Wanda’s Journal

Simple Living (Part 5)

The old saying, “Many hands make light work,” is certainly true among the Amish. At work frolics and barn raisings there’s always more than enough help to get the job done. Even for things like preparing meals, cleaning the house, and doing outside chores, everyone chips in. Try getting together with some of your friends or family to do yard or household chores. It will get done much faster, and you’ll enjoy the fellowship that comes with working together.

I have certainly appreciated the help I’ve received from my own family while I am healing from a painful broken arm. What was the last thing you and your family did to help one another?

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89 Comments

  1. The last thing my family and I did to help each other was in July. I had planned a Chicken Roast. My dad helped me get everything going with the fire. My uncle and cousin came and worked for hours turning and cooking the chickens on an open fire. Mom and my Aunt helped cook side dishes. We just had a fun day of eating and front porch sitting!

  2. When my husband passed 2 years ago, I was so blessed by family and neighbors and friends coming in many different ways to help me with things I wasn’t able to manage on my own at this difficult time. It was a true blessing to find peace in my heart at this difficult time. May you find help to ease your pain and healing as you go through this trial.

  3. Family and friends are certainly a blessing, especially during times if need. Continued prayers for a full and speedy recovery.

  4. Prayers for healing. We KNOW that our Lord and precious Savior can heal all things! I pray that He makes a way for you to see who will be able to repair the damage and lessen your pain.

  5. Continued prayers for a speedy visit with an ortho doctor!!!

    Yes, I’ve heard that saying many times and know how true it is.

  6. I woke up this morning and was looking at the last book I read of yours sitting on my night stand and was wondering how you were doing and said a prayer for you.

    Yesterday my husband and I traveled from Baltimore to Lancaster to get some fresh produce and meats from our Amish and Mennonite friends. We try to go at least every other week when it’s nice weather. I am in awe of the Amish and how hard they work and how cheerful they are doing so. Their sense of community inspires me. I come from a very small family since my brother now I had any children and all but one aunt has passed away. I have childhood memories of wonderful family get togethers and I include my brother and a cousin and her husband who also have no children in as many holiday functions as I can but it isn’t the same.

    I do thank God for some amazing friends who have become like family who are always there for us. God supplies our needs even to go as far as giving us family not made by our DNA but by HIS blood.

    Keeping you in prayer that you can get answers and help for your shoulder.

    Kathy

  7. We had my husband’s family reunion this past weekend and my husband’s siblings and I were in charge of getting the site set up and the menu prepared and telling everyone what to bring. The hostess brings the meat. Well my husband’s brother had to have a minor surgery so they could not be there, his sister had had knee replacement surgery 6 weeks before so most of the weight fell on my husband and I but his nephew and his other nephew came in and picked up the slack and helped us get it all done and it was all ready when everyone started to arrive. And it turned out to be a great day, even with the showers we had. We had canopy’s set up over the food and the places where we ate. So most of us stayed dry.
    What I always admired about the Amish is how they all pull together to help each other. And how the women have the quilting times together and how beautiful and wonderfully made the patterns and the quilting is on the quilts. And how they make such abundant gardens. Their homes are so well taken care of. I think that we can learn alot from our Amish friends.

  8. Thank God for families they are such a blessing. Sometimes we have to depend on them more than we want to as we get older.

  9. My son bought a home that needed much repair and cleaning. We all got together to help so he was able to move his family. Into there home.

  10. My family is always there to help when someone is in need, my brother is going through a separation from his wife and we’ve all pitched in to help with Cali his 7 yr old daughter (my niece?). We try our best to give her extra attention and spend quality time with her so that she doesn’t feel the full weight of this situation. My prayer is that they are able to reconcile but above all that no matter what happens they come through this with love for one another. I pray for you to Mrs Wanda that God heals you completely and comforts you while you are healing.

  11. My family help me when was getting out of hopstial..was so weak they had to help me with everything.. Back to normal.. Do everything used to do

  12. The last thing I did with my family was to plan, organize and hold a dinner for family and friends after our brothers’ funeral. We were able to converse with family and friends we had not seen in a long while. Several of them live very far away and we don’t see them very often.

