Violet Rhodes

Convenient And Carefree Canning

Published on April 18, 2021April 20, 2021 by Violet Rhodes8 Comments

Why am I talking about canning in April? Isn’t Summer the time to can? Today’s canning is something you can do year round and in fact, it’s perfect to do any other time than in the middle of Summer when you’re already swamped in the canning department! Today we’re talking about dry beans and chicken.

We enjoy beans and eat a lot at our house. I like having a variety of canned beans on my shelves! I buy a 25 lb. bag at a time, then it lasts for a year or two. I only can a big batch of beans at a time as I need them.

I used to can them using my pressure canner. I was under a lot of pressure to be watching that pressure on my canner for every batch of beans I put through! But it was still worth it to have my own home canned beans…No BPA liner for one thing, plus, it’s one less thing to buy at the store! But I have discovered such an easy way to can beans or chicken, that you can basically take a nap or go to bed while your food is being canned!!

You first have to fill your jars, so of course there is a little work involved. I use pint jars, fill with half a cup dry beans. Add a half teaspoon salt. Fill to the neck with water. Wipe the jar tops and put on lids and rings. I do not soak my beans beforehand. I reused lids for all these jars and every one sealed!

Place bread or cookie racks in the oven on top of your oven racks. Then set the jars on the racks and fill your oven with jars! As many or as few as you like. Once you have them all arranged, turn your oven to 255*. When it beeps the correct temperature, begin timing and let them at that temperature for 5 hours. This is when you can go take your nap. After 5 hours, turn the oven off and let them sit in the oven for another 10 hours more or less. There’s not an exact time frame here. I like to get them in the oven late afternoon, like around 4:30. Then I can turn them off at 9:30 p.m. and go to bed! Forget about them until the next morning! I like to do this at night so it doesn’t tie up my oven all day. If you wake up during the night you might hear the assuring little pops of sealing jars! About 7:30 a.m. I took my jars out of the oven and set them on the counter to finish cooling. They were actually still hot enough I needed a tea towel to handle them. I then waited until the next day, before putting them on my basement shelves.

I also use this same method to can chicken breasts. Stuff jars with meat- I used pints, and add a half teaspoon salt. I did not add water to these jars because it will make broth of its own as it cooks. Again, have your jars in the oven for 5 hours at 255*, turn the oven off and let set until nearly cool. Having canned chicken and beans on hand is perfect for quick meals! I like adding either or both to a salad for some good protein and you’ve got a meal right there!

Get some beans in the oven and go to bed! It’s called carefree canning!

Travel Tips

Published on March 15, 2021March 17, 2021 by Violet Rhodes1 Comment

First, a big thank you to those ladies who took time to share their tips on traveling with children!! I thought there were some good ideas! Some of these may overlap but it was easier to include the responses in their entirety, than to weed out parts of each one. Lastly, I’ll include my own.

* We do not take toys along on trips. (Ohhh, that sounds mean! But let me explain) We have already let the boys take a little bag of farm toys, and within a very short time, they were dumped all over and never looked at or asked for again….. same with an abundance of books. They take one or maybe two per person, and I try to stay very vigilant that they stay picked up and not tromped on! I like to put them in a book bag or backpack. Traveling is hard on books. Again, same with school books. We would much rather have them work ahead as much as possible, and then just do catch-up work with whatever didn’t get done before, rather than take it along. For one thing, they can’t write neatly while we’re driving, and then there’s the thing of the books getting wrinkled, rumpled, torn…. It’s been a few years since we had a girl that was in doll-stage. That would seem to be ok because it’s one bigger thing-not a bunch of little things. Snacks…. again, we don’t do just a lot. I sometimes make burritos or simple sandwiches. Fresh fruit, granola bars, go-gurt. For sure, have napkins and wet-wipes.

We have a “Cabela’s bag” with various pockets, that I like to keep under my seat, with essentials: squirt bottle, comb, meds, floss-picks, hand sanitizer, wet wipes, passports if needed… The covering bucket goes under the first bench seat in the van. To pack our clothes, we’ve gone almost exclusively to duffle bags. They can squish and fit in a lot easier. Our dresses get hung by the waist over hangers. One thing we do occasionally, that I learned from my grandma, is to pass out life savers or some other hard candy, one per person. Then we see who can keep it in their mouth the longest. It kinda quiets things down for awhile.

Another huge everybody-ought-to-know tip is: story CDs! Or something on audio! It keeps our family of 10 quiet and happy for many-a-mile!!! We’ve enjoyed Little Britches and also various Adventures in Odessy, or children’s dramatized Bible stories. Oh! And absolutely No Popcorn!! It is yummy and fun, but oh my! What a mess! A friend gave us one of those tins with 3 different kinds of popcorn, right before we left on a trip, so we took it along… and yes, we did enjoy it, but…..!

We also limit drinks to water. Especially for the Littles. Older ones can decide for themselves, but it helps a lot with potty breaks! Even though you can get the cutest little “Bug Juice” and other cute drinks…. And I’m still learning to keep calm and travel on! It’s not “the end of the world” if there are crumbs and stray trash to pick up. Enjoy the ride, and enjoy your little people! They grow up so fast! -Janelle Sensenig. Texas.

* I don’t have a lot of ideas since I’m usually not very organized but something I do to organize activities in our van is to put them in a 3-drawer stacker (11” W x 9.5” H), like this,

and set it on the seat between two people. This way they can easily get to it and put their toys away again when they’re finished. The books we usually put in a box on the floor. That means they need to be handed out but that’s not very hard to do. I also take several cookie sheets along that work for trays for anything from silly putty and tractors to small puzzles. It gives them a solid surface to play on and also has sides to keep small pieces from sliding off. Note: Depending on the type of carseat, if it has handles sticking up or not, and age of child can make it a little bit challenging to balance it on there but usually it works fairly well. – Gloria Mast. Kansas.

