28: Something that stresses you out
Day 29: 3 Wishes
Day 30: a picture of yourself this day and 5 good things that happened since you started the challenge

I can only hope that I'll keep up with it, but I'll do my best!

Christmas War?

This week it's CHRISTMAS!! Jeeej :)
According to Courteney it means war... Satan wanting to keep us away from the real meaning of Christmas, not wanting us to read our Bible...

Here's this week's challenge: Christmas is just 5 days away and so much of our time is often spent helping the children to remember the "Reason for the Season". Now it's our turn. Once the kids are in bed get yourself a HOT drink (again we are warming the body as we warm the soul.) Get ALONE and turn out the lights by your Christmas tree, a lit fire, or a candle and just be alone with God. Pray, talk to him, I encourage you to sing Christmas carols or songs praising him, and just rest with Jesus.

I don't have any children so that's not the problem :) I DO have got me some pretty nasty exams, EVERY..DAY..OF..THE..WEEK!
It's killing me... Especially since I shouldn't be having any exams! Our exam period is in januari, after the hollidays!

Anyway, I'll find an evening where I can just sit, be still and just be alone with God. Maybe I'll do that tonight so I can calm down!

Love,
Evelien

My favourite part of the house

It's week 5 of Brittany's challenge of favourites!! (I know I'm a bit late but that's OK ;))

This week's challenge is to celebrate your favorite part of your home!  Spend extra time there this week, cleaning it, enjoying it and filling it with holiday cheer.
I have to say that my favourite part of the home is the kitchen!! I'm in love with the kitchen of my mother haha! They just re-did it and it's just gorgeous... It invites to cook :)
But I'm not going to live at my parents anymore... So I'll have to be happy with J's kitchen!

It's a very small kitchen, and  we don't have an oven (I hate that!!!!).
For now, J. has put a curtain between the kitchen and the living room... Because it's an old house and it's very hard to get and keep it warm... And now the kitchen is freezingly cold and it's such a sad little place... Sigh...
No, I don't like what he did with it, but I'm just hoping it'll get better when the weather gets a bit warmer! And if J. really wants to have a curtain, I'll have to find a curtain that's a little bit cuter and more my style!

Aah, only 6 and a half months and we'll be married and I'll have something to say about the kitchen!! Haha :)

Going to bed early

It's the third week of becoming quiet before Christmas.

Courteney writes: 

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

This week's challenge: Pull out your calendar and SCHEDULE a night where you will go to bed very very early. Take your Bible with you to bed and read in bed for at least 5 minutes. Read in Isaiah 7:14, Micah 5:2, Jeremiah 23:5, and Isaiah 53. These are prophecies that were fulfilled by the birth and life of Jesus. Get extra blankets for a warm nights rest, pray God gives you deep rest and that no one wakes you. Then turn out the lights and sleep. I pray that when you wake, you face the new day of Christmas stress with extra strength and vigor.

I'm going to have my "early to bed-day" today. I don't have any classes today so I'm really enjoying my time! Just resting and preparing for the messy week that's starting as of tomorrow... I have a big take-home exam which will take 1 week! In that week I also have 2 other exams... It stresses me out completely!!

But today I'm going to bed around 7 or 8 pm! So I can start the week with a fresh mind...

Favorite part of the Holidays

This week, enjoy your favorite part of the holiday season!  Plan for your family to join you in celebrating this wonderful part of the season.

I'm not sure what my favourite part of the holiday season is... We don't celebrate Thanksgiving here, but I love to see all these Thanksgiving posts!! It looks so cozy and nice :)

Christmas is of course celebrated here (du-uh) and I love it!
When I was younger, I remember unwrapping presents from my grandparents. They celebrated Christmas at our house every year, but sadly my grandfather died a couple of years ago...

This is what my Christmas tree looks like at my dorm! 

It's a picture from two years ago but the tree doesn't change as long as I'm a student :)

This year might be a special Christmas because we're having my parents' best friend over! It's a couple that I've known for all of my life and I'm giving Petra a very special gift: I'm going to ask for her to witness at y wedding! Very exciting because she will not see this coming hah! She's so humble... I love her!

So that's my favourite thing about the holidays: Christmas evening (we don't wait untill the morning to unwrap presents in Belgium, so the evening is where all of the celebrating happens!).
But to enjoy that, I'll have to wait a couple more days! 

