Thursday, May 2, 2013
Home
We are blessed! Adam has been called to be the associate pastor at St John Lutheran Church. We will be near family, which we are especially thrilled to hear. During the call service, both of Isaac's grandmas had tissues to catch their tears of joy! This church is large, has a school and we already feel utterly and completely welcomed. The moving process and house plans are underway and we are thrilled to be getting the ball rolling towards this new chapter!
Thanks be to God!
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Today is THE DAY
Adam and I began this journey in August 2005 when he began the pre-sem program. Now here we are, years later, excitedly awaiting to hear where we will be moving to, who our new flock and church family will be, and where we will be calling "home."
"Each day I long for home,
long for the sight of home."
- The Odyssey
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Muffins for Toddlers
- Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease 24 mini muffin cups or 12 standard muffin cups.
- In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar until smooth. Mix in the mashed bananas, squash, carrots, and eggs. Stir in the flour, oat bran, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, and salt until just combined. Spoon the batter equally into the prepared muffin cups.
- Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack. Store at room temperature for up to two days, or freeze.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Countdown Corner
Monday, April 8, 2013
Because I've Been Asked...
1 can corn (drained) or frozen - optional
1 can black beans (drained and rinsed) - optional
(To stretch this meal, add the corn and black beans.)
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Greek Yogurt Revisited
My mom gave me the following "word of mouth" recipe:
This recipe worked great! I know it's hard not to, but don't "peek" on the yogurt. Thinking about how the milk is turning into yogurt is neat, but if you lift the lid the heat will escape and may negatively affect the outcome of your yogurt. Because of how long this process takes, I've found that starting this recipe at 2 or 3 in the afternoon works best for our schedule. For me, this recipe seems to be easier/more fool-proof than the previous one I posted.
Speaking of the previous post, I haven't yet tried the "Indian Street Beverage of My Dreams".... Cardamon is the magic ingredient for that special recipe and it is nearly $13 at the grocery store. I just couldn't put it in my cart. I couldn't even touch it, actually. Maybe someday I'll be able to try this drink or find a smaller portion of cardamom somewhere. In the meantime, I need to find something to do with all of this whey!
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
For Guidance in Our Calling
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Clump of Grass
Last night's was that instead of being told where we were going, we were given a clump of grass (dirt still attached). This particular grass was indigenous to a certain region. That was our clue and we had to figure it out from there.
Friday, March 22, 2013
You know you're in seminary when...
(This post is a compilation of sentiments from our own experience as well as others' experiences.)
...your DVD collection suddenly becomes netflix. You told your boxes of movies "toodles" a couple moves ago.
...your CDs have also joined the DVDs in storage and Pandora is your new source of music. (I mean, after so many moves, may as well operate in "camping mode".)
However, despite downsizing the DVDs and CDs, half the moving trailer is filled with boxes of books. Theology books. Lots of them.
...you can cook Brakebush chicken five billion different ways. Yes, five billion different ways.
...until corrected, thought "gemutlechkeit" meant "beer and theology". (It actually means "friendliness". Similar. Kinda.)
...Pinterest boards become your collection of recipes. Goodbye, heavy cookbooks. I don't want to move you one, two, three FOUR times.
...you really really really want to reorganize all of the closets in the house. But...you'll be moving in just a few months, so why bother.
...you've heard the saying "you can do anything for a year".
...there's this awesome local deal on furniture. But...you have no idea what kind of home you'll be moving into next year, so it's a no go.
...you know what time Applebee's closes on Tuesday nights.
...you have countdowns. Multiple ones. One for vicarage assignment day, moving day, call day, moving day...and the baby's due date.
...you pay the large month to month renting fee in the summer as you gear up for the move to vicarage or call.
...Tuesday is grocery shopping day...beginning at 6:30 a.m. because the hubby leaves for class at 7:30 a.m. and the food co op closes before he gets home from class and work.
...a precious new baby is born nearly every week within the seminary community.
...you've got at least one vehicle that needs to begin its funeral plans.
...you long for "home".
...you know which moving boxes you like best. Lowe's or Home Depot? (Lowe's. They have handles.) Or boxes from behind the local grocery store.
...March and April suddenly become the longest months in the whole year.
...you know what "Zap, North Dakota" means.
...you get extremely frustrated when you can't find the end of the packing tape roll. (You know what I'm talking about. This is when you go to the store and buy not one, but two tape dispensers to save your sanity.)
...you've spent hours comparing moving truck rates between four different companies for the best deal. This comparing adventure includes any other discounts the companies may offer including AAA, clergy, Lutheran and student.
...you've had eight different jobs over a course of only four years, simply trying to provide for your family.
...getting a pet is something your family would like to do, but you don't know if vicarage housing would allow pets.
...you have a pet, but your vicarage housing doesn't allow animals. Sad goodbyes.
...you can list the top four popular apartment complexes for seminary families.
...you can list, by memory, all the staffing agencies in Fort Wayne.
...you learn that fog delays do indeed exist.
...you visit the seminary campus on a snowy day. It is breathtakingly beautiful and peaceful. A sight you will always remember.
...you received a much needed check at precisely the right time for the exact needed amount from a generous church. And then, on your knees, you cry tears out of thankfulness and awe of the Lord's providence.
...something that has been on your wish list suddenly shows up at the co op. And then you cry again.
...you've met wonderful friends that become more than that. They become cherished members of the family.
...you experience trials and tears...but the seminary community is there supporting, encouraging and praying for you.