* As far as packing for little ones… on several trips where we were gone for close to a week and most nights at a different place, I put each child’s clothes into clear Ziplock bags and labeled each one for each day. That way we only had to grab the bags for that day and haul in 1 suitcase instead of 3. That helped out tremendously! Remember to add small snacks into a baggie somewhere. Without fail, we would get to our room and they would all be hungry from being too nervous to eat at a strange person’s house for supper.
If you have room in the vehicle, packing a small backpack for each child with age-appropriate games and toys can keep them entertained for a long time. Also, a trashcan is a lifesaver!
We do not have all little ones anymore with our 5 children ranging from ages 6 – 17 so taking food along for a trip looks different now than when they were all little. When you are barely keeping after with your daily duties, to make food for a trip yet besides getting all the suitcases packed can sometimes feel like too much. Just relax, and buy your food, especially if that is an area your husband does not mind helping you out with.
But the more we took food along, the more frustrated I would be when we would stop to get a bite to eat. All the time we spent in the restaurant or even the drive through could’ve easily been spent at home throwing together a few snack baggies or sandwiches!
Also, each family’s traveling style is different. My husband likes to get on the road and mostly stay there until we get to our destination. Other husbands and families prefer stopping for a ½ hour break every 2 hours and enjoying the journey as they go. So, each wife needs to just work with what her husband enjoys.
So, here are some food ideas that work for our family:
For road trips—
Breakfast burritos. We often leave early in the morning, so it is nice to have egg burritos put together the night before and then just reheat then in the oven or microwave the next morning before you head out the door.
Egg casserole. You can also assemble an egg casserole the night before and let it bake while you are loading the last of your things. This is actually not as messy as it sounds. Pass out paper bowls and distribute to everyone.
Baked oatmeal. Prepare this the night before and bake in the morning, so this also is easy, although a little messier if you add milk to the mixture and not at all handy for little ones.
All of the above, I put into an insulated casserole bag and it will stay hot for a good hour. The initial investment is well worth it when you think of all the money you are saving!
For other meals, we will often pack cold sandwiches or wraps or just chunks of meat and cheese, kept cold in an ice chest. In the summer, it is a high light to stop off at a rest area or picnic area of a state park and enjoy our lunch there. While we often spend as much time there as at a restaurant, we all think the trade off of fresh air and the ability to run around makes up for the simple fare.
Or, if time is short, we will stop for $1 sandwiches or a bucket of KFC chicken (although this is messy in a vehicle) and then just enjoy the other food I packed along.
Fresh veggies and fruit always taste good on the road. Baggies for each child can make sure they are getting their allotted amount. We also freeze-dry fruit, so that makes a very handy, mess-free snack.
Protein balls are often in our vehicle and a treat we all enjoy.
Cheese sticks and nuts help to tide hungry people over until the next meal. (or just to stave off the boredom of traveling)
If we pack a complete lunch, I like to stick in a bought treat that we normally do not have at home – small bags of chips, gummies, chocolate candies, lollipops, etc. It also helps out with not having to make everything.
With a family our size, we all have our own personal water bottle, then we can just buy a gallon (or 4!) of water and refill as needed. A squirt container of water flavoring (Stur, etc.) adds spice to the humdrum of ‘boring’ water.
For flying –
Frozen water bottles… this one has been a life-saver for our family of 7. I freeze the water bottles at home, put them in an insulated bag for the 2 hour drive to the airport, then either take that as a carry on or put it over into a back pack. They do allow frozen water bottles through security and each time we guzzle ‘free’ water; I think of the $2.50 per can we are saving.
Also, any jerky, beef sticks, veggies and fruit, cheese sticks, crackers … any food you take along will save you from the exorbitant prices in the airport. Although snacking all day can make you feel blah, so we often end up buying one meal of more solid food or just something warm and nourishing to fill in.

As a young mom, you will probably look at the list and think, “Nope, not doable” … and it might not be! Just give it a few years and you will be surprised at how the children change their tune about McDonalds. Most of ours groan and say, “Mom, didn’t you pack our sandwiches? Those cheeseburgers give me a belly ache!” So, that has been an incentive as well!
And as far as the crumbs, well, we’ve just resigned ourselves that it is part of having a family! The stress of trying to keep the vehicle clean was too much, so we just try to clean it well once we get home…. but that doesn’t always happen either! -Krystal Shirk. Ohio.

* I like to do laundry 2 days before a trip. That way when I am packing the day before we leave, I actually have something to pack. If we will be staying at a place for 1 night before we get to our destination I like to pack a separate bag of 1 set of clothes for each person and 1 set of pajamas and what diapers etc I’ll need.
Always keep a nightlight in your travel cosmetic bag. I never forget it that way, and I am always so grateful for it!
I am a nursing mom so when we travel I find myself sitting in the back a lot. It has surprised me at how the temperature can be either too warm or too cool. So being aware of the temperature for my littles can make a big difference on their traveling comfort and behavior and the best way to know what that is is to sit back there!
When we flew to Kenya (think 21 hrs of flying time alone one way) my baby was 11 months old. He liked to go to sleep with music playing. We bought a child’s fleece headband headset and connected it to my phone with some music he was used to. Instead of putting it on him like a headband, what worked for him was to just lightly hold the speaker part of the headphone lightly against his exposed ear as I fed him and as he slept! It was $12 well spent for us. He could sleep through the unusual noises and pilot’s announcements etc. – Mim Gingerich. Arkansas.

* It takes me a long time to pack, so I like to start 2 days before. If I feel rushed, I feel like hunkering down to a turtle’s pace because it looks too hopeless to get everything done in fast track. And I definitely make lists! Then as I get that particular bag packed, I cross it off the list. There are some things I just keep in the suitcase- a night light, a Bible, a phone charger, and my homemade ‘dirty clothes’ bag.

I also make a list of the refrigerated /frozen items I’ll need to grab the next morning. In case you’ve not tried it, lists bring peace to the mind that’s bouncing in 5 directions all day long!

The pills/herbs bag, the snack box (non refrigerated items) and miscellaneous items I may be taking, are all bags I like to pack 2 days before if possible. I may have gifts for someone or maybe I’m helping with food at our destination etc. Gathering all I can 2 days before helps! Then the day before we leave, I wash clothes and pack bags. We’re blessed with a garage so we usually load up the evening before. That helps so much!

In the bathroom bag I keep toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, body wash, contact supplies, a comb, hand mirror, a soap pump, (yes, because I can’t stand to use antibacterial soaps for a whole weekend, so I take my own Castile soap!) and a few more things. There’s not a lot more to add yet when I’m preparing for travel. Keeping another set of bathroom supplies is definitely worth it and I’ve found it sooo helpful! You can go on and finish up packing and don’t have to wait to finish the bathroom bag, till you’ve brushed your teeth just before you head out the door!

As far as food for us. We usually leave early morning with hopes the children go back to sleep for awhile! I pack Juice Pus shakes, or yogurt parfaits, muffins, protein balls, cheese sticks, fruits and such like for our breakfast and snacks. I pack some salties, but not too much because of the junk factor. I’d rather have more real foods like fruits/veggies and nuts along. We do like the veggie crisps that I find at Walmart. It’s like chips made out of rice flour, beans and veggies. The brand is Off The Eaten Path. I like to keep small disposable cups in with the snacks then dish out snacks in the cups. It’s much easier for little hands to hold.

Jerald likes to drive with plans to get there! No ambling around. So when we make our potty or food stops, we try to be prepared before we stop. Get shoes/jackets on, clear out your present clutter, books or whatever you were doing, and be ready to jump out. For lunch we love Chipotle for a delicious, healthy, ‘fast food!’ I always get a bowl, and the children love their quesadillas and mini oranges. They have good sized portions too! We might do Subway or Wendy’s sometimes. I like to target places with taste worthy salads. We don’t eat McDonald’s. Greasy junk food and traveling just aren’t a good combo if you ask me! Unless we need breakfast, sometimes we’ll get their oatmeal bowls or yogurt parfaits.

