RAMBLING IN FRANKLIN

Here’s What’s happening …..

2010-02-27T07:23:00.000-08:00

In My Kitchen ….
I just made breakfast sandwiches for John and myself. They sure were good.Yesterday I made 3 huge pots of chicken corn soup. After the snow storm here a chicken house rood fell in. The chickens all were out and so the owner allowed folks to come and catch them free. The boys I tutor father and uncle caught 184 and dressed them. They gave me 10. I wanted to thank them and so I made the soup. The one gave corn she put up, the other the celery and so I made it. I must say it was great
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With The Children ….. Since I have no children at home I will share what I am doing with the 2 boys I home school.Yesterday we worked on math, did some more on the Revolutionary War and George Washington.
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What I’m Reading …John had a appointment in Charlottesville and I took along the book by Brennan Manning called "Ruthless Trust...The Ragamuffin's Path to God"I am amazed at his writing each time I open one of his books. He is so open and honest and I can understand where he is coming from. He spoke at the church we attended in Florida several times and I loved those times. I think he makes me journal more than any author.
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What I Have Been Learning …
Trust in not easy. I worry about folks that do not understand this.....are they for real?
In this book he says:
Faith+hope= trust."Faith arises from the Personal experience of Jesus as Lord. Hope is reliance of the promise of Jesus, accompanied by the expectation of fulfillment. Trust is the winsome wedding of faith and hope."
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On The Back Burner of My Mind ….Mom may not be up today. She has turned today into mourning. She and dad would have celebrated 68 years of marriage today. Instead of being thankful for the 65 years they had together she has decided to be bitter. All week had been downhill. It is hard to handle....I have so many great memories of their love and life. I just wish mom would decide to see that.
The first picture is celebrating their life in Sarasota, Florida. I wish I knew who all are in the second picture.....so I need help. I asked mom to tell me but she refused to look at the picture and threatened to tear it up if I brought it back again. I know she is in the white.....

The last 2 are the wedding. Uncle Ben was dad's best man and Helen Kraybill was mom's Maid Of Honor.

Looking at these has made me feel the loss of Dad again. How I miss his hugs, smiles and answer to me when ever I talked to him.....it went like this:
"Dad, I love you" and his answer...
"Honey Dear, you will never know how much I love you."
I wish I could hear that just one more time.

In The Deepest Darkest Recesses ….

I am frustrated with doctors....Thursday was a better time with the neurologist for John and I.

We now have to go to the pain clinic to see about where they can do "shots" to control his pain. He was put on a strong med at night for his headaches. The are trying to keep from any type of surgery. They do not want to commit to a cause.....they still are studying his MRI's and test results and we wait and wait.....one alarming thing to me was John did not feel sharp points hitting his left arm and did not feel hot nor cold. She seemed concerned also. So keep praying with us.

2010-02-23T16:04:00.000-08:00

Here’s What’s happening …..

In My Kitchen ….
John made he and I the best pizza....he loves to cook. Of course mom did not want that and so I made her a toasted cheese sandwich, tomato soup made from V-8 Juice, and gave her pudding I had made earlier and than she wanted me to go and get chips for her too. She will come come out to eat but I have to fix 3 trays for her a day....She says she gets jealous of John and I but to others she says I cook too spicy....so go figure....That is just life right now.
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With The Children ….. Since I have no children at home I will share what I am doing with the 2 boys I home school.
Nathaniel worked in his books doing catch up and a few new pages. Ryan did his sentences and worked on his lap book. After lunch we went over it and that I took him to the following site....since they have no TV this was a great treat for him!
George Washington's World for Kids
http://www.washingtonsworld.org/

For a stiff-lipped Founder of the United States, George Washington led an awfully exciting life. Soldier, farmer, statesman...he was even famous for his love of dancing. On this new website, discover the real Washington at home and at war. Explore a 3D Mount Vernon in search of artifacts that reveal the many facets of the man. Play the harpsichord in a rhythm game so he can dance with his beloved Martha. And serve as gun captain at Washington's moment of greatest military achievement, the siege of Yorktown.

What I’m Reading …
I am still in "The Committed Life".
One chapter I read over and over is the one on gratitude. When John's mother was with us and in the last stages of dementia....the "Big A" as we called it.....I had a hard time cleaning up after her. That was when I began the daily journal writing that I called My Gratitude Journal and for several years posted them. At first I could hardly write 5 things I was thankful for but soon it started to roll and I had no trouble cleaning up after her. My whole outlook changed....My heart changed.

"The inability to express gratitude has many ramifications and is perhaps one of the reasons there are so many bitter people around. People who cannot acknowledge kindness always find something to grumble about, something to criticize. They make miserable marriage partners. tyrannical parents, and selfish friends.......No matter how much they indulged, they are never satisfied. They just keep taking without feeling a need to give back.

By Taking moments each and every day to focus on G-d's gifts, by thanking Him for His many kindnesses through blessings and prayers, and by saying thank-you to those who are near and dear to us, we can acquire the attribute of gratitude".

I cannot add anything more to that.
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What I Have Been Learning …
More family history....digging in a few boxes. I think this came from Aunt Emily. It is a family gathering...The Aunties parents, Their Brother Amos and Mabel in the back row. Than my dad's father B Lehman and his wife Bertha (my grandparents), Aunt Fannie, Aunt Emily, Aunt Elizabeth. I have to guess about the children....My dad is the second child on the left. Maybe some of you can fill me in with the other 3. (I think one is Edward and Elizabeth but who is in the carriage?)

I never knew my grandfather. He died when daddy was young. That is when daddy and Uncle Ben went to live with the Aunties and their grandparents. Aunt Rachel lived with her mom who cared for her parents. So to me the Aunties were the best 3 grandma's under one roof that a girl could have!

On The Back Burner of My Mind ….

A longing to go to the Kraybill Reunion in July at Mount Joy, Pa. I need to go and see family. It has been 20 years since I have been there. I miss the place I grew up....The fun part it is at the school I attended for 10 years.....Kraybill Mennonite School. I hate to get my hopes up with mom to care for and John's health.....I wish....I pray....I long to go.

In The Deepest Darkest Recesses ….

Dare I say it? I want relief from the 24-7 care of mom. I need to get out at times. It can go a month before I get to go anywhere. My knees keep me from driving in the winter months and so John does the running. Someone has to be with mom. It tires me out and I have to remember the word gratitude many times a day!

Monday

2010-02-22T12:15:00.000-08:00

Here’s What’s happening …..

In My Kitchen ….
Spaghetti and meatballs, cheese bread and salad.
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With The Children ….. Since I have no children at home I will share what I am doing with the 2 boys I home school.

We are still working on The American Revolution lap book. For Bible we are doing the Armor of God and of course math. The oldest does English and Word Building too. My biggest concern is they have never been made to read and they can hardly do it.
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What I’m Reading …
In the book "The Committed Life" I read the Chapter again called "The Holiness of Time". I thought I would share a few comments....On people getting older she writes...."so tell people to study while they have the energy and the tools with which to learn G-d's wisdom."
On the same page she writes: "Time is the most precious gift that G-d gave us, yet we abuse it the most." To me the Gift of Salvation is the Salvation is the most precious but I get what she is saying here.

On Ecclesiastes where time is talked about she says: "A time to weep, a time to laugh....When your pain is so overwhelming that you can no longer go on, then bear in mind that the same G-d who designed your time of sadness has also made provision for your time of laughter."

I am 61( and proud of it) but the one thing I know is that time is indeed precious.
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What I Have Been Learning …
Life gives us many rough bumps and that is OK. I am one that firmly believes we are stronger because of the bumps. Maybe watching the Olympics has helped me see again that
we have to try and than try again. What strength and grace we learn from hard times.
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On The Back Burner of My Mind …. I had many mentors or teachers in life. My Aunt Emily was
one of them. To so many students she was known as Miss Kraybill but to me a precious great aunt. She lived with her two sisters......Fannie and Elizabeth. Their home was a wonderful and peaceful place to me as a child.

The top picture is Aunt Emily in the back and Aunt Elizabeth sitting on mom and dad's patio in Sarasota. There was a beautiful lake and that is what they are looking at.
The bottom pictures really show how Aunt Emily stayed so young. The one of her with a coat on is at the Retirement Home in Lancaster. The other is a school picture from many years before. I believe she kept peace in her heart and enjoyed each minute she had. She is one lady that did take time to small the roses along the way. She always had a grateful heart and a helping hand. I believe things kept her young at heart. Of course teaching school for over 40 years kept her young too. I know I will share more about her with you all. She is the one that taught me "Joy"

*J-Jesus first
*O-Others next
*Y-Yourself last
*That equals a joyous life.

Thank You Aunt Emily.
In The Deepest Darkest Recesses ….
I want to be joyful in all things. But I struggle with it. I believe I have learned to be content with life and accept it but I feel I have a long way to go when it comes to being joyful. My head understands joy but my heart struggles at times with it.....I wonder why....

Sunday

2010-02-21T10:28:00.000-08:00

Here’s What’s happening …..
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In My Kitchen ….
We had brunch today. I made grits, scrambled eggs, homemade bread toast and juice.
Tonight John is cooking.....I love having a meal off!
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With The Children …..
Time to brag for this grandma! Crystal has 3 beautiful children and I am proud and thankful for all three. I sure do miss them. My heart is in Georgia to be sure. Nicole has one precious and beautiful daughter and I need a hug from Zoe.

Adam is in his senior year and he placed 6TH in the state of Ga in wrestling yesterday. What an accomplishment! You can see his picture here in yesterday's paper:
http://www.lagrangenews.com/view/full_story/6368466/article-Seniors-lead-Troup?instance=news_special_coverage_right_column
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What I’m Reading …
I like to read something light over the week-end and picked up an old an loved friend....."The Shepherd of the Hills" by Harold Bell Wright. I was introduced to this book by my precious Aunt Ellen. In fact she gave me a copy of my first book.....I lost that thanks to Babb Adams a former pastor who saw it on my shelf and told me he needed it and I would not see it again....That was fine with me since he was and is a special pastor to me. If I remember right it had a part in having found the Lord. It is a good story but the thread of Salvation is running through the book.
I love the old movie made from it starring a very young John Wayne. Nicole and I did get to see the play in Branson and I suggest you all go and see it to. Reading this book again is like visiting long lost friends.
Here is a bit about the book:
http://www.oldmatt.com/home.php
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What I Have Been Learning …
“Patience is the ability to idle your motor when you feel like stripping your gears.”Barbara Johnson
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On The Back Burner of My Mind ….
Are memories.....My Great Aunt Fannie....one of my 3 Aunties. She was the oldest of the three and loved to play with our kids. I rode her foot like it was a horse so many times.I know her ankle was tired but she kept playing! She loved to cook, her chickens in their hen house in the back of their town lot, loved the garden and most of all loved the Lord and lived her faith.

This was a family gathering...so many precious faces!My dad looks so young here. I sure do miss him! Uncle Amos is so handsome....Aunt Mabel looks as sweet as I remember her....UncleBen has that smile and I can here his laugh as I write this....Don and Joyce we were so small...What a precious family....we need to get together again!

In The Deepest Darkest Recesses ….

I long for the simplicity of life back than.....we seemed to have time to visit often and stay all day. We looking cooking for family gatherings and getting ready. There was such excitement in planning and such fun playing together....I remember croquet and ball...board games and hopscotch.....jumping rope and churning ice cream and eating it.....We had time for each other...willing to help without question because family was family.....yes, I long for that simplicity.

Here’s What’s happening …..

2010-02-19T08:30:00.000-08:00

Today I am adding one thing....
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What I am creating:

I love to work with felt. These are full jointed 4 inch bears. I hand sew all of them. I have 2 children to add to these Amish Bears. I sell them at a home market close by and to friends that want them for collections or gifts. I also make these into Victorian Bear families and Hillbilly Bear families. Creating with my hands does so much to relax me.
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In My Kitchen ….
We are having a salad for lunch. I am thinking tonight will be meatloaf, mashed potatoes and a vegetable. Time will tell....
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With The Children ….. Since I have no children at home I will share what I am doing with the 2 boys I home school.
Today is my day off. I am so glad. I need this rest. I have 2 boys that learn in their own way. I am doing lap books with the youngest and he loves it and learns so much. I use the computer to make the lessons include all he needs. I get spelling words from the week studies. I am enjoying this but find it takes me 2 hours to prepare for the next day. The oldest uses ACE and I can tell he is bored and at a place we may have to change this too.
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What I’m Reading …
I am still in the book "A Circle of Quiet" by Madeline L'Engle.
I am reading again: "The Committed Life...Principles for Good Living From Our Timeless Past".
By Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis.
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What I Have Been Learning …
Where do I begin?
I have journal a lot and use both of these books....let's take the first book.....
On page 55 of "A Circle of Quiet" she says: "I have known for a long time that we know nothing about love, that we do not have love, until we give it away." She tells about how her grandma stepped up to the plate for her and was willing to give one thing she loved up.

That made me think about my life and the times people have stepped up to the plate for me. I am adopted. I grew up in a Mennonite family and love surrounded me from my dad, my grandma and Aunts and Uncles. I had good friends at Kraybill's Mennonite School too. But I always felt like I did not fit in. As a child we ask some questions and do not know the pain that goes along with our questions. Questions like "where is your real mom"? "Why did she not want you"? and more I remember. I think these kids would not remember today they asked these questions but I know where I was standing or sitting when they were asked......One day my heart was broken. I had been told at home that I was "not flesh and blood daughter" by my mom the evening before and I ran to the classroom from the playground. My favorite teacher Mrs. Murphy was there and took me into her arms and comforted me. I told her about the night before and that the teasing outside. I remember her just holding me but I knew she was thinking and praying....I do not remember all she said that day but I remember some.....One point was I should not live in the hurt the kids were dishing out to me. If I allowed the hurt and dwelled on it than they won. Mrs, Murphy had a real sense of humor and she told me to stand tall and tell them to "bring it on" because it was coming any way....that is how kids are. She talked to the kids making fun and that meant the world to me. She was and still is one of the heroes in my life!
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On The Back Burner of My Mind ….
This leads me to the second book...."The Committed Life....". The author is a Jewish lady and through this book I have come to understand the Torah more. I was given this book after we lost all our "stuff" in the mold mess. It helped me pick up and go on. It has so much wisdom in it about life. So I picked it up again.....(It stays in my Bible Study basket) I flipped to page 209 to the "If Only" chapter.
"......It is futile and self-destructive to dwell upon the if-onlys or I-should-haves. Futile because what was you cannot undo, and self-destructive because such thoughts consume your energies and make you depressed. There is a Talmudic teaching that we should all remember--'What was,was'. In other words, we have to forget the past, get on with it, and learn to deal with the here and now."
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How true this is.....and so I opened my Bible and read this:
Isaiah 43:18-19 English Standard Version "Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."
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And this one:
"But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" - Philippians 3:14

I am moving on!
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In The Deepest Darkest Recesses ….

This picture to me says it all....I took it the morning before our last big snowfall. It is a picture I see over and over each morning there is a sunrise.... This time I wanted to catch the dark background and show the contrast of the new morning light......Each day I see this I am reminded that even in the midst of troubles there is the promise of light....we just have to look up to see it. Look at the colors it brings with it.....what beauty! Do you take the time to see all the colors around you. When you do you will feel delight and joy!

I AM BACK and new format.

2010-02-17T09:59:00.000-08:00

I have not been faithful here and I miss writing so much. Life has been very complicated in the last few months. I have really had to stop and think and look at my core values and dig deep inside for some answers. So I hesitated in sharing because some is not pretty and because in a way I had a wall around me and the third reason is pride. I have had to see how much I have fallen into the trap of being a "super Christian" and not being real.

Than today I received this format in my email and I liked it. So with this I will be able to share fun, serious and deep feelings with you all.
It is found in The Home Keepers site.

Here’s What’s happening …..

In My Kitchen ….

Tonight we will be having chuck steak, baked potatoes and brussel sprouts.

With The Children …..

Since I have no children at home I will share what I am doing with the 2 boys I home school. The youngest is doing a lap book of Early America and for today and tomorrow we are working on Paul Revere. We used this site:

http://www.kidsandhistory.com/paulvm/paulvm.html

and made the Paper model of Paul Revere's house. It came out so nice. He enjoyed visiting all the sites they provide and read and narrated it back to me. Tomorrow he writes it out and reads the poem to me. He has been working on doing this. Three months ago he refused to read aloud and hated it. Now he reads well and reads a lot.

What I’m Reading …

"A Circle Of Quiet" by Madeleine L' Engle

Reading for the third time " The Ragamuffin Gospel" by Brennan Manning

What I Have Been Learning …

From both books I have had come to see I must look deep inside myself. I need to see where I need to change. Here is a quote from "The Ragamuffin Gospel".

"There is a beautiful transparency to honest disciples who never wear a false face and do not pretend to be anything but who they are."

That is so true. Yesterday I wrote a post on why women miss old friends and feel so lonely where they are now. I am at that place. This is a new place to me.....I cannot get out because of mom and issues with John's health and lack of money and so I have pondered long and hard about what I must do. One thing I see is we women have so often put on "false faces" and become what I call "Plastic People". I detest this in others but now I see I have been guilty too. I am back to "What you see is what you got".

What I’ve Been Noticing ….

How many creatures are visiting our back yard.....I knew this but with all the snow their tracks are there.....deer....squirrels....skunks....and last night our black bear. Those are some big and beautiful tracks! I want to see him again. I have been able to watch him three times and what a stately creature he is!

On The Back Burner of My Mind ….

We need to move to a less expensive place.....where? How? I must confess another move scares me but when life gives me this challenge I make it an adventure. Now we have mom and that adds so much stress. She will not do a move very well. She is going back. We need to sell all of this beautiful furniture and art so we can begin a simple life. I am ready.

In The Deepest Darkest Recesses ….

From The first book I am reading, "A Circle of Quiet" I find myself wondering about my "self".

Here is a quote:

"I haven't defined a self, nor do I want to. A self is not something static, tired up in a pretty parcel and handed to the child, finished and complete. A self is becoming. Being does mean becoming,but we run so fast that it is only when we seem to stop-as sitting on the rock at the brook-that we are aware of our isness, of being. But certainly this is not static, for this awareness of being is always a way of moving from the selfish self-the self image- and towards the real. Who am I, then? Who are you?" Page 32

Now do not get me wrong....I know who I am in Christ. But at the age of 61 I find myself wondering who am I? I have many creative talents. I use the one with needle and thread and can make beautiful pieces. I love doing this. I love to cook and have had to switch from gourmet back to simple because of that place we are right now and I love the challenge. But there is one talent I have been pushing aside and that is writing. To be honest I am afraid of rejection and so I write and sit on it. I have been encouraged to share it with others but I am scared.....now what does that say about me? I am working on that. Prompt me to keep working.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

2009-11-26T15:36:00.000-08:00

Thanksgivings in the past are so much fun to remember! I had 2 families that celebrated the holiday with family meals and fun with cousins!

Let's take a trip to the Aunties first.....Donegal Springs Road, Mount Joy, Pa..... a beautiful brick house with a wide front porch.....but the best part of getting there was to see who else was there. Of course as you entered the front room you got hugs and kisses from Aunt Fannie, Aunt Elizabeth and Aunt Emily.....I remember the smells as you got inside.....Maybe Uncle Ben's were there and of course that meant Don, Joyce and Ken.....or Uncle Luke's....Jay Leon and Don would be there....Herb's, Edward's, Wilbur's, Uncle Amos and Aunt Mabel, and maybe Elizabeth and cousins from Virginia....what fun we had! I remember oysters, turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cranberry relish, vegetables, relish trays and more.....that the wonderful pies, cake, cookies and that great ice cream.....as kids we would take a bowl and mix it good and eat it with pretzel sticks.....now that was fun! The adults would talk and we kids would play. Than we would eat again.

Now we go to Grandma Shearer's. I only really remember the meals after grandpa died. She would stretch that table so we would all fit there....Her turkey was perfection! So golden brown. Her dressing the best with saffron threads and the grave was the greatest! Uncle Bobby's lived down the lane so you knew they would be there....Jean and RD were precious to me and what fun we had in that basement....toys, shuffle board and games....Now if it were really special the cousins were there from Florida.....Uncle Harold's....Mary Lynn, Gave and Beth~ Grandma made the best opera fudge and what a treat! Do you know my grandma's favorite part of the turkey was the neck....to each his own!

Than I had my family and I remember each Thanksgiving.....some were with us alone but many with the Kemp/Blocker Family and talk about fun! They were are extended family since we lived away from our Pa. family. They took us in and filled the void we had for missing our family and cousins...we did go home to Pa. the my grandma's and to the Engle Family. Each gave my kids a feeling of family, love and tradition. Than came John and his family....how Nana loved to serve holiday meals in style. We miss her too and John's 2 sisters.

Thanksgiving to me is the best holiday.....I love fall and love family and the traditions. We each need to stop and hold those we love very close to us. We need to build our family traditions and above all we need to stop and give thanks to our Heavenly Father for all his love and all His grace. We need to be thankful for Salvation and a roof over our heads.....for the food we have and the comforts we take for granted.Life can throw us curves but we must take this time to count our blessings~

John and I find ourselves alone today and yes, mom is here but bitter and she chooses to stay in her room. I have cooked a turkey that was a gift and as we speak the dressing (with saffron), vegetables are roasting, sweet potatoes browning, and cranberry sauce ready. We received a pecan pie and that is our special treat!

John is struggling today with his chiari and sprinx......he has a awful headache and has had to lay down a lot.....but I am thankful I have him! We have each other and that is a great gift! We face each day hoping for a treatment that will help and researching all we can. When you are without a job and insurance few want to see you. I know the answer will come.

I have the blessing of homeschooling 2 boys to bring on some income and what a blessing! Yes, it stretches me but it is income.....They have adopted us and I love that!

That brings me to last Sat. night.....the boys family invited us to their family Thanksgiving and I made mom go.....What a loving group of Mennonite people....just like the Aunties and grandma's and we were guests of honor with all the love we needed! This was the first social time we had since we came to Virginia. Do you know what that meant to us? One of the Son in Laws was the cook at VMRC when Mom and dad lived there. Fred was good for her. The only sad thing was she forgot what dad had when he had polio and dimly seemed to remember the hospital stay. She did not think he was in the hospital 5 weeks. She does not want to go out again but she may just have too. I saw how much I missed fellowship.

Mom came out and ate with just a bit ago because I refused to take her a tray. She went back quickly and had little to say. She would not allow me to remind her of the things I mentioned here....she said that is all dead to her now....if only she could enjoy the life she has. She told us she seldom has enjoyed gatherings....I long for them! How I miss daddy!

Here are a few prayer requests....
1. Wisdom to know how to handle mom with John getting worse.
2. That disability will come through.
3. That I am able to stretch the Food Stamps as that is our only food money to use.
4. That we may find help for John....someone has to be able to help.
5. We can some how make the rent this month.
6. That I can deal with the pain I feel from being away from my kids. I need that support.

