Warmth

Oh, I think spring is my favorite time of the year! Sunday morning there was a surprise snow covering everything. But the rest of this week has been warm or warmer. 

I love the bird songs this time of year. And the spring peepers. The flies and mosquitoes aren't quite so welcome.

The daffodils are beginning to bloom.

The boys are doing their lessons outdoors.

The anemones are blooming.

Crocuses.

The boys had an extra brother a few days this week. Their cousin Mervin stayed here while the rest of his family went to Ohio. They worked together on everything. And slept outdoors even though there was frost on their pillows one night.

The boys enjoy cutting, splitting, hauling and stacking the wood we got recently. Hopefully they can get it off the grass before it kills it. You don't even have to ask them to do wood. Somehow they enjoy it more than other work.

We were nearly out of wood and kept wondering when this promised load would come. Now that it's here we don't need it. Well.... maybe we will yet. But we haven't needed a fire for a few days now. 

Song of Solomon 2:12
The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land

Hebrews 6:7
For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:

Sierra- a missionary

I met a girl last Saturday evening who is working in the city. She grew up with parents who were not Christians. She was saved as a young person and joined a Baptist church. She began to see the inconsistencies in the church she was a part of and eventually became part of an Anabaptist church.

Sierra took college training and began searching for a school to teach. For five years she searched. Often she was accepted until she appeared in person. Then suddenly she was told they had a replacement for her. She wondered if her plain clothing and head covering were the reasons she was rejected.

Now she is teaching (out of desperation) at a psychiatric ward. She teaches history, I believe. She has been attacked on occasion by the students, and has had to go to the hospital for treatment. Sierra believes some of the students are demon possessed, although they are there with medical names for their problems. One girl who is a Satanist came at her head recently and tried unsuccessfully to remove her head covering. (Don't try to tell me that a head covering for women is unimportant!)

This courageous lady works regular workday weeks- not school hours. So she puts in long days working with people who have committed crimes, etc. 

I asked Sierra if she has anyone praying for her while she's in there. She said she doesn't have anyone specifically. This post is written so that you might join in prayer for her as she ministers to these dear people. She says it's a real mission field in there but most people see her only as a "teacher". Maybe if she had the label of "missionary" someone would be praying for her!

Will you pray for Sierra?

In the comments, please let the world know which day you will commit to praying for her.

I will pray on Monday.

UYWR

Monday blues? Know anything about them? Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest. Or Saturday. God intended for us to be renewed one day a week. But if you are like me, that one day doesn't come. The Holy Sabbath has evolved over the last few generations until it has become "the weekend".

Hence we have the Monday blues. My day was spent resting today. I was so weary from my "weekend". It was a very encouraging weekend spiritually but very wearing physically. We along with two other couples and a number of the young people from our church attended the Urban Youth Workers Retreat in Orrstown, PA. It was held at the Roxbury Holiness Camp. 

Lee Mummau was the main speaker for the 4 sessions. One Friday evening, two on Saturday and one Sunday morning. He spoke into our relationships. His main thrust was that if we are out of touch with our message, which is reconciliation, how can we effectively bring that message to the world? What does out of touch mean?

If I cannot have good relationships with those I live with and work with in my church, then I don't know what reconciliation means in a practical way. And I have nothing to offer anyone else. 

So we received a lot of practical instruction about relationships.

Sunday morning Lee gave us a practical way to minister in our communities.

He said we should ask God to show us 15 houses where we can minister. Then set an evening aside and go knock on these doors. Introduce ourselves and ask if  there is anything they would like us to pray about for them. Consistently return to these houses and continually pray for them. They will learn to know and trust you and you will learn to know them and their needs. Such a simple, practical way to reach out.

We heard from Glen Weaver and his wife Joyce about Integrity in Relationships. Glen Hoover spoke to us about issues that face today's children. And Phil Beiler gave us a talk about cross-cultural relationships. 

Such an enriching time! It was also wonderful to meet many others who are in the same type of work we are -ministering to children in the city.