We take some books, coloring books and crayons, Josie’s doll, and a few blankets and pillows. I keep their books/toys in a basket. It sounds organized but the truth is it doesn’t stay like that. It never fails that we have things strewn around and stuff gets piled on top of the basket!

We each have our water bottles by our seats, which, again, sounds ideal but honestly, Reece likes to throw his sipper cup down on the dirty floor. Why is it so fun to do that?! But of course, I haven’t tried doing that myself so am I missing a simple joy?? 🤔

We have also found audio books to be an asset for more peace and joy while driving. Even Reece and Mom seem to do better!

I’ve also learned I must watch my attitude or we all have a bad day traveling! Trips are high stress for me and I dislike them. It’s nice to see family and friends and enjoy the occasions but all that’s involved in the from here to there, and there to here, is not so enjoyable! If I complain, the children will be grouchy too. Josie was even starting to say she hates trips too, so I knew I had to improve!! Praying and asking God for strength and patience is so very important! We also usually ask for God’s protection at the beginning of a trip but do we remember to stop and thank Him for that safety at the end of a trip?!

Four DIY Spa Products

Published on March 12, 2021September 16, 2023 by Violet Rhodes3 Comments

Shortly after I was married, I began taking a great interest in health. I remember becoming aware of all the hidden toxins in body products. It was hard to grasp that such awful things like “cancer causing substances” were in my body wash and lotions! I distinctly remember a certain body wash that I had gotten especially for our honeymoon and my hubby loved the smell! I hated so much to just throw it away! I think I used it a few more times before I trashed it. I know the sorrow of leaving beloved scents behind. But! Your sense of scents will change as you switch to natural products!

And now? I wouldn’t dream of shopping for body products at normal places like Walmart or even Bath and Body Works. Not only because of parabens and phlathates swimming in the stuff, but the scent!! Powerfully disturbing! I’ll just say my family and I are now very sensitive to chemical fragrances, and besides, synthetic fragrances are endocrine disruptors!

So. Let’s look at a few things we can make ourselves that are great to use and completely non toxic! They don’t take a lot of hard to find ingredients. A few basics and the rest you may have in your home already!

1. Bath Salts

2 cups epsom salt, 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/4 cup sea salt, 6-10 drops essential oil of your choice. Stir together and pour into a pretty jar. Use about a 3/4 cup in a hot tub and soak until your wrinkly!

2. Sugar Body Scrub

3/4 cup raw sugar. (I like to grind mine up so it’s not as coarse.) 1/4-1/2 cup sweet almond oil, or oils like grapeseed or jojoba. Stir these together. I guesstimate a bit as to how it looks. You want it rather a bit extra oily than too dry. Add in 5-8 drops essential oils of your choice. After you pour it into your jar, the oil will separate and that’s ok! Just stir before using. Rubbing this on your body exfoliates the dead skin. Rinse off and pat dry. Now, aren’t you starting to feel pretty good about yourself, coming out of that soak and scrub?! But we’re not done yet!

3. Hand And Body Lotion

3/4 cup sweet almond oil. I’ve found this to work best so wouldn’t substitute. 2 Tablespoons beeswax pellets. *Using a white beeswax makes a whiter lotion. Melt these two on low heat until beeswax is completely melted. Cool 1-2 minutes.

In the blender pour 1 cup distilled water. *Using distilled ensures a longer shelf life because it’s pure water without contamination. Start running blender on high, then slowly drizzle in the oil/beeswax mixture and keep blending till emulsified. This happens pretty quick, but keep blending. Scrape the sides as it becomes more emulsified and there’s no water left. Add in your essential oils of choice- approx 30 drops. Blend again. Have your jars ready for pouring. As soon as it’s finished blending, pour the lotion into them. It does set up a little, so I like to scrape it out as soon as I can. And now finish off your spa night with this lotion! I bet you didn’t know lotion could be this easy to make! It also makes a unique little gift!

The worst part is the messy blender to clean. After scraping it out really good, I use paper towels to wipe it out as much as possible, before adding hot soap and water and blending. If you try washing it with greasy sides, it’ll be harder to wash because it won’t wash off as easy as food does!

4. Lip Balm

Melt over low heat: 1/2 Tablespoon Shea butter, 1/2 Tablespoon sweet almond or coconut oil, 1 scant teaspoon beeswax pellets. I use a small stainless steel measuring cup or bowl on the stove because I don’t like to use the microwave and besides, it’s easier to watch the progression of melting. Remove from heat and add essential oils. I just drop in as I feel led! If it’s peppermint oil, you don’t want too much, so maybe like 2-3 drops. But for lavender you can do more like 4-6 drops. Have your lip tubes ready and pour in quickly. This sets up pretty fast as soon as it’s away from heat. Cool before capping the lip tubes. I buy my tubes at Hobby Lobby.

* I have had a lot of trial and error in getting these lip balms to the exact consistency I like. If it’s too hard, add less beeswax and if it’s too soft add a tad more. I used to add a half Tablespoon beeswax but kept experimenting and cutting back. The most recent time I made it I used coconut oil and the scant half teaspoon beeswax. I was really pleased with the lovely softness of it! I like it buttery smooth but sometimes I’ve had trouble with it being harder to rub on. Then I just “huff” on it before using. The warm breath softens the balm a tiny bit and it rubs on better. Keep playing around if it doesn’t suit your likes the first time! *If it gets pebbly after a few months, remelt it, and pour back in the tubes. I’ve had that trouble especially with some salves I’ve made and I believe it’s the beeswax. After its remelted it’s nice and smooth again! Remember, these products have no preservatives and chemicals so it won’t be quite like your ‘normal’ lip balm or lotion. But if you’re like me and enjoy natural body care, you won’t mind! And besides, this way you KNOW what’s in your products!!

And just for what it’s worth… My latest batch of lip balm I made, I actually prefer over the lip balm from a very popular brand of natural body products!! Sure, their’s have more flavor variety but are hard to rub on! Mine just glides over my lips so smooth and shiny, it makes me beam with accomplishment! And I don’t even have to “huff” over it! 😜

* You can buy Sweet Almond oil, Shea butter and beeswax pellets at most health food stores or Amazon. I mostly use the Now brand. My beeswax is Sky Organics.

Adding labels and corralling these items in a cute basket makes a special gift most any woman would enjoy! My labels are very basic and you could print some much prettier than these, I’m sure!

Do you make some of your own body products? I’d love to hear about it!

Guest Post- The Barren Womb

Published on March 6, 2021March 6, 2021 by Violet RhodesLeave a comment

The following post is written by a cousin of Jerald, namely Luanne Mast. I have been inspired by her cheerful spirit and acceptance of her disappointments in life. I asked her to write on this subject so we who have families can learn to be more sensitive and compassionate to those who long for a brood of their own.