I awoke with this some on my mind today....maybe you can sing it with me....I remember Aunt Emily singing this.
HE GIVETH MORE GRACE
Annie J. Flint
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He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength as our labors increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials he multiplies peace.
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When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.
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His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.
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Yes, He gives and He gives and gives again! That makes life worth living!Happy Thanksgiving!

GRATITUDE JOURNAL

2009-05-02T12:11:00.000-07:00

I am thankful for birds singing.
Beautiful green trees…
Lily of the valley with their sweet fragrance.
Laughter

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We have all been told that laughter is the best medicine and I firmly believe it is. I laugh a lot….out loud at things on TV, a child having a good time, Sparky (our Jack Russell) playing or begging his dad for another walk, my husbands humor and birds and squirrels fussing over food. Yesterday a crow and squirrel were fighting over a peanut in a shell and the squirrel won.

John and I use humor when things are tough and they have been tough. I feel the day we stop laughing is the day we are beat! I laugh at myself when I spill something or when I make a mistake in stitching….why cry over split milk…..or get mad or call yourself bad names? Laugh instead and get on with the job.

Yesterday when I tucked mom into bed she asked why she hears John and I laugh so much. It made me pause and so I asked her if it bothered her….yes, she said it did bother her because she see little in life that makes her laugh. I said “Mom, dad loved to laugh”. She agreed he did but it always bothered her and she would tell him in private he laughed too much…..you guessed it, I laughed.

I thought about this last night and this morning…..mom has always been up tight and quick to count her losses and never her blessing…..always having a fear of what others will say…..if you really think about that you can see those negative things will keep laughter and joy from your life. Mom really has never been able to be flexible and laughter sure could have helped her.
Do you remember the Bible verse that tells us there is a season for everything….a time to weep and a time to cry….Or read in Luke 6:21 these words….”"Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh".

Since dad’s death and mom having dementia I have learned that sorrow or weeping is a process. I had to learn to climb out of the valley so I could laugh again. It was a choice I made. I held on to Jesus and the times come for laughter. It is something you can’t always force but you sure can hang on to the promise that He is there and after the weeping you will laugh again! Basically I see a cycle here…..we shall weep and we shall laugh….life is never a bowl of cherries all the time.

That takes me to joy…..there sure is a difference between happiness and laughter and joy.
The Biblical Greek term from Paul's spiritual 'orchard' in Galatians is chara: joy, cheer, gladness, or celebration. Joy runs deeper than mere pleasure; especially in a spiritual context, it runs deep into the the core of us, and radiates throughout. It is the response of something deep in the soul to someone (such as God, or a loved one) or something (such as liberation) supremely, even overpoweringly, wonderful. Philippians 4:4 says "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say "rejoice!". Joy should remain constant. Joy from the Lord dwelling continually in our hearts is not turned off and on due to our circumstances, or due to meetings where we get hyped up, or not. Joy can be enduring. Seek after this real kind of joy.

Aunt Emily taught us this…..
J-Jesus First
O-Others next
Y-Yourself last.
Today I am thankful for laughter and I know that the JOY of the Lord is my strength!

GRATITUDE JOURNAL

2009-03-29T10:16:00.000-07:00

I am thankful for:

A beautiful and sunny day....

The beginning of a new craft room.....

My family....

God's Grace

**********************

We have had rain for so many days it seems and to awake this morning and see the beautiful clear skies and the mountain range in the distance began my day praising the Lord for all He has created for you and me to enjoy. How I love nature but I am also reminded I am to care for nature. That is a awesome assignment for each of us. So what will you do today to help the environment?

We have 2 huge bed rooms upstairs and of course one is ours and the other is a guest/craft/ family room. On the back side is one built in desk and that is for my card making.....than John found a great old desk for the large wall for my sewing with a wonderful workspace. He will be putting shelves over that for my felts etc.....I am excited. Than there is room for our TV, a sofa bed and 2 smaller recliners, a coffee table, bookshelf etc and it is not a bit crowded.....so come on and see us!

My family keeps me going....I think the kids have no idea how much it means to have a quick call or to listen to me in the middle of loss and pain. Mom is indeed going down hill mentally. We have been telling her for 2 weeks she will come home on April 4Th. Today I called to check and she had packed to come home tomorrow. Of course I had to tell her no and did she ever throw a fit! Things were flying and she was crying.....John could hear it all and I was trying to tell her that was a short time if she looks at the amount of time she has been in hospitals and rehab. That made her madder.....what a mess. Than I reminded her we are taking her out tonight. That calmed her a bit......John saw the pain and it scared him a bit......but he is here and he is steadfast in doing this for mom.....we did it for his mom.

My extended family helps too with calls and love and for that I am grateful.....

Grace....what is grace mean to you?

It may mean beauty and charm.....as a graceful lady.

It may mean something you say at the table.....a prayer.

It may mean respect and honor....like your grandmother "graces" your table.

Or it may mean a time period of someone showing you mercy.

These all make me think and I can call up a memory for each statement I wrote. I know graceful people....my Aunt Miriam comes to my mind or Aunt Emily....

We always said Grace at the table....sometimes it was a song we song together...I remember that at the Aunties for holidays....

I so wish my dad could "grace" our table again. I needed him this week and would you believe for the first time since we are here I drove out and talked with him....standing in the rain and yet I felt some comfort.

I have needed mercy this last year....over and over again. John losing his job and a huge move, dad dying, mom falling and another move and still no work. At times I am so overwhelmed and simply want to stay in bed. I have only missed 2 days in my daily visits to mom and that has been a chore. Remember I am a homebody! I have developed a way to help.....it is a 20 minute drive between the 2 mountain ranges and I praise God for things along the way and pray for friends and family as I drive....I have simply quoted scripture as I drive. I do all of this aloud and it is a real time of worship for me.

But I have missed swap guidelines, forgot to call or send things I promised, come home and tell John I just cannot cook....and for most I have had people understand. Since I am a person that does what they say I have conflict within myself for not being able to be all things to all I love. last week I was reminded of my forgetfulness and I cried most of the day....this is not like me but I saw I had two options.....go and get meds so I can do all or simply accept I cannot. It was a struggle for me. I have not been kind to myself at all.

That I read an article about God's Grace......The Author said there is nothing common about

God's grace. and I am going to quote him and will give the link at the end of the quote:

" was recently having dinner with a friend of mine in Nashville: author and speaker, Jerry Bridges. He is one of the most profound Bible teachers of our day and his books reflect his deep love for the Lord and His Word. When we were discussing this issue of grace, he gave me a tremendous illustration to communicate the difference between providential benevolence and God's grace.He said,
A hungry hobo comes to your door asking for a meal. You give it to him freely, without him doing anything to earn it. This would be considered ‘kindness’, not ‘grace’.  Biblical correct definitions of grace would be:  1. Grace - ‘God’s favor through Christ to those who deserve His disfavor.’   This version is designed to compare/contrast the historically accepted inadequate definition of grace above.   Or 2. Grace - ‘God’s blessings through Christ to those who deserve His curse.’    This is the better of the two definitions.  To illustrate this Jerry went on in using his example of the hobo. He continued by saying,
The hobo robs you after eating your free meal. He then returns one month later. Instead of calling the police, you give him another meal.  Key components of the definition:  1. Christ is the only basis for both our redemption from the curse and our attaining any of God’s blessings.   2. We have assaulted the holiness of God, but yet have been His grace. Back to our hobo, this takes us from seeing ourselves as the hungry hobo to seeing ourselves as the robber.  IOW, grace is ‘God in action.’ Grace is not just a benevolent attitude on God’s part to all people. Grace is always ‘God in action’ for our good and for His glory.   Again,  every time the Bible mentions ‘grace’ it is always associated with ‘God in action.’ He is: saving us, justifying us, empowering us, sustaining us, equipping us, etc. ‘by grace.’  ....

http://stevenjcamp.blogspot.com/2007/08/nothing-common-about-grace-looking-at.html

I encourage you to read all the article....I am still doing my journal on this part......

I like the "God in Action" part.....that excites me and fills me with hope. I have taken from this one thing.....I want to be a woman of action for the Lord. It gives me lots of ideas but the most important part is that I read His Word daily and pray and listen to Hid voice to tell me what action I need to take.....that will be the challenge for me.....

How will God's grace move you to action this week?

Share your ideas.....

WE ARE HOME

2009-03-19T15:23:00.001-07:00

This is the home we are renting in Massanutten, Virginia. We are about 9 miles out of Harrisonburg, Va. The community is a resort and I simply love it here. The trip to town is through such beautiful farms and on each side at beautiful mountains. The daffodils are blooming and some Red Trees are blooming. I sure missed Spring Flowers!

This is a picture taken from our bedroom window. We are on the second floor so mom can have the bedroom on the main floor.

A look into our living area and Sparky too...

We are here because mom needed us to move here since her fall. It is a bittersweet time for me. Mom also has some dementia so each day we have is precious. I have lost dad just this year and I am not ready to have her gone too.

She was only home one night since she shattered her hip on New Years Eve. She developed problems and was back in the hospital and now rehab again. Say a prayer for her.

I think I need to share with all of you how I feel about caring for our parents. I guess the old ways the Mennonites did things still has value to me. One of them is caring for our parents in our homes. This does not work for many but I want to do this. I learned the value of it when we kept John's mom who also had dementia. We also had his Uncle at that time who was dying from COPD and Uncle Joe taught me more about cooking (he was a chef all his life) and accepting life as it comes. Nana taught me that life is full of beauty....she loved anything beautiful. When she no longer knew me I saw how caring for her was a gift to my husband. This precious woman gave birth to the man I dearly love and the best gift I could give her and John was for me to serve her in love. I have never regretted it. It sure was a tough time.....no sleep....hospital trips over and over...anger....but on the other side of the coin John and I became closer.....John's humor and music got us through along with the prayers of friends and family. It was stressful.....By the way here is a quote for you on stress by Carol Luebering:

"Stress, when properly regulated and channeled, is one of life's most positive energies."

Think about that...we so often want life to be a bowl of cherries....why? We sure do not grow during the easy times...in fact we so often get lazy with our prayers and even reading our Bibles...and so often just care for our own families. It is during the stressful times that we see the suffering of others and we reach out and learn life is for sharing all we have with those that need it more. We also gain strength in what we believe and understand the meaning of prayer. Fore refines us and we come out stronger and richer for it.

John has been busy getting moms room ready for her and her bathroom too. Now he is painting the dinning room and kitchen. He enjoys the detail work. While I run to see mom each day he works here. We try to take Sparky to see mom 2 nights a week. That makes her happy.

As soon as she is home and seems more stable he will be really looking for work. I know this is an awful time for finding employment but feel the right job will open up when it is time. I also feel God will honor him for all he has to give up to have mom here. But he is loving and supportive and wants to do for my mom what I did for his......how sweet!

Hold your parents tight if you have them......treasure their clear minds and also love and care for them when they are weak and need you. Make memories with them....visit them whenever you can...even if it means sacrifice......They are precious gifts to us.

I AM THANFUL FOR...

2009-01-25T06:25:00.000-08:00

I am thankful for:Life
My second hot cup of coffee.
Friends and family
My Anabaptist heritage.
************************
Several things have happened to me since dad’s death that have been exciting and in a sense I have been on a treasure hunt so to speak. Reading dad’s notes he saved when he gave talks at Mennonite Churches over the years really started this. I saw my dad stayed true to his Anabaptist beliefs but was also progressive at times. I decided it was time to really search the net for articles and chat with people about the Mennonites and Amish. I have been out of the Mennonite Community for well over 40 years. I love history and so decided to dig in so to speak. I will not get deep in this all but I will say I found out that my childhood and teens years did shape in me a strong core of beliefs.

I learned so much from my 3 Aunties as we called them, Fannie, Elizabeth and Emily.They raised my dad and his brother. Going to their home was the same as going to Grandma’s house. They loved God above all and taught me to love my church. From Aunt Emily I learned not to judge people.

Dad was a great example of both servant hood to all people and a great example that a daily walk with God meant time spent in the Bible first and the words of any author second. He would read a book and take out truths when they lined up with God’s Word.He knew the Word and so he was never a man that neither was confused nor wish washy. He lived a balanced life. We worked with folks in Harrisburg, Pa. in Hamilton Street Mennonite Church, he worked MDS, and he shared what we had with those with less.After my marriage he and mom went to Honduras and he treasured each minute of that service to the Mennonite Church. He than came back to the states and gave years to Lakewood Retreat…a Mennonite camp above Tampa. He believed in family camping as well as kids going to camp. He also has been active in Camp Hebron in Pa.

All involved taught me that peacemaking is a key to life…. we must ”live peaceable with all men”. My world has always been global for missionaries that served and came home for a time were always welcome at our house. I loved to hear them share! My grandma Shearer had a love for missionaries and read many a book to me about them. She sewed for the Children of missionaries and wrote letters to them. As a child I was a part of this process and I loved it. We rolled bandages for the lepers in Africa, made MCC bundles for various areas. This to me was so exciting!

Now here in Virginia I have found a treasure trove of history of the Anabaptists. There is a bookstore here called “Book Savers”. The books are cheap and I have found a treasure trove! I loved Christmas Carol Kauffman as a child and went to see if any were there. The only one was one I have never read called, “Dannie of Cedar Cliffs.”. It is the story of Dannie Roth and wow….am I learning! I am reading “Readings from Mennonite Writings New and Old” By J. Craig Haas. I think one written in 1524 is the oldest I have read so far. (Conrad Grebel). It is designed to read one a day for the year but I am reading and researching much more than that. (Bt the way it cost me 1.00)

I have read the story called “Honey Bread and Milk” by Joyce Gingerich “This account of Amos Gingerich and Nannie Yoder Gingerich gives an intimate glimpse into the lives of a family that followed God call during the rapid change in Mennonite and Amish communities.”—Franklin L. Yoder,Adjunct Professor of History, University of Iowa.

On my stack is one called “Stories our Mothers Told” by Herb Swartz. It says it is about the “son on a immigrant mother, and the daughter of a missionary mother….I have the book called “Tobias of the Amish” by Ervin R. Stutzman.

I just finished “Quiet Shouts” By Louise Stoltzfus. “Stories of Lancaster Mennonite Women Leaders” I love that I knew 3 in the book. I read “ Eyes at the Window” By Evie Yoder Miller. It is based on fact but is a novel. The history in it was great and I looked a lot up.

I read “Valley of my Heart, A devastating war, a peaceful people and one family’s quest for truth” The notes and the Bibliography are a roadmap of books I am looking for.

I will close for now but I feel I am on a journey and I really am excited about this. I may be 60 but I love to learn and see I am drawn back to my roots!
God is good

Update

2009-01-09T15:59:00.000-08:00

You all will see what is happening to myself, John and mom if you look here:
http://donnag-takingcareofmother.blogspot.com/

Please add any suggestions you have on helping us know what to do.

Love,
Donna G

FROM OUR HOUSE TO YOURS

2008-12-19T10:14:00.000-08:00

I did not decorate much for Christmas this year. That is OK because we have up the things we like best. The Poinsettia carries so many memories. We did not have a tree as I was growing up because the Mennonite Church was strongly against them. How I longed as a child to have one. To this day that rule makes no sense to me. But we did have Poinsettia plants and so that says grandma's house, the Aunties home and my home and brings back fun holiday memories. When I moved to Florida as a newly married gal at 19 I remember with wonder the beauty of huge Poinsettia plants growing outside homes. I managed to grow a nice large one outside and I enjoyed it a lot. If dad was where we lived he would buy one for me and so that makes this small one remember him with a lot of love.

The Nativity is my very favorite symbol of Christmas. Before we lost all our things in Florida due to the toxic mold I have a set for each room. My favorite was my Fontanni Set that I had added to whenever I could. My goal was to be able to set up the Bethlehem set....town and all. But that was not to be and I say these things are "gone with the mold". I love these because I could allow the kids and grand kids play with them and act out the story as often as they wanted. I have a set I did paint out of ceramics for mom and dad as a Christmas gift 25+ years ago. They decided not to use it anymore 3 years ago. I do put it out but in this last move the stable was broken and so I decided it will come out next year and will create one during this year. So the one you see was John's mothers set. (She was crazy about the 3 Wisemen). I had given this to mother to use but she decided she did not want it last year so that is on the mantle. Foe fun I suggest you read this page. It tells how to set up a Nativity set.

http://www.nativitysets.com/

Than our tree. It is a love tree. When we lost all out things email buddies sent me what is on the tree. I can sit and look and remember who gave me what and I love each one. A box of ornaments I made were at moms and so I do have some from 35 years ago and they remind me of the kids and the fun we had at Christmas. A tree to me is really a memory tree. I have never wanted to go out and but the latest fad for trees or the "new" colors. I always hoped it was one the kids, friends,the grand kids, John and myself could look at and remember the times we spent together. If I could so one from scratch I would want it to have white lights to remind me Jesus is the Light f the World, Stars that tell us the Wise men followed the star, gold to remind me Heaven is paved with gold and Crystal for the light to bounce off of and that reminds me that Jesus is the Light but we must reflect Him in our lives,,and ornaments that represent Jesus. I want to create Chrismons.

Symbols:

http://www.umcs.org/chrismons/booklet.pdf

Ideas to make them:

http://www.grovecityalliance.org/chrismons/

Than I would add the Jesse Tree ornaments.

http://www.claudette.shalfleet.net/advent/makeajessetree.htm

the above is for kids

this one is also printable:

http://www.geocities.com/~gidsplace/jesse_instruct.html

I think I will try to create mine from felt and embellish them some.....Maybe I will begin as soon as a paycheck happens. I love to work with felt.

Remember Christmas is Christ and Christ is Christmas.....

TODAY...DEPRESSION...ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT

2008-12-18T12:24:00.000-08:00

Today depression hit me so hard. This is not a feeling I am used to at all. I was not even sure I wanted to get out of bed. I knew I had to “take the bull by the horns” and call it what it is. I prayed and got up for that hot cup of coffee. It was quiet and so I reflected on this week. When we had a urgent bill to pay a check came from a precious Aunt and Uncle and it was paid and I went to the Discount Grocery Store and picked up a few essentials. Now that is a blessing! I heard from a few friends that lifted my spirits. That is worth more than gold. I sold a few cards and that was a blessing. John received 2 possible job emails that were personal and not automated. Maybe…
The depression started to lesson but as many of you know the devil likes to show us the other side. How I fought that. Nature does so much for me and so I decided to take Sparky for a walk. He likes to visit the row of trees to do his business and he went a bit crazy…it looked like some fur I thought that worked him all up…but no it had roots. So I finished walking him and got my camera. It was too dark to take a picture where it was so I pulled it up…brought it to John and he was amazed…it is delicate. Sparkles, has black dots on it and is so dainty. We looked it up but found nothing…. so here is the picture maybe one of you can identify it.
The back yard was calling me and soon I stumbled on this pretty and bright fungus. I brightened too because I simply love nature. John thinks something eats these because there are some out there that look nibbled on.

I stopped to sit on the outside brick fireplace and just watched the pond. I had taken some stale bread along and the fish were feeding on it and the birds were singing. To me it is way too warm today for the season but I have to admit it is nice. A hawk soared over me and all of a sudden it was quiet. The small birds dove into the bushes by the feeder. That made me pause. They saw or heard danger and they hid. That is survival. Maybe there is a lesson in this for me too. I will think about it more.

As I headed back to the house I saw these full heads of dandelion seeds. I love them because they remind me of my childhood. Do you remember picking them and than blowing on them? I do and I giggled at the memories. As a child it was a wonder or fun to us but I guess our parents did not like all those dandelion seeds on the pretty yard. But as a mother or grandma I remember the delight on the face of my children and grandchildren as they handed me the treasure they had just picked…a bouquet of Dandelion flowers.

I sat on the chairs on our patio/carport and adjusted my attitude. We are among many families that are out of work with no job in sight. There are many of us without no presents under the tree for our kids and grandkids. There are many of us that have been told the panty shelves are empty in the food closets. I looked at the panic in the eyes of a family there and knew they have children to feed and we do not. They told me the only agency here in town that helps with electric bills is out of funds. This town of mill workers has been hit so hard with lay-offs. The huge carpet company here handed pink slips to those 45 or older. There are many that do not have the faith that knows God will supply our needs. We may question how and when and I believe that is a normal emotion but we can never doubt His power. He does know our breaking point.

I have resented having to once again giving up what God supplied us with after the lass of all our things. But if I am honest I will say I allowed myself to be once again attached to things and I was determined not to do that again. I know the things we have He gave us for a reason and to hang on to “things” is not a very good way to say thanks to Him. So I prayed and told Him I am willing to do whatever is required of me.

What are gifts under the tree? Usually they are fun to select for our families. It gives a mom pleasure to find that perfect gift for her children. It gives a grandma great pleasure to find the right toy or game for our grandkids. I had such plans…not for big gifts but thoughtful gifts for each one. But that is not to be. I gave this hurt to Jesus to. It will have to be up to Him if He sees fit to grant me this pleasure.

I do have what I need to bake brownies for my oldest daughter for the party at the Police Dept. I made them some time ago and her guys want more. I make them and that melt chocolate as a icing. I am looking forward to doing this for her. I was so happy she asked me.

I was able to set us a Pay-Pal account to sell my cards and some things I have stitched and that gives me encouragement to know maybe I can help us some as job spends all day and way into th night searching for that job. I hope to go now and create more to sell.

As I close this let me tell you the depression has lifted. God is faithful in giving us strength for the hard times, in giving us joy in nature if we chose to take the time to enjoy them.. He is faithful in taking away the resentment when we repent. He allows us to be open and transparent with Him and meets us where we are…even if the depths of depression. He is indeed a good and faithful Father.

The challenge I leave with you is this…if you need your attitude adjusted go to Him. Look around you and see a neighbor that needs encouragement and be that to them. He will give you the words to say, the actions he wants you to take and the needs they may have you can give to them. Remember Jesus is the reason for the season. Do what He does for you!

TRIALS, STRENGTH AND CHRISTMAS

2008-12-12T08:02:00.000-08:00

Waiting for a job is not easy when you are living on a dime. We have made the hard decision to sell household items so we have a roof over our head one more month…hoping for a job.

I love Christmas and always have. I will admit in past years I “just had” to have gifts for those I love. It was expected and I delivered. We never put Christmas on a credit card but I did pressure my DH for money to get Christmas. This year it has changed. Yes, I would love to be able to give the grandkids a gift but it is out of the question. I gave the Lord my desire to gift them with “things” and he gave me the desire to give them the gift of time.
He helped me see I can look ahead and He will help me make their birthdays a special day. I am Ok with that.

Now back to Christmas…. what is Christmas to you? Is it the giving and receiving…is it the tree and tinsel…is it the carols and caroling…is it the baking and the turkey…is it the wonder in the eyes of your kids and grandkids…is it family and friends…is it serving or being served…is it Santa or seasons greetings?

