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!!

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

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!

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 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