“Happy Birthday, dear Kylie…” rang thru the house filled with uncles, aunts, and grandparents. She smiled shyly as she opened the gifts for her 3^rd birthday. Her auntie had helped sing to her, eat cake, and gave a gift. But her mind was far away. Her heart was hurting. She felt a deep pain which almost felt physical. “What’s wrong with me? Why would this feeling come in the middle of a birthday party?”

Then it hit me. My firstborn could be right beside her cousin tonight having a joint birthday party. She was due 2 weeks before Kylie. They would have had so much fun together. Where was my child? My mind pictured the mound of dirt on the edge of the lawn. Then the streets of heaven. So different from Kylie’s life. “God, You know how much we long for a child to call our own. This dream to be fulfilled.”

That night my heart was sad. Very sad. Aching. Times like those seem to come at the most unexpected times. At times when I am not even worried I will lose my composure. Infertility. 4 miscarriages. DEATH. Grief. Acceptance. Losing heart to EVER dream about anything. Crying to God to not let you be hurdled to the depths of despair. Loneliness ripping at the fringes of another day at home alone. Fear of your husband being the next one He will ask you to give back to Him. Church family standing by praying and also saying so. Seeing the sunshine of a new morning and knowing God has a plan in our lives and is still good just like my friends told me. Being surprised at actually being able to thank God for the journey and grief He has allowed. Is life fair? NO! God never intended that I try to be like everyone else. He created me for his glory. Not mine. I cannot expect to grow if I continue comparing my life with others. “Be you. Not them.” Does that take the pain, the desire, the left-behind-feeling away? No. It is a reality. It is what God is asking me to go through.

Maybe you, my friend, are reading this and understand the pain. Maybe you have a sister who is going thru this while you feel continuously exhausted with your 3 little blessings. Maybe you are reading this just out of a caring heart. Bless each of you. This can be a sensitive subject. We are all such different makes and models, but all have the desire to be the same person – Mothers for God!

~To those of you who are experiencing barrenness of the womb…

You are at the very place God has allowed you to be. How you relate to it may or may not be the response God desires. There is nothing wrong in desiring children. Some people cannot figure out why you can’t just accept and be content with being childless. (They have never been there.) If you have not allowed bitterness to settle in, can reach out to folks whether they have children or not, and find your little place to serve God – you have accepted your place in life. Does it take your desires away? No. My favorite verse – “Four things say not, It is enough. The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.” I went thru a time when I felt like I had to let people know what this felt like. I was setting myself up for hurt. Not everyone will understand. Not everyone who actually asks you how it is going will understand. Let go of the feeling of needing to help them understand. You soon learn who you can share with and when to just reply “I’m doing good.” Then ask about their life.

Remember you may be hurting. So often hurting people hurt others. After the burying of different of our babies I know I did not respond right to people who tried to show us they cared. I took some of their comments wrong (and sometimes still do). I was suspicious of others. We are hurting. We are grieving lost dreams. Dreams for that specific child or the dream of never having children. They are lost dreams. Ask God to continue to heal and for a compassion for what others are going thru. Pray for that before going to a tea party, to church, or to any where you know you could respond wrongly.

We each have different bodies. What works for me, may not work for you. Feel free to share that thought with the person that brings to you the next thing to try that worked for so and so. I long for this writing to be encouraging to those who feel so alone in this journey. I wish I would have known so many of the things I know now, back at the beginning of this journey. It took close to a year to get pregnant the first time, but lost the baby in a week. After losing 2 babies we went the medical route. Many visits with a gynecologist ruled out things that actually left me feeling reassured. After a surgery for endometriosis and a bicornate uterus we were encouraged, and told we most likely will be fine. Am I sad we went the medical route? Not a chance. I feel like a different person—pain- free. But alongside all that, here’s a few things I wish I would have known 6 years ago. Research them and learn for yourself.

Do bloodwork/saliva testing for your hormones (progesterone, estrogen, testosterone), thyroid, Vitamin D, and adrenals. Find a midwife who can send you for lab work, read the results, and prescribe the needed supplements or progesterone (pills, vaginal suppositories or shots). Progesterone (bioidentical, not synthetic) seems to play an important part in conceiving or carrying a baby. Some midwives find it helpful if you chart your cycles. (Taking Charge of your Fertility book). A methylated form of vitamin B in the Smarty Pants or Meleluca’s multivitamin is more absorbable by some bodies. These are just a few things I am learning. Have I attained? No. Have I carried a baby full term? No. We decided to give my body time to heal and just work on my overall health. Amidst learning about my body and all the doctor visits, I still find rest in knowing there is a reason God has allowed this. Don’t get so wrapped up in all the things that might be wrong that you miss enjoying the things that are right…actually perfect. Your husband. Your duties and blessings as a wife.

I tend to get so involved in my day or projects that I don’t stop for lunch. That is not good self-care at all. Eat lunch. Sit outside in the sunshine. Read a book. Just zone out for a half hour or more. And enjoy it without feeling guilty. God didn’t intend for you to do everything for everybody because you have nobody around and then end up being so exhausted that you can’t enjoy the 1 loved one he did give you!

Let’s try to remember that we are just as prone to make snide or selfish comments. Saying to someone who has lost a 2 year- old child, “Least you had one to lose” is not from a compassionate spirit. Find things to do and ways to reach out and children to love. Sitting at home all the time wallowing in self pity will not give you purpose in life or many friends. Thinking NO ONE understands or cares is selfish. Let’s not be sensitive or easily offended. Deep down in they do care about us.

For those of you who have tried for years to conceive or have lost babies and are working thru that grief, please don’t compare griefs. Please talk to someone. Find someone who has been there. But also find ones who haven’t been there. There are always caring people as long as we don’t push them away. Just because you have only lost one and I have lost four doesn’t mean that I won’t be able to relate or do not want to talk with you. It doesn’t mean I have it figured out or feel like I have reached some plateau. It doesn’t mean I have had life so much harder than you. We each have times of suffering and are at different places in our journey, but we can be there for each other. I think the grief of lost dreams of having a baby or losing a baby thru miscarriage can teach each of us to be more compassionate and caring for others around us no matter what they are going thru if we allow it to make us better instead of becoming bitter like Satan would wish for. To each of you my friends….I know….It’s hard…I care. Let’s remember who created us this way. He has a plan. A beautiful plan. “He hath made everything beautiful in His time.”

~To the sister or friend of one with empty arms…

You play such an important role in her life and well-being. My sisters and mom have been such confidantes for me. I know I can tell them exactly how I am when they ask and they won’t tell every Ruth, Sarah, and Anna. Confidence is a huge thing for those of us in this. We feel like so much of our lives are already exposed. Don’t betray them. Don’t tell others details from their doctor visits or whether you know if they are trying to conceive or are taking a break. If others ask you about them because you are a good friend or sister, just encourage them to go talk to them themselves and that you don’ t want to betray her confidence in you as a friend. If they hear you repeating things that were told you, don’t be surprised if you don’t hear more from them when you talk again with them.

