Haven Notes Vol. 3
Coffee, Crockpot Meals, and Closeness to God
Hi friends! November is upon us and here in Indiana, I am delighting in these crisp fall days with gorgeous autumn leaves, big harvest moons, and all things cozy. Everything on my list this week is a nod to this glorious season, and is helping make my heart and home feel a bit more haven-like.
1. Books
Okay, I confess that I may have a teeny little problem with buying more books than I can possibly read. But that rarely stops me from holding out hope that I will read them someday, and they just bring me so much joy!! I have begun to be more discerning, though, and this is my TBR list for this season:
In Time: Living in the Now and Not Yet- I cannot wait to get going on Blessed Is She’s Advent devotional, written this year by Claire Dwyer. Claire’s writing is deeply introspective, wise and relatable and this is going to be such a blessing.
This Present Paradise, also by Claire Dwyer. This book is about St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, who has been making little appearances in my life lately, and with her feast day around the corner on November 8, I felt a nudge to lean into learning more about her.
The Way of the Rosary by Shannon Wendt- my love and devotion to the Blessed Mother grows stronger each year, and when I discovered this book I knew I had to read it. Shannon is the founder of the Catholic company, Chews Life, known for their rosary bracelets, and I admire her gentle spirit and deep Marian devotion. This book is blessing me so much! Shannon’s gentle, wise and rich writing will draw you in and make you want to go deeper in both understanding and praying the rosary more!
2. Nourishing Food
In my now 25+ years of full-time ‘adulting’ as a wife and mother, I have developed a complicated relationship with the daily question of ‘what’s for dinner?’ I mean, no one told me when I started a family that this would be a daily, never ending cycle of pondering and and shopping and chopping and cooking… over and over until the end of time!!
At the same time, I LOVE to lean into this part of my vocation and I do love preparing good food for my family. I don’t have a magic solution, because I’ve tried it all: meticulous meal plans, freezer batching, meal delivery kits, too much takeout… I don’t have one routine that fits for me other than writing down some meal ideas and doing the shopping and hoping I have the time and energy to cook. It’s not foolproof, for sure!
However, this month, I set an intention to create time each day to prepare dinner for my family. Yes, we will still order takeout once in a while, but there is something comforting to me, and my family, when dinner is ready in the evening with no stress. So far, it has really changed the tone, and I have given myself permission to make it as simple as possible (last night was grilled cheese and tomato soup, for example).
I do have a super simple crockpot method that has been a game changer for dinnertime that I’m delighted to share with you. I call it Crockpot Plus 2. All you do is pick a meat, add it to crockpot with some salt and pepper, (and maybe garlic powder if you really want to go all in) add one type of ‘sauce,’ and let your crockpot do its thing. My favorite combos:
chicken breast + jar of fave pasta sauce = Italian Chicken
boneless pork chops + jar/bottle of honey mustard (or homemade- try 1/2 cup each of honey and dijon mustard) = Honey Mustard Pork Chops
chicken thighs + fave BBQ sauce = Shredded BBQ Chicken Sandwiches (just chop or shred chicken and add favorite rolls or buns)
chicken breast + jar of salsa+ can of corn (okay, this is a cheat, but it’s still easy!) = Mexican Chicken
These are truly dump & leave it meals. I usually cook for 6 hours on low, which works well for my crockpot. Add a starch (potatoes, egg noodles, pasta, rice, baguette, chips…) and/or veggies to these and any desired ‘extras’ such as cheese on top, and voila! Instant dinner. I consider it a great middle ground when I’m busy and tired but don’t feel like ordering pizza once again. Minimal effort, easy clean up, family fed. Win-win-win!
*Note- I typically eyeball my measurements but I’d estimate about 2 pounds of chicken or pork for these recipes, assuming a full jar of pasta sauce, salsa, etc. It’s hard to mess up- measure with you heart!
3. Coffee
Need I say more? For those of you who somehow operate without this precious liquid gold in your life, I honestly and truly do not understand, but I still love ya. lol. I LOVE a hot cup of good coffee, and my trick in the fall/winter is to make a pot and add a liberal amount of cinnamon to the grounds before brewing. Topped with half and half a little teaspoon of honey, and it’s like fall in a cup. Yum!
I love many types and brands of coffee, but my current personal favorite is Seven Weeks Coffee. They donate ten percent of their profits to pro-life causes, and it is very high quality, delicious stuff! I have tried both the Faith and Hope blends, and they are excellent!
4. Making Candles & Soap
Years ago I got into handmade soap and candles, and it truly brought me so much joy. It had been years since I had dabbled in kind of hobby or creative endeavor, and it scratched an itch I didn’t even know was there. In the past couple years, I have spent less and less time on this beloved hobby, and I am feeling a pull to get back to it. It is productive, calming and grounding to my nervous system, and I need more of all of those qualities in my life! Plus, they will make great gifts. In the meantime, I am really enjoying candles from Rowe Casa Organics. The lavender and vanilla is so good and I burn it in my office all day!
5. Prayer, Mass and Adoration
Something else the the Lord has quietly been placing on my heart is the desire for more of Him. I find this such a tender and beautiful fruit of my seeking to grow in my faith, and stumbling a bit through some periods of dryness and desolation. In my dryness, I slowly began to realize how much I desired more closeness with God. I have been faithful to a daily morning prayer routine for quite some time, but I’ve started adding 2-3 trips to the adoration chapel into my weeks, as well as getting back to a daily rosary, and wow. So much peace. And steadiness. And grace. These times are becoming cherished parts of my routine, praise be to God. My intention going forward is to ask the Lord to give me the grace and openness to fit in more daily mass opportunities.
I encourage you to pray about your own faith life and where God may want to bless you by calling you to a bit more. This should never feel stressful or forced — so my advice (speaking from experience here!) is to be gentle and honest with yourself and with God. Maybe it’s a decade of the rosary as you walk the dog, or a Hallow app devotion once a day in the car… these small little habits add up to so very much grace when we open ourselves to His goodness!
Okay, friends, that’s a wrap for the first week of November. God bless you!
He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. And then they were glad, because they had quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven. — Psalm 107:29-30