The Parenting Report

Peaceful view at Plymouth Notch, Vermont. (July 2025) 

I have heard the common saying that we must take time to pray. When I was a young mother, I used to hear that reminder and say to myself, "I am praying all day. What are they talking about?" I was always praying and seeking help and guidance. It was not until recently that I really understood the time and sacrifice it takes to literally take time to pray.

I will liken this to what it is like as a parent praying for one's children. I would pray on the bad days, I would pray when a crisis hit, I would pray for help.  These are all good things, but I missed out on something beautiful. It was a daily lifeline of comfort with something I will call "The Parenting Report."

After I have spent the day babysitting grandchildren, I will give a report of the day to their mother. We will go over the plans and solve problems of what to do next time or how to spend the next day. We enjoy talking about each one of the children and making plans based on each of their personalities and abilities. It is a joy to talk to their mother about them since we both love them so much.

This is exactly what I should be doing each evening with my dear Lord. He loves my children and my grandchildren so dearly. But it requires the sacrifice of time (from what I think I would rather be doing).  Sometimes I am so tired, I can barely pray. I know the Lord hears my heart. But when I plan a time of Scripture reading, meditating and finding joy in the beautiful Word of God, and then get on my knees to talk to my Heavenly Father about each one of my children and grandchildren, this will bring abundant blessings. I can ask for help and guidance for each one. I can pray for wisdom and ask for just the right words and actions to help lead them on the precious path of light. This time with God, as a parenting report of each and every day's events, will bring me the right counsel and strength to do the work of mothering and Grand-mothering with the blessing of my dear Lord.

This time with God reminds me of enjoying phone conversations I used to have with my mother. I would ask for advice about my little ones and she would comfort and encourage me. At other times, I used to walk into the living room to seek help from my Father. He would look up from the Bible he had been reading and give me time and attention to help soothe my worries and turn my attention to help from above.  I walked away from these conversations with a grateful and rested heart.

I want to do this with prayer. I need to make time, at the end of each day, to give a parenting report to my Father in Heaven. I will seek his guidance and comfort. I will give him a great deal of my time. I will not hurry or rush to have the prayer over-with. I will make it a beautiful part of my day; the time I will tell my Lord all about my worries and my joys. I will find peace and rest, knowing that I will not have to do any of this on my own. My Father will take care of it all.  . . He will bless the next generation. 

Blessings
Mrs. White

 From the Archives - 

Inspiration from the Mother of D. L. Moody - Poverty in the 1800's.

Learning Thrift from History - Adapting to the High Cost of Living. 

 Peaceful Living - Simplicity of Old Fashioned Homemaking. 

 - To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

 Help for hard times at home - 

House Keeping in Hard Times: Essays and Encouragement from a Christian Housewife

 Paperback, 180 pages

 As you read the entries, you will get a sense of what it is like as a Christian housewife through the ups and downs of life.  Topics include motherhood, marriage, taking care of children, cleaning, living on a low income, saving money, and building up the family with faith as the foundation.

Independence Day Retreat

The village store (museum) in Plymouth Notch. 

There is a quiet village in a rural town in Vermont.  Every time I visit this historic place, I feel such a sense of peace and rest. To get there, one must travel down long country roads, past a few covered bridges, and beside stunning mountain views. This special place is called Plymouth Notch. 

I visited this beautiful spot this morning, on my way home from a journey. They are setting up for the 4th of July events.  I walked around the village and into some of the buildings.  There was heavy rain falling, making the scenery look extra lovely. I was grateful for an umbrella.

Schedule of events, posted on the door of the visitor's center.

There is a large dining tent that has been set up near the entrance of the visitor's center.  Catering trucks are parked nearby. 

Parking area at the visitor's center.

There are students walking around, dressed in their best suits and dresses. These are debaters who are getting ready to do their best speaking for a national tournament which is hosted here each year.  Some of the students are practicing inside some of the museum buildings.  We were told, at the visitor's center, that we were welcome to sit in and listen.

A view of the church.

As we walked towards the church, I could see a light in the doorway.  I knew it would be open to visitors. 

Inside the church museum. 

I sat in the back and listened as one of the students was in the front, giving a speech. I was impressed by his poise and skill as a speaker. I believe he was practicing to prepare for the coming debate, which will happen tomorrow afternoon. All the students we saw looked dignified and respectful in their dress-clothes. They were kind and welcoming.

 I was so grateful to have the opportunity to actually sit inside this historic church. I saw hymnals and thought of those in the past who had worshipped here as they listened to ministers preach old-time sermons. 

The one-room schoolhouse.

Just a few steps up the hill brings us to the one-room schoolhouse. There was a light on inside, much to my surprise. The building was open, and we were welcome to enter.  More students were in there getting ready for their debates. It was peaceful to see the old building and the surrounding countryside.