The theme for next year was announced- Teaching With Impact. I can hardly wait!

I was excited to meet some folks from Baltimore, MD. I had just read about the mission there this past week. 

Back home, Thomas and Austin hit the road early this morning and went to Gap Mills to fix water pipes in his Mom's house. Actually, she just sold it but the agreement was that the water would be inspected and any repairs made that were necessary. Unfortunately a number of pipes had burst within the house.

Thomas was able to work with the plumber to correct all that today and came home this evening around 8 pm. I am thankful he is safely back and that is done and off his mind!

A couple things from this weekend-

Impression without expression leaves depression.

What reason do the children have to listen to me?

Daybook Tuesday

Outside my window…
The world is wet. It’s been a gray day and it sounds like we’ll have more gray weather this week.

I am thinking…
...about how it would be to be a widow. Thomas is in Ohio for a job this week. I have to pick up the load here while he’s gone. BUT- I can still talk to him. I know he will probably come back. He’s not gone forever (Lord willing). What would I do without him?

I am thankful for…

...good health. I felt rotten several days. A head cold with sneezing, watery eyes, headaches, weariness, nose blowing. Sound miserable enough?

From the learning rooms…
The boys are practicing their cursive. AND! -Melvin has completed Level 6 of the Barton Reading and Spelling System. There are ten levels. Once he is through all of them he should be able to read and spell at high school level.

From the kitchen…
An elderly gentleman and his family has taken a liking to the zucchini bread I sell at the market. Since the market has stopped carrying the bread for a while he’s buying it directly from me. He says it’s the best zucchini bread he’s ever had. I told Thomas I didn’t know there was a difference in zucchini breads. He ordered ten loaves this week and also 10 loaves of banana bread!

I am wearing…
...a black dress that is like a sack on me.

I am creating…
...scrapbook pages with old pictures from friends and family.

I am going…
...nowhere fast.

I am reading…

...instructions and lesson plans in preparation for Kid’s Club next week. Heidi Eash and I are in charge of a group of lively 12-13 year old girls.

I am hearing…
...the clock ticking and the fridge running. It’s time to be in bed!

Around the house…
The boys are working with Grandma Schwartz to get seeds started. They are also helping Grandpa get the greenhouse ready for raising the plants in.

A flat of cabbage that has just been transplanted

Christopher working on transplanting broccoli

Matthew completing the task

One of my favorite things…
Warm weather. Saturday was a lovely day that gave a person spring fever.

A few plans for the rest of the week…
Saturday evening is our annual Sweetheart Supper for the church couples. The youth group serves that and we youth sponsors help plan and prepare the food. It is a little later than usual this year because we were missing young people who were away at Bible School.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing….

...thrift store finds. Oo-lah-lah.

Large stainless steel pans for $3@

Book rack -$2

12 large white napkins - $7

Two styles of napkin rings - 8 for $1.75

What did you do today?

Are you getting spring fever?

Any recent thrift store finds?

Religion?

What is religion?

I've been listening to a speaker recently who has nothing for religion. He grew up as a Mormon. I haven't been able to figure out what he believes about God.

I don't remember what he said that made me think, “Oh, you poor man! God is all about relationship, not religion.”

So many of us grow up in religion and miss relationship. Read the following definitions of religion.

1. the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.
2. a particular system of faith and worship.
3. a pursuit or interest to which someone ascribes supreme importance. (From a Google search of “what is religion?”)

Studyreligion.org says, Because it crosses so many different boundaries in human experience, religion is notoriously difficult to define.

Did you see anything in any of these definitions about relationship?

So while I don't know exactly what religion is, I tend to think it's a tactic of our enemy to keep us from a relationship with Jehovah. That has been his plan from the beginning. God had a relationship with Adam and Eve that I envy.

Along came Satan and tempted them to disobey. The relationship was destroyed.

But God wasn't caught broadside by this act. He knew it was going to happen and he had a plan in place. Jesus.

Jesus was in on the plan and was willing to be that means of getting the relationship back intact.