I have searched my heart and see that in years past it was somewhat in the toys I gave, the goodies I baked and the parties I had. These things are OK when kept in the proper prospective and are part of the season for us. But it hit me this season that Christmas is Christ and Christ is Christmas. That is the bottom line. We read a lot about the miracle of the birth of Jesus in the Bible. It is a story we teach the kids and they love playing with the Nativity and being in Christmas pageants at church. But I am afraid as we grow up the commercial part of the holidays becomes part of our lives. Did you ever wonder what we could do with the money we spend on new ornaments for our trees to keep them up to date? What about the money we spend to wrap what we buy? Beside the money we need to think of all of this going to a landfill and the harm to our environment. I have a friend that wraps in tea towels, bath towels, and fabric or she uses baskets…anything the receiver can really use. The gifts are always attractive and are appreciated. Why does it take glitter and bright objects to get us into the mood we want in the season? I have heard so many folks mention since the tree is up they feel Christmas or when 10 types of cookies and candy are made it smells and feels like Christmas. Is it because we have really lost the wonder of a virgin having a baby and His name is Jesus?

Think of this with me…..you are a virgin and are carrying a baby and betrothed to a man that still marries you. Can you really feel the fear at first and that the wonder of this miracle? Can you travel with Mary and Joseph to pay their taxes and you have to ride on a donkey? I can’t because I have rode on a donkey at Camp Hebron and it is not a comfortable ride at all. Than she is carrying a child…now that is a tough ride. Think about her attitude when there was no room in the Inn and they had to go to the stable and there birth her child? The miracle of the birth of Jesus brings tears to my eyes.

Can you imagine being a shepherd and all of a sudden seeing angels that are singing and announcing the birth of Jesus? If they came and told us would we label them as delusional? Would you believe them and follow the star? Can you even imagine how they felt when they saw that new born baby? I think they “knew” it was the promised Messiah.
The Wise men are really a story by them selves and I did a word study on them for my journal time. I started at this sight and suggest you do also.
http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/wisemen.html

You will see why this indeed a part of the miracle of the birth of Jesus.
I believe if each of you reading this blog were to get up early one morning and study this miracle or stay up after all are gone to bed and ask the Lord to take away the commercial out of Christmas and instill the miracle of His Birth and why He came to earth you will energized and your family will slow down and see Jesus. Why we run to and fro and get so frazzled is beyond me. Maybe instead of a huge Christmas dinner we need to have a simple meal and share what we might have spent with a family that needs food. Not only will you be blessed but your waist line will be blessed too.

Why did it take a stressful time in my life for me to really see Jesus in Christmas? I think it is because my pride has been stripped, my holiday planning needs no planning, I need no extra gas to shop for what someone may not use and I feel peace…real peace in this season.

Back to no job and no income and all our 401k money used….I read in a book that is getting worn called “Wisdom for the way, Wise Words for Busy People” by Charles Swindoll. He has a way of speaking a book in one page and it points you to Jesus. The verse was Psalm 27:14: (Amplified Bible)
“Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.”
He says wait is Hebrew verb (kah-wah) and means to “twist, stretch” and noun for “line, thread or cord”. That brings a picture of the making of a strong and powerful rope. He says “…and weaving ourselves so tightly around the Lord that our weakness and frail characteristics are replaced by His power and unparallel strength. It describes very literally the truth of what has been termed the ‘exchanged life’…
The last line hit me and I praise the Lord for it!
“Strength and courage are developed ‘during’ a trial, not after it is over.”

Mary and Joseph must have been perplexed by the twists and turns in their life but I believe they knew the Lord was in control. I believe they became strong in these circumstances and this is a lesson for you and I during this season. The economy is awful for many, the unemployment is high, groceries are up but all of this can twist us into a strong rope that gives us the strength of the Lord… we also will have the strength to help others struggling. How can you help another today?
Yes, Christmas is Christ and Christ is Christmas.

THE BIG 60

2008-12-08T19:11:00.001-08:00

Today was the big 60 for me. It was the first time I dreaded a birthday. I wrote this last night.

“Might it be because I still have so much I want to do? Could it be I want to be able to bless others more? Could it be because we always thought 60 was old? I think it is a lot of the first 2 for me. I still want to see the Swiss Alps, I want to spend time with my family in Pa. I want to see Skyler graduate from college, Adam, Will and Zoe from high school. I have so much I want to share with them.....stories, memories but mostly listen to them and I mean really listen. I have the time now. I want to finish my book or books....I have 2 started and just got stuck. I want to be able to walk on the Beach or hike up a mountain again.

Those all are dreams and some will come to pass. But mostly I want to enjoy each minute right now.....like the look on Zoe's face when she saw me walk into their house and the squeals of delight and the words, "Nana, I love you and missed you" along with a tight hug and yes I picked her up and cried.....we had such a delightful afternoon drinking our tea, reading a book, playing with toys and laughing.....the fun I heard in Ryan's voice as he teased me about becoming a senior citizen that can get him a discount....big chance!
I so enjoyed watching a hawk on the way home.....my DH pulled off the road so I could enjoy him and than the owl watching us as we came home. Sparky was one happy dog to see us and he just put on a show and laid with each of us for a bit......or this morning as I looked out to the pond and saw the Great Blue Heron catch a fish and what fun to see him swallow it! The Cardinals sang and the Purple Finches flutter about......Yes, it was all simple things but ones I will remember this week.

God has given me a gift....so many die before they reach this age and you know I believe each of them had dreams too. My dad at 88 had some.....but his biggest wish was to go and be with the Lord. He said many times he was ready and as I type this I did wipe a tear but mostly I am comforted by the love he gave me every minute he was alive. One thing I learned was he too had fears and he too was down at times but he always shook them off with his strong faith.

Birthdays are funny....they do something to you no other day does except Maybe New Years Eve.....you stop and reflect. It is kinda like the word "selah" at the end of a verse....it means stop and reflect......the goodness of God, the gifts he has given us, the family we have and yes these storms in life that take us to the brink of despair for really it is there that you see the strength the Lord gives you. I seldom think of that strength until I think I am going over the edge and than you see the break in the skies and you know God is still with you. You feel that love like you did as a child when you climbed up into your fathers arms and knew you were safe and loved. Yes, God gives us that strength because He says that what is His is ours....take a minute and reflect on that.

I have a wonderful husband that would move mountains for me if he could. He also gives me strength as I see him struggle to be "normal" whatever that is......His love gives me what it takes to love him more and more.”

TODAY:
I awoke with joy this morning. It was great to be alive. I watched the birds and drank my coffee. John wished me Happy Birthday. It seemed like the depression I have bee feeling lifted. I know that was because of the prayers of those that care. The girls called and Ryan also. That was nice.
John pulled out the Christmas tree, which surprised me because I did not plan to get it out this year. Ryan’s girlfriend was here and she helped me decorate while John made a hamburger for us and Ryan along with French fries. It was so good. A meal we seldom make but what we could afford. The fact John made it was the important thing. I love that man of mine!

Gifts were not bought but that was fine. When there is no job store bought gifts are not important at all. It is family and their love that gets you through. It is one’s faith I God and knowing He is in control. It is learning from the tough times and gaining strength day by day.

Than I had a wonderful surprise in a phone call from a neighbor from childhood and I believe we chatted for close to an hour. It is funny how God sends the right people at the time you need them. Thanks Ruby for taking the time to surprise me with a call. God Bless you.

Let me end with some things I am grateful for:

Another year to serve the Lord

My darling husband

Family and friends that care.

The job God will give John

I am feeling creative again

I AM THANKUL FOR A GREAT AUNT AND UNCLE

2008-11-25T07:10:00.000-08:00

A Week ago I brought the last blooms in from my hydrangea bush because we were to have freezing temperatures the next morning. The bush is sheltered but I knew if I want to enjoy them I needed to bring them in. I have always loved these flowers. They take me back to my childhood.

A wonderful thing happened last night to me. I have been a bit down in the dumps the last few weeks. John still has not found a job and things are worse than tight for us. What we had put back will be gone with this rent payment and fear crept in. I guess fear cripples me and makes me feel alone in this battle. The phone rang and I was so happy to see it was my Uncle Ben and Aunt Miriam. (This is dad’s brother) Now for you to understand the happiness this brought me you will need to walk down memory with me.

As a child I loved and looked up to Aunt Miriam. She was never tied up with the legalistic dress code of the strict Mennonite church and so she always looked like a real “lady’ to me because she was always as neat as a pin (whatever that means) but it was her loving personality was what drew me to her. When I got a hug from her I felt so loved and so safe. She and Uncle Ben had 3 kids and the memories I have with them would take too many posts to tell. Just know they had and have real character and compassion and a deep love for the Lord today.

To go to Aunt Miriam’s’ house was to go into a “House Beautiful” photo. I remember the farmhouse they lived in and there was a ball diamond by their house that afforded a lot of fun to me. Than they build a new house and if I closed my eyes I could give you details of each room…how I loved that piano and th art in the living room. The kitchen and dinning room drew you to them. If it was a family dinner her table was set to perfection and that beautiful cranberry glassware put it over the top! The meal was always perfect and it was here I took lessons on how to be a perfect hostess.

It was a comfort to me to go there and stay when I had to attend my grandma’s funeral. Crystal and I were treated like royalty and let me tell you about that breakfast…my favorite and one of her specialties…chipped beef on English muffins.

With these few examples I know you understand why I brightened when I saw their names on the caller ID last night. When I heard Uncle Ben’s voice I was so comforted because he sounds so much like my dad. When he laughed I felt a healing for a broken heart begin to heal. His laughter took me to many times I heard that hearty laugh from my dad. We talked about good times and bad times but again their understanding and love was a healing balm to me. You see because of our hardships I so want to talk to dad. He was my rock here on earth. His faith was unshakable and taking to Uncle Ben I heard that same deep belief in a powerful and loving God. I have found it very easy the last years to share some of the hurts I felt growing up with them and it has helped me to see they were not hurts in my imagination but some they saw too. My adoption often made me feel a bit outside with some family members but with them I never felt a bit different. I never once felt I did not belong to the family in their presence.

Don is their oldest and I have had to call on him several times in his profession to get just a bit of help with hardships John faces. He too has that wonderful compassion and deep love for the Lord that draws you to him. We have seldom seen each other over the years but 3 years ago he brought his dad to see my dad and we had wonderful visits together. He also has that hearty Kraybill laugh that just warms the soul. I see both his parents in him and know his children also have the wonderful values he was brought up with.

This October at Dad’s memorial in Harrisonburg, Va. I had the privilege to spend some precious time with their daughter Joy and her husband and again I was simply astounded that she too is a wonderful bled of her parents bit surely a woman in her own right. Her husband Wayne is just as loving. I know I sure do not want to lose contact with her again.

So on this Thanksgiving Week I want to share how thankful I am for Uncle Ben and Aunt Miriam for their love and support all these years. I think we seldom know how we touch each other’s lives. I also think we seldom remember to thank those that gave us the moments of sanctuary and genuine love we needed. So today I look at the flowers I brought in and the call from them last night and I feel loved and my heart is singing a song of praise to the Lord for the family he gives to us.

Thank you Uncle Ben and Aunt Miriam for the gift of time you gave me last night!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family!

Maybe you to need to write or call a family member this week and let them know you love them. I tell you it makes a difference!

FINISHED POSTER

2008-10-06T06:03:00.001-07:00

I have been working on a poster for Dad's memorial service in Harrisonburg, Va on October 11.
Of course I wanted to make it special because dad was special. After a lot of thought I decided I would make it a 3-D poster. I knew it would be a lot of work but committed to doing it. In the middle of working on it we had to make that unexpected move and I seemed swamped but I would not give in and I am glad I stuck it out.

The pictures do not really capture it very well. It seems alive when you look at it. I started with his grandparents and finished with color pictures of more recent shots.

It was a bittersweet time....at times as I cut the tears flowed other times I found myself singing hymns dad loved. Dad loved the songs "To God Be the Glory" or "How Great Thou Art" and the Chorus "Heaven is a wonderful place". He had a clear tenor voice and sang in many Mennonite men's music groups and late as his 82 birthday and his voice did not crack at all. I also used the hours involved in this process to pray for my mom. She is not doing well at all. I try to understand how it must feel to have your husband die after 65 years of marriage. He was my dad for 59 years and I feel the whole in my heart....but that is not the same as 65 adult years together. If you think of her say a prayer.

We will be leaving here on Friday. There will be a short service when we place his ashes in the vault for the family and than the Memorial service at 2. His brother and family as well as sister and family will be there and mom's brother and family are coming also. It is the University's homecoming for what was EMS(Eastern Mennonite School) at the time mom and dad graduated from there and so more of their friends will be attending that come down for the services.

We ask you to pray for us as we travel for for peace and joy as we celebrate dad's life.

You can see my 3 "Aunties" on the beach and that is in Ocean Grove, NJ. That was a favorite place to go every summer for me as a child too.
Dad had courage and if you look at the bottom you will see him standing with the brace he had to wear after his hard time with polio. Dad never complained and never talked much about the pain and fight back. I think he was handsome in his Graduation picture at the top.
The top pictures are family. The first is 3 cousins and dad's sister Rachel, Dad and his brother Ben. Since than 2 of the cousins have passed away. The next is his family. My Uncle Luke passed away recently. (He is the middle Uncle.)

I hope you all enjoy a peek into my family. God has blessed me with a rich and Christian foundation.

ONE GREAT FOOD SITE!

2008-09-29T05:29:00.000-07:00

I am so proud of a young man that is a good friend of my oldest daughter. They went to school together, played together and still are in contact with each other. Over a month ago Crystal told me to check out a web site. Hat I found gave me a walk down memory lane. Benji grew up in a very creative family. His parents had the local florist and gift shop. They had flair with arranging and being creative. If memory serves me correctly they started the “Little Miss Harvest Festive” pageant. Crystal was in that pageant and quite a few more. Benny and Bernadette have the gift of organizing, carrying through and making it fun. By the way they named their 3 kids with their name beginning with “B”. The Flower business is called the “B-Hive “. How about that for creativity?

We all did love to cook in Immokalee…. most of us anyway and if you did not like to cook you liked to eat! The First Baptist Church had its share of carry-in meals and it was a feast to say the least. I can remember our pastor at the time; Brother Babb (Adams) loved good food and loved to remind us what his favorites were. He did not like green peas! He made sure Harold Thomas knew he was looking forward to a big pot of swamp cabbage. Now that is a treat for any true “Southerner” and one I had to develop. We were reminded he loved Southern chicken and dumplings and really any kind of good food. Bernadette was one of those great cooks that brought just the right thing to those meals.

Here is a site that tells you about making Swamp Cabbage. I never tried to cook this because I never had the urge to go and chop down a cabbage palm tree just for the heart.
http://www.sun-herald.com/NewsArchive4/101605/tp8de8.htm?date=101605&story=tp8de8.htm

This one is from Native Tech.
http://www.nativetech.org/recipes/recipe.php?recipeid=277

Now to the site I started to tell you about…
I am going to quote the “about” the author of this site.
“Over the years, I have been told that my love of food would qualify me to write restaurant reviews. Finally, I am writing about good food!
Plain and simple, my name is Ben Starling, I was raised in Immokalee, Florida and blessed with a family that cooked in the good times, in the bad times, and all the times in between. Being Southern Baptist, we did not drink, but we did eat!
My mother is one of the finest cooks on the face of the earth. She can taste something at a restaurant and come home and produce it. Some people play the piano by ear, my mother cooks by tongue (or rather taste)! No recipes, no need to labor measuring and certainly no need to rely on anything frozen.
I suppose this site is dedicated to my Mom because she loves good food and taught me the importance of taking pride in my cooking.”

I have added a few recipes to his site and will continue to. I love the reviews he does and if you travel you will sure see some places you will want try. The products he suggests are the best and I know if he thinks they are good than they are!
http://www.living2eat.com/2008/09/

Benji, thanks for doing this site. I am proud of the young man you have become and want you to know that.Keep it up……know I love you!

PINK SLIP, FEAR and PROVISION

2008-09-17T05:52:00.000-07:00

There are times in life when things come at you that you did not see coming. This is one of them.

My husband was let go just over 2 weeks ago. In the apartment business you face having to move in 10 days. So you lose your job as well as the home. We were faced with what seemed impossible. These questions went through our mind.....where do we go, what will John do, how do we decide this in a few days and than get moved?

We felt we needed to move back to LaGrange where we have 2 kids and their families. On the day the packers were at the house we still had no address.....talk about a panic! John was in LaGrange looking and a friend and I were in Atlanta......Early in the afternoon he secured a wonderful little house in city limits but really in a country setting. When the movers and Jane and I pulled into the driveway it felt like home!

I failed to mention the company he worked for paid for the packing and move because they had our apartment rented before we were out. They did not get all the packing done the first day and had to bring a load the next day. I stayed home to unpack and John went to let them in.....

God provided just what we needed......I love nature and as you can see on the first picture we are on a pond and have an acre yard. I have watched a Kingfisher drive in for a fish and bring it out.

Soft shell turtles sun bathe on the logs as ducks swim by checking them out. we have a Little Green Heron fish as a Great White Heron is at the other end of the pond. Song birds are all around us. What a treat to wake up to nature!

This is the front of the house that overlooks the pond.
You enter through the side door into the office or through the sliding glass doors from off the carport that lead into the dinning room.

I love my country kitchen.......can't wait to get cooking in it. As of now there are only a few boxes left and I will have that all cleaned out by the end of the day. John has been going room by room and decorated and arranged furniture so all could fit in. I will take pictures when we are finished.

We still have no real leads on a job. With my husbands narcolepsy and still learning what his limitations are we ask that you all pray for us and for a job that is less stressful for him. I feel we are in a place to heal and for him to sharpen his photography skills. God is good and I know he knows just what we need.

JOURNAL JARS TELL THE STORY

2008-08-15T13:23:00.000-07:00

TREES
by: Joyce Kilmer (1886-1918)

THINK that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.

**********************************

This was my fathers favorite poem but I just found that out. This is where the "Journal Jar" comes into play. Several years ago I gave my parents a journal jar for part of their Christmas gift and along with that a journal to write down the answers. I had mom write on the right hand page and dad the other. They used scotch tape to tape the one they pulled each day on the top of Dad's page. I told them to take their time and now I have it. One of the questions was "What is your favorite poem? Please write it here." Mom said dad wrote his from memory.

As I read the pages I learned so many new things about mom and dad and their memories, favorite things and favorite people. I think I really gave this gift to myself and my children and they will pass it on. Dad is gone but I have this precious journal in his handwriting I encourage each of you to do this so the legacy of your parents will be passed on. I found the ones that seemed to fit them.

LDS sites are great for these. I respect the way they make history alive to their kids and keep passing it on from generation to generation.

Here are some sites to get prompts:

http://organizedchristmas.com/adult-journal-jar

http://www.momscape.com/articles/journaljar.htm

http://www.ywconnection.com/Personal%20Progress/pagePPjournaljars.html

http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/ywc/journaljars.htm

http://www.creativityforlife.com/full_article.php?article_id=61

My Tribute to my Father

2008-08-13T17:54:00.000-07:00

My Father, Arthur Kraybill went to be with the Lord on August 4, 2008 around 9PM.

I have struggled what I need to share and have written several posts that I have not posted. The reason I did not was it just did not seem to honor him at all. My dad loved the Lord with all of his heart and he never wavered from the faith he had in the Lord. If God said it to him that settled it and he never questioned it. I really admired him for that. I, on the other hand question so much. I decided to really look at what dad taught me and begin to accept God's Word as is. Maybe that is the best tribute I can give him. He leaves some big shoes for me to fit into!

He and my mother were married for 65 years in Feb. He told folks they were married because he allowed her to always be right. He sure did that! Dad was 88 in March 10Th, 1920.

I decided I would share with you all what I said at the Memorial service. Normally I could not get up in such a time like his service and share but I felt compelled to make him alive to all.

His Memorial was held at Bahia Vista Mennonite Church in Sarasota, Fla. on August 9Th at 11: PM. We will take him to Harrisonburg to be placed there in October and have another memorial serice.

"It was a long ride on Monday night from Atlanta to Sarasota. When John was not entertaining me I would wonder just what words would describe my dad. The first one that came to my mind was courage. It took courage when his father died when dad was 6 and he and his brother Ben went to live with their grandpa and grandma Kraybill and the 3 Aunties. He missed his mother and sister Rachel but he made the best of it.

It took courage for him to leave the safe haven of the Aunties home and go to Eastern Mennonite School in Harrisonburg, Virginia. He had to dorm and learn rules that were for the dorm and not his home. He adjusted and thrived at school.

It took courage to adopt a child when Mennonites did not always accept this. He wanted a little girl and he got me. My dad sat up with me day and night when I was sick. He listened to me and he became my rock....my safe place.

It took courage when he had polio. I remember that ambulance coming to pick him up and I figured people went to the hospital to die and I was scared. He had to fight to gain his muscle strength and he did it and went from a full brace to a knee one and than no brace. He struggled through the pain and experienced the victory of healing. I thought my dad was the greatest!

Than the word dependable came to my mind. If dad said he was going to do something he did it! It did not matter if it cost him time. When the Mennonite Church asked him to help in a struggling Mission in Harrisburg, Pa. he answered the call with a clear yes, I will go. Hamilton Street Mennonite Church was over an hours drive and we made it Sunday morning and Sunday night, Wednesday night and all 2 weeks for Bible School and revival meetings. He soon became a "father figure" to the young men and he would bring them to the farm.

Dad loved....he loved mother and me. He loved his Aunties and siblings and their families. Mom fussed at times but dad never had a ugly word to say about any family member. He loved his grand kids. One memory I have is both girls combing his hair and making pony tails and many barrettes in his hair.....he would sit there and encourage them. Crystal caught her first fish in the lake behind them in Sarasota and dad cleaned it and mom fried it. He was so proud. He would play games with them over and over. They could use his desk and he would play real estate with them.(He sold real estate for many years)

Dad had a habit we had a lot of fun with....his files. He cut things out and filed them, he kept record of our calls and filed them. Every talk he gave at church was filed,(now I have them and have learned to know him better than before.) Mom tried time to time to get him to get those files cleaned out and he resisted much to her horror. Guess what....he gave them to me and I weeded down what I loved and yes, I have them filed too.

My dad read the Word of God each day. This memory was refreshed when we had to move in with them a few years back...each morning I awoke to see him by the window reading his Bible.

He treasured these times with the Lord. He prayed for each of us that he loved and I already miss those prayers.

When dad was living with us in Atlanta he developed some fears. That was something I never had seen in him. One day I called him and he was down.....I asked him if he took his Vit. C. He

was faithful taking his vitamins and he seemed stumped. I said the Vit. C that Aunt Emily taught me. I told him to look up Deut. 1:6. "

Be strong and of good courage. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes before you: he will never leave you nor forsake you."

He said that helped and he would read that everyday.

Dad loved me. This is what I will miss:

"Daddy, I love you"

and he would answer:

"Honey dear I love you too-more than you will ever know."

I will miss him and that wonderful smile......Daddy, I love you! Thank You.

My gratitude is for:

13.My dad...

