For the last month, this personal challenge inspired by a website has me looking at the world with new eyes. Peaceful eyes. I must say, it is nearly Thanksgiving and I am very grateful to enter the chaotic holiday season with this peaceful focus. Especially since my November is generally anything BUT peaceful. Let us not even discuss December where we see a plethora of signs proclaiming “Peace”, yet feel little of it as we run around with so very many holiday activities.

I want to express my gratitude to the fine people at Women Living Well for this challenge.

For the last four weeks, my challenges included: Keeping a candle lit for peace, reminding me to pray for a peaceful home. Playing peaceful music.  Decluttering the home and myself spiritually.  Finding Tender Moments for my family. Becoming a peaceful wife and mother.

Those last two were the challenge for last week.  What did I do? How did it go?

Well, I’m not so sure that my tender moments are their tender moments… however I’ve had some really great times with the family. We played some games, we cooked together, and yes we did scratch each other’s backs. Love that last one! My boys offered to brush my hair which I’ll tell you right now – that’ll get you out of just about any chore in my house. I love it!

My boys take great pleasure in making sure our Candle of Peace stays continually lit.

Sometimes we just sat together, holding hands. Letting the love of our hearts travel down through our arms and out of our hands into the other.

With two teenage type boys, a crazy chihuahua, a husband working about eleventy hundred hours a week, and me busy with work and writing? Peaceful moments are a treasure. A delight.

And now, on to the final week’s challenge:

Week 5: Focus on the kitchen, the heart of the home. Cook things with pleasant aromas. Pick a meal the family can cook together – include everyone in a task and take pictures so everyone can remember moments in the kitchen together – test tasting, being creative, laughing and loving. Remove discontentment with your home or family and give thanks to God for the home God has given you to in which to create a haven for your family.

–Lady O