He came down to human level to try this thing over again. He suffered every temptation you will ever face and got the victory over it.

How did he manage that?

By a relationship with his heavenly Father. And that is the only way we can be victorious in this life.

Not by any religion. But by a relationship.

Jesus showed us that it was possible to have this relationship in spite of the enemy's efforts to destroy it and then he shed his pure blood to appease the wrath of God for my sin.

What ways do you think of that the enemy's tactics keep you from a relationship with your heavenly Father? Do you not find that Jesus faced it as well?

Temptation to disobey God's commands/will. It was the Father's will that Jesus died.

Temptation to say, I'm too busy. Jesus spent the night in prayer following and preceding busy days with people.

Temptation to feel all alone. Jesus’ closest friends left him in his hour of need.

Temptation to feel it's not worth it. Jesus’ physical strength could not have stood up to his schedule or tortures if he had to do it in his own strength.

What is your unique temptation? Is your relationship with your heavenly Father strong enough to carry you over, under or through if?

What incredible strength Jesus had! To face certain death with calmness, false accusations with silence and find that relationship with his Father severed in his death because of my sin - not his. He was indeed a perfect Lamb to take away the sin of the world.

His strength came from his relationship with God the Father. He was obedient and God helped him to do what He asked of him.

Disobedience severed the relationship for the first Adam. Obedience kept the relationship intact for the second Adam. And now your and my relationship can be restored.

Jesus promised that His spirit would live within us when we believe. The enviable relationship God had with Adam and Eve is surpassed by the relationship He will have with us.

Does this not thrill you?

Do you follow a religion?

Or do you live in a relationship?

Simple Yogurt Recipe

No, that is not an oxymoron. 

How do the words "homemade yogurt" make you feel? Terrified? Confident? There are so many rules to making yogurt that it leaves one feeling helpless.

We get the thermometer, the yogurt maker or dehydrator and anything else we think is a necessity. We are sure to sterilize all the utensils. We get the raw milk from the dairy. Or we buy milk from the grocery store.

We are all set up. On pins and needles. Watching every step. Getting the temperatures exact at every stage. And then all we get is some watery sour stuff.

Fear no more!

Yogurt making is far less daunting than all that. I had a good friend tell me how to make it very simply. No thermometer needed. No incubator. Just common household things.

Let me explain it to you.

I use a gallon of raw milk from the family milk cow but I feel quite sure you could use store bought milk. I can't guarantee the results though because I haven't tried that in ages. Try it and if it fails, see if you can find raw milk somewhere. 

I like to use milk that is a couple days old. It seems to work better. After all, in the old days yogurt was mostly just clabbered milk. More sour than what I make.

First of all, dip the cream off of the milk. It will only turn into a hard sticky mass on top of the finished product. Save the cream to put in your morning cup of healthy coffee. 

There is obviously not a full gallon of milk in the photos but I do use a whole gallon minus the cream. I used from a couple jars today.

Next heat the skimmed milk over medium high heat until it just about boils. It will get a bit of skin on top. I set my timer for 15 minutes and it is usually done by then. If it boils over, it doesn't matter -except for the dirty stove and the extra work of clean-up. In other words it won't hurt the yogurt if the milk boils. It happens to me quite often. Like when I end up in another part of the house and can't hear the timer. (I am a highly distractible person!)

Put a lid on the kettle while heating the milk. Once it is heated, leave the lid on and set it aside to cool. It should cool down to a temperature just the right warmth for a baby's bath.I just feel the outside of the kettle (but not when it's so hot that it burns). Now if you've never bathed a baby, that temperature should be just pleasantly warm to your elbow. I don't think you'll want to stick your elbow in the milk though. So if you've never bathed a baby... well, I don't know what to do for you! 

But back to this yogurt making. If you by chance allow the milk to cool too long- out of sight, out of mind, you know- no worries! Either reheat the milk just slightly or just wait for further instructions. And maybe you'll do like I do sometimes and reheat it too long. ( I told you I get distracted.) Just let it cool once again.