14. His testimony that never changed.

15. His love for his brother Ben, his sister Rachel

16. His gratitude for the Aunties who loved him and Uncle Ben and taught them so much.

17. His service to the Mennonite Church and to people that needed love.

18. His prayer life.

19. To the Lord for blessing this little baby that needed a home. I needed him too!

20. That I know he is in Heaven with the Lord and I will see him again.

My Dinner Party

2008-08-03T17:06:00.000-07:00

I so wanted to have pictures to post with this but nature played a part in not getting that done.

Let me start in the beginning...
John asked me about 2 weeks ago if I was up to having a party for Staff here at the apartments.
It is quite a small staff (5)but we had never gotten together after work since the property was bought a year ago. I felt my knee is well enough and I have been able to stand up cooking for a morning(it's been years since I could do that) so I agreed. I asked John to chose the menu. As usual he did a good job with it and I added. This is it...

Antipasto Dip served in Belgium Endive along with crackers
Mexican Chip Dip and chips
Meat and cheese tray with crackers
Grapes

That for the Dinner:

7 Layer Salad
Seafood Newburg in Puff Pastry
Beef Tenderloin cook on the George Foreman (John does this)
Green beans
Saffron Rice
Baked Potatoes with all the toppings
2 kinds of bread from Trader Joe's

Banana Pudding
Fruit Pizza

I did the antipasto dip, banana pudding, and 7 layer salad Friday plus shopping in 3 stores which I have not been able to do for 2 years and it felt good!

I set the table Sat. morning with a beautiful gold tablecloth. I used my antique Wedgwood white service for the plates we needed and antique wine glasses and I used my moms damask napkins.(They were her wedding gift 65 years ago) I used one of John's plats as a simple centerpiece

By 6:30 all was made and we were ready. We knew several would be late and so that was fine.
By the time they came I had the shrimp cooked and a good start on the sauce just having put in the bay scallops.....a storm was coming and the lights flickered. I put the Pastry Shells in the oven and the lights were gone with all the electricity......John had put the tenderloins on whole and they had cooked pretty good.....That threw the guests in a tizzy because they were hungry....of course the elevators quit and it was a mess. So the men went out to make the emergency measures they needed to make while I sat and chatted with the ladies. I refused to get upset knowing we could pull it off!......an hour later John and I felt we could serve....the heat had cooked the scallops....the beef was medium rare and well done...we would just serve the Newburg and they could put it on the bread slices or rice. We brought in the lanterns we use on the balcony and had great light. They all were pleased and we were just less than half through when the lights came back on. The food was a hit and it really was good.....They all wanted the recipes and I am preparing them a small cookbook for the 3 ladies. I made enough for a crowd and they all took some home and we had some today and will have enough for tomorrow. They left about 11:30...I was tired but so pleased I was almost back to my old self. I have missed having guests. John helped me too and he is a great cook so we have fun doing this.

I thought I would share the recipes. I used all of these when I catered and have altered them all. I do not have the original or know the source anymore.

This is good with meat also.
Antipasto Dip
1-14 ounce can artichoke hears, drained and chopped
2-4 ounce cans sliced mushrooms drained and finely chopped
1-4 ounce diced pimento, drained
1 cup pimento stuffed green olives, chopped
1/2 cup green pepper, chopped finely
1/2 cup celery, shopped finely
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 clove garlic, minced
2/3 cup white vinegar
2-1/2 teaspoons dried Italian Seasoning
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Combine first 6 ingredients and set aside.
Heat oil in pan over medium heat and add onions and garlic, cook stirring constantly until tender. Add vinegar and nest 4 ingredients and bring to a boil. Pour over vegetables, cover and refrigerate 8 hours but best overnight. To serve place Belgium Endive leaves on platter and fill with a nice amount of the dip. I also place crackers there because it is good on them.

I have added fresh mozzarella cheese finely chopped
pepperoncini salad peppers
salami finely cubed
Dash of hot pepper or red pepper flakes.
*************************************
7 Layer Salad
This makes 2 large glass bowls
Layer in this order.

2 bags fresh spinach torn
2 or 3 heads of Romaine lettuce torn
thinly sliced purple onion
1 pound cubed turkey or ham or salad shrimps
bag of thawed and drained frozen green peas
2 cups grated carrots
sliced water chestnuts

DRESSING
3 cups mayonnaise
2 cups sour cream
3 packs Dry Ranch Dressing
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, fresh
2 Tablespoons sugar
Mix and frost each salad making sure the whole top is covered with the dressing. Seal Good with plastic wrap.
When you serve it decorate it with halved cherry tomatoes and 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese and topped with crumbled bacon.

You can add other vegetables but tomatoes and cucumbers in the salad do not work good at all.
a layer of fresh mushrooms is great!
******************************
This doubles great!
Seafood Newburg
6- servings

1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup all purpose flour
2 cups half and half
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg...NOT an option
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 cup freshly ground Parmesan cheese
1 good tablespoon Italian herbs
Garlic powder or minced garlic to taste
1 pound medium sized shrimp
1 pound sea scallops..I use bay because they are smaller and cook tender
2 tablespoons dry sherry...I use white wine

Melt butter in large saucepan over medium high heat. Stir in flour and cook 1 minute. Slowly add half and half, stirring constantly. Add salt, nutmeg,pepper, Italian seasonings.Parmesan cheese and garlic, cook over medium heat stirring constantly until thick enough to coat the back of the spoon. Add shrimp, scallops, sherry or wine until shrimp are pink and sauce is barely simmering...about 6 minutes. Serve over puff pastry shells.

**I often cook my shrimp in boiling water and drain and than add them. If you use large scallops you need to cut them in half horizontally before cooking them.

*****************************
I make my Saffron Rice in a rice cooker using Balsamic rice. I add a good pinch of saffron to a bit of boiling water in a custard cup and let it set 10 minutes and add that to the water you add.
You can add green stuffed olives, 2 tablespoons the olive juice, a can of washed black beans and some garlic. Last night I made it plain.
******************************
I think this comes from Eagle Brand Condensed Milk in the 70's
CREAMY BANANA PUDDING
1-14 ounce can of Eagle Brand condensed Milk
1-1/2 cups cold water
1- 4 serving size packaged instant pudding and jello mix
2 cups-(1 pint) whipping cream, whipped
Vanilla Wafers
3-4 bananas sliced and dipped in lemon juice

In large bowl combine can of condensed milk and water. Add pudding mix and beat well. Chill 5 minutes. Fold in whipped cream. Spoon 1 cup pudding mix in a 2-1/2 quart dish. Top with layer of wafers, bananas and pudding and do it 2 more times, ending with pudding mix. Cover and chill several hours. Remember to refrigerate if you have leftovers!

CARDINALS AND RAMBLINGS

2008-07-21T08:17:00.000-07:00

It is a very hot beginning to a hot Atlanta day…

It has been a busy week. All week I was going to update the blog but things happened. John worked at a sister property all week and so Sparky and I had the apartment to ourselves. One great thing was for the first since my surgery I walked him and did fine.
My gait walking is so much better and I walk much faster. The massages are really helping and each week I gain a bit more range of motion. That is an answer to prayer.

On Friday Sparky and I went with him to work. Since we had lived in that area I wanted to do a bit of shopping in that area. There was a furnished apartment empty and we had all the comforts of home. I did get a few craft items, had lunch with John and my precious friend Kim (his co-worker there) and as we were eating out came a capped tooth. My dentist is 5 minutes away and they had a slot at four and cemented it back. We were glad I had gone along or that tooth would have been out all weekend.

In my gratitude list we will add:
13. I am walking so much better and have better range of motion. I am thankful for Sara who does my massages.

14. My dentist. They sure do have a gift of making our mouths more comfortable and our smile great.

15. About a month ago I noticed a Cardinal would come and sit on the rail of our balcony and sing as if she was asking for something. I got some birdseed and placed it in a crystal dish on the café table on the balcony. Sure enough she found it and so she has visited me many times a day. Bless her heart…. she is molting and is rather unattractive with 2 feathers sticking straight up on the top of her head. I felt she was feeding babies because she filled her beak with seed and fly away. That is after she had her fill. This morning I heard not a song but a rather nervous sound coming from her and sure enough soon a young Cardinal was encouraged to come to the dish. The mother used her wing to flap on the young one’s head as if to say, “Eat”. After about 3 times the young one did that and than the mother sang. It was a tender moment to watch. It was like a time of teaching her baby and than praising her for learning. Cardinal moms are not much different than we human mothers are. I am sure grateful for my gift of nature in the middle of a city!

I really enjoy watching “The View”. I sure do not agree with a lot but the dialogue they have really make me think, pray and dig into facts. I have a passion for foster care. I have had 23 in my home over the years and I loved each one as if the were mine. Some stayed for a while and some were with us until a court date. I am adopted and we have adopted. Now what does this have to do with the view? Woopie got to talking about foster care and said that in the US everyday there are 50,000 children waiting for homes…these are foster kids. That number really struck me hard. I understand why some folks may want to make international adoptions but what happens to these kids in the US? Why are they not cared for? This has always been a puzzle to me.
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
James 1:27 (NIV)

“Vindicate the weak and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and destitute. Rescue the weak and needy; Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked. (Psalm 82:3-4 NASB).”

Tome this is very plain and again is not a suggestion but a command. I am not saying all of us can open our homes to foster care but we sure can support those that do! Most of my foster kids were teen girls that were on a quick path to state school. (Really a lock down institution) People in the church were afraid of these girls. That shocked me. In school they disliked them. I was called to the principal’s office for one of the 15-year-old girls and he had the nerve to tell me in front of her that all foster kids should be shipped to an island and kept there. I was mad! She had come such along way by that time but simply hated algebra and fooled around in that class. She begged our counselor to allow her to quit and get her GID at a community school. He allowed her to and in 6 months she had her diploma and was enrolled in classes for landscaping. One year later she had her own small business. We sure took her diploma back to that principal and he was in shock but did not say he had been wrong. All but one of these young ladies with the exception of one has wonderful families and are doing good. That is thank you enough for me.

I am telling you all this because we need to show love for those that need us. Kids are in danger and every time I see a foster child died I cringe knowing maybe I could have made a difference. There are things we all can do. We are commanded to pray for the fatherless and I believe foster children fall into this. We can mentor those children that need it. Both of these take our time. I tithe my time as I do money. Some of us can give foster parents in our church or community a weekend off and stay with the kids. Or we can open our homes. The time I had with foster teens were the best in spite of all the tears lost in my bedroom. For the time there were in our home they were mine and I know I made a difference in their lives.

I was talking to a young homeless man a week ago as I was walking for my massage. This is his story…. He said after his mother told a judge she didn't want him when he was 13, he lived in 12 foster homes. At 18, he moved to a homeless shelter. Now he is between that shelter and the street. He graduated in the 5% of his high school but when he left foster care he was lost because all of a sudden he was on his own with little help. His goal is to go to college. He proudly showed me his diploma and last grades. You see people rarely hire a person without an address. I have a list of resources for him if I see him again.

Below this is a picture of a little girl and a beautiful young woman. I never got to meet this person. You see that precious child and young woman is my natural mother. She made a hard choice o give me away. The doctor that delivered me told me after my birth she lost it and was in a mental ward for a few months. After that she barely coped with life. My brother and sister told me I was the lucky one to be placed in an orphanage. I am close now to my brother and he gave me these photos. My mom and dad went to that orphanage and chose me as a baby. I am so thankful my natural mother gave me life and did not abort me. I am glad my son’s mother chose life for him and we have been blessed to have him in our lives. This is why I do not believe in abortion. But let me challenge you with this…do you just rant and rave about abortion or do you do something to change a life. Are you praying for children in danger that need a home? Are you giving time to mentor a child in need? Can you help a foster family? Can you open your home to a child from the US that needs you today? I can tell you that you will be blessed beyond messure!

Statistics You Should Be Aware Of:
http://loveourchildrenusa.org/stats.php

COOKING WITH NANA (My Mother-in-Love)

2008-07-06T18:36:00.000-07:00

This is Nana and her husband Bruce. They only had a bit more than two years together but they were so very happy!

Lunch at Nana's was most often a sandwich,chips,relish items such as
celery sticks, pickles and olives......sweet iced tea with thin lemon slices
and fresh fruit and cookies.......often her Watergate salad....do you all
remember this one? (I added it at the very end)

A sandwich at her house was not just any sandwich! It was a work of
art.....it was tasty and it took time to prepare. She would keep sliced ham
for a quick one but that was not her favorite.

I am going to share a few......The Hawaiian Ham Croissant was one she
clipped for her daily local paper.She loved cream cheese and pineapple and
ham and so this was really a perfect one for her. She did like a jello salad
with this one......
She loved grilled cheese sandwiches but again she added.....they were good
even though she had to have Velveeta cheese in them!
I never had a fried green tomato until I moved to the south and I never had
a fried green tomato sandwich until I met Uncle Joe and Nana. They loved
them. It really does make a good summer meal!
Spam was only used in her house for a sandwich....to Uncle Joe it was
junk......but he admitted he too liked a spread or fried spam for a
sandwich.....I still have not acquired a taste for it but cannot say I could
not eat one with Nana. The one thing she did different from the recipe was
she baked it first and got out the grease...she would set it on her small
roasting rack in a casserole dish and bake it about 30 minutes and than make
the spread. They both enjoyed a crispy fried spam sandwich too!
The next one was her favorite...like a comfort food...She like Waldorf
anything! Like a can of Spam Underwood Chunky Chicken Spread was in that
pantry always too.

The last sandwich was one Elvis made famous but she and Uncle Joe swore they had them long before he was born. Each time we made these the debate would go on.....that was the fun part of eating with Uncle Joe and Nana. He was a local Country Club cook and she a "proper Southern Lady" that knew the way she fixed it was always the best. Now that they are both gone I will tell you that I liked Uncle Joe's "everyday" meals and her "tea party" food.
Enjoy these recipes.....I think most are from the 1950's or like the fried
green tomato one....just passed down.
*********************
Hawaiian Ham Croissant
4 oz whipped cream cheese
8 oz crushed pineapple, drained
4 croissants, split
8-1/4-inch slices ham
Combine cream cheese and pineapple in a small bowl. Spread 1 Tbsp of
pineapple-cream cheese filling on each cut surface of croissants.
To assemble sandwich, layer bottom portion with ham slice, 1 Tbsp of
filling, another ham slice and croissant top.
************************
Nana would take 2 pieces of bread...she loved a good wheat bread....Add
slices of Velveeta cheese and sprinkle the cheese with sweet Hungarian
paprika. For 4 sandwiches, mix 1 teaspoon minced onion with 1/4 cup soft
butter
Spread on top and bottom of sandwiches. Brown in skillet.
**********************
Special Fried Green Tomato Sandwich
For the best Fried Green Tomato sandwiches be sure to use the larger, center
slices of the tomatoes, and use the strained bacon grease for frying the
green tomatoes.

8 slices, thick-cut bacon...Uncle Joe had to have thick cut pepper bacon
3/4 C all-purpose flour (This meant Lily White to Nana...she used it all the time)
1/4 C cornmeal (here they differed again....he liked yellow cornmeal and she wanted white)
Salt to taste
Black Pepper, freshly ground, to taste
1 C milk
1/4 C bacon grease
3 or 4 large green tomatoes, sliced 1/4" thick (Uncle Joe almost measured
them and fussed if a maid did not get it just right!)
1/4 C mayonnaise
1 T prepared chili sauce
8 slices lightly toasted bread
lettuce...she like Romaine and he wanted Butter lettuce or Boston

cook bacon over medium heat until just browned and crispy. Drain on paper towels; reserve.
Strain the bacon grease into a cup and wipe the skillet with a paper towel.
Combine the flour, cornmeal, salt and pepper in a medium-sized bowl.
Add the milk and stir well. The mixture should resemble pancake batter.
Add olive oil to the cleaned skillet along with the strained bacon
grease. Place skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, dip the
green tomato slices in the batter, letting any excess drip back into the
bowl, then fry until golden brown. Add more olive oil to the pan if necessary.

Drain the fried green tomato slices on paper towels.
Combine the mayonnaise and chili sauce in a small bowl; spread about 1
1/2 teaspoons of the mayonnaise mixture on one side of each slice of toast.
Lay 2 slices of bacon over each of 4 slices of toast, then top each with 2
fried green tomato slices and lettuce. Cover with the remaining 4 slices of
toast, mayonnaise-side down. Cut the fried green tomato sandwiches in half
and serve immediately. Makes 4 servings.
***********************
SPAM Spread
1 c. mayonnaise
2 tbsp. sugar
2 tbsp. vinegar
1 tsp. salt
1 sm. onion
3 raw carrots
1 can Spam
6 hard cooked eggs, boiled
1 sm. green pepper
Grind Spam, eggs, carrots, onion and green pepper. Use coarse grater or
grinder. Add remaining ingredients; mix well. Good on Ritz crackers or as a
sandwich spread.
****************************************
FRIED SPAM SANDWICH
you have to cut it very thin.......that I learned the first time she had me
help her make these.....she would sprinkle the slices with flour and put
them in a bit of oil and let them get crispy! Than they were ready to put on
bread with a tomato slice and lettuce.....sometimes she would melt a thin
slice of Velveeta Cheese on top of them too.
***************************
Waldorf Chicken Sandwich
1 can Underwood Chunky Chicken Spread (4 1/2 oz)
1 pack Cream cheese, softened (3oz)
1/2 medium Apple, finely chopped
2 tablespoons Raisins
1 Celery stalk, finely chopped
6 slices wheat bread
In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients; mix well. Cover and
refrigerate 1 hour. Serve on whole grain bread.
*************************

GRILLED PEANUT BUTTER AND BANANA SANDWICH
1/2 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup crunchy peanut butter

3 tablespoons honey

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

2 to 3 ripe bananas

8 slices white bread

In a frying pan, melt 3 tablespoons of the butter. Make sure butter does not burn. In a small bowl mix together the peanut butter, honey, and cinnamon. Slice the bananas into 1/4-inch thick slices. Spread the peanut butter mixture on 4 slices of bread and cover with banana slices. Top with the remaining 4 slices of bread. Spread the remaining butter on both sides of the sandwiches. Grill the sandwiches in the frying pan until each side is golden brown.

******************************
WATERGATE SALAD
1 package (4 serving) Jello Pistachio Instant Pudding and Pie filling
1 can (20 ounces) crushed pineapple in juice, undrained
1 cup miniature marshmallows
1/2 half cup pecans (Nana liked to toast them first)
1-3/4 cups Cool Whipped Topping
Mix pudding mix, pineapple, marshmallows and pecans in large bowl until well
blended. Gently stir in whipped topping. Cover
and refrigerate for several hours......

HAPPY FOURTH

2008-07-04T11:28:00.000-07:00

Happy Fourth of July…It is a beautiful day here in Atlanta, Ga.
There is a soft breeze and the French doors are open to our balcony. John’s plants are so beautiful and green and this week we were given 3 pots of herbs. The gentleman will be traveling for a month and ask John if I would like them. So now I have several kinds of mint, chives, fresh basil (which I love), parsley, cilantro and several other wonderful things.
No. 8 … I am thankful for fresh herbs and for people that do not throw away what another can use. We are a wasteful nation and I am trying so hard to make full use of all I have.

No. 9…Talking about what people throw away…look at these 2 cabinets. I see my stitching stuff finding a home in these. They have hardly been used. I did not take a picture of the beautiful counter spice rack full of fresh herbs and spices that someone no longer cared for. I lost mind with the mold mess several years ago and this is just a wonderful blessing!

No 10 is the book you see on top of the cabinets. I have wanted this cookbook for so long but $30.00 was way too high for me. I love Jan Karon’s series about Mitford. The characters are so real and what they cook always seemed to go along with their personalities. Last week John took me to Border’s and on a one-day sale for that store was a $ 3.00 table and there was one of these cookbooks. You can rest assured I picked it up and so now it belongs to my very small cookbook collection. I had over 100 cookbooks before the mold gobbled them up and now I have close to 15. To be honest I get a lot of recipes off the net because I can look at 3 and come up with ideas from all of them and create one we will like. I am thankful for authors that bring alive the characters they write about and for the cooks that publish their creations. Both take us on an adventure. I have always looked at cooking as a adventure and love to cook.
http://www.amazon.com/Karons-Mitford-Cookbook-Kitchen-Reader/dp/0670032395

No. 11 is our country. I grew up Mennonite and church and state never met. Mennonites are peace loving folks and always against war. When I was a teen going into the armed forces was a test of membership. I had a dear friend that went to Viet Nam when we graduated in 1966 and he was no longer a member of his church and I was ashamed of the church in general. I always was the rebel in the group that questioned things we were taught. We did not pledge our allegiance to the flag either and I was in 11Th grade and at a local football game with our neighbor girl and when she stood up to Pledge the Allegiance to the flag I did for the first time. I had tears streaming down my face because I knew it was the right thing to do and because I had wanted to do it for the longest time. I will never forget that night and to this day it brings tears when I salute the flag with pride. I did get in trouble for doing it that night because a busy body told my parents.

I am not proud of all we do in America but I am so grateful for the freedoms we have. I am thankful we live in a democracy. I vote with pride (to this day my parents have never voted). I do not really like to debate politics but I do read all about each candidate and look at their voting record. That makes me a Independent…gasp…I am glad I have the choice to vote how I feel the Lord leading me. But far more important than voting is our mandate to pray for our leaders.
1 Timothy 2:1-2 (Amplified Bible)
1.FIRST OF all, then, I admonish and urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all men,
2.For kings and all who are in positions of authority or high responsibility, that [outwardly] we may pass a quiet and undisturbed life [and inwardly] a peaceable one in all godliness and reverence and seriousness in every way.

No. 12… I was about to post this when we received a call that our son and his girlfriend were coming up to see us. Since it was her birthday this past week and they have been together for over 2 years and most of all that she has been a strong influence on our son to clean his act up…we decided to make it special. They love our Mellow Mushroom and we took them there and than to Borders Books to spoil her a bit more. I sent a grocery bag full of food home for them, some new clothes someone had thrown away that were very expensive and the leftover food from Mellow Mushroom. They just left very happy with their treasures. It is good to see them since they live 1 and ½ hours south of here.

Have a great day!

I AM THANKFUL FOR NATURE

2008-06-24T17:36:00.000-07:00

I thought I would post using the “One Thousand Gift’s” challenge.I still am thinking about Tasha Tudor and her life and how it made me stop and think. To see nature we have to do that. It really is like the poem that tells us to stop and smell the roses.

No 7 in my list …. I am so very thankful for the love instilled in me by my family to stop and enjoy NATURE.

I remember my Aunt Emily singing as we traveled past pastures with cattle.

“He owns the cattle on a thousand hills,The wealth in every mine;

He owns the rivers and the rocks and rills,The sun and stars that shine.

Wonderful riches, more than tongue can tell -He is my Father so they're mine as well;

He owns the cattle on a thousand hills -I know that He will care for me.”

