Rainbows and Sunshine: A New Publication for Children (Win a 1-Year Subscription)

On my recent trip to the Amish community in Lancaster County, I had a chance to visit with Freida Stoltzfus, creator and editor of a new publication called Rainbows and Sunshine.

Today I’ll share a bit about that visit, some words from Freida, and then you’ll have a chance to enter to win a year’s subscription (to enter, simply leave a comment on this post).

rainbows-and-sunshine-childrens-magazine

I’ve known Freida’s father for some time but hadn’t had the chance to speak much with Freida before. I enjoyed my brief visit to her home. I took away an impression of her enthusiasm for the new publication.

Rainbows and Sunshine is meant for children, with stories, activities, crafts, songs, and even stickers in its pages. But there is also interesting content for adults (for instance, a “Do You Know Why…” section, this issue explaining why Amish serve a meal after church).

do-you-know-why

Freida is Old Order Amish, and the magazine reflects Plain values, but she says it is not meant only for Amish readers. Freida intends to have some regular features in each issue. You can get a feel for the content by these photos.

It has been a family and community effort – Freida says she has tapped family members and others in the community to share stories and make other contributions to the magazine.

kathys-clay-creations

For example, she has Sam Stoltzfus, an Emergency Room Nurse Practitioner at Lancaster General Hospital, sharing health advice.




Here are some more photos from the first issue (it’s 40 pages, in black-and-white with some color):

german-crossword-puzzle

 

say-what

adventures-of-the-west

logic-puzzle

Some Words From Freida

I asked Freida to share some comments on the new magazine for you. Here she goes:

Most of the material in the magazine will be consistent from issue to issue, so a child who has a favorite activity will be able to look forward to this each time.

An example of activities that we will try to have in each issue:

  • crosswords
  • word search
  • logic puzzle
  • secret message
  • cryptogram
  • make your own — (project for girls)
  • Things just for fun — (building project for boys)
  • and so much more!

My goal is to have material that the whole family can enjoy. What really brings a smile to my face is if a child who does not normally enjoy reading, picks it up and tells me they like it! 🙂

jokes-rainbows-and-sunshine

My passion is to show hurting children that there is hope out there, and God really does love them. It’s important to me to put a smile to their face.

rainbows-and-sunshine-stickers

I never really thought I’d be doing this. I’m better at thinking up projects than carrying them out. I had so many ideas in my head that I shared with others and I had a few people tell me, “You really need to do this yourself, instead of trying to get someone else to use your ideas.” I also really enjoy researching and writing, so this gives me an outlet for that.

stories-by-children

My family has been so supportive and each with their own talent to offer. I am so richly blessed!

So now that I’ve shared some of these goals etc. with you, I really need to go and get those things done that do not appeal to me at all…bake a cake and finish my little girl’s dress!

Freida Stoltzfus

find-the-path-to-happiness

Win a year’s subscription

To enter to win a one-year subscription, simply leave a comment on this post. I’ll draw one winner at random next Tuesday.

Subscribe to Rainbows and Sunshine

If you’d like to go ahead and subscribe, for yourself or a loved one, here’s what to do:

1 Year (8 Issues): $39.00 / 2 Years: $76.00

Canada 1 Year: $53.00

Send to:

RAINBOWS and SUNSHINE Publication,

6591 Division Hwy.

Narvon, PA 17555

Thanks to Freida for sharing with us.

UPDATE: Freida also shares that she can send all back issues at $7.00 each including shipping.

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    98 Comments

    1. Barbara Long

      How Wonderful!

      This is just wonderful! When I was a child, as a gift, my Aunt purchased a subscription to a children’s magazine and had it sent to my address. It is one of my fondest memories: mail addressed specifically to me; a magazine full of exciting stories, crafts, puzzles, etc. I could hardly wait to receive each issue! I can’t think of anything in my childhood (and I had a blessed childhood!) that left quite the same impression.
      Freida, this is a wonderful venture for all children blessed enough to receive it. Unfortunately, it will be difficult for me to pay the subscription fee at this time, but I would love to win one for a year. That way, I could save up and purchase the next year. Thank you for the chance to win this wonderful gift.

    2. Ferris Watson

      I would be a surprise

      It would be a welcome surprise as a gift to an Amish family in Gilman, Wis.

    3. Judith

      Rainbows and Sunshine

      What a wonderful idea…to share Frieda’s talents with adults and children! A subscription would certainly be nice….providing a “together” time with grandchildren. It could be sent either to the Grandchildren’s address (knowing little ones love receiving mail!) or the Grandparents (like myself) to have on hand when the kids are visiting.
      I have always been very fond of the Amish and respectful of their way of life/practices. This is just one more avenue that shows their immense “family” sense. Actually, the chosen magazine title pretty much says it all!

      1. My grandchildren would love Rainbows and Sunshine!

        Thank you so much for sharing about this new publication. It sounds so awesome. We are blessed with four grandchildren and I know this would be great fun for them. And I like there will be interesting things for adults to read too. Thanks, Freida, for creating this wonderful magazine.