Love,
Evelien

A Bubble Bath/Shower

It's the second week of Courteney's "Peace on Earth" challenge and it will require some thinking for me!

Here's this week's challenge: Take out your calendar and SCHEDULE a night where you will take a warm refreshing bubble bath. Bring your Bible. Read the story of the birth of Jesus in Matthew 1, 2 and Luke 1,2.

I can take out a calender and I can also take my bible and read it... But I don't have a bath! Aaaagh... The life of a student! Haha :) 

I'm not sure how to fix it, maybe I can take a bath when I'm at my fiancé's parents', but I'm not sure if I'll have the time and occasion there... And there's little children running around, along with too many people that could interrupt my peace...

So maybe I'll just take a hot shower! I know, it's not the same, but it's all I have...

 Here's some more tips from Courteney
An awesome bubble bath takes planning so here's what you need:
1. Privacy - all children asleep and the husband aware that you don't want to be interrupted

2. Hot water and loads of Bubbles - preferably ones that smell yummy!
--> I could buy a nice shower gel for this one!

3. Some soft classical music
--> I'll put that on when I'm back in my room and preparing to go to bed

4. A hand towel rolled up as a pillow

5. A cold drink to set beside the tub
--> Change that to a hot cup of tea before bed, mmmm!

6. Your Bible and if you are afraid you'll get it wet - exchange it for a good Christian book or simply quietness - reflecting on your day and talking with God in prayer.

Optional: a lit candle

The reading (and candle) will be done when I'm in bed after my hot shower!

I'm happy to be participating in this challenge, even though I have to be creative about it, hah!

Peace on Earth

When browsing through blogger-land, you can find some very interesting challenges!
One of them is Courtney's new challenge (I love Courtney, she's SO inspiring!!) for December:

 

For today she asks this:

Today: Write at the top of your December calendar page - I Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." This will be a reminder every time you look at your calendar and feel anxious about all you have to get done - to pray. God cares for you. Release your worries to him and rest in him.

I took it 1 step further and also included the verse in my daily agenda. I picked the week that's most stressful and inserted a sticky note! (3 exams in 1 week, while still attending classes, not very good...)

 Every week there's a new 'task' (such as: go to bed early, take a bubble bath, ... ) and you have to read a part in the Bible to make sure you're ready for the real meaning of Christmas!

Thankful: household chores

This week, instead of dreading doing your household chores, focus on your favorite household chore.  Enjoy doing it!  If you are a blogger, write a post about it and link up below.

 

If I have to be honest, I don't dread household chores, at all! I love to make my bed when I get up, I love to vacuum, clean, do laundry... Everything!!
EXCEPT...
I have a love-hate relation with doing the dishes. Sometimes I could do it all day long (well, not all day hah!) and sometimes I leave it for days...

But my favourite chore?
That has to be cooking :) I love the smells, I love eating the food... I just love it!!


So yeah, that's my favourite one :)
When I'm at my parents' home, I hope I'll be able to cook something delicious for my family and fiancé!!

Thankful: my sweet fiancé J.

So it's our second week of being THANKFUL!!

This week's challenge:
Focus on your favorite thing about your husband (fiancé in my case).  Instead of dwelling on the things you don't like about your hubby, appreciate what he does well.  

I love this challenge :)
J. is the most amazing guy I've ever met. He loves to cuddle, he loves to cook and what I find the most important: he loves Jesus! I can't remember how many times he has pointed me to Jesus when I was having a rough time.

He's also the most positive-minded man I know. He finds the good side in EVERYTHING! Amazing... Especially for me, 'cause I can be the exact opposite of that... Oops...

One thing that comes with his positive-minded-ness (which he's always afraid of that I don't like it haha!) is his humour! He is a clown, loves to make everybody laugh. And yes, his jokes aren't always superhigh humor-quality, but I love them because they're HIS!

I guess I just love everything about him... :)

Thankful: my favourite things!

Because I've noticed that lately I'm not as thankful for and to my fiancé and other people/things, I've decided to joing in at The High-Heeled Housewife and her new challenge!

Today's the first day/week and it's all about "My favourite things".
Her description: This week, focus on your favorite part about being a wife or a woman.  Celebrate it!  Spend extra time this week focusing on that aspect of your life.  If you are a blogger, write a post about your favorite part of being a wife/woman and link up below.


