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If I could, I’d invite you into my house. Though distance might prevent you from coming, you can still drop into my home and visit my world. When you come, you’ll learn about my family, my interests, my life, my world, and my God.
-Gert

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cell phone
Blog | Marriage and Family

#5 What I’d Do Differently in Raising Kids – Cell Phones

Raising kids with cell phones Cell phones! Our older kids spent their teenage years in the beginning of the cell phone era. The only thing available then was a flip phone, which we call a “dumb phone.” No internet, no social media, no games, camera, or videos on their phones. It was just a phone…

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autumn time

Autumn Time is Here

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Apples mellow, pumpkins yellow tell the time of year. Nuts are falling, nature’s calling; autumn time is here. Colors gaily changing daily, brighten field and wood. Autumn’s glory tells the story, God is great and…
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orange jello salad

Orange Fluff

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Salad or Dessert Orange Fluff. Some folks call this a salad, and some folks serve it as dessert. Since it has jello and cottage cheese, pineapple and cool whip, you can call it whatever you…
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Buy My Books

Second Batch Recipes

My favorite recipes are now in a cookbook. The book Second Batch Recipes is a collection of 200+ favorite recipes of my sisters and me. Printed in December 2017, you can purchase it through Carlisle Printing. Just click here.

Southside Glimmers

Southside Glimmers is a compilation of some articles printed in other magazines, but mostly from  a column  – Glimmers from Gert’s Gazebo – in a community-interest magazine from 1999-2003.  Fifty-five stories/columns make this a nice coffee-table book as well as a special gift for women, and especially for moms.  The book  also includes the following:   29 color photos; 36 black and white photos; 6 cookie recipes; subject index.

A Place for Ruth

A Place for Ruth

The true story of Ruth Reimer Yoder who, with her mother and siblings, became a Denmark refugee for three and a half years. The Reimers were a Mennonite family and Pappa served in Hitlers’ SS during World War II.  For over a year, the family did not know if Pappa was dead or alive. This is the remarkable story of the faithfulness of God in the life of Ruth and her family.  Published April 2019. For more information or to order this book, visit Masthof Press at this link: https://www.masthof.com/products/a-place-for-ruth

Aren’t We Having Fun Dying?! 

 Orpha Slabach was my mother-in-law, my mentor, and my friend.  One day just a few weeks before she Arrived in Heaven, I asked permission to tell her story.  I was surprised that she didn’t resist, but I suppose she knew this question was coming and had thought it through. She gave me permission with several requests.  I have honored her requests, the most important one being that her Savior Jesus Christ would be honored.  Each chapter title, as well as the book title, is a direct quote from Mom during the last six weeks of her life.  Mom was 63 when she died of cancer.  She entered Heaven in 1992, and this book was first published in 2005.   She was one feisty lady, and I miss her still.