The Independence Day events, which are scheduled for tomorrow, are extra special for the museum since President Calvin Coolidge was born on July 4.

 Some of the Coolidge family will be at the museum to read portions of his speeches. An orchestra will play patriotic songs. The National Guard will lay a wreath (sent by the White House) at the nearby cemetery. The somber events will bring a sense of gratefulness for our country and for those who have worked so hard to serve.  

I was not able to stay for the events but was so happy to see all the activity amidst the beauty of the countryside.

Flowering bushes, in the rain, by the visitor's center.

This place will always be a special retreat for the many visitors who travel here. It is an idyllic village with a great history of old-fashioned families who worked hard to raise their children with incredible dedication and faith in our dear Lord. May we find inspiration in their example. 

Blessings

Mrs. White

P.S. - For more information about Plymouth Notch, with lots of pictures, please see the field trip section of my book, "Seeking a Thrifty and Simple Life."

From the Archives -

Peaceful living From the Old Days - Sunday Driver. 

The example of my Parents - Minding my own Housekeeping Business.

Living on a Small Income - Standard of Living. 

 

  - To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

Help For Homeschooling:

Seeking a Thrifty and Simple Life: Encouragement for Christian Homeschooling by Mrs. White

Paperback, 112 pages

As you read this book, I hope you get a sense that, no matter what is going on in the world, every home can be a homeschool. 

Saving Money at Home

Family working together at home, New York, 1908, LOC.

We were sitting at the kitchen table on a recent afternoon. My granddaughter suddenly jumped up and ran to the front window. We quickly followed her. "I heard a horse," she told us. There was a clomping sound of horses as we looked to see an Amish family riding down the road.  It reminded me of the old days before there were any cars in use. Since that day I have seen them go by a few more times.  We have been told that a new Amish family has moved into our town. I am thankful to have them as neighbors.  I am inspired by the beauty of their plain method of living.  Their skilled way of an old-fashioned life reminds us to live simply with a careful use of finances.

I am always trying to save money, here at home. I work on keeping the expenses low to avoid excessive pressure and burdens on our simple way of life.  I am looking at the year ahead, rather than just the coming week. I know it will take a great deal of effort and time to save for the annual car insurance (in the spring) and the fall expenses of homeowner insurance and property taxes. I must diligently save for these and many other common and expected bills.  I also have to quietly save for medical trips for our patient. These may come at uncommon times as well as scheduled ones.  We are getting ready for one of these trips which will happen in just a few days. I must always be about the business of saving.

I had some notepaper on my desk.  When I think of something I need, I will write myself a note or a list.  I always wait until the next time I have to go out on errands or to the store before buying anything. I often add a few grocery items like milk or butter to this list. There were a couple of non-food items I needed for the coming week. Each day I would look at the list and think, "how in the world can I manage to spare the money for these things?"  One morning I came up with a way to get by without them. I was so relieved!  This is why it is so important to wait before we buy.  We often need time to pray and think. Sometimes we may be able to get creative and manage without using money, which is so scarce these days.

The immigrants before us, here in America, had a great deal of work to simply get through each day. They worked hard and had to budget and plan and be very cautious with every penny that came in.   This type of thinking seems foreign in our modern culture. But saving money at home, praying for our needs, and being careful with what we are given will bring a sense of contentment and trust in our Heavenly Father who dearly loves us. 

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Old Time Manners - Waiting for the Door to Be Opened.  

Finding Genuine Happiness at Home - Peace be Upon This House.  

Overcoming Worries and Troubles - Reviving the Prayer Journal.

- To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

 Help for hard times at home - 

House Keeping in Hard Times: Essays and Encouragement from a Christian Housewife

 Paperback, 180 pages

 As you read the entries, you will get a sense of what it is like as a Christian housewife through the ups and downs of life.  Topics include motherhood, marriage, taking care of children, cleaning, living on a low income, saving money, and building up the family with faith as the foundation.

Beautiful Days at Home

Our long-awaited flowers, here in Vermont.

 

Last year, I bought a $2 package of flower seeds. The picture on the envelope made them look so pretty. I thought they would be lovely here at our humble estate. After the planting, there was not much happening. A few green leaves appeared. There was very little growth.  We thought to ourselves, "we will wait and see what happens next season."  Fall and winter came and went. Spring appeared with hopeful signs of goodness. The new flower plants (called Sweet William) began to grow but with much more greenery.  We waited and watched each day. Suddenly, little delicate flowers began to appear. I was delighted!  The patience and the waiting inspired me to understand that good things take time. It was a lesson that brought beauty to my surroundings. I love to visit this little spot each day on my walks. I am in awe of the miracle of such quiet beauty. 