First of all, I want to try to explain how thankful I am for J. OK, no, I won't try to explain it because I will fail :) He's just thé funniest and most handsome man I've ever met. He loves me, even when I'm cranky (and believe me, I'm cranky a lot :s ). I'm so happy to have met him! I'm so so so thankful that he fell in love and made my heart open up to love again... (long story!)
Honey, if you read this: I love you. I do. I'm sorry I didn't tell you that as much lately!
More about that next week hehe!

And what I love about being a soon-to-be wife? Everything!! I'm really looking forward to the day that we'll finaly live together and that I can cook for him everyday! I'm even looking forward to cleaning our 'house' hah!! I love just being around J. and I could spend hours just cuddling or watching a movie!
I'm also looooving the planning for our wedding! Last week I've tried on some dresses and I had to cry because I loved one of the dresses and just felt like a princess in that thing!! Didn't buy it though, it wasn't thé dress ;) But I loved it anyways!


Next week: What I love about my fiancé!

Make your Home a Haven - Week 4

Yes, I know, I didn't participate in week 3 of the fall challenge... Why, you ask me? I just found that I couldn't be organizing my mom's closets or J's closets :) In my dorm I don't really have a clutter drawer so I figured I'd just skip it...

This week's challenge is: Keep your candle going, the music playing, and add some tender moments with your family. 
Candle is ok, music too (I've found some nice music I love!!! Mmm, I wish I could play the piano!)
But again I'm finding some difficulties haha!

As I'm living in a dorm, I don't have a family around me! But Courtney suggested to have just some tender moments with yourself...
So that's what I'm going to do!
 Tomorrow after my classes I'll have a movie night with some yummy tea that I've purchased today. I've also got some delicious Belgian chocolate! Mmmm... 

Last weekend J and I took a workshop in hand- and face massage. That was really relaxing! I felt completely de-stressed and I learned to focus on my fiancé's breathing/feeling/...


What are you doing to participate in Courtney's challenge?


Love,
Evelien

Make your Home a Haven - Week 2

I guess I'm just a little late to link up this week but hey, I've been sick! I've been feeling really awful, but now I'm all better :)

Courteney has challenged us to play soft music everyday, to bring peace in our house.

First: I don't like to hear music all.the.time...
I just like silence when I'm reading or thinking or studying. So I'm not too sure what to do with this challenge!

Second: Soft music? Do I have soft music?
Luckily my boyfriend uses Grooveshark, a website that allows you to play any music you want :) I've checked out George Winston, the piano guy Courteney recommended, and I think I like him. Maybe some of his songs are not soft enough for me (I LOVE reeeally soft piano music without any other instrument.. Just a piano playing a slow/soft melody)
I've also tried out Debussy because Eduard played a melody of him... I was a little bit disappointed because there's almost always an orchestra or something in the songs...

Maybe I'm going to ask which CD my neighbours play because I like that music when I'm over at their place! And I'll try to play some music while I get dressed and doing nothing special like reading blogs.


Another thing Courteney asked was to not get angry because of somebody else's anger. It's so easy to get angry just because some one is angry for a minute or two! But if you just get in control of your emotions, everything can change! So I'm going to watch when and why I get angry...

And last but not least: I'll continue to pray for the peace in my (future) house!


Love,
Evelien

Make your Home a Haven - Week 1

I'm linking up with Courtney at Women Living Well. She has a series about Making Your Home a Haven, something that's important for me!

I don't really have a "home", as I said before, or maybe I have 3 homes... I'm a college student who goes to my parental house/my future house with my fiancé every weekend... During the week I live in a dorm.
To which "home" am I going to apply this series?

I'm not sure, but I'm thinking my dorm room.
At my parental home my mother is the chief of the house, so she maybe will not like me lighting candles. At J's place I could place a candle, but men don't always like candles... And what is he supposed to say when his friends come? "Uh... Well... It's Evelien's, not mine..." Hah, I can see him saying that! I don't live there so I'll leave his little house just the way it is... When we'll be married I'll make it a bit less manly :)

I bought a candle and I'm lighting it as of today! It's a red one with a scent of cranberry, mmm... Smells sooo jummy :)


What cought my attention in Courtneys post was that a woman shouldn't stay up late watching TV or reading other blogs... And that a woman has to pray for her house. So I'm going to pray for my (future) home when I see my candle and I'm going to make sure my candle doesn't go out too late when I'm reading in bed!
Thank you Courtney for this fall series!

What are you doing to participate in this contest?

Love,
Evelien