Did you know that comes from Psalm 50:10? Look it up…

Or she would sing as we went to Camp Hebron or the mountains “ Fairest Lord Jesus”

To see the words go here:

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/f/a/l/faljesus.htm

How I love that song!

Grandma used to love to watch birds and that instilled in me the love for our feathered friends.I can still watch them in the city and have a Cardinal that comes and sings for me each morning on my balcony.

Streams, rivers and lakes became so real to me through poetry or books I read. I was fascinated by the words used to describe these bodies of water. I used to love when we were in the mountains and I could find a large rock or log to sit on and read or write in my journal. That was some of the best times I remember and I still thrill going to Helen, Ga and doing the very same. I am at peace with myself and feel God so very close.Yes, nature means the world to me!

SUNRISE...

SUNSET...
HIS CREATURES...
BIRDS...
LAZY RIVERS...

All this beauty is created by our mighty God. Celebrate nature with me! God is good to us to give us so much beauty and how do we thank him? We must care for the earth He made. I believe He requires that of us as His sons and daughters.

(The pictures are taken by my husband. They are in in Florida at a State Park by Sorrento. The "Bambi" is taken several in Duluth, Ga where my husband made a nature trail by the Chattahoochee River. The one on the top is in Oregon where we married.)

THANKS TASHA TUDOR

2008-06-22T06:12:00.000-07:00

Tasha Tudor Passed away this week. I will miss her because knowing she was enjoying her simple life gave me a warm feeling. I knew she was caring for her piece of heaven in Vermont with love and in her simplistic way.

I first “met” this author as a senior when I was working at our hometown library. I was asked to do a bulletin board display for Tasha Tudor’s book, “Becky’s Birthday”. The Librarian told me to look up all I could about Tasha Tudor and go from there. I was amazed to see she illustrated “The Secret Garden”. All I really remember doing for that bulletin board was the pin ribbon that was the border and it looked like the dust jacket of the book. From that day on I was hooked on the talented woman.

As a single mom I picked up one of her book and she became my hero again. She too was a single mom and she did it without electricity and plumbing. Having grown up in “Amish Country” I understood what this meant and I marveled because I had all the conveniences and struggled to get through the day. It was about that time that I began to search to see what simplicity was all about.

I could write a lot but decided the best I can do is share some quotes from the book I have about her called “The Private World of Tasha Tudor”. Her love for gardens and flowers came from her mother and grandmother who were “passionate gardeners. She talks about the name of flowers and how she likes to use their common names because “ The sound of ‘foxglove’ is so much pleasanter than ‘digitalis’ “. (page 41)

I may not agree with her feelings about snakes but loved this paragraph.
“My garden is built in levels with lots of stone walls. The snakes think my walls are Ritz-Carltons. There’s a lovely tame one, which lives in the largest wall just before the house. He was injured when he was tiny. I brought him inside and made a nest of moss and raised him up until he was a foot long. Than I had to let him go because he was getting too big. He would sit curled up in my hand at night when I read. Snakes love warmth, and he would make a perfect circle in my palm. Have you ever studied a snake’s face?-how optimistic they look. They have an eternal smile. I think they’re laughing at man’s folly.” (page 56)
Now I can promise I will never bring a snake in my house and become that intimate with it but it was right for her and so consistent with her life. That is a trait I admire.

On dress…remember she collected vintage clothing and wore them.
“Why do women want to dress like men when they are fortunate enough to be women? Why lose our femininity which is one of our greatest charms? We get much more accomplished by being charming than we would by flaunting around in pants and smoking. I’m very fond of men. I think they are wonderful creatures. I love them dearly. But I don’t want to look like them.
When women gave up their long skirts, they made a grave error. Things half seen are so much more mysterious and delightful; Remember the term “a neatly turned ankle”? Think of the thrill that gentlemen used to get if they caught even a glimpse of one. Now women go around in their union suits. And what a multitude of sins you could cover up with a long skirt if you had piano legs.” (page 63)
I see her wisdom here. Again I look at her with admiration because she did what she believed and did it with great grace. To me she was what a lady is to be….strong but yet gentle.

On life:
“ The past wasn’t as romantic as people seem to think. There were many hardships, especially for women. They usually had families of six to eight; they were pregnant most of the time or nursing when they weren’t. Think of all the spinning and knitting and sewing and cooking and wood gathering. It was constant. No wonder that saying, “Men may work from sun to sun/ but a woman’s work is never done.”
I don’t say they were unhappy, but I think they were tired most of the time. I was tired most of my younger life, with no electricity until my youngest was five, hauling water with a shoulder yoke, and heating irons on the woodstove. But I didn’t know anything different, so it didn’t seem like a hardship to me.” (page 88)

I think that last sentence sums it up for me. We could try to go back in time but all of us know the easy conveniences electricity gives us and to go and live like she did would seem like a hardship in the long run.

The last paragraphs in the book sum her up in a wonderful way.
“ I’m perfectly content. I have no other desires than to live right here with my dogs and my goats and my birds.
I think I’ve done a good job of life, but I have no message to give anyone. If I have a philosophy, it is best expressed by Henry David Thoreau: “if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” That is my credo. It is absolutely true. It is my whole life summed up.”

She died at 92 in her home surrounded by her family and all she loved. She lived life and although she may not have known it she showed us how we are to care for the earth and all God has given us. She cared for all of God’s creation and set a wonderful example of how to do it. It inspires me to do my part in keeping our earth a wonderful clean and beautiful place to be.
I miss knowing she is not in Vermont caring for all she loved. But she taught me a lot by her books and I will be forever grateful!

GRATITUDE

2008-06-14T05:31:00.000-07:00

No matter what you think living in the city there is beauty all around you. I really did not want to move down here but the transfer for my husband was not an option. I decided to treat the move like a adventure or a treasure hunt. It worked and within a week this was home!

This is the view I see everyday from my living room. I really never studied architecture with the exception of Frank Lloyd Wright who I find so fascinating. But moving down in Midtown, Atlanta I soon was drawn to the buildings around our building. Just study it a bit on the daytime and night pictures.

We see this building from the swimming pool and at night it is so beautiful and graceful.
http://www.atlantaarchitecture.info/Building/1449/1180_Peachtree.php

This one is beautiful at night also and it glistens in the sun….
http://www.atlantaarchitecture.info/Building/686/One_Atlantic_Center.php

We have this one directly in the center of the balcony and at night there is magic in the lighting.
http://www.atlantaarchitecture.info/Building/1511/Proscenium.php

This is next to us and when we moved here a year ago it was a Sheraton but the transformation to the “W” has been fun to watch. It draws in stars and famous people.
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/whotels/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=3131&fromSearch=11XX&linkbrand=&links=all

I think about the talent that God has given us and I marvel. A child likes to draw and that that grows into drafting and the talent God gave them may turn them into an architect. Another child loved to build with Lego blocks and that turns into interest to be a builder and now we have the above two working to build a beautiful building. To finish you need construction workers that are skilled and crane operators that I sit here and marvel at their talent as I watch them build floor by floor. It takes interior designers to make the inside as beautiful as the outside and than landscapers to add the touch of nature. God is indeed good to us in giving all of us what it takes to fulfill our jobs and passions. I think so often we forget how He has much He has helped us sharpen the abilities we have.
Number 4 in my "One Thousand Gifts" is our talent.

5. I am so grateful for plants and my husband gift to take plants others have thrown away and bring them back to life. Notice I even have some herbs growing in out container garden. We did not buy a single plant here just rescued them.

Look at the courtyard I see every day and how I love to hear that fountain running.
John helps keep it in tip top shape too.
6. Old friends…. Really she was my first babysitter. Lorraine Murphy is the oldest daughter of my favorite schoolteacher at Kraybill’s Mennonite School. This family was a special family and all four kids worked for my dad on our farm. During Asparagus season
They were there at 5:30 AM to pick the three acres. The youngest boy was John and we were close friends through school. Lorraine is a very talented opera singer and I am going to quote the Sarasota Paper telling about her.

“Lorraine Murphy has toured the former Soviet Union,
Poland, Germany, Ireland, and France and has sung on
four tours to Scotland and England. She has concertized
throughout the U.S. and has sung principal opera roles
for the Harrisburg and Lancaster, PA opera companies.
She is a frequent soloist with Key Chorale and Gloria
Musicae. Ms. Murphy will be accompanied by pianist
Lurray Myers. Harpist Bonnie Caplan is very much in
demand in Southwest Florida. She has performed with
such entertainers as Steve Lawrence & Edyie Gorme,
Marvin Hamlisch, Barry Manilow, Roberta Flack,
Manhattan Transfer, Michael Bolton, Johnny Mathis,
Beach Boys, Peter Cetera, Oliva Newton John, and
others.”

I called mom today and Lorraine had called them and and making plans for her to visit them soon. Dad told me they will talk of "the good old days".I am thankful for her talent. It is good to remember precious friends. This lady lives life to the fullest and I know her mom is looking down from Heaven and thankful for the fact she uses her talent.

I AM BACK

2008-06-12T17:34:00.000-07:00

It is so good to have a clear head...at least clear enough to share this bumpy journey.

I want to start by saying I am glad I had this surgery. I will have to fight for every degree of range of motion I can get. Remember I have not bent that knee for over 2 years so it will be a battle. The doctor kicked my femoral artery. He said he almost lost me.So they had to call in a vascular surgeon to fix that. It took 4 units of blood in the next few days and some of that time I simply do not remember.I had 3 weeks of home therapy and now am going to therapy at a center. Kim, who is assigned to me, told me we will have a fight on our hands but we will do it. So pray I have what it takes to fight through this. I still seem to be so exhausted and want my energy level to improve sometime soon. My other knee needs to be done and she thinks it should be done sooner than later. That is lot for me to deal with now. She says this knee can get no further than the other one and its range of motion is only 88. So much for me to digest now but I ask you all to pray that I have a clear answer from the Lord as to when I do the next knee.

This has been a time for me to be quiet and pray and seek God. I have had long hours alone to do it and I decided I would not get upset if I could not sleep but take that time to pray. In the still of the night it is a good time to listen and wait on the Lord. I learned much as I lay there. I also healed from some past hurts and gave those to the Lord. I saw I had put bandages over open sores so I would not have to deal with the issues. I saw what had festered and knew it had to be cleansed. It was a deep cleansing and I am thankful for it.

In these nightime hours I also heard the words gratitude, compassion, kindness and encouragement and I knew these words were from the Lord to me. I think we as Christian women need to give more encouragement, show compassion to each other and always have an attitude of gratitude. If we would send more cards, reach out to each other more without judgment, make something and share it with someone we hardly know and in doing we would touch more lives and show the world what Jesus did for us. I fear we are far too busy running around that we do not hear that still small voice tell us to reach out to that mother you just saw in church so tired and you could make a casserole for her or watch her children...we do not see the lonely look in that precious senior citizen we see everyday and all they need is a hug and kind word...we do not even see how tired our precious husbands are because we have a "honey-do list" and we want it done now and all he needs is a massage or a special dish you make......you do not see your kids are struggling with relationships or the changes in their bodies when all they need is encouragement for us.We miss so many chances to practice kindness and love.

Lewis Carroll said this:"One of the deep secrets of life is that all that is really worth doing is what we do for others."I want to challenge us all do a "act of kindness" for one person each day. Maybe we can share these times.

I mentioned gratitude and this week I was reminded of a blog I used to read and loved...it is called " Holy Experience"
.http://aholyexperience.com/

The challenge of "One Thousand Gifts" is one I want to take. I have kept a "Gratitude Journal" for 8 years and decided I would join this.So here goes...I will write I an thankful for at the time I am doing this.

1. It is a beautiful day in Midtown Atlanta. I have watched beautiful clouds and birds as I did my therapy exercises. There is beauty all around us and all we have to do is stop and look even in the city.

2. Barbara Johnson the author. To me she is the queen of encouragement. Someone sent me her book "God's Most Precious Jewels are Crystallized Tears". This quote has stood out to me and I want to share it.
Cathy Feste said, "Each of us has a string of pearls in our hearts. These "pearls" are the beautiful moments we've experienced in our lives, moments that become memories and will 'uplift, enliven, gladden, soften, inspire, and guide us. There are plenty of baubles,bangles,and beads in life, but only a few gems. Close your eyes and see your string of pearls. Name the gems by name, by place, by experiences, by gifts of the spirit. Whether or not you wear jewelry, always wear your spiritual string of pearls."

What a mouth full! I closed my eyes and I want to say I am thankful for my precious Grandma( above) who is with the Lord. She taught me the power of prayer and was a mentor to me as I grew up. Her love for me was unconditional and pure. I sure do miss her.
I am thankful for my favorite teacher Mrs. Murphy that took the time to explain what adoption was and that it made me special.
I am thankful for Oregon and the minute I knew what a gift the Lord was giving me.... it was John my loving best friend and husband. We were walking down the path to this lighthouse when I knew I loved this man.
I am thankful for the experience of losing our belongings because in the end it freed me to give and know that all I have is God's and if someone needs it that is fine with me if I can give it. And lastly I am thankful for the gifts of the spirit and that we can build each other up and encourage one another.

3. I am thankful for my friend Jane who has stuck with us through thick and thin and taught me what a true friend is. She taught me with her life what Samuel Johnson said, “Always set a high value on spontaneous kindness.” She has done that for me so many times because she spells love this way…TIME. To me this is the biggest gift we can give another, Thank you Jane for showing me this truth by living it.

SURGERY TOMORROW

2008-05-06T17:22:00.000-07:00

I have to be at the hospital at 10AM in the morning. I am to have surgery at 12 noon. I am told the hospital runs a bit behind.

Today we went to a joint education class. I was so impressed with the nurse from the floor who told us what to expect, the physical therapy team and our case managers. They told us so much that I wondered. The time from the pre-op to the room should be around 4 hours. The stay is 3-5 days depending on how we do. It sounded like the 5th day is often because a patient has a series of steps they must go up at any given time. I have no steps from the time I am out of the car to the apartment so that is good. I will have physical therapy here at the house for 3 weeks. They seem to think the massage therapy I get will help me with the weak muscles. Remember I have not been able to bend that knee for over 2 years.

This morning I was in a panic and anxious mode but since the meeting I am feeling all will be well. Piedmont Hospital is great and the infection rate is less than 1%. That is good. John felt so good about it all to and that calmed me down. I ask you pray for me to be able to handle the surgery in several ways; first that my lungs will do OK as we are in a bad allergy season and it bothers me. Second that there is no infection. Thirdly that I do not get so sick because on the anesthesia they give. This has been a problem for me and last that the blood clots will not be an issue. I want to bite my upper lip and do what I have to do so I can get home.

All three of our kids will be with John tomorrow and I am thankful for that.

I will do better at keeping in touch and allowing you on this whole journey. One thing I am sure of is the Lord will be with me each step of the way. He is what gives me peace. I am so thankful I have this promise from Him.

I START A NEW JOURNEY

2008-04-22T16:58:00.000-07:00

I sure never thought I would not write for such a long time. A lot has been happening at the Godfrey House.

I have very bad knees and it keeps me from enjoying life like I want to. About a year ago I went to a surgeon only to be told they could do nothing for my right knee because it is fused. They wanted to do the other one but in my heart I knew that would not work because I can never count on the right knee to ever bend and it would be of no help, On top of that was the matter of my very bad teeth. We had been without insurance after the mold for 2 years and with that was a problem the toxins had caused that made teeth decay and break quickly. This past year I had oral surgery and had 6 teeth removed and other work done. So that was past me.

Two weeks I could not stand the pain anymore. I was in a Hancock’s to get a few items and could hardly walk with the cart. A lady asked me if my knees are bad and when I told her they were she told me how bad hers had been. She is now running with her grandkids and playing. She told me to explore Piedmont Hospital with is about 5 minutes away from me. Our Atlanta Braves call it their hospital and that means good orthopedic doctors. So I called and they suggested a Dr, McDonald. I could see him Monday. They wanted John to be with me and he had off for that visit. I liked him right away. I also learned that knee was not fused but the muscles were holding it from moving. He showed John close up and said that had to be the knee they did first. Today they called and set the surgery date for May 7th in the morning. I have to go this Monday for instructions from him (and his son will assist). Than I have to go over to the hospital for all the tests they must run.
Here is a photo of Dr McDonald
http://www.pocatlanta.com/content.cfm?page=mcdonald
This is his son:
http://www.pocatlanta.com/content.cfm?page=apmcdonald

I will be receiving a total knee replacement.
http://www.pocatlanta.com/content.cfm?page=patienteducation
Look at the “Total Knee Replacement (Wright)

I am excited and nervous at the same time. I am so sick of pain and dragging this leg. But I also hate the thought of more pain. I ask that each of you pray for me. I am at peace about doing this and feel he is the right doctor. I have a lot of living I want to do and grandkids to play with and places to visit. That gives me courage.

I think over the next month I will make this a look into what it is all about and I hope each of you will come on this journey with me.

Please pray that John will do well with this extra pressure too. He is excited and behind me 100%. I will be in good hands with his care.

God gives doctors a wealth of knowledge and I believe talent and I am thankful for that. I do not do well on medicine and ask for your prayer in this area also. The big complication seems to be blood clots so please pray about this also.

I am getting together some stitching projects so all I need is in a shoebox and I can have them by my recliner. I also need to find some good books to. I have not been watching much TV and so I do not want to pass the time watching mindless shows.
This sure will be a new chapter in my life and about 6 months down the road I will be doing the left knee….

SUNDAY WAS SPECIAL

2008-04-01T19:13:00.000-07:00

I sure had one special Sunday! I seldom get to see my daughter and family although they live about 2 hours south of here. I sure miss them but understand life is really busy with 2 teens. Crystal still works 2 jobs and that keeps her busy. So when she called and asked if I wanted to help her and Skyler find a prom dress I was thrilled. I told them I would make a good lunch and than we could go. It was agreed that Nicole and Zoe would meet us at the Bridal shop. So for the first in several years I would have my “girls” to have a girls day. John offered to drive us up and that made us happy.

They arrived about 11 AM and Skyler brought a good friend along also. John had made a marinade and pot the pork tenderloin in it over night. Than we finished it off on the George Foreman grill. I also fried some panko crumb coated shrimp. Both meats were great. I made baked potatoes and had all they needed to do loaded baked potatoes and the girls sure did that! I did some fresh creamed corn and made biscuits. It was a good meal. I had set the table in my favorite green swirled pottery dishes, green glass goblets and good tableware. You know family deserves our best!

We headed out for the Bridal shop…David’s. It was a busy day there and she tried dresses like a trooper. I had misty eyes several times. We finally selected one…in fact it was the last one she tried on and we all knew it was the one and when she said she felt like a princess we were sure! You can see it here and if you hit the second color block you will see it like she got it.

http://www.davidsbridal.com/bridesmaids_detail.jsp?stid=1575&prodgroup=110

Skyer is a very special young lady to me. I remember the day she was born…New Year’s Eve. I cut the cord and what a special time that was! John, Nicole waited outside the birthing suite waiting to hear her cry. Than Nana brought Ryan and he was so disappointed until he held her…Skyler was to be a boy we were told but that was not to be. Ryan asked Nana if we could send her back to God and get a boy? But the minute she was in his arms he loved her and since they lived with us that was a good thing.

She was a child that loved to snuggle and have books read to her and I loved doing that , She retained what she heard and startled John one day as they went by a swampy area when she at 3 told him that was stagnant water and why it was that way. By 4 or 5 she knew every shark in the books and all the facts about them. She was a wonderful child and I delighted in keeping her. As I look back I see these were among some of the best days for John and myself. She loved her Pa and I was called “Don”.

Now she is a brilliant young lady that has been accepted at University at West Georgia.
http://www.westga.edu/

I want to go back to the shop and my thoughts as I sat and watched “my girls”.
I remembered the day each of them was born and the joy I had when I held them for the first time. They were good babies that have turned in beautiful young women. Crystal is working as a secretary for the narcotics division and also helping her old boss keep his book at an appliance center. She juggles the schedules of 3 busy kids. Her smile is as beautiful as the first day I saw her smile and her giggle tickles me to death. She did her best not to let any tears show Sunday but it was just beneath the surface and as a mom I saw it.

Nicole is a great mom and a real take-charge gal! She could say to Skyler what the rest of us could not and say it in a way that was almost comforting. She also has a laugh that warms me to the core. I love a hug from my Nicole. Zoe is so blessed to have her as a mom. Nicole works for an attorney and does some at home and some at the office. That is when I get to keep Zoe. She can fit more into a day than anyone I have ever met and still stay on top of things. She too is a good cook and taking a course on decorating cakes. How I love a hig from my Nicole!

So I watched and remembered and also saw them with their daughters and I was content.
God has been good to me as a mom. I wish I could spend more time with them but instead of feeling sorry for myself I decided a long time ago to treasure each minute I have with them and make memories.

We raise our children so they can live a life that brings happiness to them. I want them to have their own traditions and to enjoy each of their kids just like I did. I miss them but I sure am glad that they have homes and families of their own to enjoy.

Several weeks ago I found this poen and I will end with it.

LOVE FOR MY DAUGHTERS
© Debra L. Cash

My beautiful daughters, I was blessed with two of you...
You will never know how proud I am of all the things you do.

You came into my world, so tiny and so small...
And I was in awe at the wonder of it all.

Then you placed your little hand in mine...
There was no denying, my heart was yours 'til the end of time.

I have watched you both through out the years, laugh, cry and grow...
And it is difficult to know, that someday I will have to let you go.

I just can't imagine, a day of my life without you...
Because you're a part of me and my love for you is true.

So just remember, no matter how old you are or where you may be...
There's someone who needs you and loves you and that someone is me!

Skyler and Ryan, Skyler and her dad, Skyler as a big sister to Adam.
Ryan and Skyler, Skyler and Christmas.

My beautiful granddaughter Skyler!

THE VALUE OF A CHILD BEING CREATIVE

2008-03-28T14:31:00.000-07:00

Do you remember how much fun it was to create a perfect mud pie. You wanted "clean" dirt that was not full of pebbles and sticks. If they were there you could not turn out a perfect one because they would fall apart. I remember playing house with our dolls outside and using a tuna can to make these perfect mud creations. We would often pick a dandelion or wild violets to decorate the mud creation.

I see value in child's play....to create a mud pie for the tea party with the dolls or other things we created with acorns and flowers and leaves in the fall. Not to mention the snow forts in the winter months. Mom never yelled at me for getting my hands dirty or my play clothes. We lived in a farm and that was all in a days work.

What it taught me was it was a good thing to be creative. We had no TV and so play was so much a part of our lives. I remember taking the old Sears Catalog and making paper dolls with a class mate and grandma giving us bits of lace and tiny buttons to dress our creations up with or allow us to glue fabric on index cards and cut out that for clothes. She would smile because she knew we were learning colors and skills that would be valuable to us.

But let me submit this.....it was more than that. We were children and most children are very creative. I believe we were allowed to be this creative because it was important to have a hobby. This is a word that I fear is is in danger of disappearing from our vocabulary. A hobby really helps a child explore "their" own personal interests and abilities. A child that has been allowed to develop hands on skills and are seldom bored. If a child is not allowed to be creative in play they will depend on TV and video games. A hobby is a gift we give our children.