  13. My family and I help one another every day. We encourage each other, pray for each other, help with tasks, etc. I am blessed to have a great family.

  14. Hi Ms. Wanda,
    I pray that you will be blessed and healed according to the word of God.
    “Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise.” (Jeremiah 17:14) Amen
    Take care of yourself!

  15. This is so true. I think this is why at times I wish I were part of the Amish community. The English don’t seem to have these values anymore.

  16. During the first week of August we helped my daughter and her family move to Canada in the Saskatchewan provence. The house was not as clean as the landlord expexted from the previous tenants and we all spent 2 days deep cleaning, my daughter and son-in-law both commented that they were so thankful we were all there and worked together because it felt less stressful amd more manageable with everyone’s help!

  17. I pray you have a speedy recovery, Wanda. Take good care of yourself and rest.
    My mother lives in a lovely assisted living facility, however I still assist with her care. She is 97.

  18. My husband remodeled my son’s bathroom. It is an old house, and desperately needed updating. I purchased everything for it and my husband did all the labor, It was a gift for the family. It felt good to share my husband’s talent and my ability to help them.

  19. Our son-in-law has been cutting down dead trees and clearing them out. My husband and our son-in-law’s father have been helping. It sure made the task go quicker.

  20. Been canning for years know have been helping some friends and family how to can so they can carry this on to there family.
    We usually have about 8 to 12 people helping and it goes so fast and lots of laughs and fun.

  21. Wanda, I’m glad you are recovering although slowly working through the “red tape”.
    Your books are delightful!
    I’m just finishing up AMISH HAWAIIAN ADVENTURES.

  22. Many hands DO make light work. I learned that as a youngster when we carried in wood for the furnace. My children learned this same way!

    Praying that by now you have been seen by ortho and are well on your way to complete recovery.

    I have ordered the three “Creektown Discoveries” books and am enjoying them. I read for an hour or two in the evening before bed. Very relaxing.

  23. I just need someone to cleany house from top to bottom. I have RA, Afib and back problems. I’m so far behind and if I work one day takes two or three before I can do one chore . I sent email. So enter me In contest.

  24. I had Covid a few weeks ago. My sons, who do not live nearby, were great about checking in to see if there was anything I needed. I appreciated their concern.

  25. Wanda, prayers coming your way that you can soon get the medical attention!
    Seems everything is red tape these! Keep up the good work. Take good care of yourself.

  26. Recently, I had some surgery. Although considered minor, it has a long, restricted recovery. One of my sisters and brother-in-law took me to the hospital and waited all day for me to be discharged in order to bring me home. Instead, I was admitted and would need a ride home the following day. They cleared their calendars and stayed at my home in order to take care of the dog over night. My other sisters provided meals and snacks along with books and magazines to keep me occupied during recovery. When one is in need, we all circle the wagons!

  27. I pray that by now you’ve been able to see the orthopedic doctor and that your pain is gone.
    Working together on a project does help it go faster. My 3 sisters and I worked to clean out our parent’s attic. We did it before Mom passed so that she was able to make comments and keep an eye on us when she wanted to. It took us longer that it probably would have if we didn’t stop and talk about things we were removing and bringing up family memories!

  28. Wanda, sincerely sorry that you are still in pain and not yet seen. I do know the situation, since my family plays the red tape game with military hospitals and the VA.
    In recent months, my sister had her knee replaced and being that my mother is eighty-six, I travelled from Maryland to Western New York to be of service as a driver and general support person for both of them…both for physical and morale support! August saw my husband getting cataracts removed from both eyes, so my two grown sons and I havebeen doing eyedrops, lifting, driving, etc. to help him recover best. Family and friends are wonderful people to have…and when they need help in turn, I will be there for them, too!

  29. I am a widow and have one daughter. I continue chemo treatments for multiple myeloma and been home a week after 25 days in the hospital following a hip replacement. I can’t tell how much my daughter has meant to me. Doctor appointments, grocery shopping, laundry, house cleaning….she has been there for everything. The Lord blessed me with a caring daughter. I am so thankful.