Ask them how they are really doing. And listen. They don’t want advise. They just need to talk somedays. They often already know the pat answers and phrases that they should be doing and thinking. They are most likely trying to come to grips with everything yet. Please don’t take it personal or judge her for not coming to see your newborn baby the first week or the first time to church. She may not even be up to bringing a baby meal either. Don’t just exclude her from a shopping trip with your friends because you are baby shopping and think it would be too hard for her. Tell her ahead of time what you are doing and that she is invited. Be willing to accept whatever she decides. Ask her throughout the trip if she is doing okay or if this is too much for her. She will feel your care.

Foresight is better than hindsight for us folks. It means the world to me when my sisters or friends tell me they are pregnant before they announce it to their other friends. Then I don’t have to be surprised right in front of everyone and try to digest all the feelings in front of others. Some of my friends have even done that when switching to maternity dresses, too. A text saying “Hey just letting you know I am planning to go into my maternity dresses this Sunday.” has melted my heart so many times.

Sometimes I come upon a group of ladies conversing. The conversation stops. I feel like a big intruder. Later I find out they were talking about births or pregnancy. Don’t just stop. Include us in your pregnancy and story too. It is harder to relate to you if you don’t tell us anything when we ask you how it is going. We know you tell others details about it. Just because we have never been there doesn’t automatically mean we do not care. But to continue on in that sort of conversation for a long time will not appeal either. Bring the conversation around to something she can join in with. She may walk away from a group that is just continuing on with such subjects. A text that night telling her you are sorry you didn’t think of her in that conversation goes a long way.

Be careful about making careless remarks about family planning, being “done” having children, or statements that take for granted you will have future pregnancies. Those comments can send daggers of pain through a woman’s heart that has learned she has no control over her fertility.

Be sensitive with blanket statements about ladies who dealt with infertility and then were gifted the miracle of pregnancy and birth. Comments like, “Well you know she went on the Reliv program, that must have been what finally did it” or “It was the Juice Plus vitamins she was taking” or “Wow they must have finally just relaxed and forgot about it and it happened!” or “You know she told me they surrendered and prayed to God like they never had before and they got pregnant.” Statements like that cause deep pain to your infertile friend and make her question her faith. Only she knows the desperate prayers she and her husband have prayed night after night, year after year, crying out to God to open her womb. Only she knows the surrendering of her will over and over and over again. Only she knows the handfuls of pills and vitamins she swallowed, the “miracle” shakes she forced down day after day, the ovulation kits they bought and tried, the progesterone cream she rubbed on, the crazy positions they attempted all at the “perfect” time…only to have their dreams crash again and again, month after wearying month.

Care. Truly care. Don’t just care to settle your curiosity. Invite her and her husband out for supper some evening to your favorite restaurant. Leave the children behind for a double date or take them along. Invite them to your house for supper and invite them to stay for family worship. They miss relating to children and their lives. Evenings can get long for a childless couple. Take an interest in their lives and what they do. Don’t just assume they don’t have much going. Sometimes they are so busy because so many folks assume they are getting bored or have the time to do this or that. They can be exhausted too. Please talk about your life, family, or a funny thing your child did that day to them…just don’t complain. If you have accepted where you are in life, she will sense that. I love when ladies include me in their lives. I find it hard to relate to the ones who share nothing about their lives because they are scared it will hurt me. That’s not relationship. Maybe ask her if you wonder if it is hard for her to hear you talk about whatever.

~Things to do for those struggling with infertility:

* Be aware of days that might be extra hard for her. Send her a text or a card, and let her know you’re thinking of her when there’s a new baby in the congregation and all the extra buzz surrounding it — birthing stories, baby meal schedules, and baby-looks-just-like-mom discussions. It’s easy for her to feel like everyone else is being handed miracles and she is left sitting on the sidelines year after year after year. It doesn’t change her situation but sometimes knowing someone cares makes the day a little brighter.

* Share your babies. Each person is different on this. Please ask them beforehand instead of just assuming they would love if you handed them your baby in church.

* Talk about it. Don’t let it be a huge white elephant in the room. Ask questions if you’re not sure how to relate. Ask if there’s anything you can do to make her feel more accepted and connected in the circle of ladies you’re a part of. Ask what discussions are painful for her to find herself in. Ask her how she’s coping on this journey she’s traveling. Ask if it makes it easier or harder to be offered babies to hold. Ask instead of just assuming. Ask questions that give you better knowledge on how to relate and care for her heart, not nosy questions that give you information to feed the gossip chain.

* Tell them early when you are pregnant, etc. Before she has time to overhear discussions on morning sickness and smock patterns and get suspicious. Her mind and ears are probably on high alert to those subjects and it’s painful when she realizes she’s been left out of the loop.

* Drop off a meal or breakfast casserole just because. She has never received baby meals and most likely has made lots for others while tears slid down her cheeks. Remember her with flowers or food or chocolate sometimes “just because.” And try to remember her on her birthday. She has very few times in her life that she is pampered by her friends. It’s easy for her to feel she’s the one that’s always giving, always serving, with no morning sickness, baby bump, or colicky newborn as a “reason” to sit back and take it easy.

* Include them in your family life. Invite them for supper, to join on a camping trip or another trip somewhere.

* Be intentional about subjects and conversations you can connect on outside of motherhood talk. Do you have a hobby in common? Invite her to sew or scrapbook or bake at your house. Go shopping together and purposely stay out of the baby department and off of those topics. Instead look at fabric or furniture or browse the book sections at the second-hand store. Sit and sip coffee together and ask her about her life, her hobbies and her interests. You have plenty of friends to talk baby stuff over with; this time focus on subjects that connect with her heart.

* Invite them in to join you in the nursery. We can’t help but notice you are in there with your babies and talking, but it’s just not our place.

* Have your little children give them gifts or cards. It means the world to get a brand- new children’s book handed to you from the hands of your friend’s two- year- old.

* Pray for her and let her know that at times. Love her and accept her just as she is. There will be times she puzzles you, times she hurts you with her seeming lack of interest in your life and your babies. Remember her grief is a private one – a grief that usually isn’t tangible. If she never buried babies there are no dates to remember, no graves to visit and lay flowers on, no photo book to look at, no memory corner filled with treasures in her living room… just an empty nothingness that stretches on and on without a beginning and an end. It’s difficult to find closure to a grief like that.