I was taught needle work and I believe it is good for boys to learn some also. Somebody has to sew buttons back on their shirts and why should they not know how to do it. A boy needs to use a sewing machine to fix a seam and to help his wife know how to set tensions. They mad decide to go from simple sewing to lacing leather products and he well may move on to knowing how to tie his own flies for fly fishing. He may love to make costumes and get into the arts. It is important we allow them to be creative young so they know what they like to do.

I watched my mom and grandma and all around me sew clothes and I wanted to try and I got a chance to make a doll dress or blanket. I remember grandma teaching me to crochet and put a yarn fringe around 2 wash clothes for a pillow. Actually grandma had a niece named Ruth and she had a friend named Beaty and that woman was creative and taught us many fun crafts. During all this time I was storing up instructions to do embroidery, quilting and my passion
crazy quilting. When counted cross stitch came out I knew I could pick it up and I did because they taught me to be confident in new challenges that may lead to a new hobby. As a young woman I had a craft store and could teach about anything I sold. I was sure and knew I could pass on the hobby to new folks as my family passed on to me.

Look at your kids today or your grand kids or neighbors kids and decide they have the right to develop being creative. Get down with them and play and if you don't feel inspired play with a child and you will. Make a dandelion chain or a necklace with gum wrappers and see if you don't remember doing that as a child. Make instruments and play music. Get them in the kitchen and make some wonderful play dough and than sit down with them and create. Get that doll house you always wanted to put together and make it a family project and see if someone does not develop into a interior designer or furniture maker. Often childhood is where these things take hold and all we have to do is nurture it and praise them and play with them.

I leave you with these thoughts and I did not pen them an unknown author did and I have it in my journal....

"A creative hobby can produce
A contented child who is comfortable working independently.
A productive child who has things he wants to do.
A self-confident child who knows she can do something and do it well.
A child who carries on the tradition of heirlooms made by creative hands."

The extra benefit is you will have a child who enjoys staying at home and is content.

I have plenty of sites I can share with you all about starting your kids on a creative journey if you want them......just leave a comment and tomorrow I will post them.

MEET ONE OF MY HEROES

2008-03-23T08:01:00.000-07:00

This young lady is indeed one of my “life heroes”. Sue came into my life as a teen girl.. I met her when I was a leader along with a few others in the youth group at our Mennonite Church called People’s Chapel in South Florida.

I knew she was a special girl as soon as I met her. She was living in very primitive conditions but had such energy and vitality. It was clear that she also was a very intelligent young lady. Her father’s family was from Russian and Mennonite. His intelligence also is remarkable.

Sue is one of 6 kids and the oldest. I remember her as a normal teen, a second mom to her siblings and a mind that was always learning. She made friends so easily. Her senior year was also he first year of college courses and that fall she went to Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

One thing I could always count on was she was coming back to see me at Mother’s Day even if she had to hitch hike. It was a treasure to me as a young mother. She spent time with us as a family at Lake Placid over the summer. I looked forward to her bringing folks along from college or they would stop to see me as they traveled to the keys to Scuba dive. As time went on this young lady came to be a daughter, a sister and best friend all rolled into one. I could depend on her and she also became a second mother and sister to Nicole. How Nicole loved when she would come for a visit and invite her to go home to Sarasota with her for several days or a week.

When we moved to North Florida for a bit over a year she moved in with us so she could take some courses at the University of Florida in Gainesville. She still wanted to be a doctor. We had many good times there and she was fun to learn with. We did cross stitch, made baskets, which she taught me to do, and was a passion of mine for a long time. Of course we lived at a place we could pull grape vines down all day long and form then to be the skeleton for a basket or weave the whole basket from the vines. Sue was also a seamstress and sewed her own clothes. I think by this time she had been to Europe 2 times. She really could write a book on traveling on a shoe string, carrying little with her and simply seeing the world.

I went to Salem, Oregon after my divorce with the 3 kids to Youth With a Mission I met John and we married…. you got it she showed up there to spend Christmas with us and just to be family. I think she went to snow ski also. I need to mention here that Sue had quite a cleaning business with her mom and sometimes a sister. She was well on the way to paying off her college debt. I so admired her ethics. My dad was selling real estate in Sarasota and sold her a sweet small home. When Serena was born she kept kids and did a great job with it. That way she could be in her home and with her daughter. She did a GREAT job raising her daughter. Her faith in God has also been a great inspiration to me.
They would come see us when they could.
Sue has developed in a woman of faith….one of great compassion to all she meets. She is now working with EMS and loves working with people like this. I know if I were in an emergency I would love to have her attending me. I can see her driving an ambulance and being able to see what is needed with a patient when she gets to the scene.

I have not mentioned all she has had to overcome for that is hers to share as she sees fit but allow me to say that most that had to face what she has had to from a small girl would have given up or used it all to be a victim…. not Sue. She has used it all to be a complete woman. Her daughter is now in college and her house paid off. Many of us couples cannot be as frugal as she is and yet be able to travel so many places and give her daughter a look at the world. They traveled to visit her siblings in Australia or wherever they lived. They took friends and went to see friends in their travels.

I want to take this time to celebrate my sister and friend. So often we do not take the time to celebrate the people in our lives that have helped us to become the person we are today. The folks we hang out with mold us and I am so glad I have had this young lady as a inspiration to me…really a rock at time. During my divorce she stepped right in and helped Nicole through the horrible things she faced. I had someone I could trust and unload my pain.

God gave me a special gift when He brought Sue into my life.
Sue, I love you!

By the way, this picture was taken at Nicole's wedding and can't you see why I love her so?

ONE MORE CHANGE AND RAMBLING

2008-03-22T18:14:00.001-07:00

Time sure does fly. I kept wanting to write in the blog but the change of Furniture made me know I had to do some Spring Cleaning. That sure felt good. It does look great around here. At the office they gave John these 2 paintings and we switched things around so we could enjoy them. I love art and both of these paintings have such depth to them. The one sure makes me feel I am in Venice…. would that not be fun to be going down that canal? One sure can dream.

I feel like I had an good sinus infection too and that has be stay rather quiet but today I felt some better. We went to see my husband’s aunt and uncle and got to see a few of his cousins and that made this holiday special to us. We have no family coming this tear. John asked for Biscuits (homemade) with bacon and egg for breakfast or brunch. He is on call. For the late afternoon he wanted Seafood Newberg on Puffed Pastry shells and a nice salad. We will watch our former church in Florida on line as the service happens. We both love doing that. It is Northland. Here is the site:

http://www.northlandchurch.net/

I was remembering Easter when I was a child. I remember one sunrise service on our front yard. We lived on a hill and across the street was simply a beautiful view of rolling farmlands and of course the sun rose over that. It was a cold day but so meaningful to a young lady. I felt the miracle of Jesus rising and being alive for the first time in my life.
Tears rolled down my face as I knew that I knew He died for my sins. What a price to pay!

We did not really believe in Easter dresses and all of that. There was always a school Spring/Easter Chorus Program and for that my mother would make me a new dress. The one I remember was a lot of work to her. We were required to wear capes and she took the time to scallop the cape in the front. It was a beautiful pink fabric with shiny threads in it. I felt so special. This was the dress I wore again for Easter.

Really as Mennonites we only celebrated Jesus during the Easter Season. I remember getting a chocolate cross and maybe a crocheted cross bookmark and a book. We went to grandmas or the Aunties for dinner. I remember ham, green beans, spring peas, fresh asparagus, parsley potatoes, potato salad or macaroni salad, red beet eggs, deviled eggs, pickles that had been canned, spiced apple rings; celery stuffed with peanut butter…what a feast! Than we would end the meal with daffodil cake, Rhubarb pie, another pie or cake and homemade ice cream and strawberry topping. At grandma’s we would have her homemade opera fudge candy and peanut butter eggs or coconut eggs.

I remember gathering around the organ at grandmas or the piano at the Aunties and singing Easter Hymns together. It was pure worship to me on. I sure would love to do that one time again.

I hope and pray you all will have a wonderful Easter and would really celebrate the risen Lord!

THE LAST 2 DAYS

2008-03-15T18:00:00.000-07:00

What a week....

It started with all the blessings of the funiture and even since those pictures were taken John brought in new pictures and moved others. As I sit here I marvel at the way God works.

Yesterday started with pure delight as I got ready for a visit from our dear friends from LaGrange. They had helped us so much after we lost all our stuff due to the mold mess. They made sure we had food and helped in so many ways. Her support was a life saver to me many a day when I was deeply depressed. What we ended up with was far more than we could use and they needed a make over and they chose to take our white living room funiture and than we added a lot yesterday. It is exciting when people rejoice with you and this couple sure was over joyed to see our blessings!

As soon as John got home they took us out to celebrate. They wanted to eat Thai and so we went to a place called Virginia Highlands. We had lettuce wraps, Thai Shrimp rolls, and Shanghai Dumplings and they were excellent! Than I had Thai Coconut Chicken Soup and it was so good on a rainy day!We than took them to see a wonderful International bakery called Alons. They decided to buy special desserts and come home to eat them in our new dinning room. Look at these goodies!
http://www.alons.geomerx.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category&categoryID=22

We had the first one their, 2 chocolate eclairs, one fruit tart, 1 Baba au Rum, 1Lemon Raspberry Mousse.We divided them in fourths so we all could taste them....what a treat! I would love to be able to make them all.They loaded up with thier treasures and headed home.About an hour later the weather got awful! The winds picked up, hail covered out balcony and the plants were thrown into our windows. We knew a tornado was somewhere down in Atlanta. I am sure you all know that downtown Atlanta was hit hard. It is simply awful but thank God no deaths.
http://www.wsbtv.com/index.html
Last night as I lay in bed I thought again about how what God has given us in things are easily taken away by forces of nature. My heart just hurts so much when I know so many people are going to have to face so much. It is a compassion that I have really developed more since the mold. I think we learn so much through the refining times. It is in the darkest hours that we face ourselves and we are forced to either change for the good or become bitter. I know one thing is true...Bitterness kills. It kills our spirit and so ofen hurts the folks we love the most. I remember Grandma telling me that when you are bitter it is the upkeep that costs so much. That sure is true.

Than today was a day of horrible weather all over Georgia....first my Nicole was in harms way and she and Zoe went to her in-laws where Dough was. They lost power and had hail storms and winds. There home did survive and I am thankful for that. Than several hours later we watched a huge Tornado head towards Atlanta again. I did panic. I so hate storms and knowing what happened down town had me scared. The weather man said it was 3 times larger that last night.
I looked at that mass of dark clouds and braced for the worse......But we were spared and it lifted and went South of us. I know 2 were killed in the state today and that is very sad and so many have had their houses and barns and business just taken from them. Remember Georgia tonight in your prayers. So many places that the city counts on are damaged and so many jobs will be in limbo until it is rebuilt. The mayor call a state of emergency and so has our Governor.

Tonight I feel such peace and calm. The storms are over. I thought about the story in the Bible when the seas were raging and Jesus said Peace be still. Somehow that is how I feel. I glanced over at my husband reading and the dog sleeping beside him and I smiled. How good it is to be in a comfortable place with beauty and love around me. I am so very thankful for this time in our lives. It may not always be this way but for now I will enjoy what God has given us. I am looking forward to many evenings like this one. Peace and quiet, except for the music playing........how blessed I am.

COME TO MY OPEN HOUSE

2008-03-11T11:48:00.000-07:00

Words cannot express the gratitude I feel for all the blessing God has given us this week. These things are what nobody else wanted in the staff here. They are designer pieces that were in the office/club house and business center. The funny thing is many I would have picked out myself. I loved going down to the office just to enjoy the beauty of that room. The TV area is the only one we will work on. It is not what we want but it sure will do. I appreciate how hard my DH works and I know his hard work made some of this happen.

God is good!

WHAT'S WITH THIS?

2008-03-07T13:12:00.001-08:00

No sofa? No chair? What is up?

Look what God did again? For you that have been with us through the loss of all our things from the mold and toxins you remember how hard it was to be without these things. Than God began to give us far more than we could ever have dreamed about. I was happy with what was here but He had other plans. Yesterday we were able to give that white sofa and chair to our friends. They came and got it and the end tables and lamps. In turn they took the washer and dryer mom left for Ryan to him. He was so happy. Than my DH tried to bring these sofas up the elevator and they would not fit. He was frustrated. His boss said today they would make it up and they did after taking apart some of the elevator. They are so comfortable! Talk about quality....I am just speechless at how God gives back to us.

They are redoing the club house and did not want these nor some more blessings that come up this week-end. This is one of the perks of John's job and he was just given these. The coffee table that goes with these is just wonderful! I will take pictures when John is finished with the decorating. He loves doing that and I love to allow him to.

Some of you may be in bad times, may have lost your belongings like we did, may be discouraged but I am here to tell you that in God's timing they will come back to you 10 fold.

I remember wanting to be normal for just one day. (who knows what normal is?) We were living like sardines with my parents, sick and without a job, home or insurance. I was at a all time low. When I decided to allow God to work at his pace and when we decided to drop out of a class action suit I began to see God at work in the restoration of our bodies, minds and with what we needed to live. Things are just things but some are precious to us and I believe that is just fine. But we must remember they are not "ours" but all we own is really Gods. He expects us to take care of what He gives us and to be willing to share the best we have, not what we do not care for or is worn out. We have developed the attitude through this all that if we see a need and we can fill that need than we will do it. Mom and dad left some wonderful things back here and we used some but the beds and some other items went to a contractor that is working here because he had real needs and all they have seems to go to a very sick daughter. It was a blessing to see his joy when my husband told him they were his. And than this blessing was given to us!

Never give up...we have a God who delights in our joy. We were without for almost 2 years but each thing that came our way I thanked the Father for and also told Him if He wanted me to share these things I was willing to do so. There have been a few times I gave when I wanted to keep but I felt at peace doing it. i just wanted to encourage any of you that are struggling. Hang on and when you think you will fall into darkness He tell us to be grateful for what we have and have faith...active faith is what it is all about!

PAINTING

2008-03-02T05:44:00.000-08:00

Nature has always been a part of my life. As a child I remember singing songs like

“All Things Bright and Beautiful’,
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/a/l/allthing.htm

“He Owns The Cattle On the Thousand Hills”
http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/sounds/Hymns/he_owns_the_cattle.htm

“Fairest Lord Jesus”
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/f/a/l/faljesus.htm

“For The Beauty Of The Earth”
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/f/b/fbeautye.htm

“ How Great Thou Art”
http://members.tripod.com/~Synergy_2/lyrics/howgrt.html

These are just a few and I remember these because these are hymns as a student that we had to illustrate for a Bible class. Sometimes we were given magazines to help us illustrate. Our penmanship was important to in the booklets we made. It was a form of what some call copy work.

As a child we traveled a lot and we stayed in National and State Parks and campgrounds and listened to the Rangers share. Each year we went as a family to what was called the ”Audubon Screen Tours” at a college in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Since we Mennonites did not have TV’s or go to the movies this was a very special advent each month for me. I loved going to all the wildlife habitats.

My goal was to be able to paint. I could see nature, feel nature, take pictures of nature but artistic with drawing and painting I was not. Wildlife artists were so amazing to me and still are. When my kids were quite small a friend talked me into going an hour and half away to take an oil painting class with an up and coming Wildlife artist. His name was Robert Butler. We took 8 weeks I think and oil paint was hard for me. It is so easy to make mud from the colors. But this man is so patient. We were required to do a morning sky picture, stormy sky and sunset canvas. The neat part was what I learned in simply looking at nature. The shades of green, the browns and blues and how important they are to get on canvas. I will say this….I see them in my mind but painting is not for me. I would rather paint with my threads!
Robert and I became friends and he had a gallery in my craft shop several years later. He would paint and I would watch and with each minute he taught me something new. He had three sons that came with him at times and they were artists also. Robert has a large family and they all are artistic. He and John have become friends also and this now world-renowned artist is a joy to both of us.

Nature is God’s gift to you and me. If you watch ants work you see how they are always busy. God tells us about that in Proverbs 6:6. They each have work to do and get it done.

The eagles are mentioned in the Bible 38 times I once read.
"But those who trust in the LORD will receive new strength. They will fly as high as eagles. They will run and not get tired. They will walk and not grow weak."
Isaiah 40:31 or Deuteronomy 32:11
like an eagle that stirs up its nest
and hovers over its young,
that spreads its wings to catch them
and carries them aloft.

God speaks to me through nature…storms, the ocean, critters and birds…all I have to do is be still and watch and apply it to life. I treasure times in nature! Now that I live in the city I miss what I once took for granted. I firmly believe that as Christians we are to care for the world God created for us. It is up to you and I to do our part and teach our children to care for nature around us.

Back to the painting…Robert coached me through all three. This one I gave to mom and dad. It is far from perfect but it was a real learning experience for me. I have never tried to paint again but I sure do recommend everyone to try it. Robert is now known as the “Historian with a Paintbrush” and is also a Florida Highwayman and if you want to see how my fiend paints…. Look here:

http://robertbutler.com/

http://www.highwaymenartist.com/butler.html

http://www.florida-agriculture.com/butler/index.htm

http://www.sptimes.com/News/091700/Floridian/He_brakes_for_art.shtml
His story.

http://www.wkrg.com/news/article_large/robert_butler/6595/video/
watch him and hear him…..

My husband and I are proud to call him friend.

FEW PICTURES OF MY PARENTS NEW HOME

2008-03-01T18:05:00.001-08:00

This is their dinning room. They took the table and chairs and mom sure enjoys the built in china closet!
They have a spacious living room. I hope they can get a new couch and love seat soon.
Dad will enjoy the desk a lot. He had been missing one. They plan to paint the shelves.

The home is nice and light with a big screened in porch. There is a patio table out there and chairs and nice lamps. The birds and squirrels are quite busy in the trees and they can watch them. We had such fun watching a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers. Here is a wonderful picture of one and make sure you play the sound.
http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/183/_/Pileated_Woodpecker.aspx

John picked Zoe up and got close enough that she saw them. When he told her they eats bugs she just loved it. About half an hour later she told me those red headed birds eat bugs. Than she thought and said " Nana, if I were a bird I would eat bugs too. Than they would taste good but I am not a bird and they are not good for me." For a 3 year old she is one smart little girl!

Mom and Dad are settled in pretty good. Mom is still cleaning a lot but they have met some old friends and met some new ones. She sounds upbeat when I talk to her. Dad is slowing gaining some strength. The move took a lot out of him but he is taking his scooter out and that makes me happy. He will be 88 on the 10th of this month.

COME WITH ME ON A JOURNEY

2008-02-15T19:50:00.001-08:00

This is what they called a "Cracker House" in Florida. Basically a Florida Cracker was a Florida Cowboy and is still used by some Floridians to indicate that their family has lived there for many generations. For such people it is a source of pride to be descended from "frontier people who did not just live but flourished in a time before air conditioning, mosquito repellent, and screens.We lived close to this empty house and I was always drawn to it. To get to the house you have a winding trail that goes through scrub and than into a beautiful Florida Hammock. The gray moss hung thick in some of the trees and almost made you feel like you were “coming home”. The old trees had branches that had to fight for light and so they were a beautiful maze as you look through them into the sky and as you rounded a bend you saw this most precious house. I know it has many a story to tell. There is a hand pump at the one side and I am sure for many years that was the only source for water. The screened porch tells you that many a night someone sat and rocked and as darkness came and the night sounds began. I think these folks really had a need to be in harmony with nature and their environment. In fact I believe their lives depended on it. There were several nights we went there just to feel nature as the sun set and we sat and listened and were captivated by our surroundings. You would hear the night critters begin to move about, the eerie sound of a owl, the flapping of wings as birds settled down for the night in the tall trees above you and we even saw bats as they glided above us. The sounds of a Piney-wood rooter hunting for food was a sure bet. (That is simply a wild boar). You sat and did not talk because you did not want the sound of a human to drive away the enchantment of the place. I always had a dread that I would have to leave and yes go to a newer and more modern place but still I wanted to stay.

There was a fire pit with old hewn logs as seats and I wondered just what was cooked over that open fire. Having lived in South Florida in a rural area and knowing many folks there that called themselves Florida Crackers I often was told stories of how they lived and ate. I am sure “hoecakes” were cooked in an old black cast iron skillet at this place. A hoecake is a simple cake made of cornmeal, salt and water and has to be cooked in a black fry pan most likely in fat that is left over from frying fatback. I guess I need to explain that fatback is off the back of a hog and is cut in squares and than sliced and fried until it becomes crunchy. They also in the old days made lard by boiling fatback and than straining it through fine clothe. Fatback is still used today and also is great to season beans and vegetables. They probably cooked many a deer and boar in the fire pit too. I am sure of this because they lived off the land. I would sit there by that pit and almost smell the food as it cooked and sizzled. Better yet I could almost taste it!

I guess this might be the time to tell you of a precious older man we all loved that was a Florida Cracker and had the cracker cattle. We would go to his old home and spend a weekend. The men would get up before dawn to go squirrel hunting and the girls and I would smell the strong coffee as it bubbled on the stove. We knew we needed to be up and soon begin to get ready to serve a big breakfast for the men when they returned in an hour or so. I would mix up the batter for the hoecakes and cut the fatback and have it ready to fry. I knew since our friend was a bachelor I would make his day by making some homemade biscuits and have them ready for him as he came in the door. He would take cane syrup and allow it to soak in his biscuits….I simply never could stand the taste or cane syrup. I much preferred the sweet orange blossom honey he collected from his bees. I knew they would bring back fresh squirrels and they would be dressed and than I would have to cook them. I ate many but never really acquired the taste for them. To me they looked awful in the frying pan. But that would be lunch…I knew I had to soak them in buttermilk for at least an hour to get out the wild taste and tenderize them a bit. He liked them to be coated with flour and salt and pepper and than fried until light brown .I would than add a chopped onion to the skillet and brown it, add water, milk and flour and bring it to a boil and add the fried squirrel and allow it to simmer about 15 minutes to ½ hour. So when I say these folks lived off the land I simply mean it. Fish, boar, doves, venison, gator and turtle were everyday food for them. I have eaten all I mentioned and lived to tell the story.

Cracker life was a simple life but a hard one for many. Some worked sawmills that were way back in the “glades” or lived on the horse from daybreak till sun down. Often the kids wore clothes made from “croker sacks” (burlap gunny sacks) and flour sack fabric. But they lived in nature, were ruled by nature and respected nature. They were close families that loved each other and they knew nothing but hard working days and nights but at least they did it together.

And so as I would have to get up and leave this green and vacant “cracker house” I would feel like I was a better person to have been there and remembered all the stories I had been told. As our friend used to say….”I live off the land, I give back to the land and I worship God who made the land for me to tend. That my friend is “good clean country living” and when I go to bed at night bone tired I am at peace.”

ONE HAPPY FAMILY

2008-02-13T04:24:00.000-08:00

Back row: Rachel, Ben, Dad.

