When Couples Dream

I was reading wedding cards at the supermarket this morning. The many cards talked about the new bride and groom and how exciting their new, life-long adventure was going to be. The couples were all dressed up and smiling. They had dreamed- a- dream of an engagement, a marriage and a happy home.

But sometimes, as the years go on, the couples get trapped in their weariness. They are bogged down with bills and stress. They start getting into a rut, where they are just surviving. The brightness and joy has faded and all we see is sadness in their eyes, as they go about their life.

I think couples forgot to keep dreaming.

I have heard of newly married young people who dream of owning a new house, or having a baby. They dream of owning businesses and having a fulfilling job. They dream of a sweet, happy home.

As they get older, the dreams must change. Perhaps they already have the children. Maybe they already have the lovely home. Yet, they must still dream. These dreams, these visions and goals, bring joy and hope. They can cheer the heart and help us go on.

So today, I must ask you.... Have you stopped dreaming?

Blessings
Mrs. White




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Organic Coconut Peanut Butter - Giveaway

Product - Organic Coconut Peanut Butter (16 oz. Glass Jar)

Company - Tropical Traditions.

Price - $9.99

I bought a chocolate cake mix from the supermaket. After I mixed up the batter, I swirled some of the organic coconut peanut butter into the mix. When the cake was finished, it had a delicious flavor!

There are several different things you can do with coconut peanut butter. Try adding it to a cookie mix, or spread it on homemade bread.

The Giveaway
Would you like a chance to try this product? I have one jar available for a givewaway. To enter, all you have to do is leave me a comment.


For additional entries:


1. Follow Tropical Traditions on Twitter.

2. Subscribe to the Free Tropical Traditions Newsletter.


*Please leave a separate comment for each entry.*


Note - this contest is closed. The winner is - Cristi

One random winner we be selected on Wednesday, September 20, 2011. (U.S.  Entries only.) If I am unable to reach the winner within 48 hours, an alternate winner will be selected. Your entry is only valid if you include a way for me to contact you. 


*Disclosure - I received this product from Tropical Traditions for review purposes.* 

Is Mother at Home?

It takes a lot of effort to make a happy home. We mothers deal with trials and moods within our families. We have lots of housework, planning and errands to attend to. We also must keep our spiritual lives in order.

Spiritual duties of Bible reading, prayer, listening to hymns (or singing them) and spiritual songs are what help to nourish our souls. These are required on a daily basis to help keep the toxic world around us from causing us harm.

I read this beautiful analogy from the 1800's book, Aunt Jane's Hero. She described a yearning for Heaven, that had to do with wanting to be with Jesus. It wasn't about the siblings, babies or loved ones that went on before us. While being with those precious people again is our goal, we are seeking the eternal presence of Jesus because He is the foundation of it all; and the sweetness that we crave. The author of Aunt Jane's Hero, compared this with a child who comes home. He walks in the door and calls out, "Is Mother at Home?" If he finds that mother is there, he is content and secure and happy. It doesn't matter if Daddy is there or if siblings are there, for they may come home soon. But the center of the home - Mother - the shining light of it all, is what brings the sweet, relieved smile. This is the presence we yearn to go home to.

I want to be just like that Mother. But I fail miserably. I want everyone to come home and say, "Is Mother here?" And I want them to smile and seek me out. I want to provide them with selfless love and servant-hood to bring them great joy in our humble home.

Blessings
Mrs. White

American Housewives are Lazy Squaws - says one source.

Mother as the Coach - a life-long job of mentoring and inspiring.

Struggling with Little Money and too much work -  The Homemaker's Despair.


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The Christian Home Magazine - issue 27

Dear Readers,

Monday's The Christian Home weekly blog magazine ran for 7 months. Recently, when I lost my home computer, I had to stop producing each issue. After several weeks, 3 of the regular writers graciously offered to take turns hosting future editions on their own blogs.  The newest issue is hosted by Angie at Petra School. I hope you will take a few minutes to visit and read the articles.

We also added a new feature. If you remember my Vintage Healthy Home link-up (part of the Fit Mommy program) on Friday's, you'll notice it has now become part of the Christian Home Magazine. We have a host-writer for this, and you are invited to visit her site and share your fitness check-ins! This will start within the next week.

New issues will be published every Monday Morning. Thank you so much for reading!

Blessings
Mrs. White

The Kitchen Martyr

I was just scrubbing my dimly-lit kitchen tonight. It was so pleasant in there. Yet I am tired and worn out from a long day. As I cleaned, a calmness came over me. I was listening to Clair De Lune  on CD. It made me think of being a Kitchen Martyr. (gentle smiles)  I worked and slaved in the kitchen, but enjoyed it tremendously because the music comforted and soothed me.  When I was finished, I looked around at the pleasant rooms - my kitchen and my parlour. Everything was put back "to rights," and looked lovely. All the work was worth it.

I read somewhere that housewives in the 1960's spent an average of 4 hours a day cleaning their homes, compared to 2 hours a day for modern housewives.  I was amazed. I realize that mothers are often ill, or they are very busy, but if we could fit in more housework in our days, we would really enjoy the effort and the result.

I will leave you with this thought from Mathew Henry - "It is the duty of those who have the charge of families to look well to the ways of their household.  The affectation of state and the love of ease make many families neglected."  The love of ease, is something I am constantly fighting against!


Blessings
Mrs. White
(From Nana's computer)


For mothers of little ones, I always took naps when my babies did. I cleaned while they played nearby. They always giggled when I vacuumed! For more on this, see "Keeping House with Small Children."

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Hurricane Irene

We had quite a storm throughout the east coast of the United States! Vermont, where we live, was hit by Hurricane Irene as well. Many roads are still closed. There was flooding and loss of power. We are high up in the mountains, safe and unharmed! Our house and our property are also just fine.

However, on the night it was hitting our area, we had an emergency situation. My husband and I had to rush out the door and drive for several hours. I prayed the entire time that the Lord would hold the storm until we got back home. I was amazed that we were able to complete our mission and we are all back at home and safe.  Thank God!!!!!

I know many of you were worried, sending e-mails and messages. Thank you so much for your kindness and well wishes!

I am still without a computer. I am writing less and less. But still trying to find a way to get to borrowed computers more often so I can write my little visits here!

Hope you are all doing okay!

blessings
Mrs. White

The Sum of Godly Motherhood

Someone asked Mother Teresa if she ever got discouraged working with the poor in Calcutta. They wondered if seeing no success in her daily tasks ever made her feel like she wasn't doing worthwhile work. Her answer was that she was not called to a mission of success, but a mission of mercy - a mission of work.

I see this as what we mothers are doing in the home. We are laboring in difficult fields, training and caring for our children. Sometimes we encounter stubbornness, willfulness and foolish decisions, as our children learn and grow into adulthood.  They don't see all the work we do behind the scenes - we struggle with drought, too much rain, wildlife and a multitude of weeds who come in and try to destroy our crops. We toil in these fields on a daily basis and often we don't see success. We wait. . . and we pray. . . and we beg God to give us patience and mercy so that we can continue on each day. But we rarely see our results until many years later.

The Bible says that children rise up and call their virtuous Mother blessed. Often, those same children do not  realize the sacrifice and toil and prayers that went into all her work. They also don't realize all she did, through all those years, as she submitted to God in her work, with all trust and faith, that these very acts, helped create the virtuous character she possesses in her old age.

Blessings
Mrs. White
(Written on a borrowed computer)

The Very difficult days - No Income and the Basics of Life.

With tears - To Encourage the Downcast Housewife.

The Joy of Charity - The Good Deed Money.

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