        1. It’s nice seeing all the positive comments from parents and grandparents on this thread, I guess finding good reading material for children isn’t always so easy.

    4. Subscription

      This is wonderful! I, too, am an idea person who has trouble getting my ideas carried out. I want to do a church newsletter but got dejected when all three of the people who said they would contribute to the first, sample newsletter, didn’t come through. You’re a great motivation. May you be blessed for seeing this through, and I look forward to seeing more of this.

    5. Mitchell

      Sign me up

      My Kids would enjoy this

    6. Children's magazine

      My daughter Ava would love this!

    7. Patricia Mapley

      Over Joyed

      This offer has made me over joyed. I love the idea of a simpler life. My Grandchildren live in Alaska and share my love. They would enjoy Rainbows and Sunshine. Blessings to ALL.

    8. Thanks for the Opportunity

      My grandchildren would love this – I have 18 so which family would get it?

      1. Osiah, you might have to hold your own random drawing!

    9. Wholesome

      It is so refreshing to see a wholesome source of fun for children. I wish I had some little ones around to give it to.

    10. Beverly Mikell

      FCA kids would love this

      My grandson would love this and would be able to share it with all of his classmates at First Christian Academy in Florida. I looks to be a really well done publication.

    11. Kara Marx

      Awesome Magazine

      Lots of fun activities and good reading; all so wholesome = a great kids magazine!!

    12. Cindy Gangwer

      Rainbows & Sunshine entry

      I would love to win the subscription! I have four granddaughters who like learning about the Amish. The olders read Amish fiction frequently.

    13. Jane underwood

      Good idea

      It looks like a good idea for children, like Highlights for children. Children need a magazine to look at that is their own. They also can keep them to look at on rainy days. It helps develop their thinking and reading abilities. It is good also that it is a nice not worldly way of thinking.

    14. Cindy Linthicum

      Sounds like fun

      My grandson would love this. What a great sounding publication!

    15. Outstanding Read

      Serving as a Chaplain at a Children’s Hospital we have many who come as patients from Amish communities. This would be a wonderful resource to share with them. Many thanks.

      1. Thank you for your work, Elizabeth, you must brighten a lot of people’s days, Amish and English. Sounds like this might be a nice resource both for young patients and their siblings that come to visit them.

    16. Mary Blume

      My granddaughter is turning 2 and what a wonderful birthday surprise

    17. Outstanding Read

      As a chaplain at a Children’s hospital we have many Amish patients. This would serve as a wonderful tool to patients and their families.

    18. Larry Simon

      Joy of learning

      Reading opens the mind to learning and that brings joy!

    19. Cari Anderson

      Free subscription

      Thanks for the fun offer, this will be a great addition to our homechool.

      Thanks for sharing!

    20. Penelope Kenney

      Great idea

      Excited to read about this. I have 3 children who would really enjoy this magazine. Can’t wait to see it.

    21. That's exciting!

      This is a wonderful idea. I used to live in Lancaster area.

    22. Bettina Worrall

      Great Idea!

      I’d love to win, if you send the magazine to Canada.
      I work at a small Hutterite School and our kids woukd absolutely enjoy the magazine and ideas.

      1. Bettina, neat to hear you work at a Hutterite school. You reminded me of some posts we published from Linda Maendel, who teaches in her Manitoba colony. Here are a few of them that might be interesting:

        https://amishamerica.com/manitoba-hutterite-linda-maendel/
        https://amishamerica.com/hutterite-education/
        https://amishamerica.com/what-is-communal-life-like-for-hutterites/

    23. Josette

      That's awesome!

      I’m a teacher of special needs children. We were talking about the Amish just the other day and they asked if the Amish have special children too. I told them all children are special to God. They want to study the Amish and this publication would be a great way to do it. Thank you for letting us know about it.

      1. And Josette you might find these interesting, on the Amish and special needs education. I bet your schoolchildren are glad to have you for a teacher!

        https://amishamerica.com/amish-special-needs-children/
        https://amishamerica.com/caring-hands-helping-parents-of-special-needs-children/
        https://amishamerica.com/ask-an-amishman-special-needs-children/

    24. Kelly Close

      I love it!

      What an exciting magazine for my 8 year old and 4 year old! I can see my almost 13 year old peaking in it, too!
      A treat for any family with kids!

    25. Diane Floyd

      Rainbows and Sunshine

      My daughter will become an 4-H agent soon and this would be great in her collection of fun, multi-age crafts and games.

    26. Looks interesting

      I would love to have something like this for my daughter.

    27. Teri raschka

      I would love for my niece to receive this. She lives in Grabil,indiana.many of her friends are amish even her babysitter. I know she would share this with all of them.

    28. Lovely work!

      How refreshing! The various puzzles, coloring pages, etc. are wonderful. I live in a rural area of North Carolina and the women in my church circle bring their children with them to our meetings. It would be wonderful for them to have this to work in during meetings. Congratulations on work well done!

      1. That’s neat Mary! And hi from a native North Carolinian 🙂

    29. Kathy Rowe

      What a great looking magazine. That would surely bring hours of fun and learning to any child. This magazine looks much better than other children’s publications I have seen. My grandchildren would enjoy this so much. Thanks for sharing this with us and please enter me in the giveaway.