Monday, March 18, 2013
Greek Yogurt
As you know, Greek yogurt is not cheap. After some persuasion, I (Sarah), finally took the plunge and made our own Greek yogurt. I was nervous because, well, making yogurt is somehow different than baking a cake. I was afraid of somehow making it bacteria ridden and killing someone. However, I had some a couple days ago and am still alive! Making this yogurt is pretty easy and as long as you have some milk, a cheese cloth, a crock pot and a cup of Greek yogurt, you can make it too!
Eating from the Ground Up has a fabulous recipe for Greek yogurt. She describes each step so well and it is easy to follow. Hop on over and find her recipe here. (To the friends at seminary: the food co op always has milk. Free Greek yogurt, anyone?)
4 green onions, chopped
1 T minced garlic
8 oz frozen chopped (1/2 of l lb package)
1/2 t salt
1/2 t fresh lemon zest
2 t fresh lemon juice
1 c Greek yogurt
1/4-1/2 c finely crumbled feta cheese
2 t dried dill
freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Microwave frozen spinach, onion, green onions until onions are limp. Drain. Pulse in food processor until pureed. Add remaining ingredients. Pulse once more.
- 3. Box of brownie mix. (You can use any brownie mix of your choice. Usually, I buy the reduced fat brands)
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Spinach!
However, I found the following recipes!
Another great spinach recipe is this green smoothie. The blogger says it is a great smoothie for during pregnancy, but this healthy smoothie would be great for anyone - pregnant or not. :-) (And no, I am not pregnant!)
Ingredients:
*Blender
*Crushed ice
*Water/{Orange} juice
*Spinach
*{Mixed} frozen fruit
*Banana
Pop these in the blender and voila! I usually add 1/2 a cup of Greek yogurt for the protein as well as some milk or soy milk. I know it may sound weird to add spinach to a smoothie, but you can seriously hardly taste it!
In light of the new year and the popular resolution of getting healthier, we have been using these recipes quite often and enjoying them quite a bit.
Monday, January 14, 2013
Wait - Where am I?
I've asked myself that a few times lately. For example, I'm in Wal-mart and try to find pretzels. I push my squeaky cart to where I think they'll be...and they're not there. Ohh, that's right. The pretzels are in this area at the other Wal-mart.
Or I'm in Barnes and Noble, turn and walk towards the cafe and expect the bathrooms to be to the right. Nope. Not at this Barnes and Noble - I was confused with a different Barnes and Noble...one in a different state.
Or ponder the idea of visiting the local animal shelter to browse at kitties, I'll just pop on over there after going to Target, because the shelter is just down the road from Target. No, that's in a different city than Fort Wayne. Not here.
Driving down a main road in town I look to my left and recognize a friend. I get excited...but then realize that she is from Chicagoland. She doesn't live here. It's not her. It just looks like her.
When we got home from Christmas vacation I forgot how to operate our bathtub faucet.
Moving every year for the past several years gets confusing.
Maybe someday...someday I'll remember what is where and who lives where.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Slow Cooker Recipes
Ingredients:
2 medium uncooked carrot(s), peeled, cut into large chunks
2 rib(s) (medium) uncooked celery, cut into large chunks
1 medium uncooked onion(s), cut into large chunks
2 clove(s) (medium) garlic clove(s), minced
2 cup(s) dry lentils, picked over
3 leaf/leaves bay leaf
1/2 tsp dried thyme, crushed
1/2 tsp table salt, or to taste
1/4 tsp black pepper, or to taste
8 cup(s) canned chicken broth
4 oz uncooked Canadian-style bacon, diced (4 or 5 slices)
Instructions:
Place ingredients in a 4- to 5-quart slow cooker in the following order: carrots, celery, onion, garlic, lentils, bay leaves, thyme, salt, pepper and broth. Cover slow cooker; cook on low setting for 6 hours. Uncover, stir in bacon and heat for 30 minutes more; remove bay leaves. Yields about 1 1/2 cups per serving.
Notes:
To thicken soup, remove 1 cup of cooked lentils and puree in food processor; stir back into soup.
For a lighter flavor, replace 4 cups of chicken broth with 4 cups of water.
This soup was quite delish! The fact that it is inexpensive is definitely a plus. (Beans are a daily staple around here.) Another great thing about this recipe, other than it being inexpensive and easy, is that almost all of these ingredients can be found at the seminary food co op!
This recipe was easy, too (do you see a theme? ;-)). It filled our home with a mouth watering aroma of barbeque! This Texan loves that smell. Recipegirl.com is a fun website to click through and easy to navigate. Her delicious recipe is as follows:
Ingredients:
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup barbecue sauce (a flavor you like)
1/3 cup Italian dressing (reduced-fat or fat-free okay)
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons chicken broth
additional barbecue sauce, if desired
rolls, for serving as sandwiches
bread and butter pickles, optional
Directions:
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Back to Normal
My (Sarah's) kitty, Inkin, began to not feel so well a couple months ago. Her health began to rapidly decline during break. I've had her since I was 9 years old and she was 10 weeks old. However, her time with us came to an end. She now rests peacefully. I'm sad about her passing, but the timing couldn't have been better. Her passing away while we visited my parents' home was best, because she is now resting there instead of us wondering what to do if she passed away while here in Fort Wayne. We wouldn't have wanted to bury her here at our rental home. It was an odd feeling coming back home to Fort Wayne after the Christmas travels and seeing her food and water bowls waiting for her.
On a brighter note, Isaac's Auntie Laura took some fabulous photos of him. She is quite the talented photographer and captured some really lovely moments: