Remain Cheerful in Hard Times

Winter scene at our house (from earlier this year). 

 

It has been snowing here for days. After a short period of nice weather, a chill has settled in our area.  There is a quiet sense of beauty despite the cold. I am grateful for a warm winter coat, and a cozy fire by the couch. 

I have been making a lot of vegetable soup and freezing it in portions. There is homemade bread, brownies, and a little popcorn for an inexpensive treat.  The prices at the grocery store seem to remain stable. I usually buy the basic items we always need on hand.  These include simple ingredients along with fresh fruit and vegetables.  It is important to save money, to conserve, to keep things simple, and to make sure the family has good wholesome food. This often requires extra labor in the kitchen, but as long as I can rest as much as possible, somehow, the work gets done. 

Saving money is on the minds of many. Yet in the midst of this careful sense of prudence with our resources, there has to be time for joy, goals, dreams, and plans. Whenever possible, taking walks in the beauty of nature will bring us rest and refreshment.  The moments we live through will become memories that either cause discouragement or make us smile. I would rather do things that bring smiles.

One night last week, as we were coming home from church, we could see the moonlight shimmering over one of the frozen lakes.  There was a hush over the landscape as there was no traffic and little noise. As we drove around a corner, looking at the snow and ice on the trees, there suddenly appeared, through the darkness, a large deer. It gracefully leapt across the road in front of us. Somehow the driver was able to slow the car down just in time as we watched the deer disappear into the woods on the other side of the road. I was so relieved that I was not the one who had been driving the car that night! We had been protected, watched over, and saved from a possible accident. Instead of worrying, we were able to quickly regain our composure and just gasp at the awe and wonder of the beauty of nature all around. We thought with gratefulness of the majesty of God and creation.

Going out and about through the days and weeks, we enjoy our way of life and are blessed. In the midst of heavy snow and cold weather, we attended a morning church service this past weekend.  The sanctuary was emptier than usual when we took our seats. The service began and more people started to come through the door.  As the first hymn was announced, it was discovered that the music director was outside shoveling snow. Some were arriving late. Soon the congregation was full and a precious service commenced. It was comforting to see the effort it took for many of us to be there.  It was a priority and it was a blessing. 

In these days of uncertainty, it is important to do our very best to keep the joy of living alive in our hearts and minds. We must remain cheerful, especially in hard times. Trips for outings, church, visits, and errands are becoming more and more expensive because of the price of gasoline.  I have seen our local prices rise at least three times in the last couple of weeks. This does not worry me because I remember rougher days we have lived through. I remember a recession where the price of gas was $5 a gallon. In those days we did not have the privilege of driving very often. Errands had to be less often. There were not as many church events or services we could attend since there simply wasn't enough money available to meet the high expense.  

As we face each new day, we must not let the high cost of living cause discouragement. It is important to accept our circumstances and seek direction from the Lord. We are a people of hope and faith. Every morning is a new start with a fresh set of goodness to accomplish. What a wonderful work we have been given! 

Blessings

Mrs. White

* Note - For those who are following our medical trips, there is an update:

https://thelegacyofhome.blogspot.com/p/help-with-our-medical-trips.html

From the Archives -

A Lesson in Beautiful Living - The Quiet Kindness of a Titus 2 Mother.

My Mother's Example - Housekeeping All Day.  

 Unwanted Advice for the Family - Quieting Myself for the Good of Others.

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

Now Available from The Legacy of Home Press:

Old Fashioned Homemaking: Essays and Encouragement from a New England Housewife by Mrs. White

176 pages, paperback

ISBN: 978-1-956616-38-5

A Full Time Grandmother

A comforting painting in one of our rooms.

 

The grandchildren have been actively busy outside this winter. There are also cozy days indoors, and stormy days when they must stay inside. These are the hours of hot chocolate, home-baked treats, art projects, and reading lots of books.  On sunny days, they are ice staking, skiing, snowboarding, and sledding. There is always some adventure happening that gives them cheer and builds wonderful memories of their childhoods. 

When they visit me, I offer them puzzles, drawing paper, books, and games. I have maps, history books, Bibles, and Hymn books. We enjoy studying it all and have a lovely time talking about history and the blessing of being God's children. We often set up the card table so we can gather around for boggle, monopoly, or bingo. A highchair is pulled up to the table so the littlest child can join in our fun.