~ Things to do for those who have a miscarriage:

Order in a supper for them or take them a meal. A week of meals means so much after losing a baby.
Order a bouquet of flowers online or take her some.
My mom drove four hours decked with lavender scented lotion and a flannel sheet and gave me a full body massage. So comforting.
Give them a gift certificate for a massage.
Order Chocolate covered strawberries online thru Sherri’s Berries or make a plate of them
Invite her to a tea party the day of her due date along with 1-2 other friends. She’s dreading that day, but will not get anything around most likely. It is just therapy to get out of the quiet, lonely house. Make sure she does not spend the day alone!
Give a gift in memory of the baby they lost- a gray flannel Blanket, white teddy bear, a plaque, a book
Make a picnic basket for them to take on a picnic the day of her due date or close to it. This could also be done for your friend who has no children…just to show you care.
A sunshine basket from the church ladies

~Things not to say (that I have heard):

Relax. Maybe you are trying too hard to conceive.

Just hang in there. You will have a baby. (Are you God?)

You can have my children for practice tonight.

You can just do anything whenever you want! (Actually, we are very normal and have jobs and things to do just like you.)

At least you haven’t waited as long as so and so yet. (Who’s to say we won’t’?)

Are you staying busy with anything? (You can feel like they think you sit around every day.)

Maybe your baby was deformed. Then this is better.

It has to be easier to deal with the grief of losing a baby than to have a son run away from home like so and so had last week. (I can hardly process all that right now. I’m just trying to get thru my own grief.)

It is very common for ladies to miscarry at least once in their lifetime. The next one will probably be fine. (Are you God?)

“At least…” Any comment beginning with at least is not usually comforting to the grieving.

At least you know you can get pregnant.

At least there are no other children to take care of while you heal.

Having another child or adopting will probably help you forget. (No! No child will take the place of the one we lost.)

Why don’t you try to figure out more what’s wrong with your body and give it a rest before you try again? (We definitely have.)

At least it’s not like you have given birth and have all the pains of that. (Obviously you have never felt the pain of a miscarriage. The upheaval of hormones. The confused body. The terrible labor and then in the end a dead baby with 10 little toes and fingers just perfect as can be that you need to bury and let go. I can’t process how it compares or doesn’t to a full- term birth right now.)

Things you can say…

I care and am praying for you.

I can’t imagine what you are going thru, but I care.

How are you really doing?

Would this and this be too hard for you or would you enjoy it?

We appreciate the place you and your husband fill here. No one else can take your place.

We really admire the way you have accepted your journey and what God has called you to go thru. We don’t understand, but imagine it can’t be easy. We pray for you.

Just a simple, caring attitude will be felt with very few words. Acting like what they are going thru is nothing new or you’ve been there and done that and know of others who have had it way worse etc. will not reach their hearts. Compassion. Care. Prayer.

Luanne Mast lives in Colorado at the foot of the Rockies with her husband Lynford. She enjoys the outdoors, the view of the mountains, a clean house, cooking, and relationships (especially serving coffee or tea to her husband or friends while catching up on life). They both come from large families and enjoy all the company that brings. They have been working at an adoption from Columbia since December 2019 and are waiting to be matched. If you wish to reach out to her, she would love to hear from you. 91luanne@gmail.com

Layered Cakes And Love

Published on February 6, 2021September 16, 2023 by Violet RhodesLeave a comment

This post will be short and sweet. Well, actually more sweet than short. If your looking for a scrumptious dessert for a Valentine’s lunch or dinner, I recommend this Red Raspberry White Chocolate layer cake. An absolute paradise for the taste buds! Every once in awhile, I enjoy laying aside all gluten and sugar free recipes and bake up a lovely, fluffy cake! I usually take it to social functions so we have help eating it!

Red Raspberry White Chocolate Cake

Mix a white cake mix using directions on box, then melt 4 oz. baker’s white chocolate and beat into cake batter. Divide batter into 3 8” round cake pans. I first line them with wax paper then spray them well so they will release easily. Bake at 350* for 18-20 min. Flip onto wax paper lined plates to cool.

Red Raspberry Filling:

Whisk together 3 T. flour and 6 T. milk. Heat and stir over medium heat till thickened. Cool and set aside.

Cream together 6 T. Shortening and 3 T. Soft Butter, then beat in 4 T. melted red raspberry jam, 3 C. powdered sugar, 1/2 t. red raspberry flavoring and a pinch salt. Last beat in the cooled flour mixture. Beat very well.

Frosting:

Beat well 8 oz. soft cream cheese and 1 stick soft butter. Add in 4 oz. baker’s white chocolate squares, melted, and 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar and a pinch salt.

To assemble the cake, put one cake layer on platter or cake stand. (It works best to make the cake layers ahead of time, wrap individually in Saran Wrap and freeze for a day or at least a few hours. This makes them so much easier to work with when frosting and assembling!) Spread with red raspberry filling, some fresh raspberries, cut in half, then another cake layer. Repeat. Once the 3rd layer is on, frost with the white chocolate icing. Decorate with fresh raspberries and white chocolate peels as desired. Some fresh mint sprigs would look beautiful but I did not have any. Also, this is really sweet, so if you want to ice it with the ‘naked’ look, you could cut down on the sugar intake.😛 One of my friends did this cake like that for a party and it looked really pretty too!

Now here’s another cake idea but without all that flour and sugar! This doesn’t look Valentine’sish but it still works for a healthier yum! Surprisingly it has no flour in it at all! Though it’s not a tall, fluffy cake, it is still quite tasty!

Layered Ho Ho Cake

8 eggs separated

1/8 t. cream of tarter

8 oz. cream cheese

1 t. vanilla

1/2 c. simple sweet

1/ 3 c. cocoa

Beat egg whites with cream of tarter until stiff. Mix rest of ingredients together, then gently fold in egg whites. Divide batter into 3 8” round pans lined with wax paper. Bake at 300* for 30 minutes. Flip onto wax paper lined plates to cool.

Filling:

6 oz. cream cheese

1/4 c. simple sweet

1 t. vanilla

3/4 c. whipping cream

Mix cream cheese, sweetner and vanilla until smooth. Beat cream till stiff and add to cream cheese. Place one cake layer on plate or stand and spread on half of filling. Place another cake on top and spread with remainder of filling. Top with last cake.

Glaze:

2 T. Butter

2/3 c. Lily’s chocolate chips (or you can use another brand of sugar free chocolate chips if desired)

1 T. Simple sweet

1 t. Cocoa

2 T. Whipping cream

Melt butter and chocolate chips on low heat, then remove from heat and add rest of ingredients. Mix well. Cool a little before pouring over cake. Used with permission from Simple Foods.

More important than eating beautiful cakes is the love in your heart for those around you. I think this quote is so true- “Your love for God is no more than your love for the person you love the least.” When we have the Redemptive love of Christ in our hearts, He will help us love those ‘hard to love people’. “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” 1 John 4:7, 8. “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. John 13:35 A true test of whether we are really followers of Christ! In this day of social distancing and mask wearing, we can be the quiet, courageous person displaying love and kindness to all around us. There are many opportunities in this cold and fearful world. Be kind today!

Help Wanted

Published on January 29, 2021January 29, 2021 by Violet RhodesLeave a comment

We have been abundantly busy this month, working on a remodel project in our home. We had mold in our master bedroom and bath to irradicate. The remodeling makes a depressing mess and disturbs the whole house. But now with it restored to a fresh, new look and orderliness, makes one sigh with satisfaction.

