Closing my Household Account

Throughout the year, I kept a record book of my household expenses.  The majority of entries were entered by my youngest son, John (15). I have taught him general bookkeeping by having him look over my receipts, organize them, and enter the totals of my spending. 

At this very moment, he is closing out my accounts for the year.  He is in the process of getting monthly spending totals, by looking over the handwritten entries in my old fashioned ledger book.  He is analyzing the numbers and thinking about all the different things his mother spent money on this year.

 (There is no computer doing this for him. It is an old fashioned method of thinking and seeing the history of our financial life.)

When he finishes the monthly totals, he will give me a final figure of exactly how much money I spent during the entire year. 

Tomorrow, we will set up a new household account in our ledger book. This will be for 2013. We will make plans and goals and find ways to be as economical as we can.  Since John has been working with me all year, I will seek his advice, ideas and input.    This is a very precious way for him to learn how to manage money, by helping his Mama to manage her household funds.

Blessings
Mrs. White


Great Peace - The Note in Mother's Pocket.

When Things are Going Wrong - Forgotten Kindness in Marriage.

We Took One of These - A Vow of Poverty.







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My Books

The Following is a list of 2 of my books which are currently available.   More will be added when they are ready.   These were written from my rural Vermont home, designed to encourage mothers and homemakers.


1. For The Love of Christian Homemaking.




Details:

- 274 pages, paperback

- Includes a complete index of 160 entries.


- 6" x 9"

- Front cover image is from Mrs. White's home.

- Available for sale at Amazon.


From the back cover:

"You won't find cleaning advice or the latest ideas for saving money in this book. What you will find is a collection of over 150 visits from Mrs. White's parlour during her homemaking breaks.

Each visit is from her daily life. These include remembrances, ideas, essays or short daily journals. There are sad times and happy times; sickness and health; different moods; and dealing with the good and the bad. These are designed to encourage, inspire and motivate you to keep charm and romance alive in a humble home."






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2.  Mother's Faith.



Details

- paperback


- 6" x 9"

- Available for sale at Amazon


"Essays, Lamentations and Encouragement From a Christian Mother of Waywards"

“A little book of hope for the difficult years of Mothering older children.”

The book contains a collection of essays, gathered from this blog. They were specifically written by this mother of five, in the midst of my own sorrow and trials, over the course of 3 years.

 It is a plain, small paperback book, but packed with an important, ongoing message - Mother's Faith must never waver, no matter what the waywards do in the home. Mother will one day reap a harvest of joy. This book will help give you a holy patience.


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For the Love of Christian Homemaking

My New Book Is Ready!

 "For The Love of Christian Homemaking: Pleasant Visits from my Parlour "

Details:

- 274 pages, paperback

- Includes a complete index of 160 entries.


- 6" x 9"

- Front cover image is from Mrs. White's home.

- Available for sale at Amazon.


From the back cover:

"You won't find cleaning advice or the latest ideas for saving money in this book. What you will find is a collection of over 150 visits from Mrs. White's parlour during her homemaking breaks. 

Each visit is from her daily life. These include remembrances, ideas, essays or short daily journals. There are sad times and happy times; sickness and health; different moods; and dealing with the good and the bad. These are designed to encourage, inspire and motivate you to keep charm and romance alive in a humble home."


This is a compilation of posts from the past 3 years, specifically chosen for the Christian homemaker.  I would love your help spreading the word.. More books are in the works. Thank you so much for your support, kind comments and continued encouragement! 

Blessings
Mrs. White




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The Note in Mother's Pocket

Throughout the day, worries often come to mother's mind.   She may be troubled about this child, or that one.  She may be concerned about finances or stormy weather.  She may be worried about her husband or how to handle some difficulty.

These thoughts can make her shaky, sad and fearful.  But the wise mother has learned a little secret.  She keeps a note in her pocket.

This note is a little reminder of the answers to all her troubles.  She will go about her homemaking duties, washing clothes, polishing furniture, doing dishes, tending the children and making food.  Every so often, she will reach in her pocket and remember the note.  This soothes her rising fears.

Sometimes, when times get really tough, mother will take the note out of her pocket.  She will lay it down on the table before her, and she will read it.  Seeing the words on the note comfort her greatly.  Then she puts the paper back in that special place, where she can carry it around everywhere. 

There is something from Scripture in I Samuel 17:47.  It is a very precious message.  No matter what our troubles, no matter what Goliaths we face, or our children face, ". . . the battle is the Lord's. . ."

And these are the very words on Mother's note.

