Multitudes on Mondays (Gifts #31-40) & Make Your Home a Haven (1)

Today I am linking up with Ann at a Holy Experience  for Multitudes on Mondays as well as with Monica over at the Homespun Heart. These two gals are just a couple of my favorite bloggers in blogland. There are certainly more of you, but these two hold delightful linky parties!




Last Fall, Monica hosted "Make Your Home a Haven" week and I thoroughly enjoyed it. In fact, after spending a week really focusing on the many little ways that I might make my home a haven for my family, I was moved to rename my blog her Little Ways to remind myself how to do ordinary acts (laundry, meal preparation, parenting, etc.) with extraordinary love, just as beloved  St. Thérèse of Lisieux.  It can be no coincidence that I discovered St. Thérèse at the same time that I discovered Monica's blog.  It can only be a God thing!

So, here are a few things I did last night in order to make my kitchen (the heart of any home!) a haven for my family this week...


Okay, admittedly the coffee pot is for me, but oh how this little step of prepping the night before allowed me to wake up in such a happy mood this morning!  Now...I just need a programmable coffee maker!


For my little man, I prepared breakfast the night before.  Lately, our routine has been to get up and nurse then get myself and the older two ready for the day.  By the time we all head downstairs for breakfast, Luke is more than ready for  his solids.  Usually, I'm doing some mad dash trying to fix eggs, Eggos, etc. for the older two while mixing up rice cereal.  And since I've been disorganized of late, I've run out of frozen pumped milk and have resorted to formula.  *ugh*  Next thing I know, rice flakes are flying and formula is dripping all over the counter top.  Not a conducive way to start the day!  Today, it was so nice to just add water, shake, pour and stir.  Little man ate at the table in his high chair with us.  It was a lovely way to start our morning...which included saying Grace!

Last night, I stayed up late cleaning, decluttering, and organizing so that my kiddos might wake up to this!  I set the table for breakfast the night before and even though our meal only consisted of orange juice and toast with peanut butter, eating off of pottery and drinking out of glasses seemed to set the tone for good table manners.  Breakfast was such a joy today, and Mary especially loved the little added touch of flowers and candlelight at the table!



Finally, this is what greeted me when I came downstairs this morning.  I stayed up extra late last night to get my kitchen ready for the morning.  Counter tops decluttered, dishwasher loaded/run/unloaded the night before, sink scrubbed and ready for a new day!  Our kitchen had such a calming presence this morning...especially important since this room opens directly to our family room...it's basically one long room at the back of our home!  No hiding the mess here!

So to express my thanks to God above for all that he has blessed me with, I am appreciate of the following...

#31  French Vanilla coffee creamer

#32  Hot coffee first thing in the morning!

#33  A wonderful, sturdy, and beautiful home.  It may not be the largest on the block or the most professionally decorated, but it is our "home".

#34  Blog friends that host fun parties for us to connect with each other.

#35  Lives of the Saints who have gone before us and show us an incredible love and dedication to our Lord.

#36  St. Thérèse of Lisieux

#37  The last day of February...hooray!  March 1st is "unofficially" Spring in my book!

#38  The invention of the flat iron when I can do nothing else to control my daughter's unruly waves.

#39  Mary, Ben & Luke

#40  Neighborhood friends who check up on me and help me out in a pinch!

Please come back later this week to see some other Little Ways that I make our home a haven!  Blessings!

Comments

  1. Hi Valerie!

    I hope you can get some rest tonight after staying up late - but what a welcome to get up to a clean kitchen!!! And, your breakfast table looks lovely - well done! May God bless your nest this week!
    Monica

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  2. What great ideas for starting your week off right. I hope it goes great for you!

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  3. I sure would love waking up in your house with all its love. I am blessed today to meet you and your blog.

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  4. Congrats on the no stress kitchen
    and home.
    It's nice when this works out.

    Check your e-mail first and then my post for today.---Happy news for Ken.



    Melinda

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  5. I love the idea of making your home a haven. You have such a beautiful kitchen! Love your gift list! I had to smile at #38... I have naturally curly hair and understand the word unruly! lol

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  6. Stopped over for a visit from Ann's blog...we are all community aren't we! I was attracted to your pic of St. Therese my namesake and a Carmelite : ) I also love to declutter especially when it involves my soul. Bless you today!!

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  7. I like it, good idea to induce calming vibes.

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  8. I really love this. Here I sit ignoring that fact that the kitchen is need of my attention again. the children mess it up so fast making things. This has inspired me. I think our heavenly father wanted me to read this post. He knew it would lift me up.
    Thank you.

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  9. Love the organization! Have you read *Organized Simplicity*? It is a handy gem for organizing each room to create a home despite the size.

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Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. Your kind words are appreciated! As Mother Teresa said, "Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love."

Valerie

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