The children help me with housework. We go along a common routine of the day, times for snacks, meals, and cleaning. Someone does the sweeping. Another will set the table.  One will pour the milk and help serve the food. . . And always, there is someone chosen to ring the little dinner bell, so everyone knows to come running to the table.

I want to always be here for this. I do not want to miss a single minute, hour, or day of being a mother and grandmother.  Many years ago, the name of housewife started to change to being a full-time mother or a stay-at-home mother. This seemed to imply that it would not last. As if it was a temporary plan until the children were older. It doesn't have to be this way. One can choose to remain a housewife or a full-time mother. Eventually this will turn into the title of being a beloved full-time grandmother, one who is always here for the children, grandchildren, and family. 

There will always be some call or opportunity to do other things, to get a job or to join clubs and organizations. There will always be some opening outside the home for mothers and grandmothers. As for me, all I have ever aspired to be is simply a housewife, a housewife for life. May it always be so.

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

The Way it Was - Caring for the Family at Home - A Comforting Sick Room.

Contentment with our - Standard of Living.

A Godly Mother is the Hostess at -  The Mission House.

- 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.

Prepping when There is Little Money to Spare

Coal miner walking home with groceries, West Virginia, 1938. (LOC)

 

There have been two major world events, in recent times, that have required action on the part of homemakers.  It was Y2K and the Pandemic.  We were forced to spend money on stocking up, getting extra supplies, and facing the possibility of losing electricity and other essential resources to manage our households. We had to do this whether or not we could afford it.

These days, I am constantly hearing the warning to prepare. This is very difficult when it requires extra money, over and above basic living expenses. When one is living on very little, how can one be expected to come up with extra funds to stock up and prepare?

 It used to be common to gather the harvest, can, freeze and preserve food for the coming year. Clothing was mended and made by mother. String was saved and reused. This was before the invention of scotch tape.  But string was free since it often came on packages from the mailman or at the grocers.  Today, since string is not generally used, people are spending money on tape. Money is being spent in many ways that was not happening years ago.   Yet, in order to prepare for hard times, we have to find ways to cut costs and keep expenses down.

I have noticed that my electric bill is much higher this year. It could be a combination of increased rates as well as usage.  I honestly suspect that charging my laptop computer is part of the culprit.  I can only cut back on that on a limited basis. (I use it for writing, editing, and working on articles and books.)  This is an expense that is difficult for me to manage. I have also noticed my slacking on turning off lights or using the clothes dryer too much. I will make a plan to find a way to cut back on all three of those uses and hope it makes a difference on the next bill. If I can reduce it by $50 or $60 a month, it will free up money I dearly need for other things.

Many people have a grocery budget for the month. They spend only a certain amount for food. But what happens when that budget has to include non-food items such as trash bags, dish liquid, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, first aid supplies, medicine and all the rest?  It would leave very little for actual food items.  This is my current dilemma. This is why my expenses must be reduced so I can afford to buy those basic and necessary items.  I have always worked hard in the kitchen to make as much as our own food as possible. Yet, there are days when I have been sick, worn out, or recovering from a long and tiring medical trip. There is only so much energy. One cannot possibly do it all.

Homemade vegetable soup is a common menu item in our household. Last week I made a batch and froze it in portion-sized freezer bags.  This is an inexpensive, nutritious meal that can be defrosted and heated up when needed. This is one of many examples of preparing in advance so money and energy can be saved.

Last week I had some of the grandchildren here for the day. While we visited, I also had to make bread and do other work in my kitchen. The housework had to continue whether or not there were little treasures in the house. But I kept the children occupied with drawing projects, snacks at the table, lots of chatter, and games. In the midst of all this, I made the bread dough and set it to rise. I checked on it, made lunch, and then later, formed the dough for the second rising. I did the housework in little moments throughout the day while enjoying the company and care of grandbabies.  It takes hard work to care for a family and to save money.

When people have said to me that I need to prepare for a disaster, it reminds me of a time, many years ago, when I had to do our laundry in the bathtub.  When the washing machine is broken and Dad needs clean clothes for work, you find a way.  One year we had plumbing issues. We had no running water for a couple of days.  I washed our dishes in a basin and then walked down a flight of stairs to the backyard to discard the water.  We do what needs to be done, but nobody wants to live that way on a regular basis.  When a crisis comes, it helps to be creative and have a will to find a way to get through.

