In this heartfelt and reflective episode of The Joyfully Prepared Podcast, Wendi Bergin shares a lesson sparked by a question she received while teaching at the East Tennessee Homesteaders Alliance Festival: “How do you manage your time and accomplish so much?” Her answer—“I prioritize what I love”—unfolds into a tender reminder that our daily choices reflect what we value most. Wendi shares personal stories about learning new skills like quilting and cake decorating, the messy joy of imperfection, and the spiritual beauty of seeing God’s “fingerprints” in everyday moments. Through humor, honesty, and warmth, Wendi invites listeners to put themselves back on their own priority list, to learn new things simply because they bring joy, and to see self-reliance as a form of self-care and divine partnership.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
🌻 The simple but powerful truth that we all prioritize what we love—and what that reveals about our choices
🧵 Wendi’s real-life story of learning to quilt (and the frustration of not sewing a straight line!)
🍞 How learning new skills—like breadmaking or canning—can be an act of self-love and growth
🎂 What cake decorating taught her about trying new things… even when they don’t “stick” long-term
💖 A spiritual reflection on God’s “fingerprints” in the small, daily mercies of life
🙏 Encouragement to replace shame-filled “shoulds” with grace, patience, and progress
Mentioned in this episode:
SafeWaterDrop.com – your water purification solution for home and emergency prep
JoyfullyPreparedLibrary.com – join the membership for videos, books, and guides on canning, meal planning, food storage, and herbal projects
🏡 Website: joyfullyprepared.com
📚 Joyfully Prepared Library: joyfullypreparedlibrary.com
🗓️ Meal Planning Worksheet: joyfulprep.kartra.com/page/planning
🏠 Joyfully Prepared Realtor: joyfullyprepared.com/realestate
📸 Instagram: @joyfulprepper
👩🌾 Facebook Group: joyfulprepgroup.com
Favorite Quote:
“You are doing the very best you can right now—and God is working with you.”
Call to Action:
Take inventory of what you truly love. Then, choose one small thing to prioritize this week that brings you joy or helps you grow. Maybe it’s learning to bake bread, canning jam, or simply resting well. You deserve to be at the top of your own priority list.