Front row: Grandma Kraybill, Aunt Fannie, Aunt Elizabeth, Aunt Emily

This is to me a picture of happiness and peace. As I look at them I know they lived what they believed and served the Lord in all they did.

I want to share part of a letter that Aunt Emily wrote to me in 1988.

Dear Donna,
I am sitting at the desk in the enclosed patio. I am looking back on the farm. On the third year of teaching school in September I had typhoid fever, a long siege that was 8-9 weeks of not conscious and delirious, taking just a little juice and milk for nourishment. Mother, Father and the nurse caring for me so I would not get out of bed watching for weeks. Finally so weak the nurse could not feel my pulse and so she gave me whiskey and she saw life in my veins. After that I gained strength very slowly but no more teaching that year. This is what I saw on my wall. It read “ He Careth For You’. 1 Peter 5:7 this meant so much to me and still does.

The next year I was teaching again. I was so glad to be able to talk to your grandfather about school (He also was a teacher) Soon after that I was glad to see my brother Lehman, you grandfather with his wife Bertha and their children. (Rachel, Arthur and Ben) growing up. But than a sadness came when brother Lehman was called home at age 33,(the age of Jesus) . So his work on earth was well done. But we missed him and pitied Bertha and the children. So Arthur (age 6) and Ben (age 2-1/2) grew up in the home of my parents and us “Aunties”. Bertha and baby Rachel with her parents. But we worked it so that weekly they would all be together. But did you ever know I thought it would have been better, when I was so near death, to have gone on and their father would have been here to raise the family for the Lord. But we have to say the Lord does all things right and go forward.

We all enjoyed living together, how those little boys were real blessings and I can say they were good boys. We so loved them. How they would play and keep us young. Their room was full of toys and homemade things. Your father had made a telephone arrangement in which they talked from one room to another. Oh how they would go on their kitty cars and go down to the pavement.

Later on they got paper routes and delivered papers with their bikes. They also fetched milk from a nearby farm. We all worked together to save and help each other. Both Ben and your father got a ride on the drag while getting ready for planting. Ben was very careful in drying dishes and placed them carefully at their places.
School time came and they walked down to school so neat and tidy. Later they graduated from EMS (Eastern Mennonite School in Harrisonburg, Va). They both found lovely companions and were married. Than Rachel and Bertha came to live with us. Rachel trained to be a RN at General Hospital. She and her mother were dear ones to us. Than she married Luke Brubaker. I could say more about going to Uncle Amos’s and all the children enjoying Christmas and Easter until we reversed it and all came to our house.

Later on in this long letter she wrote this to me. “Donna, I think of you so often and pray for you. We all go through struggles and trials which are not easy, but God will carry us through. Keep on trusting and obeying, “His Word is SURE TRUE”. This was the motto I had on my wall while teaching at New Danville Mennonite School. Always remember “Be strong and of good courage” Joshua 1:9

She than wrote several paragraphs to all 3 of my kids with encouragement and love.
I am sharing this letter so you see they met each trial with strength and courage and trusted the Lord and kept going. I think that is why we see such real peace on each of their faces. The house they lived in was built in 1920 in the town of Mount Joy. The “Aunties” parents lived down stairs and the “Aunties” lived upstairs. Than the 2 boys came and they adjusted and made sacrifices but I never heard a word about those. In fact I can honestly say I never heard the “Aunties” complain at all.

As I sit here this morning I see a faith that is pure. They understood trials but they also understood that God was always with them. You see in the letter Aunt Emily did question why she was not taken and her brother left to raise his children but she accepted “The Lord does all things right and we go forward”. I so admire this. I feel so blessed that I had the “Aunties” in my life to set a example that I follow in His steps. I think sometimes I want to follow in “their “ footsteps and they would say, “Donna, follow in HIS foot steps and you will not falter long.

This was a poem her students memorized and she lived. It is simple but true. I looked today for an author but cannot find one. This poem is on a sheet of things she had students use as copy work or to memorize.

MY HEART A GARDEN

My heart is God’s little garden,
And the fruits that grow each day
Are the things He sees me doing,
And the words he hears me say.

The flowers in God’s little garden
Are joy and truth and love.
And the seed by the Master planter
Is raised in His garden above.

There’s a spring in God’s little garden
Those waters so sweet and clear.
Flow out into other gardens
Which God plants very near.

I must tend God’s little garden
Lest the weeds and sharp thorns grow.
If the flowers should droop and wither
His heart would be sad I know.

OUR MEAL LAST NIGHT

2008-02-12T19:26:00.000-08:00

I thought I would share a few recipes with you tonight.
Yesterday I wanted to make CHICKEN CORDON BLEU. I looked at many different recipes and here is how I did it.
This serves 4

CHICKEN CORDON BLEU
4 chicken skinless chicken breasts
4 slices Swiss or Provolone cheese (Pepper Jack adds a lot)
4 pieces Canadian bacon
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup seasoned flour (mix salt & white pepper in the flour}
about a cup of Panko crumbs

Preheat oven to 350.
Pound the chicken breasts. I like to put them between waxed paper to beat.
Take one breast and add slice of cheese on top and piece of Canadian bacon on top of that. Depending on the width you may have to cut the slices in half. Roll it tight. Do the same with the rest. At this point I put them in the freezer until they were firm. (I watched a chef I worked with some times do this but I do not always have the time to do it.)
I than rolled them in flour, the egg and than the panko crumbs. I placed them in a baking dish sprayed with Pam. Melt some butter and drizzle on top.
Bake them for 30 to 40 minutes.

I made this sauce and served them with it.

1- teaspoon paprika 6- tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon minced garlic
½ teaspoon minced ginger½- cup dry white wine 1- teaspoon chicken bouillon granules 1- tablespoon cornstarch 1 -cup heavy whipping cream

I melted the butter in a small skillet and added the minced garlic and ginger and cooked them a bit and than added the wine and chicken bullion cube, paprika and cornstarch and mixed it good. The heat was on low and I added the whipping cream and reduced it.
***************************
Variations:
You could buy thin cut chicken cutlets
You can use ham.
Spinach or fresh basil is good between the cheese and meat.
For the sauce you can use cream of mushroom soup + ½ cup of sour cream and season as you like.

I served it with Loaded Mashed Potatoes and a salad and Nana's rolls.
For the loaded mashed potatoes I made them like I would and added shredded cheese, bacon and sour cream.
****************
ANGEL BISCUITS
3 packages dry yeast
4 tablespoon sugar
1/4 cup warm water
5 cups self rising flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup shortening
2 cups buttermilk

Dissolve yeast in warm water.Combine flour,salt,sugar and cut shortening into this.Mix in flour,milk and yeast.Knead to elastic. Roll out to 1/2 inch thickness.Nana brushed melted butter on each one.Place in greased baking sheet.sometimes we allowed them to rise about 1 hour and than baked.Bake at 450 for 10-12 minutes.Dough may be stored for up to a week,covered.
***************************

LOOK AT MY NEW PIECE OF FUNITURE

2008-02-11T19:38:00.000-08:00

There was one piece of furniture mom and I did not talk about right away when we knew they were moving. I simply could not because it is a real treasure to both of them. When they moved into the retirement community in Virginia they had this custom made for them/ Mom had loved looking at the crystal in the cabinet from both her mom and also dad parents and the Aunties.

I think we both knew it would be coming here. I knew we had a good corner for it in the dinning room. So on Sunday it made the trip from their apartment to ours. I had washed all the crystal pieces she gave me so the would sparkle. It was fun to put it in the cabinet and now I sit in my chair and enjoy all the family treasures.

It is wonderful to have taken care of such treasures so they could be passed on to the next generation. I am blown away by what people throw away and I want to ask why…we see brand new items with tags in the garbage here…some seem to feel maybe if they set these things by the garbage areas maybe someone will use them. But many just simply throw them away. I was with my husband when he was compacting garbage and we saw awards given to a soldier and man in government and they were tossed.

I don’t hang on to things like I used to. It just seems wrong to me to hoard for a rainy day when someone could use it right now. Here I am not talking about family treasures but the things we think we may fit into again, or a dozen more cook books than we could ever use, kitchen things we may have used 2 years ago but not since. These things become a weight we carry around.

What I do treasure is when mom could say, “That was daddy’s parents” and it makes it so something I want to remember and pass on to my kids or grandkids. Do you see the wooden piece of the next piece of funiture? Mom used this almost daily when she was a kid. Do you know what it is? Leave your answers in the comments

Yes, this corner cabinet is a very special gift that mom and dad gave us. It is a gift from the heart and that makes it a comforting piece of furniture. It is solid oak and I sit here and know that my parent’s love is as sound and strong as the oak tree it came from. What more could a daughter ask for?

GRANDMA"S CHINA and One Strange recipe

2008-02-06T17:31:00.000-08:00

This is another treasure mom gave me. It is grandma's china. I faintly remember when she got this as a child. I knew one thing for sure.....when it came out it was for a special meal and I best handle it with care as I helped set the table. I really can't remember her fussing at me to be careful because Grandma taught by example. She treasured what she had and always took care of it. I was thinking about how beautiful it looked with a pink tablecloth under it and also she used a blue one too. It makes a beautiful table. I think I will use it when I make our special Valentine's meal.

The crystal goblets and sherbert dishes on the plate were Wedding gifts from my parents wedding and that will be 65 years ago the end of this month. The silver is also a wedding gift from grandma and grandpa. Mom also took the best care of what she had.

I was thinking about all the wonderful meals I ate from this china.....Thanksgiving with a huge turkey and stuffing, sweet potatoes, vegetables, pies, always started with fruit salad and crackers......or Easter with ham, red beet eggs, golden glow salad, homemade puddings and cake.

Than there was her favorite meal and yes, you are reading this right....stuffed pig stomach.....Some call it "Dutch Goose" and I guess that sounds better. Here is the recipe just for fun.

ROASTED PIG'S STOMACH or DUTCH GOOSE:
1 pig stomach1

1/2 pound ground sausage

1 quart diced potatoes,raw

1 onion,chopped fine

2 cups shredded cabbage

2 tablespoons salt

1 teaspoon ground pepper

Remove the inner linning of the stomach and discard. Wash stomach well and than soak in salt water several hours. Drain and fill stomach with stuffing. Sew securely.

Use either recipe for filling:
Filling One: Make a filling of raw diced potatoes, chopped onion and shredded cabbage. Add seasoning and mix well.

Filling Two: Make a bread filling by browning diced onion and bread crumbs in butter. Mix with egg,fresh chopped parsley and some milk. Stir in diced potatoes and sausage. Mix throughly.
Place stuffed stomach in a large roasting pan and bake at 350 for 3 hours. Serve with gravy made by adding flour and water to drippings in roasting pan.

Here are a few of Grandma's secrets....she added poultry seasoning to the ingredients under the pig's stomach. She would par boil the potatoes in water that she added saffron to. What a wonderful addition.

I know this sound awful but it indeed is wonderful It smelled wonderful and was so good and crispy. The inside stuffing was so good and full of flavor. It is a very wonderful memory for me. I helped her cook it but never made it on my own.....imagine asking a butcher for a pigs stomach....I think they would call the men in white coats.....

Yes, this china is very special to me.......My mom was given it by grandma and I will take care of it and pass it on to my children.

OLD TREASURES FIND A NEW HOME

2008-02-05T11:40:00.001-08:00

The last few days have been devoted to helping mom go through things and slowly pack. She decided she did not want to take all her "good stuff" with them but surprised me by having wonderful treasures for John and myself. She knows I hated losing the things that were grandmas and the aunties.

The picture above is both of my grandparents on their wedding days. The one on the left is dad's parents. He died when dad was very young and so I never met him. Dad and his brother went to live with the Aunties and their sister stayed with their mother who was caring for her parents. I have a very faint memory of this grandma playing with a rubber duck in a washtub with me. She died when I was still a toddler. On that side is a cup and saucer that was her mothers. It does not have a handle and a chip but I love it! Under it is a hand-spun cloth with crochet edging that came with the Kraybill's when they came from Switzerland. It sure is a treasure too. The blue tatted handkerchief is one Grandma Kraybill did.

The other side is my mom's parents and the grandma I speak of so much. The dish and saucer and spoon were some of her most loved treasures. They came from her mom. She had this in her china cabinet and it was something I often asked her to get out and let me see. It is so delicate and perfect.

The fabric in the back is almost like the cushions she made for her porch swing. Mom wanted to make some and I think I may do that and send them to her after she is moved. They will have a lovely screened in porch, which they are sure looking forward to.

I know these are "just things" but they generate memories for me. I love to think about the loving hands that took care when they washed these items and dusted them. I am thankful for the stories that passed down to me from the Aunties and Grandma. I plan to write them down for my kids and grand kids.

Meet Mom and Dad

2008-02-01T08:30:00.000-08:00

This is my parents.........

They are quite remarkable for being in their upper and mid 80's.

They live in an apartment here in the same complex but a change is coming. To understand it I need to share a bit about them.

They grew up in the same community in Lancaster County, Pa. (Mount Joy to be exact.) They both graduated from a Mennonite School in Harrisonburg, Virginia. It is now Eastern Mennonite University. They married and moved to a small farm in a neighboring town, Elizabethtown. The farmhouse at that time did not have a bathroom. I was adopted in 1948.

The farm had several acres of asparagus, chickens, a huge garden and a wonderful lawn that I spent many happy days playing in. Dad sold chicks and equipment and so was gone during the day and mom did a lot of the work. I remember being in the barn at a very early age. In 1954 dad was exposed to polio and spent 5-1/2 weeks in the hospital. He had a hard time recovering but they give the credit to a chiropractor that came almost every day to massage him and soon dad was walking with a large brace and than a much smaller one and to none at all.

Mom and Dad gave a lot of time to the Mennonite Church in helping at a Mission Church in Harrisonburg and Steelton. When I married and moved to Florida they went as house parents to Honduras. When they returned to the States Dad began working for a new Mennonite Camp in Brooksville, Florida. They bought a house and stayed for over 20 years. They moved to a retirement community in Harrisonburg Virginia.

The camp is called Lakewood Retreat:

http://www.lakewoodretreat.org/service.htm

When we moved to Florida they decided they wanted to move back and so rented an apartment close by. When John and I were left homeless and sick due to toxic mold and lost most of our belongings they welcomed us in and helped us heal. We moved back to Georgia and they followed and than when we moved back to Atlanta they again moved.

This takes me to now.......another change. They are buying a double wide in Sarasota, Florida in a retirement community. This will take place in a month. I understand this move because they are so excited to get back to a Mennonite Community and they will be able to walk and dad use his scooter to go to church where they attended for 2o years. They will know neighbors that are like them and do activities they will enjoy. Living here in Midtown Atlanta is hard on them. They say they feel like a fish out of water. I will miss them and I feel like I may not see Daddy alive again and that is troubling to me. But a reality I know exists. Because the place is furnished we have a lot of things to go through because they have decided to let much with us. Mom says I lost all of the things that were grandma's and the aunties(due to the toxic mold) and so she wants me to enjoy what she has. I will admit the loss of those things was painful. We will start next week with this process.

Were they are moving:

http://bahiavista.us/

My parents have taught me these things:
1. Giving to others with your time.

2. How important a regular time is to read God's Word and pray. My dad starts each day with His Bible and it has always been that way.
3. Care for the things you have.
4. A real love for nature!5. Mom is a cleaning frenzy and I need to do better. She is a perfectionist.6. They are married 65 tears...need I say more.
7. Dad is a very balanced man. He knows what He believes and has never been wishy-washy.
8. They adopted me and I was a foster mom and adopted our son. Their example made me know I wanted to open my heart to kids that needed love.
9. Their word means it will be done. Trustworthy is the trait I see here.
10. They love the Lord and are looking forward to Heaven.

I could mention much more. I may not always agree with them but they are good parents and I am thankful for them. So pray for all of us as we make these changes.....we will need all the prayers we can get. As an only child it is a lot of work on my shoulders but it will be done.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My Mom's favorite meal to serve guests:

Ham Loaf

Mennonite Community Cookbook Page 70

Serves 8

1 pound fresh pork, ground

1 pound cured ham, ground

1 cup bread crumbs

1 egg

1 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

3/4 to 1 cup milk

Grind the meats and mis all ingredients. Shape in a loaf, dust with flour and place in a roasting pan. Bake at 350 for 1-1/2 to 2 hours.

At the end of 1 hourpour over the loaf 1 cup tomato juice or a sauce made as follows:

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon dry mustard

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup vinegar

Mix and bring to a boil before pouring over the loaf.

~~my notes:

We always had the butcher grind 10 pounds of each and than freeze the ground meat together for ham loaf. This recipe that you can multiply without any trouble. I have made it for 125 people. One way my kids liked this was I made patties instead of the load and I would place a patty in a baking pan than a pineapple ring and repeat until finished. For the glaze I used the pineapple juice instead of the vinegar. This is fun and easy to serve at a pool party. I also have doubled the sauce made with pineapple and added crused puneapple to it and made the hame mixture into ball and served it as a appetizer.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Scalloped Potatoes

Mennonite Community Cookbook

Page 164

Serves 6

6 cups raw potatoes, peeled and sliced thin

4 tablespoons flour

2-1/2 teaspoons salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1 onion, minced

2-1/2 cupswarm milk

2 tablespoons butter

Place a layer of potatoes in buttered baking dish add minced onion.Sprinkle with salt pepper and flour, and dot with butter. Repeat until all ingredients are used. Pour hot milk over potatoes and bake at 350 for 1-1/2 hours to 2 hours.

Variations:

1. Make a white sauce with the milk, flour and butter. Melt 3/4 cup grated cheese in the sauce and pour over potatoes.

2. Top with 2/3 cup soft bread crumbs and stips of bacon

3. Add 1 cup grated cheese on top of potatoes 15 minutes before the cooking is completed.

4. Add 1 cup ham in alternate layers with the potatoes.

~~My notes:

I use half and half for a richer texture (thank my grandma for this!)

I like to add Italian seasonings and garlic.

I have made these with Brie cheese....so good!

My family likes it with bacon on top...not with the bread crumbs

I have made this with adding salsa to the cheese sauce and they loved it!

She did almost the 7 sweets and 7 sours....I will give you one of the salads she would make. I will save the rest for another post.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kidney Bean Salad

Mennonite Community Cookbook

Page 177-178

2-1/2 cups canned kidney beans, drained

1/4 cup chopped celery

2 hard cooked eggs

1 medium-sized onion, minced

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons vinegar

1/4 cup salad dressing

2 tablespoons cream

Chop eggs and combine with celery and onion. Add beans that have been drained. Mix ingredients together and chill. Add cream to salad dressing and blend through mixed vegetables.

Serves 6

~~My notes.

I use mayonnaise. I add 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish.

2 tablespoons fresh basil is nice with 1 jalapeno without the seeds, minced and I do not add pickle relish than.

You can add crumbled bacon on top just before serving.

Fresh parsley is good with this salad.

I want to tell you all I could not cook or bake without the Mennonite Community Cookbook. It is the best basic cookbook!

Here is the link for it:

http://www.heraldpress.com/books/mccookbk.htm

Another cookbook by the Mennonites I use all the time is "More Wth Less". You can see the format and several recipes here:

http://www.worldcommunitycookbook.org/more/index.html

I LOVE NATURE

2008-01-31T17:00:00.000-08:00

Softly the evening came. The sun from the western horizon Like a magician extended his golden want o'er the landscape; Trinkling vapors arose; and sky and water and forest Seemed all on fire at the touch, and melted and mingled together.
Author: Henry Wadsworth LongfellowSource: Evangeline (pt. II, sec. II)

"When I admire the wonder of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in worship of the Creator”~~Mahatma Gandhi

These pictures were taken in Central Florida. In the first one we were driving through a "hammock". Since some of you may not know this term here is what Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, says:

"The word hammock is derived from hummock, but the exact origin is unknown. It is defined as "a fertile area in the southern U.S. and esp. Florida that is usually higher than its surroundings and that is characterized by hardwood vegetation and deep humus-rich soil."

I love to spend time in a hammock because it seems like such a safe place to be with the huge trees and the moss hanging from the trees. It is a wonderful place for wildlife. In my mind I can recall seeing a Doe with her fawn leaping up from a fern bed because she sensed danger, or wild turkey resting in the cool hammock, wild boar may be resting in the thick palmetto bushes or you may see a Peleated woodpecker after you have heard him tapping on the trees. You look up you see air plants on the huge oak branches some with plumes of red or pink, you may still see a wild orchid with its spikes of flowers and resurrection fern clinging to the branches like it is a carpet. (it gets its name because it can survive long periods of drought by curling up and appearing dead. When just a little water is present, the fern will uncurl and reopen, appearing to resurrect.) It to me is a beautiful sight! I do not know of lovelier spots to sit listening to birds and simply resting in the heat of the day. (But remember the bug repellent).

I have often sat at a hunting camp we had in a Hammock and would hear the burrowing owls or maybe a Barred Owl about sunset time and it would seem strange but wonderful as the palmetto bushes rustle in the breeze and you begin to wonder just what all is there that you do not see. You can be sure armadillos will be hunting and raccoons will be scampering around or a fox may be lurking.

The second picture is what you see as you come out into the flatlands of Florida. (It was taken the same night) It is a vast area usually and as your eyes take it all in you are simply in awe. For me only God can create the beauty of a sunset.......it is a perfect way to end a day. It is a peaceful time and you can only imagine who traveled there before you did. Native Americans are a great part of the history of Florida as are the settlers or the folks that came for the timber or simply to live off the land and have cattle in the areas that were cleared.......as you watch the sunset you feel all these things and it leaves you with the feeling many will travel this land when you are gone.

My prayer is we will care for the beautiful spots that are full of nature. I believe we are to care for the earth. The Lord gave man dominion over the earth, and with that authority the responsibility to care for the earth wisely. Pollution and needlessly wasted resources do not represent love for our neighbors or respect for God's creation nor give our children and grandchildren the beauty we can enjoy. I guess you would call me a "Creation Care" lady. To me this is part of stewardship I want to do my part in conservation and restoration of the creation God entrusted to our care. Let's give our children the beauty of the hammocks and sunsets, clear lakes, beautiful rivers and sparkling streams that flow down from the mountains or through the meadows.......they sure deserve that and I want to do my part!

MY VIEW

2008-01-28T10:06:00.000-08:00

City life is quite the life. I always had bird to watch and we always had trees around us for squirrels. Life gives us changes and we have to be able to go with the changes and flourish. When we were told we were being transferred to this new property I was really scared. All I could think about was crime, dirty streets, noise and no nature. I really was afraid of Atlanta traffic. But after a few days of fear I asked the Lord to give me the ability to see the good sides of the city. You all know that when you ask for something like this it will happen. My attitude turned around and I soon was filled with another adventure for us.

These two pictures are taken from our balcony. It is what we see everyday. I included both because the city takes on quite a difference feel in the night. It sparkles. In some ways when the business life is mostly over for the day the city comes alive. It had a feeling of excitement and on the other side is tranquility. The city really has so many sides. It has a rich life and I believe the good out weights the bad.