Blessings
Mrs. White

Many Won't Like the Answer to This - Why The High Cost of Food?

Are You One of These?  - The Old Time Housewife.

I am  - Not Happily Married.



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Christmas in Vermont

It is snowy and quiet here in Vermont.   There are no crowds. There is little traffic.  The world will stop its hustle for just a little while.   In each country, throughout the entire world, many will pause and consider the birth of Christ, the coming of the Savior; and they will be humbled and grateful.

In many homes, families will gather together.  Businesses will close.  Children will look forward to Christmas dinner and Christmas treats.  They will enjoy a national holiday that acknowledges the Christian faith.  It is an amazing time.

There is a spirit of kindness, of caring and of concern for fellow man.   There is no other day like it.

From our Vermont home to yours, Have a joyful, peaceful Christmas!

blessings
Mrs. White


{If you are receiving this post by email, click on the link to take you directly to the blog and hear Christmas Cannon.}




Christmas Past:

- To Encourage the Downcast Housewife 

- A Christmas without Presents

- Mothers with Christmas Courage




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Spotting the Holy

In the old days, a child would see a police officer and know he represented help and safety. The police officer was trusted. We all knew who the officer was because of the way he dressed and the way he carried himself.  He was an ambassador for the law.

This should be the same way when people spot a person on the street. They may notice a kind demeanor, kind eyes, and a humbleness about them. Onlookers might notice a peace and they may think, "here is one of God's own."

Recently, on the news, I saw a modern day nun.  I was deeply saddened by her appearance. I am not sure which denomination she was from, because I realize not all nuns have changed, but this one was a modern one.  Her hair was dyed blond. It was hanging down and messy.  She was wearing common clothes.  Looking at her, you would have no idea she was a nun. You would have thought she was a regular, everyday person.  Why did this make me sad? Because a nun has consecrated herself entirely to God and His work.  She dresses in a specific "uniform."  When people see her, they immediately consider her to be a missionary worker for the Lord and a source of help and hope. 

This "spotting of the holy" should not be taken away.  Each of God's children must dress and carry themselves in a way that is selfless in this difficult, self-centered world.  Each representative of holiness must be somehow a little different from the masses.  And this will create thousands of lights across the land to lead many home.

Blessings
Mrs. White

Old Time Religion - These Things Will Comfort my Children.

What Will You Do? - When There Isn't Much.

Seek not thine own glory -  The Behind-the-Scenes Mother.





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A Home without Chaos

Some days I sense enough anxiety that I feel as if it will choke the life out of me. But this is what slows me down. This is what stops my busyness and takes me to a precious state of contented weariness.

It makes me yearn for a life of peace and happiness.  And this anxiety helps make it happen.

Grandfathers and Grandmothers who have slowed down, and keep to a home routine are the most peaceful people I know.  They have lived long lives and have experienced many things. Very few things surprise or startle them anymore.  They smile knowingly and have the greatest amount of patience in anyone I've ever seen.

The home routine of the elderly goes at a slower pace.  They are not rushing off to this event or that one.  They have homes without chaos.  This may seem difficult to replicate when there are little ones and teenagers with so many needs, but it can happen.  It comes from the heart.

I have cut back on so many things that there is much time for leisure.  This time of leisure makes me patient and loving and able to endure many things. 

Those around us may have trials and troubles, but Mother's presence calms and soothes it all.

 To have a home without chaos does not mean there is no trouble, for that would be a lonely, solitary place with no residents.  This home I speak of, the peaceful home, comes from a soul weary mother who is heartsick for heaven.  There is a joy in her demeanor that quiets onlookers. 

Modern day troubles are nothing to her, because they are nothing to her God.  She knows who is sovereign over all. She has great faith that He is in control. Why should she fret?

 Her heartsickness makes her talk of the great journey she is slowing taking towards her eternal home. Why should she be caught up in the trials of this life?  Her King will take care of that.   

A precious, peaceful home is a state of mind.  It is deliberate, but takes much effort.   It can happen for those who are weary of this world's game.  It starts with a mother of great faith, who knows to whom she belongs.

Do you see that heavenly light in the window?  Do you see the peace and warmth in Mother?  She is the keeper of the home without chaos.  All who enter her house, despite what they see before them, are quickly comforted by the welcome of the heaven-bound mother.

Blessings
Mrs. White

Home Memories - Security of Home Routines.

A Slow and Simple Life - How a Housewife Passes the Time.

A Peaceful Place  - A Special Kind of Home.





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