Before this quirky name came into existence, there was this quirky idea. An idea to create a brand new blog – a lifestyle blog with a Christian focus. And a desire to do that as professionally AND as joyfully as humanly possible.
We want to encourage Christians and share the Good News with non-Christians. We want to speak the truth in love – but more than that…we want to create a community that practices speaking the truth in love. Online, in Real Life…everywhere! Because it’s entirely too easy to speak the truth without love. And it’s entirely too easy to speak love but leave out the truth.
We plan to share our triumphs and struggles and practical ways to follow Jesus. We want to be honest and transparent as we do this. It’s gonna get real in here. 😉
There were three of us originally on The Ruffled Mango team – Kristen, Ashley, and Keli. “How do you girls know each other?” you may ask. (Let’s pretend you asked that.) We all went to Freed-Hardeman University in West Tennessee – because we’re different ages, though, we knew a lot of the same people, but didn’t actually know each other! (We’re still a little sad about that.) Kristen (with her husband Jeremy) and Ashley (with her husband Jason) became friends once they were in the same tight-knit Young Professionals class in their local congregation. Such a great group of people! And Kristen was friends for years with a guy named Kevin – he eventually met Keli when they were both teaching English in China. When he brought her to visit his good friends Kristen and Jeremy, it was a done deal. =) Friends for life! And then of course, it was required that Keli and Ashley become friends, too. 😉
“And how’d you get that weird name??” Boy, you’re very inquisitive today! 😉 Well, it started like this…we brainstormed and thought and pondered and wrote lists of names and words and phrases with our good friend Sasha. Over days and days (maybe weeks?? It’s all blurry now!) But we weren’t really getting anywhere because there obviously wasn’t one clear front-runner that we all loved. And then one day Kristen strung some random words on her list together out of sheer loopiness. The Ruffled Mango was one of them. It made us all giggle. And then we moved on – because, come on – that’s not a REAL name. But we kept bringing it up as a little joke here and there. (“If we don’t name it The Ruffled Mango, I’m out!” Keli said.) And somewhere along the line, we realized that each of us loved the name – it was whimsical, it was memorable, it was joyful. And that’s when we realized…it was perfect. And a blog was born. =)
Along the way, Keli left the U.S. to do mission work in Peru. (Even though we obviously DID meet her demands with the blog name.) She’s now taking a leave of absence from our team as she picks up more responsibilities there – along with growing a second baby for their family. We hope that Keli will rejoin us someday!
We’ve added some new Ruffled Mangoes since then: Alyssa, Christy, and Kelly. We are THRILLED to have these ladies as a part of Mango Life. They are outstanding additions to our team!
Here are a few of our most popular posts, so that you can get a better feel of what we’re all about if you’re brand new around here! 😉
Daughters, Be Healthy, Be Beautiful, Be You
Connections: Kindred Hearts
9 Ways to Be Heaven-Minded when Choosing an Earthly Home
Put Your Marshmallow Glasses on and Choose Joy
A Birth Story: When Jesus Knows Just What You Need
Getting God’s Word into Your Children’s Hearts
16 Ways to Get God’s Word into Your Heart
A Visit to Magnolia Market at the Silos
5 Reasons Why We Must Stop Venting to Our Husbands
And we’re blessed with many talented guest posters. Here’s a taste of the most popular guest posts!
Fighting the Devil’s Lies with God’s Truth
Getting Healthy for the Glory of God
Where You Lead I Will Follow
Adoption: A Labor of Love
Finding Peace during the Mommy Wars
Labor Not in Vain
How to Set Up a Women’s Mentoring Program
We hope you love our little home on the internet. Come back and visit soon!
Our original Ruffled Mango photoshoot came to life with the help of Stephanie Benge Photography. =) Hopefully someday soon we’ll have all four of us on the current Ruffled Mango team together (Alyssa lives across the state from the other three of us) – and we’ll definitely have to take some updated pictures!!
In the meantime, here’s 3/4 of our team with our very first wall calendars and faith planners at the end of 2017!
Sign up for our email list to get fun updates and free printables!
I am looking for the March Scripture Writing guide – since there’s only one day left in February, I’m a little anxious to have March all set and ready to go! Is that something you email out, or will it be on the website tomorrow?
Thanks! I love the concept of your blog. It has given me more focus with my daily Bible reading, and I truly appreciate that.
God bless you all as you continue this service to all of us.
Hey, Diane! Yes, I was just coming here to upload the March scripture writing guide! Are you on our email list?
And thanks so much for your sweet words! I’m ever so glad you’re finding the scripture writing plan and the general blog helpful. =)
Hi, Kristen,
Me again… I’m always hoping to get the next month’s scripture writing plan before the 1st of the month. I do my reading/writing first thing in the morning, and not having the plan available throws off my whole schedule! (Poor me, I know!).
Another question – do you ever look for monthly writing themes from subscribers? I’ve thought about doing a study and coming up with one or two. Would you be interested?
God bless,
Diane Johnson
Hello, Diane! I always have the goal of publishing the scripture writing plan at least the day before it starts, but sometimes it slips up on us! (Like this month!) I’m so sorry – it’s a busy, busy season with my husband and I building a house this year and me starting a new job recently …and then the other girls have lots going on, too. One has 5 kids, one has 4, and the other has 2 and is pregnant again. All good things, but these blessings keep us busy! 😉 That being said, I would be interested in submissions from readers. We do have the topics set for 2019, but I’d be glad to send a list of them to you if you’re interested in coming up with a scripture writing plan for 1 or 2 of them! Just let me know!
Yes, please send a list of topics. I’d love to see what I can come up with for you.
I am not on Facebook. Would you please send me the Fruit of the Spirit through email or post on your sight?
Hey, Pamela! Here is the link to the Spiritual Fruit of the Month Club and all of our other online Bible studies: https://the-ruffled-mango-school.teachable.com/courses. Let me know if you still need any help! =)
I am trying to lead a 3 day retreat and was wondering which of your studies would be best for something like that? Also what is the difference in buying the individual vs. the multiple person packs?
Hey, Melissa! We’ve had someone lead a ladies retreat and use our Godly Friendship study. We actually created an extra set of teaching resources to go along with that one and hope to add more of the same to other studies this year. 😄 Other great options for retreats would be the current Her Story, His Glory study (when it is completed by the end of this month), Forgiveness, Unity, or The Great Creator.
The group rates provide permission for the leader(s) to access and distribute any & all of the documents and graphics to their group. Let me know if you have any other questions!
Can you please give the correct scripture for September 2, 2022. There is no verse where you indicate..
Thanks
Maggie B.
Hello, Maggie! Hmmm, I just checked and the September 2 scripture is correct. Maybe you were accidentally in 2 Kings?
Hello ladies, I’m looking for November 2022 scripture writing plan. I can’t seem to find it…what am I missing? Thank you for all your hard work. This is my most favorite avenue of reading and pondering on God’s word!
Hey, Beverly! Here’s the direct link to the November plan: The Grace of Giving. I think we forgot to link it on the scripture writing page (so sorry) but you can always find the latest plan by scrolling down a bit and it’ll be one of the latest blog posts (it’ll be below the 30-Day Gratitude Challenge in this case).
Hi ladies – I am looking for “A Year in the Word with God & The Spiritual Fruit of the Month” writing plans – where do I find those?
Thank you!
Hey, Janet! Those were our very first scripture writing plans and they are not all organized on the blog, but you can find many of them at the bottom of our scripture writing page here: http://www.theruffledmango.com/scripture-writing-plans/