We use a tank of gas every 6-8 weeks. Two grocery stores are about 1/2 mile away beside each other. Trader Joe's is about 2 miles away as is Whole Foods. The drug store is less than a mile away also. So we really are centered in a area that we rarely have to go beyond. That is a blessing. I find people here are very polite and although they have careers that are demanding they like to chat in the elevator or in the lobby waiting for the elevator and when we have parties for the residents these are really fun and I have met so many interesting people. They are upbeat.

I do not know how long we will be here but I am enjoying each minute and all the daily changes in our community.

TO SHOW OR NOT TO SHOW........

2008-01-25T12:30:00.000-08:00

Graduation....1966
Lancaster, Pa.
I have debated if I really want this picture out in computer world but the fact of the matter is this is how I looked for many years of my life. You can see the edge of my prayer "covering" as we called it. I laughed when I looked at my hair and saw the little waves....we spent so much time trying to make ourselves not look so plain. How my grandma hated me doing this because she liked it pulled straight back and all up in a bun under the covering. We had to do that for school.
Our sleeves had to cover our elbows......I have got to tell you all this one......we were in Prayer group in the dorm and the matrons were telling us why we had to do all these things with our dress. They were sincere and than they said a young man had gone to the dean because he wanted the elbows of the girls covered and do you know why? The young man said it was the sexiest part of the body. The laughter that followed was awful and we were dismissed but not without a lecture......the answer that put us in such a fit was a comment one of my friends made. She said "good we can all wear patches on our elbows and go naked". I can still see the red creeping up on one of the matrons faces....she was so mad. We were so bad.......

Growing up I accepted I had to dress in a certain way. I knew that as long as I was at home it had to be that way. I loved sport and we lived in a neighborhood full of boys and I love to play tackle football, loved to ice skate and really basketball was my favorite. Dresses were way too hard to play with and I hated the comments I had to listen to from the boys when my dress would blow up or I had made a tackle. I hated cold legs when I skated. I hated sledding with tights and boots. Why could I not wear pants that kept me warm....why? If I asked I was told the church made the rules and therefore I must follow them. I wanted to know why so many things had to be so hard but there never seemed to be a good answer.

I think looking back I was quite rebellious....no, I was rebellious. I always pushed the envelope. I always asked way too many questions. I wanted to change things. Now I had a side that was so full of compassion and longing to help the underdog. I wanted to be a social worker.

In the beginning of my senior year during our revival meetings at Chapel I saw I needed to really dedicate my life to the Lord. I can say that the rebellious girl turned into a young woman that wanted to serve the Lord. My Uncle and Aunt were working with farm workers in South Florida and through our trips to visit them I had a longing to serve these precious people.

Life took some more bumps but I did get to work with farm workers and it was one of the best times in my life. We lived in a building with others and ran a day care from early in the morning till late during the growing season. I met so many wonderful people that had so few possessions but were rich in family and really knew how to make memories and enjoy what they had. I will have to share some of these folks with you all some day.

I am so thankful for the heritage I have.....for the emphasis that was placed on God, to memorize His Word, to enjoy family and to treasure friends. We lived a simple life but it was a peaceful life. I may not have understood some of the rules and regulations of the church but looking back I see that this paved the way for me to have a deep desire to seek God and to read and study His Word......I like to dig deep and journal my feeling and thoughts. I always welcome anybody that comes into my life to ask questions and to seek their answers through prayer and Bible reading. I know the Lord made us and He alone has the answers for us in raising children, in our married lives, in the way we treat people, how we react in the trials of life. We must be willing to sit still and wait for Him. We need to listen. I read words man writes and at times I get so confused than I think back and remember grandma saying, "Donna, God is never the author of confusion. Put the books aside and get in your prayer closet and pray. The answers will come." You know when I do that I do know what God wants me to do........

ZOE

2008-01-24T04:22:00.000-08:00

I simply love the days I have my youngest grandchild.......Zoe.

She is almost 3 and such a delightful child. Her eyes dance as she tells you something, her hand motions tell a story and all in all she is the most animated child I have had spending time with me.

Yesterday she was full of fun. We had a tea party. Her porcelain tea pot held ginger ale. We set a place mat on the coffee table and each of us had a bright cup and she poured us our "tea" with the greatest of ease. I had made us some dainty peanut butter sandwiches with the crusts "peeled off" as she says it. We talked about her baby doll which joined us and her favorite stuffed animal an floppy elephant. She told me about her friends from the "mommy group" and they were going to see the fire engines.

We read after that. She loves a nursery rhyme book I found at Goodwill that has flaps. So we read that several times and a nature book that also has flaps. If you have a Goodwill close to you check out the children's books. I have fond many almost new that are great quality but the most I pay is $1.50 each.

Zoe loves some children's TV programs on PBS but she wants me in the same room and so I took the time to catch up on blogs and email. But she often wants to talk about what she sees so I really am multi tasking but loving it.

As a grandma or "Nana" as she calls me, I know I have time to really play and teach my grandchild. We look at old pictures of my grandma and Aunties and I tell her who they are and what fun things I did with them. When I cook I love to put her on the counter and allow her to cook with me. My grandma did that with me, my mom with my girls and now I do it with Zoe.
I have started her a book of favorite recipes and why we like them and the stories of those that shared them with me. I want to make memories with her.

Some of you may not have had a grandma that did this with you all but you as a grandparent can change that and give this generation a rich heritage. We owe that to our family. I think so many of us go from one thing to the next and forget that we are in some occasions a Grandma and we need to take advantage of this. My air with the tea parties we have is to take her and her mother to a tea room have have a proper tea. I am teaching her how to hold the cup, how to stir in the sugar without clanking the spoon on the cups. I want her to use the napkin properly. But we do all of this in a way it is fun.

Yesterday I began teaching her the rhyme my Aunt Emily taught each of us grand nieces.....

Please, Thank-you and excuse me are the nicest words to say
to mommy and to daddy for what they do for me each day.
Please may I have a glass of milk? Than thank-you I will say
Now excuse me mother dear, for it time to go and play.

We have this as a secret until she knows it all than we will have a tea party with her mom and Zoe will recite it. The picture above is her saying it back to me..... We are doing parts of this unit and I love teaching her! Teaching manners is very important in a child's life and I have her moms OK to work on these. A well mannered child is always a delight!

http://www.mommynature.com/good-manners-theme-preschool-activities.html

I love this gift from God....don't you just want to squeeze her?

GRANDMA'S HOUSE

2008-01-22T13:09:00.000-08:00

I shared the picture of the farm......this is where that picture was taken from. When my Uncle took over the farm Grandpa build grandma this house at the end of the lane. It was a perfect house for the 2 of them and company when it came. There were two nice bedrooms in the house and the third they had turned into a office/sewing room. The living room was a wonderful size with oak floors and a beautiful area rug. Grandma had her precious rocking chair by the picture window so she could watch what on at the farm. The basement had her laundry room and she used her wringer washer until she was about 75. There was a canning kitchen there and a wonderful canning pantry. The one side had shuffle board painted on the floor. There was a living area too and some of our toys and games. The kitchen was just the right size for her to cook and make candy. How I loved going to their house.

Grandpa did not get to spend much time in the new house. He had awful headaches and after quite a bit of going to doctors they found a brain tumor. Grandpa had surgery and never got to come home. He was in a comma for about 6 weeks and only woke up to tell grandma to see the second farm and that night he passed away.

I remember going to sleep in my bed and waking up with my cousin from Florida and than being told that grandpa had gone to Heaven. It was a hard time for all of us and Grandma really was not the same after his death. He was really a young man to die.

This house soon became my second home. I felt safe here. I also felt grandma's love and she knew how to make me feel very special. I went to school just several miles from her home and so she would come and pick me up and we would spend a wonderful afternoon and evening and than she would take me back to school in the morning. As I look back I can say without a doubt this is where I loved to be.

Grandma loved the Lord with all her heart and the Bible was her guide in life. She was devoted to the Mennonite church and hated to see the changes it was making. To her our heads always needed to be covered and capes needed to be worn. A cape was an extra piece that was the same as your dress and was sleeveless and fastened at the waist. It was to hide our shape and really I think it started as a way a mother could breast feed her child without exposing herself. So when folks started to cut their hair grandma got upset and told us we never could do that to her. I remember her coming to our house and I was a teen and had just washed my hair. I had set the front with bobby pins to wave my hair and did not have my covering on.......she looked at me so sad and turned around and went back home saying I had broken her heart. She was set in her ways. The thing I see now is she did as she believed and never wavered. I did cut my hair after I married and she seemed to accept it.

I remember going to her house in the fall and I always knew she would have my favorite fall apple recipe....Her apple dumplings. To eat one felt like a celebration....a event.....something you took your time to eat. now that I described how good there are how about I share the recipe?

APPLE DUMPLINGS

6 apples.....Stayman or Granny Smith, peeled and cored

1/2 cup cinnamon hearts candy

2 cups all purpose flour

2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 pound or 2 sticks butter

1/2 cup milk

2 cups lightly packed brown sugar

2 cups water

1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Fill the cored apples with the cinnamon candies.

Sift the flour, baking powder,and salt together. Cut in 2/3 cup of the butter into the flour mixture until fine and crumbly. Sprinkle the milk over the moisture until moist, pressing in into a ball. Roll out the dough about 1/2 inch thick in a floured board and cut into 6 inch squares. Place an apple in each square and bring up the dough up around to cover it completely. Moisten the top edges with water and fasten securely on top of the apple. Place the dumplings 1 inch apart in a greased 9x13 baking pan or dish. Combine the brown sugar, water, cinnamon and nutmeg in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Simmer over low heat for 3 minutes, remove from heat and stir in the remaining butter. Pour this syrup over the dumplings and bake in a preheated 375 oven for 30-40 minutes basting every 15 minutes. Serve with chilled rich milk, vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Sometimes grandma filled the centers with chopped nuts and raisins......she did Carmel candy in the center too.....all are good!

Triple Trouble!

2008-01-21T06:00:00.000-08:00

There you have it......my triple trouble! It was Nicole's wedding 3 years ago. John snapped this for me because to get all 3 together seems almost impossible. They were in rare form that day.

I look at the 3 and I think of their strengths. I think as a parent we need to tell our kids what we see as a strength no matter how old they are. Too many times I hear people complaining about their kids bad traits.

Crystal is the oldest.....she has 3 kids. Skyer is the oldest and will be graduating this year and will be heading off to college this fall. Adam is really into wrestling and wins a lot of his matches. Will is simply a happy child. As I watch Crystal I see she is a loving mom that will works 2 jobs to keep them in the things the kids love to do. She is a social butterfly and a good and loyal friend.

Her work ethics are great and she gives it 150%. She likes to cook and is a great cook. She has her mother's love of cook books. I worry she doesn't take enough time for herself. I am thankful for Crystal.

Nicole always waned to be a mother and she loves being one. Her time is spent making sure Zoe has whatever she needs. She loves taking her to classes and Zoe is indeed flourishing! Nicole also has a great work ethic and is a wonderful asset to the law office she works at. I am proud of the wife she is also. She is a bright and loving mom and wife and also gives 150% to anything she does. She does so much for the local MOMS Group and makes sure they have the activities for the kids and mom's night out for the mothers. She also is doing a great job with the cooking and that makes a Mother's heart sing!

Ryan is one active man.......he just learned to weld and does a great job with it. He loves his dog and has trained Bella and spends a lot of time with her. She is a small Jack Russell. He is loyal to his girl friend and I expect a wedding in the next year or so. He is my baseball boy and an awesome hockey player.My memories of both sports are rich because he sure loved playing. One of Ryan's strengths is his compassion. He is a chip off the block in that area.....both John and I have compassion for all. He also is able to read people and very protective if he thinks someone is not trust worthy. He has worked hard on his character traits and I am so thankful for that!

Yes, as parents and grandparents we are blessed and I thank God for these 3 kids! If your kids are still home just treasure the time you have with them.....build memories with them....teach them....pray for them.....and remember they will soon be out of the home and on their own.....give them the tools they need and allow them to fly!

MOTHER-IN-LOVE

2008-01-19T12:03:00.000-08:00

UNCLE JOE

NANA

Someone ask if I was going to share a picture of Nana and I found this one. This was the last party Nana ever had. It was 6 months later that she had to come and live with us along with her brother, Uncle Joe. The party we had was for his 75Th birthday. It was a surprise and it was the last time they were all together....all 8 brothers and sisters. I did the catering part and Nana did the decorations and I mean she decorated! In the background is one of her sisters, Anne.

Nana was a special person in many ways. She worked as a secretary a good part of her life and taught herself heirloom sewing when she was off. She went to many classes that were offered by Marthan Pullen from "Sew Beautiful" magazine. he went to Texas for a week, to the Coast of Georgia and Alabama. I did go with her to one here in Atlanta.

She was a perfectionist in her sewing and made many dresses for people that had professional pictures of their kids. She made knickers for the boys and eye catching dresses for the girls and such sweet things for babies. She would have trunk sales for all the grandma's she knew and old so many even if they were 100.00 each and up. I did the "fancy work" as she called it and I really did love working with her.

She was a lady always.....a Southern lady....bless her heart.....she only took Jesus into her heart 4 years before she passed away but what a difference it made! I learned that if I wanted a "Mother-in-love"(MIL) than I needed to be filled with love for her...she gave me my best friend...my lover....my husband and for that she deserved to be treated with respect and love.....I needed to free John to love and care for her as God intended him too and I needed to join in as a partner...not sandpaper.

She loved "Southern" dishes and always had a spread for you....even if she had her maid come in and fix it for us. But the dishes she made were good. She was known for her Coconut cake and her brothers called it "spoon cake" because you had to use a spoon to eat it....it was that moist. She loved making fruit cakes and than soaking them with Brandy and they were perfect by Christmas. Oh, they were good! She made sponge cakes and again I will say they were the best.

Nana had a passion for a Pimento Cheese sandwich! I never had this until I came South......and it seemed like this was a favorite of everybody and than when I met Nana I learned to really enjoy them....These were often a summer lunch or just a snack but almost always included in a tea or Bridge Club meeting and her Garden Club.......I have made them for her in fancy pinwheel sandwiches or in ribbon sandwiches with ham or chicken spread as the other filling.....For sure one must always remove the crusts from very fresh bread to make these....I can still see Nana with her brightly colored clothing, (she was always dressed like a lady in pretty clothes)......her hair always in place...(She went to the "Beauty Parlor"once a week.....than every night she would roll her hair in toilet paper to keep it perfect and than put some net looking cap over it. This was a routine that nieces and her 2 grandchildren loved to watch) Her kitchen was usually very clean thanks to a maid, but she would prepare this sandwich like it was going to be served to a king! She had her maid make this once a week....fresh. Out came the cutting board and than the bread....she would carefully cut off the crusts like it was one of her dress patterns she was cutting out....lines perfect....Than spread the bread with just a touch of miracle Whip to moisten it(she said) and than put the spread on top.....and the other piece of bread.......usually she made a cold asparagus salad to go with this or some fresh vegetables and chips and when fresh tomatoes were in she wanted a few slices of a juicy and red tomato .....She took it to the table and savored each bite of it........Her table was always pretty with matching tablecloth and napkins and almost always a touch of battenburg lace! How she loved Battenburg! Fresh flowers or silks were always in the middle of the table. Place mats were a must for her also. Of course they matched too.

I am going to share her recipes for the cheese spread and coconut cake.

Pimento Cheese Spread

1 lb Cheddar cheese(half sharp and half medium)

1 small Onion, chopped finely

6 oz. jar pimentos, chopped

2 Tb Garlic powder (to taste)

Salt and pepper, to taste

3/4 c Miracle Whip

Dash of hot sauce...she use Pete's

Finely grate cheese in food processor. Grate onion and add to grated cheese. Add balance of ingredients. If too dry, add more Miracle Whip.

TO MAKE PINWHEEL SANDWICHES

Cut crust from bread slices. Flatten each piece with hand or roller. Spread each slice with filling and place 4 stuffed olives in the center across the width. Roll each slice in wax paper. Place in tight container and freeze.When to be used, take rolls out and slice into bite-size slices with electric knife. Let dry out on paper towels before serving.

*******************************

Nana doubled the filling recipe so that she could pour some in between each of the 3 layers and still had plenty for the top. I think this was one of the secrets she would not share with anyone. If you love coconut than you will like this. I made it for her memorial service with the family and they all said it was just like Nana's but than it should have been because she was my teacher.She would make a good cake first. This is the recipe she used.

CAKE

1/2 pound butter

2 cups sugar

4 eggs

2-2/3 cups cake flour

4 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup sweet milk

pinch of salt

1 teaspoon pure vanilla

Grease and line 3- 8 inch cake pans. Set oven at 375.Cream butter and sugar well. Add egg yokes. Sift flour,baking powder and salt together and add alternately with milk. Add vanilla. beat egg whites until stiff and fold into mixture. Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes.

Coconut Filling:

1 egg yolk

1 cup milk or 1/2 cup milk and 1/2 cup coconut milk.(This too was a secret)

1 cup sugar

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 teaspoon pure vanilla

4 cups shredded coconut(and Nana would only use that in the freezer section of the store)

Mix together all ingredients except coconut and cook in double boiler over low heat until thickened. Let cool 3 minutes and than add coconut. have cooled cakes ready and pour this filling mixture over cake while hot....this makes the cake moister and it will keep longer.

We miss Nana a lot but she gave us such wonderful memories!

She was indeed my Mother-In Love!

2008-01-18T06:41:00.000-08:00

Have you ever simply missed where you grew up and the family that was there?

Today I miss this farm and my Grandma. They lived in this farm for many years and than when Grandpa built a home across from this lane my Uncle and Aunt took over the farm. When my cousin married he and his wife took over the farm and still live there. So it sure has been a family treasure.

You can see the white shed attached toward the garage....that is where we always went in....It was the wood shed and you would walk up 2 steps and into what was at one time the kitchen. It had an open hearth and had a wood cook stove there. Than into the main kitchen....and believe me there was a wonderful smell waiting to greet you.......I remember the smell of freshly baked bread or cookies.......Something was always cooking at Grandma's!

Grandpa had 2 dairy farms but he never wanted grandma to have to work in the barn. The house was her domain and the garden. She was a master at both. She would start her day early and prepare breakfast.....sometimes for a hired man too....a big breakfast. I loved waking up at her house with the smells of a big breakfast coming up the stairs. Anytime we ate with her was a celebration....

One thing Grandma always did was find the time to read her Bible and pray everyday. She believed what she read from the Bible and if God said it than that settled it and that is what she did. She was a praying woman that would roll up her sleeves to go and help anyone in need. I think that is what a real woman of God should do and her example has made me always want to do the same. She was a real mentor for me and if I had a question she took the time to find the answer. If it was one she needed to think about she would assure you she was going to ask the Heavenly Father and His answer would be the right one. She loved to read but she kept a journal and if she read a book that took her say 12 hours in all than she made sure she had spent 12 hours in the Bible before she picked up another book.......you see she was the most balanced woman I ever met and I think this was the key. How I miss her! Understand as a kid and teen I did not always agree with her but the older I get the wiser she becomes to me.

Today I am going to share her waffle recipe with you all. We love having chipped beef gravy on them and sometimes on a Sat. night we may have waffles with creamed chicken on them. Both are hard to beat! In addition she would fry a pound of bacon and some homemade sausage patties.

Waffles

3 cups flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups milk

1/2 cup butter

4 egg yolks (beat the egg whites and add to mixture after you have stirred it good) Mix the dry ingredients and than add the milk and eggs and the butter at the end.

This is good when served with syrup, chipped beef gravy or creamed chicken.

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The only thing I add to her recipe is Worcestershire Sauce. Grandma used milk from the cows they milked and it had the cream in it. If I want this to taste just like Grandma's I use half and half.

Chipped Beef Gravy

4 tbsp. butter

1 pkg. dried chipped beef (dried beef in jar or package)

4 tbsp. flour

2 -1/2 c. milk

melt butter and break up dried beef and brown. Sprinkle with flour and brown a bit slowly add milk and simmer....serve over above waffles or toast

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I add 1/4 teaspoon poultry seasoning to this. I also like to cook 1/4 cup diced celery and 1/4 cup diced onions in the butter and than go from there. Chopped mushrooms are a nice addition and I always had a good dash of Pete's Hot Sauce.

Creamed Chicken

1/4 c. butter

1/4 c. flour

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

2 c. milk

2 c. cut up cooked chicken or turkey

melt butter and stir in flour....slowly add milk and than season.add cooked chicken and simmer until thick.....serve over waffles or toast.

Welcome to my Ramblings....

2008-01-17T17:35:00.000-08:00

MY GRANDMA

AUNT EMILY, the youngest of the 3 Aunties

Maybe I will tell you a bit about myself. My other blog called "Stitching in Atlanta" will show my love for stitching. This one I will use to tell you about me, my thoughts and my love for cooking. I am a proud grandma and so you might meet my precious grand kids.

I was raised in Lancaster County, Pa. I am adopted and was adopted by a Mennonite couple. We lived on a small farm. We raised chickens and we had up to 5000. We would raise them from peeps to laying hens. So I have cleaned my share of barns, tended the chicks and gathering and graded many a egg. In addition to that we had 3 acres of asparagus, a strawberry patch and large garden. We put up most of our food and so summer was a very busy time.

I attended Mennonite School all my 12 years. First at a school called Kraybill's Mennonite and than Lancaster Mennonite High School.

I am thankful for my Mennonite heritage. We had time to visit, to work together, worship together and enjoy nature. You see we had no TV to entertain us. We sang together, prayed together, played together and cried together. It was a strong foundation for me.

The folks that were my mentors were my grandma, my 3 "Aunties" that raised my dad and his brother and a wonderful school teacher I had from grades 1-4, Mrs Murphy. These 5 ladies showed me what strength and faith were all about and I still myself missing them. I am sure you will meet these in my posts.

I have 3 children. My 2 daughters are married. The oldest has 3 kids....Skyler, Adam and Will. They live 1-1/2 hours south west of Atlanta. The other has one precious child, Zoe who I keep several days a week. She is 2-1/2 and my pride and joy! Our son lives with his girlfriend and is struggling with life but doing better for which I praise the Lord.

I am limited to what I do. I have bad knees and one is fused and the other in bad shape. We were without insurance for several years when I should have had replacements. Now it is not an option because I have my 83 and 87 year old parents here at the complex where we live and they need help. There health is failing.

My precious husband is in maintenance and he works where we live.

I never have lived in the city like this and I do enjoy it. One great thing is a tank of gas will last for 4-6 weeks and with the price of gas that is a plus. We are on the top floor and so we do have a nice view of the courtyard and the high rises around us. It is pretty at night. But how I miss nature and being out. Our favorite place is Helen, Ga. Not the shops but the mountains and state parks. My husband loves to take pictures.

The picture on the header here is one he took in Florida. It is a special photo to me.

I hope you will enjoy reading my ramblings. I keep a Gratitude Journal and from time to time I will share that with you all to as well as favorite recipes.