  30. It is truly amazing to see a barn raising with everyone working together to build such a big and important building for a family’s way of life. Our society spends too much time on what we want rather than what we need as a community. It can be such a blessing to help at a soup kitchen or to set up food for those less fortunate. And prayers for the Great Physician to place his healing hand on you for a speedy healing.

  31. Unfortunately this would be a task these days, people are so busy working extra to survive, I am thankful we have slowed down and enjoy simple things,
    I enjoy your books and updates
    Prayers for a healing for your arm

  32. Continued prayers for your healing.
    We are visiting PA this weekend and found a lovely Mennonite farm store with lovely fruit and baked items. This is in an area north of Allentown which is between the places my husband and I grew up. The quiet is wonderful!

  33. My sister came and took my mom to the store for me while I did some much needed cleaning. I helped her out by fixing her toe nail that she was having trouble with.

  34. The last thing our family has done is helping each other when one of our cars are done. Or if one of us needs food we help each other because there is 3 different household with little kids.

  35. Many Prayers coming your way Wanda, I Love your Books and would love to win the Return To The Big Valley I Hope and Pray you have a speedy recovery!

  36. My sister just got her first home. So we’ve been pitching in to help. The previous owners got a divorce and left so much stuff behind.

    We’ve recently started having more family gatherings.

  37. Having a large family is a blessing when there’s work to be done. We can all work together to clean, set up for a get together, or when something needs built. My daughters and I like to bake together for holidays too. It is a blessing.

  38. Sending prayers your way for proper healing and may your doctors have steady hands while working on your arm. Just a few weeks ago, I was fine one day (I even saw a doctor on that day that said my heart sounded good & my lungs were clear) and the next I was battling a high fever for a couple of days. So, thanks to my husband for helping me with trying to keep me hydrated, doing some chores around the house, and keeping our pets well fed while I was unable to.

  39. My husband and I have involved our children in the house and yard work since they were very small. We always wanted them to be able to function independent of us. Two of them are adults now and self-sufficient. They understand that when we work together, we get things done faster, and the jobs are easier when we share the workload. This has also helped us to build relationships with our children.

  40. Dear Wanda,
    May God continue to bring you to a full complete recovery.
    I’m new to your family of readers, my sister in law got me started and I have so enjoyed reading about Amish life, culture and community.
    I just finished the third book about the cooking lesson’s. I’m looking forward to another book series. I am usually sad when I finish a book but with a series I get excited to see what is to come next.
    Also my mom who is 94, loves to read and my sister in law got mom reading your stories and she too is a big fan. Thank you, and Many Blessings, Debbie

  41. When my Dad died in 2016 one of my brothers and I decided to keep his cows in his honor. This past weekend we along with wonderful friends did the “working of cows”-vaccinating, deciding which calves to keep and which to sell,etc. Each time we do this along with the daily feeding and watering I feel my Dad very closely. This year was especially special in that my brother has been having multiple heart issues(at a very young age) and the aforementioned friends did not wait to be asked but rather announced they would be coming to help. No materialistic things could possibly be more special than wonderful friends and family. Praying for a full and quick recovery

  42. I love working in my garden and spending time with my grandchildren. We like to get together and make a special meal and play games. Reading your journal is inspiring.

  43. My daughter is such a huge help to me. I had to go out of town to help my friend recently. I couldn’t have done this if my daughter hadn’t been willing to come to my house and feed the cats and check on things for me. She is my only child and a great blessing to me!!

  44. I am so sorry to hear that you are still waiting to see an orthopedic doctor. Hopefully the red tape will soon be resolved and your treatment can begin.

  45. I was injured in August while in Lancaster County. The pure unselfishness and support I received from the motel owner and assistant was such a blessing. The minute they found out, they were there for me. I am knitting them each something special to bring down near Christmas to further show my appreciation. I feel God led me to that place and gave me comfort.

  46. I love reading your books, I try to keep up with what is going to be next, but I’ve fallen behind…I just finished The Tattered Quilt…it was such a good one…I cried…I would like to know if there’s other books to this one

  47. I love reading your journal entries. I have enjoyed your books for many years and look forward to new ones coming out. God bless you and your family