I have also not been feeling well these past months. Next to zero energy levels spins ordinary work into looming mountains. We’re still trying to navigate roads leading to what might be the cause. I would like a device to attach to myself that would spell out the exact issues- like reading a temperature device. (If you know of someone who invents these, let me know.) The idea of mold being a culprit, at least in part, is quite likely.

And so your thinking, “ahh she needs help with her housework, or another remodel project or cooking or some other thing.” I could definitely use help especially in the cooking department. We’re only a family of four but I continue to be amazed at the effort it takes to keep a supply of decent food around. Dietary restrictions and lack of inspiration can sometimes make cooking feel more joblike than joyful. Then there’s all the ordinary effort it takes to keep a household running moderately smooth. But no, I’m not asking for help in these areas. “What, is she even trying to say”?!

I’ve been struggling to get blogs out like I would like to or that I feel are chipper enough. I’ve felt like some of my recent ones bordered on lame but I sent them anyway and hoped somebody was inspired. I’m working on another but it’s a vast subject and requires more details and gathering information than I’ve had time. So I pushed it off again and kept thinking “what could I send out”? Nothing really clicked or worked to write about presently. So I decided to do this one to ask for your help.

Awhile back I had a reader request tips on traveling with children/toddlers. We probably all have our own ways of doing things to make traveling more smooth. If y’all chip in and share your tips, I’ll compile them and make a later post and we can all enjoy the tidbits of other’s advice!

So what are your tips on how to stay organized when you travel with your children? Do you pack or load a certain way? How do you organize their books, toys, blankets, and pillows? How do those of you with scholars organize and work at their school work? (if you take that along.) How do you do snacks without the vehicle looking like it’s not been swept in 2 1/2 years, after the first go around of snacks? Do you make particular homemade snacks that are non messy? Do you make some healthy, homemade foods in an effort to help guard against not getting sick as quickly? How do you keep everyone’s hands at least halfways sanitary? (This particular one really has been a huge one for me to deal with, with my children because I’m way too germaphobia. I’ve had to back down ALOT from my phobias!) Share your healthy snack/food recipes too, if possible. Tips for traveling by air are welcome too because I know some of my reader’s most common form of traveling is by flight. If you have other traveling tips outside of what I mentioned here, feel free to share those too!

You may email your tips to me at jeraldsflower@gmail.com (do not reply to this blog post) Having them to me by February 8 would be appreciated. Thank you for your help!

Why Hast Thou Made Me Thus?

Published on January 15, 2021January 15, 2021 by Violet RhodesLeave a comment

This is an article I wrote for the Inspiration Emails several years ago, so bear with me for those of you who’ve read it before. This topic is something I have really been struggling with again lately. I was doing an extensive fast the other week, only to weigh myself and discover I had not lost a single thing but instead, gained a whole pound!!! A woeful predicament indeed!! Obsessing over weight sure doesn’t bring happiness. But why does it bother me so much? There’s various reasons of course, but I conclude the bottom line is simply pride. It humiliates me that I cannot at least be a little less fleshy than I once was back in my new bride days…

And so it is, that I endeavor to resign myself to the body God has given me…. Perhaps it’s not your weight that bothers you. Maybe it’s a self acceptance of your personality, your looks, your health, whatever it is for you, know that God created you exactly as He thought best! You can serve Him the best just the way you are! (Who needs this reminder more than the writer herself!) 🙄

I heaved another big sigh as I began dressing for church. “I don’t want to hear it!” my husband quickly replies. “I know what you’re thinking!”
Yes, my dearest on earth knows me quite well! “But why can I never be thin?!” I grumble inside. “I try so hard to lose weight and the stubborn pounds cling on for dear life! And often, when I do lose a few, it isn’t long till they’ve found me again.” Dark thoughts continued to torment me as I tried on one sweater and then another hoping one would at least make me appear a little thinner than I really was.
I have a bigger build and never owned a cute sized waist. Plus, several full-length stomach surgeries have left me with bumps and bulges that I call mini Appalachian Mountains. I can’t imagine me with a lovely smooth tummy and I’ve murmured discontent way too often.
“Honey, I love you just the way you are!” Sweet words from my sweet man! I know he wearies of my complaints but how much more does God? Nay but, o man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay? (Romans 9:20, 21)
Shame on me! Being discontent and not accepting ourselves is sin. When we struggle to accept ourselves, we are focusing on ourselves instead of God! Our evangelist this fall spoke one evening on man being the crowing glory of God’s Creation. “We are here to bring honor and glory to God and one of the ways to do that is to accept ourselves the way God made us. Take the focus off yourself and serve God the best where He calls you!”
It’s okay to try losing unnecessary pounds but when it becomes obsessive, it becomes wrong. Let’s accept ourselves the way God chose to create us and remember He made us exactly like he wanted us to look! Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! (Isaiah 45:9)

365 New Days

Published on January 1, 2021December 31, 2020 by Violet RhodesLeave a comment

A brand New Year ahead of me-

What it will hold I cannot see.

Let it NOT be the year of a turning away,

From the LOVE of Christ to seek the world’s way.

For this MAY be the year of our Lord’s return-

“Is my heart ready?” Should be our concern.

Or this COULD be the year that’s the last one for me-

Eternity’s ahead, let’s live carefully!

Regardless what comes, let’s do Christ’s commands

We surely can TRUST our lives in His hands!

-Violet Rhodes

Cranberries And Christmas

Published on December 17, 2020December 9, 2025 by Violet Rhodes3 Comments

Isn’t the month of December such a unique month?! Always filled to the brim with all the holiday excitements of special baking, shopping, gift wrapping, food making, Christmas suppers, programs and get togethers….

We are probably too quick to take a lot for granted…. At least I am. There’s so many in this world who are extra lonely and sad right now, because they know it’s a time for families to get together and they have none. (Or maybe aren’t allowed to get together!) And worst of all, many do not know the real meaning of Christmas! They’ve never experienced the Joy of Jesus in their hearts and thus knowing the real meaning of the coming of Jesus as a baby so many years ago! Are we compassionate and showing the love of Jesus to others wherever we can?!

Recently I read a story of a family who enjoyed visiting a live nativity at a church. When the children peeped in to see “baby Jesus”, there was nothing but a few rolled up blankets! What disappointment! A lesson for us, let’s be very conscious of the fact that people are watching us as Christians and are they seeing Jesus in us or will they be disappointed too?! Are we ministering to the needy around us and thus showing Jesus?

Here’s a different twist to add to your holiday snacks…. I was super pleased when I tried this out!