For the rest of this month, I plan to do a variety of things to get my expenses down. I will set up our oil lamp for evening use.  I will cut back on using lights at night. I must remember that even though it is dark tonight, the sun will be back in the morning. Tomorrow is another day.  We can start fresh with our work when the sun is shining.   I will cut back on computer use to avoid the high cost of keeping the laptop charged.  I will resist the inclination to use the dryer and simply hang the clothes on chairs and a wooden rack by the fire. I will be willing to wait for days as the laundry dries while I practice the art of being patient.  I will do as much as I can to find ways to come up with extra money for preparing for the necessary expenses of life. 

We also have to keep this in mind: There is both a practical and a spiritual side to preparing.  While it is important that we do our daily chores and find ways to get through the hard days, we must keep our focus on the Master. Are we reading the Bible and doing devotions each morning? Are we having both private and family times of worship in the home?  This is our lifeline for help, comfort, provision, and guidance.  For those who are the children of God, we are not alone and never will be.  We must remember to pray when each problem arises. We must be willing to wait for the answer or the guidance. When moments of anxiety or fear come upon us, immediately turn those worries over to our loving Father. It is not our burden!  He knows all about it.  He will walk with us throughout all of our lives. This should bring us such a sense of relief and cheerful happiness!

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Something We All Need  - Peace Be Upon This House.

Always Remember This - The House Comes First.

Through Good Times and Bad - Domestic Happiness.

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

Mrs. White's special book for homemakers:"Introduction to Home Economics:  Gentle Instruction to Find Joy in Christian Homemaking."

Find stories of home life, with photographs of my home, in this encouraging book. 

 Paperback, 200 pages. 

Courteous Housekeeping

Tea and cake at our table.

 

There is a way to keep house so that others are not burdened. We clean up after ourselves and try to avoid making big messes.  We clean as we go along. We do our best to teach this to our children and grandchildren as well.  It is good manners. It is being polite in the home.

Last week as I was making a batch of homemade bread, I was weary and trying to hurry. I wanted to rest.  I knew I could manage the work, but I wanted to finish it as quickly as possible.  There were some dishes that needed to be done. There was flour on the counter where I had been kneading dough.  The floor below my work-station needed to be swept. I thought of all this and decided that in case I was called away from my work, by a phone call, or an urgent request in the household, I would need to do the hardest work first so that an overwhelming burden was not left for someone else to clean up after me. I could just imagine if I had needed to go lie down. Someone else might walk into that kitchen and see the floured counter (and floor) and sigh. In hopes of avoiding this, I did the hardest work first. I knew anyone would be fine washing the dishes if they had to. But to clean up my mess of making bread would be overwhelming for those not accustomed to such work. I wanted to be courteous and considerate of others. So, I did the difficult chores before the easy ones.

I leave myself notes on the desk in my room. These remind me to pay a certain bill, to make a phone call, or to remember an appointment. The notes will also help anyone else who comes along and has to take over in case I become ill or suddenly have to take our patient to the hospital. My life is on-call for the needs of others. I am also conscious of my own frailty and health struggles.  I want to be kind to those in my home, by keeping some order and routines in place so that at any moment, they could step into my place and sort of know where I left off with the management of the house.

Despite all this sense of urgency to be diligent, I must remember to rest in the Lord. He gives me the strength to do His will. I must not add anything else to my day that would weary me more than necessary.  There are troubles enough in the world and in our homes.  We need peace and a sense of contentment. I will do the best work I am capable of while stopping to take breaks as often as necessary. This way of working and resting brings a sense of relief and accomplishment. I am weary. The Lord is strong. I will draw my strength from Him and I will be grateful.

This coming week, as troubling situations are happening around the world, I am doing the basic work of preparing for the coming spring season and managing the last several weeks of a New England winter.  I ordered a delivery of kerosene. I ordered a small amount, the minimum they require - 100 gallons. I am hoping this is the last we will need for the season. The prices are rising and are unstable.  I will not know the cost until the day they deliver it to our home. I must not worry or fret. The Lord will provide all we need in His timing.  

There must not be a sense of fear in our hearts. We must not overdo or take on burdens that put our nerves on edge. I want to be a blessing, a calm and pleasant housekeeper.  There must be a beacon of light and comfort coming from this old house.  The children and grandchildren must feel that this is the place where we do our duties with grace and kindness. It is a place of comfort and safety. 

