Have you ever walked into someone’s home and experienced peace?

I have. That’s how I want to live.

I know it has little to do with the surroundings (though the above, along with a cup of coffee and some books, looks like a little slice of heaven) and so much more to do with the culture and attitude of those in the home.

What are your favorite things about the most peaceful home you can think of? What are the qualities you admire in others you consider at peace?

My favorite people are not trying to hide their imperfections. They are comfortable with who they are. I can borrow from their serenity and feel comfortable being myself, too.

And homes/families I’m drawn to aren’t what might typically be considered peaceful. There is activity. There are people in and out and hobbies and food and celebration and tears.

In a word, life.

Peace doesn’t mean no activity, no real emotions, never any drama. But submission. Submission to the One in control of all that. Not seeking to reign in all the crazy on our own strength.

Source

In case you were concerned, my husband came to the rescue last night on the phone alarm thing. He got it all figured out for me.

We chatted about the things on my list as well, and decided we want to work on helping the boys wind down before bedtime. Often that routine goes out the window in favor of wrestling or a video or (in warmer months) riding bikes or playing with neighbor kids right up until showers. So if we took a little more time to chill and maybe do more reading, the drama could lessen. Then again, Fun is an unspoken priority in our home, so we may just need a little more balance.

Another thing we want to work on is a chore chart for our kids. We really are not good at consistency in chores (or allowance for our oldest for that matter – though he rarely remembers to ask for it, anyway, which I consider a success. Money shmoney).

Anyone out there have experience with a great chore chart system? If it is simple and visible I’m all ears!

We have some financial goals, but in the words of my somewhat more private husband, “You’re not going to put this on the internet, are you?” He is a saint.

I’m also halfway done with my Calendar/Goal center. This is so exciting I’m not sure what to do.
Now for consistency in keeping up with it…

If you’re nosy like me and want to know the categories, they are:

1. Calendars

2. 3 month goals for family/home, ministry, fitness and writing

3. Character traits I want in front of my face constantly

4. Pinterest recipes to try in the next few months

5. Workout class ideas to learn

6. Things to further investigate

Been going well with the 7 Sacred Pauses, but then again we’re only 3 pauses into this journey!

I thought I would share the first one, straight out of The 7 Experiment:

1. The Awakening Hour (dawn)

It’s time to begin our day in glory…Do we need to awaken to joy? Forgiveness? We enter a new day where our lives can become a living praise.

The boys and I rode bikes and scooters and they drew in their notebooks outside this morning until we saw this:

They are starting to want to do this on their own initiative; go out and watch the morning dawn. (It’s easier when that happens closer to 7:00!)

A couple we learned from overseas had heard a great prayer they passed along to us: “Jesus, help our lives draw our children to the Banqueting Table of Your Love.”

I love that. Not preaching (though there are times for that). Not pressuring. Just drawing them to His love. I hope the glory of the morning always does that for their hearts.

Do you need to reduce any stress in the morning hours?