It is so peaceful to enjoy homelife.  There can be much productive activity both indoors and out. We want to be active and busy with good things. When the grandchildren visit, we like to offer old fashioned lawn games.  We have a variety of toys for the yard.  These are the types of things one can find at end of season clearance sales for $3 or $5 a box.  These include badminton (without the net), beach balls (for throwing and kicking), and little disks one throws to land into a small post.  We have had some of these games for a few years. After each use, we return the supplies back into their original packaging and bring them indoors. They stay nice and orderly in this way. 

Lawn games at our house. 

The other day, we had several children here playing a variety of games out in the fresh mountain air.  Some were on swings, others had rackets and were playing their games as if they were on a tennis court. The disk-toss (into little posts with flags) was very popular. The children would add up their points, based on the number marked on each flag, and enjoy a little math. Then we would all go inside for an afternoon rest!

Today, the birds are chirping sweetly. There is a gentle wind to cool off the day. I am grateful for the beauty of sounds and sights all around me.  These comforting moments help to give me a sense of contentment and strength for the hard days ahead. In this little retreat, called home, I am quieted and happy.  I am grateful.

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Beautiful Living - Feminine Grace. 

What it Takes - Old Fashioned Duty of a Homemaker.

Teaching Manners to grandbabies - Tea Time - The Importance of Formal Ceremony at Home. 

 - To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

Help For Homeschooling:

Seeking a Thrifty and Simple Life: Encouragement for Christian Homeschooling by Mrs. White

Paperback, 112 pages

As you read this book, I hope you get a sense that, no matter what is going on in the world, every home can be a homeschool. 

Custom Sewing for a Humble Home

Historic Museum Cabin at Cades Cove in TN., LOC.

When choosing a home, years ago, the family often looked at the land and the location rather than the house.  The men would often build the house themselves (using their own trees) or fix up an existing structure. This was done over a period of time. The most important work would have been to plant seeds in the ground to grow food to feed the family, and to have shelter to keep the family safe and warm. It was generally the mother who did the decorating and little touches of beauty to make the place cozy and restful for the family.

Many years ago, in the 1990's, I visited Cades Cove in Tennessee. I saw the rustic cabins on display. The land and the scenery were stunning and restful. It was an old-fashioned way of life.  

In 2015, we stopped at Dollywood in Tennessee. There is a little museum showing a replica of the childhood home of the park's founder. The decor is humble and homemade. Yet it is charming and cozy. It gives one a sense of what daily life was like for a homemaker, long years ago, as she made her home pretty and took care of her family.

Over the years, in different states, I have visited many museums and old homes of the poor, the middle class, and of the rich. It is inspiring to see how each managed to make their homes look pleasant.

Replica of interior of home at Dollywood in TN. (From my 2015 trip.) 

In these modern days we are exposed to a great deal of advertising for paint, upgraded fixtures, and many ways to remodel and fix up our homes.  It can make one feel overwhelmed or even discontent with one's own way of life.  It does not have to be this way.

A clean, organized home should be the goal for every homemaker.  From there, we can use our skills to rearrange furniture and make the rooms look as pleasant as possible.  I have also found that basic sewing can make things look pretty.

The goal here is to make the home look pretty without spending any money. 

Last month I found an old piece of fabric. It was floral and beautiful. I thought it would help make one of the rooms look extra nice.  I decided to make a set of decorative pillowcases and a small curtain.  The curtain would be used to hide what is on a lower shelf of a bulky old computer desk.  I have a printer on that shelf that looks unpleasant. I do not want to see these types of machines or even a computer in a room. I find it stressful. The curtain would bring beauty to the desk while keeping the printer in a practical location.

Here is a photograph of the finished curtain:

Hand-sewn curtain for my old desk.

In order to make things specifically for our own homes, these have to be custom made.  To make a basic curtain, we only need to measure the length and the width of the window or area where the curtain will be placed.  In addition to this, you would want to add about 3 inches to the top, and perhaps another inch to the bottom. Once the fabric is cut, you simply hem it all around, on all four sides. Next, the top is folded over by about 2 and 1/2 inches or so to be sewn in place. This will create an opening at the top for the curtain rod.  Be sure to make the width of the curtain much wider than necessary. This will show a plentiful look to the fabric and a "bunching up" look at the top of the curtain. 

When making pillowcases for decorative "throw pillows," which are commonly placed on chairs and couches, choose pretty fabric that will add beauty to the room.  If you do not have any fabric or are not interested in sewing, you could simply take one of your regular pillowcases for the decorative pillows to add a pretty touch to the couches and chairs. 

It is an honor and a joy to "play house" in real life as we set up our homes, clean, organize, prepare meals, and serve our precious families. 

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Organizing - A Home Without Clutter.

Practical Help - The Secret to a Clean House.

Peace and Simplicity - An Ordinary Life at Home.

- To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

Help For Homeschooling:

Seeking a Thrifty and Simple Life: Encouragement for Christian Homeschooling by Mrs. White

Paperback, 112 pages

As you read this book, I hope you get a sense that, no matter what is going on in the world, every home can be a homeschool.