Now that it has cooled down it is time to skim it again. Take the skin off the top and discard it. Again no need for perfection. Just get the worst off.

With a skin

Skin has been removed

Now add a cup (or more) of store bought yogurt. I prefer Dannon but anything will work. I usually use plain yogurt but once again any flavor will do. I used vanilla flavored this time because I found a quart at a discount store for $0.99. The finished product will have a faint flavor of whatever flavor you added.

Whisk the yogurt into the milk really well. If you don't want to whisk the whole works with vigor then just put a bit of milk into a bowl with the yogurt, whisk that smooth and then add it to the kettle of milk. If you want sweetened yogurt now is the time to add 3/4 cup of sugar. Add vanilla now too if you wish.

Pour this mixture into a clean gallon jar. (The absence of the cream will make space for the yogurt starter.)

Now you want to keep your milk/yogurt mixture at the-temperature-you-would-bathe-your-baby-in for 4-6 hours. I use an Igloo. You may use any type of thermal container or an oven with a pilot light. (Are these to be found anywhere?) Put water of the correct temperature (the-temperature-you-would-bathe-your-baby-in) in with the jar of milk. If the milk is a bit too warm, make the water cooler. If it has cooled off too much, make the water warmer.

I like to cover it well with water. It depends what size thermos you use. A 5 gallon jug wouldn't need as much water. Just up to the top of the yogurt. And if using a kettle you may wish to use quart jars to keep the mixture at an even heat. Put the lid on and leave it for awhile.

I like to start the process about mid morning. The milk is cooled off by late afternoon, I add the starter and leave it in the thermos until early or mid morning the next day. I may even leave it until noon.

And here's the finished product-

You may notice a slightly yellowish look toward the top of the jar. That is whey. I usually pour or dip off any whey that is setting on top.

The finished texture is semi-solid. Nice to dip out. Not stretchy. The photo shows fresh, warm yogurt. It usually gets even more firm once it is refrigerator cold. I dipped some out to put in the freezer to cool for breakfast.

This recipe can be pared down to any size you want. For a quart of yogurt, use 1/4 cup of starter. And use your common sense on all the other details.

Ready to try your hand at it? 

Any questions? Please ask!

Any suggestions? Please tell.

Taffy Pull

Friday evening we gathered with the young people at Wanda Eash's house. We had a bit of difficulty getting there because of snowy roads. It hadn't snowed just a whole lot but because of the cold it all stuck. The van spun up the hill and onto the paved road but then it spun even more, so we turned around, came home and piled into the truck.

Traffic was slow. We stopped at the gas station on the way over and one fellow there said he had seen some wrecks on his way in from Winchester on Route 50. We arrived at our destination without incident. These guys of mine are all in awe when the vehicle "drifts" -while my heart lurches and I try to keep it all inside, knowing I am majorly in the minority.

Wanda and Martha Wengerd had taffy cooked and ready to pull once we got there. I think this was only the second time in my life that I pulled taffy. With 20/20 hindsight I wish I would have just watched. It was interesting to watch but kinda much hard work to pull. I guess I'm lazy. Thomas' and my taffy just didn't want to go like it should. I think we finally got the hang of it a little.

I got curious about taffy and wondered whoever figured out how to do that. The Bulk Candy Store blog has an interesting write-up about it. Machines do the pulling nowadays. Someone made the remark the other evening, "Imagine what the health department would say if they saw what we are doing." We sure get our hands all over the stuff. At least it isn't for public distribution.

A few photos from the evening...

Sisters

Brothers

7th grade student with 1st grade teacher
(while big cousin of student supervises)

Youth girls

The finished packaged product

The little boys found treasure, I got a sweet smile from a little girl, the men visit while the ladies set out a snack

Clockwise from top left- Vegetable Pizza, Taco chip dip, Fruit, Rice Crispy Chocolate Pinwheels

Have you ever pulled taffy?

Did it give you blistered hands?