The Lord is so good to us at all times. Knowing this and resting in this brings out the fruit of the spirit of good manners, love, self-control, patience, joy, gentleness, and genuine love to all those around. 

We reap what we sow. Let us remember to sow courtesy with a mind full of old-fashioned hymns and precious verses of Scripture. We cannot do the good in our own strength without the beautiful goodness of God in our hearts.

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Mother's Life Dedicated to God - The Mission House.

Peaceful old time Living - Quiet Duties of Home.  

Some History of Being - Just a Housewife. 

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

Every home can be a homeschool!

Find confidence and courage in teaching your own children at home with Mrs. White's book,

Seeking a Thrifty and Simple Life.

112 pages, paperback.

Cheap in the Little Things

Walkway by the lake, near our home in Vermont.

 

I have, in my mind, a list of many things that need to be repaired in our old house. These are not renovations, but simple maintenance. From putting in a new doorknob or painting rooms, to fixing windows and making the porch safe by replacing deteriorated wood.  We can only do little things over a period of years.  At unexpected times and seasons, major necessities come up that will not wait and must be managed at once.  But the smaller jobs are left undone as we make do as long as possible. This is how money is saved for the bigger things in life.  There will always be places for our money to go, to be spent, to be used, but when we do our best to avoid shopping and buying the little things, there is the opportunity for emergency money to be available.

In keeping track of the household budget, there are ways to be cheap without feeling desolate and deprived. For instance, when I make a cake, I do not always use frosting. To me, that is a luxury reserved for birthdays and special occasions. It makes the cake more expensive.  To make it pleasant, I use a bundt cake pan which offers a simple design. It is easy to cut nice pieces and place them on pretty dessert plates. The presentation is part of the joy of enjoying a treat.  Another example is ginger ale (Canada Dry, of course).  I have about a quarter-cup of this as a serving size.  I want the 2-liter bottle to last as long as possible. I am grateful for this beverage, but cannot afford to pay for as much of it as I would like. There are many food items that I simply cannot afford so I have to choose the less expensive options. 

I keep a meticulous budget.  After paying all household bills, there is a cash amount used for common spending such as for groceries. This amount is written down on a piece of paper, using a pencil so I can erase and change the numbers as I go along.  I will often subtract what has been spent so I can see, at a glance, what is left for the remainder of the month. There is a reason I do not just put money in an envelope and, when it is empty (as the experts suggest), stop spending in that category, because this would cause shock. It is a lack of planning, which must be an ongoing process. Instead, when the new balance is figured (after each shopping excursion) I divide that number by the amount of weeks left in the month and cut back, or cut down, on spending to make it last to the end. Sometimes I only have a couple of dollars left that I hold on to so there is something available, even if I end up going without.   It is not easy, but these little expenses will completely wipe out all the money if one is not careful.

Being careful is being prudent.  This type of diligence (or being cheap, as some would call it) should not bring discouragement. There is beauty in living, in keeping a clean and neat home, and in spreading a positive attitude of cheerfulness. There is no need to live a life of discontentment when there is a lack of money.  It costs very little to clean and organize and present pleasant surroundings for oneself and one's family. It takes time and effort and a willingness to be a blessing to those around us. 

 If we can be very cautious, as good stewards, with our provisions, we are doing our part. This is one's duty when it comes to managing the household funds.  Yet, despite all of this we must remember that is the Lord who gives and can take away. It is the Lord who blesses and who provides.  There must be daily prayers for direction, thankfulness, and the seeking of help.  It is impossible to manage money or do anything without the Lord's hand of blessing on our lives.  We do His will, not our own. May we always be found faithful, especially in the little things.

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

A Tireless Worker - The Benevolent Housekeeper.

Inspired by D.L. Moody's Mother - Poverty in the 1800's.

Beautiful Living - Feminine Grace.

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

Learn How To Manage Money on a Small Income, with this helpful book:

- It is an honor to be the bookkeeper for the house! - 

Find detailed instruction and inspiration in budgeting on a small income, along with a method for keeping a handwritten ledger, with lots of thrifty ideas, in Mrs. White's book:

 -An Old Fashioned Budget: Humble Financial Management for the Christian Housewife. 

 Paperback, 77 pages.