    30. Sara Mandal-Joy

      Delightful!

      My special needs (down syndrome and autism) adult son, Nathan, would absolutely love this magazine. We used to live neart some Amish folks who became friends. We’ve moved since but Nathan is still very drawn to the Amish. Nathan loves stories and puzzles and crafts, functions at about 2nd grade level, and would be delighted by this magazine. I hope I can win it for him!

    31. Barbara Long

      I actually teach a course on the Amish life. What an awesome addition this would be to share with hundreds of students!

    32. Paul Anderson

      Great!

      My daughter Anna would love this!

    33. Pam Kedderis

      This is a Lovely Magazine!

      My godchild’s twins would love this!

    34. Meyre Gomes

      Yesss

      It would ve awesome to win this.

    35. ciarra

      pick me please

      I want a magazine for children.

    36. Betty weightman

      Kids magazine

      Freida, I just love your creativity with the magazine. It appears you have considered all children’s favorite things…stickers, coloring, jokes, etc. Good luck on your new venture. Remember to be thankful in all things.

    37. Bill Theroux

      Rainbow and Sunshine

      Great article would love to read this magazine on a money basis.

    38. Wonderful

      Would live to introduce my Grandson Asher to the wonderful life of Amish.

    39. Barb Zimmerman

      Good Luck with This Publication

      I would love to try this with my great-nephews. These activities might be just what’s needed to get their fingers off the computers and onto mind-building activities.

    40. Tina Bolyard

      Wonderful

      I would love this for my granddaughter. Would love to teach her about the amish.

    41. Rainbow and Sunshine

      I love the idea of this publication. I believe the Amish have much to offer us in their love of God and community. Children need to be shown when they are young that God is there for them. What a great way to shower kids with God’s love and perhaps, just perhaps, they might learn something along the way. Thank you, Freida.

      I have been a teacher for closing in on 30 years and tell parents who worry that their child is not reading novels, but devours comic books, “let him/her read comics, it can not only help the child learn to read, but also to learn to love reading.” The child has a lifetime to read novels.

    42. Really great tool

      This looks like a great book. My 5 year old would appreciate a subscription. I am so impressed, I will show my Amish neighbor, because I am sure she will send a few copies out to her grand kids out in Wisconsin. This is a great blog. Thanks

      1. Thanks for spreading the word, I am sure Freida appreciates it!

    43. Franci Galvis

      Rainbows and Sunshine - Fantastic!

      Dear Freida,
      I would be thrilled to win a subscription to your very creative children’s magazine for an Old Order Amish family whom I have visited weekly for the past 2-3 years. Every week I buy brown eggs from them, and I’ve learned to appreciate the beautiful simplicity of the Amish lifestyle, and the closeness of the Amish community. This past October the father died in a tragic sawmill accident, leaving the mother with 6 young children, the youngest of whom was born just a few days before Christmas. The children and their mom would be so happy to receive Rainbows & Sunshine!
      Please enter my name (for them) in your giveaway contest.

      1. Hard to imagine how difficult that must be. It’s kind of you to think of them, Franci.

    44. Ken Tibbetts

      Wha a great idea

      First thing tomorrow morning my wife and I are going to obtain a subscription for Rainbows and Sunshine for our “Amish grandchildren” in Wisconsin. We will enter the subscription in one of the girl’s name but knowing she will gladly share the magazine with her brothers and sisters.

      Freida Stoltzfus is to be commended for taking on a project that will make many Amish children happy. I wish to thank her with all my heart.

      1. Great to hear that Ken! I think they’re going to enjoy it.

    45. Looks like a great publication....for the Grands....Grandchildren and Grandpa. May God bless this endeavor.

      Looks like a great publication….for the Grands….Grandchildren and Grandpa. May God bless this endeavor.

    46. Susan Forte

      Much Success, Freida

      All the best to you Freida on your new publication! I have a grandson who would love this magazine.

    47. Ken Nowicki

      Looks Great

      What an awesome gift this would be for my grandson

    48. Joyce Shelton

      I think your magazine is Awesome!

      I really think your magazine is awesome and shouldn’t be just for children. I Love reading Amish books and I collect Amish recipes. From what I have seen above of your magazine, it is very educational! I Love baking and wish I still could cook and garden and do all the things I used to enjoy so much! I have degenerative bone disease so I am disabled and can’t do the things I used to. This magazine would be a wonderful addition to my reading! I read and play games on my kindle to keep my mind off of my pain. As long as I keep my mind busy, I don’t feel the pain as badly. God Bless You and Please keep on writing!

      1. Joyce, keep on keeping busy, and will say a prayer for you. I wish you lots of good reading, and thanks for taking the time to comment here.

        And on that note, going through all the comments, it is really a warm spot in my day to see the enthusiasm and positivity from all the readers here. Thanks! 🙂

    49. Tammy Richards

      Looks like a nice magazine. We enjoy publications that are considered typically Amish.

    50. Susan

      How Nice!

      Finally going to be a grandmom and this would be perfect to use with the grandchildren.