Change is a reality of life. If we didn’t know that before, we found out in a BIG way this year. A pandemic, a recession, national unrest. Everything changed in 2020, and it turned our lives upside down.
📢 UPDATE – This post highlights an earlier version of Homemaker’s Friend. The NEW 2023 edition is now available on Amazon and from the publisher.
Schools and businesses shut down. Social distancing became the norm. There were natural changes that occur with the passage of time. Physical changes. Career changes. Changes in relationships and family dynamics.
“We love the normal flow of ‘how things are’,” wrote Sue Hooley in Homemaker’s Friend. “Change threatens to upset our comfy little worlds because we can’t imagine something better.”
Yet, without change, we would miss “wonderful and exciting experiences,” Hooley continued. We must adjust and adapt to change so we can grow and flow in the new year.
Homemaker’s Friend can help.
📋 DISCLOSURE – I received a free copy of Homemaker’s Friend in exchange for an honest review. Regardless, the opinion expressed on this page is my own.
Grow and Flow in the New Year
Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NKJV) says, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.” Times and seasons change to fulfill God’s ultimate plan and purpose.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” As homemakers, we must look for the beauty that comes with the changing seasons, said Hooley. That will prepare us to flow with the changes.
Here are five ways to grow and flow in the new year:
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1. Let Change Happen
“Change is continual, and it takes place without our permission,” said Hooley. As homemakers, it’s important to be cheerful, flexible, and organized. Even the best-laid plans can rearrange in minutes. The best way to embrace change is to flow with it.
2. Keep a Happy Spirit
A joyful heart is good medicine (Proverbs 17:22). While change can be unsettling, “happy hearts produce a positive outlook,” said Hooley. So take a dose of “joyful heart” medicine. Listen to joyful music, play a board game, read a good book, or call a friend.
3. Adjust Your Expectations
It’s hard to exchange an ideal for a practicality. But a small change can make a big difference in how your home life flows. For example, a sink filled with warm, soapy water reminds you to wash the dishes after dinner. Or, as Hooley discovered, an open lid encourages clothes to land in the hamper.
4. Seize the Moments
“God gives us moments to reach out and bless others,” wrote Hooley. But those moments can be fleeting, so don’t lose them. Embrace opportunities that a rearranged schedule brings. Encourage a friend. Take your child to the park. Be kind to a stranger.
5. Trust in the Lord
Proverbs 3:5-6 is my life verse. I like the King James version – the one I memorized as a kid. “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Some change is a challenge, and the only way to deal with it is prayer. Talk to God and ask Him for wisdom, strength, grace, and guidance. And know this: Change is inevitable – but God, and His counsel, never changes. His Word is timeless (Matthew 24:35) and His promises are forever (Psalm 33:11).
Homemaker’s Friend Daily Planner
“When I was a young homemaker, I read Getting More Done in Less Time by Donna Otto,” said Hooley. “She recommended … a daily planner to keep track of duties, appointments, and commitments. ‘It will be your best friend for life,’ she promised.”
With that in mind, Hooley designed her own planner to organize her days and duties. Homemaker’s Friend is the consumer version of those early handmade pages.
The new edition is pretty and practical. The compact book (5.5 X 8.5 inches) has a spiral binding and laminated cover. Inside, there are seven tabbed sections:
- Yearly Goals / Calendar
- Monthly Goals / Calendar
- Weekly Goals / Calendar
- Household Tasks Lists
- Projects and Events
- Information / Notes
- Shopping Lists
Quotes and Bible verses appear throughout the pages to bless and encourage you. And every planner includes a bonus – FREE menu planning worksheets that match the planner.
“Though it is typical for me to veer from a daily plan when urgent matters arise, a written plan refreshes my memory. Mrs. Otto was right – my planner is a lifetime friend,” said Hooley.
Visit Amazon to get Homemaker’s Friend and grab a few extras while you’re there. They make great Christmas 🎄 gifts, and Prime members enjoy free shipping.
Thanks for reading, and may your new year really bloom! ◻️
Related Posts
- 5 Bible Verses for Christian Wives and Homemakers
- 6 Simple Ingredients That Will Make a Happy Home
- Does Homemaking Matter? What You Should Know
📢 REMINDER – This post highlights an earlier version of Homemaker’s Friend. The NEW 2023 edition is now available on Amazon and from the publisher.
Now It’s Your Turn
Thank you for reading my post. Now it’s YOUR turn to chime in. Are you ready to grow and flow in the new year? How will you organize your schedule to adjust for change?
Let’s fill the comments with friendly conversation. Scroll down to leave a reply, ask a question, or just say hello. And if you liked this post, please give it a share.
Blessings, Annette
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Photo Sources
Reference Sources
- Homemakers Depot
- Homemaker’s Friend
