First of all, happy 30th birthday to my son-in-law Dustin! Today, October 8th, is his birthday. I hope he continues to be happy and healthy.
Dustin and Loretta live across the street from us and he has been a great help to us when we need things done around here. I also love having my two young sons nearby. They are growing so fast! Byron, 1, tries to imitate everything his older brother Denzel, 2, does.
Yesterday afternoon, two little boys came out with me to pick up some laundry. To entertain them, I threw the clothespins on the ground and they put them in the clothespin bag. They were proud of being able to “help” Grandma.
Irvin and Susan brought their three youngest sons (Ryan, 5, Curtis, 5, and Irvin Jr., 11 months) with them yesterday while taking 8-year-old Caitlin to the dentist. Irvin Jr. is growing very quickly and I’m happy to be here. He is holding on to furniture as he walks, but is not walking on his own yet.
Susan will bring them again this morning. She has had some kidney stones and is already in a lot of pain. She has plans to go to the doctor this morning. I really hope they do something for her so she can be free of the pain.
I told her to bring the laundry and I would do it for her. She has her hands full caring for six children under the age of eight. However, she is in good spirits and enjoys being a mother to all her children.
My daughters Elizabeth, Loretta, and Lovina are also scheduled to come today. We always enjoy spending the day together. I told Sister Verena that she could also join.
The temperature at 6 a.m. was 41 degrees, a cold morning that made me think frost was coming soon. It will be nice to finish this year’s gardening and mowing.
Last Thursday we attended the wedding of our nephews Andrew and Diane. They had a wonderful wedding and had such a wonderful day.
It was great to meet the rest of the family and get to spend the day with them. We were served two very delicious meals, and each time all of us, our siblings and spouses, sat down to eat together.
I definitely miss the people who are no longer here. May they rest in peace. They are gone, but they will never be forgotten.
Today, sisters Liz and Levi are holding a public auction to sell the property they have lived in for 32 years since their marriage. This will be a change for them, but I’m sure they will enjoy their new home. They bought land in a community 45 minutes from here, so it’s closer than 2 hours from where we live now. Levi’s daughters and their families have also moved to the same community and become closer to his son, Levi Jr.
I wish them God’s blessings on this new adventure in life.
Sunday communion was held in the church that used to be the other half of our church district. This was the first service since the split. Daughter Elizabeth, Tim and family, daughter Susan, Irvin and family, daughters Lovina and Danielle all attend church and this is now their district.
They appointed a new pastor at the church after communion on Sunday. Joe and I attended the ordination ceremony.
We took Stormy (a 24 year old pony) and her pony buggy. Granddaughters Abigail, 8, and Alison, 4, and grandson Ryan, 5, spent the day here and even went to the ordination ceremony so they could go home with their parents. Ta. Ryan had a toothache and Abigail had a headache, so they decided to come here while their parents and siblings attended communion.
I’m glad they’re here. Everyone else was asleep, so I played a game called Quick Cup with them. The object of the game is to match the color of the cup with the color of the card. It was a meaningful time for me. Grandchildren are very precious. They are so innocent even at this age and I love spending time with them.
Ryan found a toy that Joe had brought to church after his father, Mose, passed away about four years ago. “Grandma, this is the toy we used to play with in church when we were sitting with Grandpa after Papa Mose died,” he said. It’s very moving!
God bless you all. My prayers are with all the victims of the hurricane. May God be with you!
cinnamon apple crisp
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup softened butter
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
4 cups sliced apples
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup water
Preheat oven to 350°F and lightly grease an 8 x 8 inch baking dish. In a mixing bowl, add sugar, butter, and flour and mix until smooth. Arrange the apple slices evenly in the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle cinnamon over the apples and pour water evenly over the top. Spread the crumb mixture evenly over the apples, completely covering the apples. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown on top and apples are tender.
Lovina’s Amish Kitchen is written by Lovina Eicher, an Old Order Amish author, cook, wife, and mother of eight children. Her three cookbooks, The Cherished Table, The Essential Amish Cookbook, and Amish Family Recipes, are available wherever books are sold. Readers may write to Eicher at Lovina’s Amish Kitchen, PO Box 234, Sturgis, MI 49091 (please include a stamped, self-addressed envelope for return). Or email LovinasAmishKitchen@MennoMedia.org and your message will be passed to her to read. She does not respond to emails personally.