Cranberry Salsa

1 12 oz. package cranberries, fresh or frozen, chopped

1 c. sugar

1 jalapeño seeded and chopped

1/2 c. chopped fresh cilantro

a bit of chopped onions

Mix the chopped cranberries and sugar until well mixed, then stir in the remainder of ingredients. I think 1 cup sugar is plenty but I know cranberries are sour. But feel free to experiment with less or using a sugar substitute! This gets juicy after it sets a bit. Serve with cream cheese and crackers. Yum!!

Cranberry Nut Cookies

Here’s another recipe I just got and made very recently. Thanks to a new friend I “met” recently on a WhatsApp chat, namely, Rachel Weirich, who was so kind in allowing me to share on here!!

2 c. almond flour (not packed)

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

1/3 c. simple sweet or sweetner of choice

2 eggs

1/2 t. vanilla

1/4 c. melted coconut oil or butter

1/4 c. chopped pecans

1 c. frozen, chopped cranberries

Mix dry ingredients together then add in remaining ingredients and stir well. Drop on to greased cookie and flatten with fork. Bake at 350* for about 10-12 minutes. Once cooled, drizzle with melted dark chocolate. I couldn’t drizzle the chocolate in a beautifying fashion so I ended up just spreading the chocolate over top!😜

I was happy to have another yummy gluten free cookie recipe to add to my collection and especially a pretty and healthy Christmas cookie at that!

Cranberry and Popcorn String

Thread a needle, knot the end, and let your children have fun stringing together cranberries and big popcorn for simple holiday decor!

May you and yours enjoy a blessed Christmas and New year! How thankful I am for the assurance that we have the Lord to walk beside us every step of the unknown year ahead! He will not forsake his own and is so worthy of our trust!

Jerald & Violet Josie Kate- 5 Reece Edison- 16 months

Daily Planners And A Giveaway!

Published on December 3, 2020December 3, 2020 by Violet RhodesLeave a comment

Do you love or hate a daily planner? Do you make a lot of lists or keep track of schedules and appointments on a nearby calendar? Or what is your method for keeping your head together, besides the skull our heads come packaged with?

I am a paper type of gal and always have loved notebooks, pens and pencils. Sticky notes too are a favorite for me! I make lists with company menus, lists of ‘forget nots’ before trips and even keep sticky notes and a pencil in my nightstand for those times I think of something I must do or add to the grocery list or who knows what it may be! But if it’s on paper, I rest much better than trying to remember mentally! So of course I love planners and have used one for years!

There’s a wide variety out there to choose from and even several designed by Mennonite ladies, which one of those is what I use. I personally don’t like one that’s too overwhelming. The one I have really enjoyed for the past 7 years is The Time Keeper by Starla Kreider. The cover is always gorgeous which is inspiring! It’s spiral bound which is a must for me so it lays flat or can be flipped to one side. It has monthly tabs to easily locate the correct month. It has a monthly calendar page where you can jot down events and appointments, with a narrow section beside that to jot down monthly projects.

I love the way the weekly sheet is laid out! It begins with Monday and ends with Sunday, and I like that, because to me, the week feels like it starts Monday. On the opposite side of the page, is space for each day’s menu, plus a large space for your ‘to do’ list. There’s lots of extra space in the back of the Planner for notes and a gift idea section. There’s perforated shopping lists too, which I have yet to become organized enough to use them efficiently! I also love the ‘planning ahead’ section in the back with a small space beside each month of the next year. You can scribble in the dates of a far off reunion or vacation or whatever. I use it especially toward the end of the year before I switch over to the next year’s planner. Here are pictures of The Time Keeper.

I find it so helpful to use a planner on a regular basis. It helps much to just free up my mind! I like to write down the simple, normal duties on a regular basis. Monday’s list is usually, wash, cleanup house, and then it varies from week to week. But if you consistently do laundry or cleaning on a certain day, consistently write it down. Sometimes I also choose to do the ironing and mending on Monday. Or if I want to sew on Tuesday, then on Monday I also try to cut out the dresses etc and prepare for sewing already on Monday. Then Tuesday, I feel ready to start as soon as my morning duties are completed.

If I’m going to town on a certain day, that’s what I write for that day and usually not much else. It kinda soaks up a good portion of the day, especially with children. And then also till you get the groceries put away, naps and make supper. On Fridays it usually looks like, wash, clean. Sometimes I do break down the ‘clean’ into smaller jobs, such as clean bathrooms, mop, dust. Otherwise, it feels like your really getting something done, but you’ve still not completed all the cleaning and thus there’s nothing to cross off yet for all the effort! Crossing off completed jobs is a big thing in my mind!

Even just writing down small jobs such as writing a letter or getting a card off in the mail, or placing a call-in or online order helps to get those things accomplished! When there’s a day that doesn’t look as busy, try making a note for a few smaller jobs like those and see how good it feels to get that done! When I near the end of one week, I usually have an idea of what the next week is looking like. That’s helpful for when my husband or someone asks, what do you have going next week? Could you help with…? Mentally I think of my planner and what the week looks like. If it’s not full of urgent pressing things, then I feel I can plan around that event and make it suit.

When I think of jobs I would like to do but can’t right now, I like to page ahead in my planner and make a note of those jobs several weeks or a month or more out. It saves my mind, and yet keeps me from forgetting entirely! (keeping a list of ‘running’ jobs on a sticky note is helpful, because you can keep moving the whole list to the following weeks, if you aren’t able to get the projects completed) And yet it’s there for a reminder when time does allow to work on some of those jobs.

I also love a planner for keeping track of my turn on church schedules. As soon as I get a new list, I go to my planner and write it down in the week that I’m on for Sunday host, or cleaning church, or taking a meal for someone and so on. I still highlight our name on the list, but again, this way I can forget about it, knowing I’ll be reminded as I get closer to that week.

If your not a paper type of person, that’s fine. Maybe you make notes on your phone for reminders and that works too. I hate using my phone for reminders but that’s because I’m not techy enough! (I have already out of desperation). But I like my paper that doesn’t disappear or refuse to cooperate!

I find using a planner also helps that I don’t just aimlessly go in circles forgetting what I really wanted to accomplish that day. It still feels like that sometimes and for sure, there are days I don’t get everything done I wrote down! (That’s why I use pencils!) And I need to be ok with that! Interruptions are the normal aren’t they?! Its also nice to just block off a day to just ‘take it a lil easier’. Jerald frequently chides me that I ought to just relax a bit more. And it sure helps if I plan ahead for that, or otherwise, I can think, “oh hey I’d have time to do this, and this and this! And before I know it, I get all involved in something that I never even planned to do! (I hate procrastination!) But I’m a bit too much the opposite! If it helps me out tomorrow, why not do it today?! Moderation in all things.

Have you been inspired to try a Planner this next year? Choose a style you like and give it a try! (You can purchase the Time Keeper here).

I will be giving away this Time Keeper planner! If you would like to be entered for the drawing send an email to jeraldsflower@gmail.com with your name and address by Sunday, December 6. (If you receive my blog via email do not reply to this post but instead send me a separate email).

Happy planning!