EVE 2012

Kristi writes:

Teaching. Singing. Eating. Laughing.  There was lots of that happening at EVE 2012.  I can say with 100% certainty that it was a joy to spend time with these lovely ladies.  We were fed spiritually by Pastor’s presentation.  We confessed the Lutheran faith in word and song.

The camaraderie is unmatched by any other gathering.  I think that’s what makes this group so special to me.  I know that this group of women understands the isolation, the pressure, the compassion, and the unique joys that a pastor’s wife encounters day after day after day.  So thank you, ladies, for making my highlight reel for 2012.  I hope to see you again next year.  (Well, hopefully before that.)

Kristi

He is the Vine - From BethAnn

BethAnn writes:

I was doing some gardening and landscaping today in my backyard. And we have some wild vines growing from the field located to the east. I guess I have never paid that much attention to the vine and how it grows. The vine is first and very strong! The branches are more flexible and not as strong. So when I was untangling this wild vine off my east fence the bible verse:

 I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 

All of the sudden a light bulb went off, which made that above verse make sense. Then another thing came to mind which made me think of how much God loves me is that the vine grows first, reaches out to the surroundings, then the branches grow. Just like Jesus first, he reaches to us, then we grow in HIS word. WOW!

Rest

Kristi writes:

Is it the weekend yet?  After a busy week of cooking, cleaning, teaching, playing, and more, I’m tired.  I’ve replied to emails; I’ve “liked” pictures and posts on social networks; I’ve answered phone calls.  It’s time to slow down and relax.  When I rest, my mind and body aren’t actively doing anything.  I’m recharging and refreshing.  I’m resting.

For some of us, it’s been the daily grind of keeping up with the pile of Mt. Washmore, keeping up with hubby’s schedule, shuttling the children from one activity to the next, and keeping up with the other work requirements.  It gets tiring.  I get tired simply listing all of the things that women do.

When having difficulties trying to conceive a child, I met with my doctor several times to discuss what could be done.  For a while, there were some daily measurements, some things to mark on the calendar, and some anxious waiting.  It was stressful.  Were the numbers reading correctly?  Was the test administered properly?  There was anxious anticipation while waiting for test results.  Undesirable answers were met with dejected emotions.  When all morally acceptable possibilities had been exhausted, it was time to be done.  I was tired of all the directions and requirements.  I was worn out.  It was time to rest.

The Word of God provides the best rest.  I need nothing more.  In the Holy Word, I hear of my sin and my need for a Savior.  In Holy Baptism, I am made God’s child.  In the Holy Absolution, I am pardoned of all sin.  The body and blood of Christ are given to me for my cleansing.  Nothing is required on my part to make these things come true.  I am simply the recipient.

So get thee hence to church.  There you’ll be recharged and refreshed by the Lord.

That’s true rest.

Easter Eggs the Natural Way Conclusion - from Kathy

Well, finally, the last of the Easter Egg Saga.   The colors took all morning and into the afternoon to set on the eggs.  Some took better than others.  I even had some that the color washed off.  Notice below...these were all in the grape juice, so the outside was sticky...so I washed it...notice the 2 on the right.  That is what happened.  Will have to find another way to make purple.  It didn't even look purple, but the before washing color was pretty.

These are a sampling of the eggs we made.  The orange and yellow turned out lovely.  (probably my favorites).  The blue wasn't too bad..but not very dark...and sort of gray looking.  The pink is nice.  The green, well, you heard that story in the previous post.   So, will we do this next year?  Yes.  But I will do some more researching to come up with some better options.   All in all, they will taste good no matter what color the outside is, right??

Easter Eggs Part 2 - from Kathy

Notice that there is one jar missing from the previous line up of jars.  Let me just say, the green one fell to it's demise.  I was told to put 1 Tbsp of vinegar into each jar so the color would stay on the egg better.  Well, I did that and when I put it in the green jar...it quickly turned UGLY...like murky sea water...really GROSS!!!  I found out, after a little research that the vinegar killed the chlorophyll, thus turning my green brown.  A lesson learned for next year.   So now we have 6 colors.

and the eggs are soaking. 

The ones in the blue (almost straight grape juice) are floating...I think it's because of the sugar.  They didn't float when I boiled them...so I don't think they are rotten.  

To be continued....

Easter Eggs, the natural way from Kathy - Part 1

Kathy is coloring her Easter eggs using the "natural" method this year. She's letting us watch the process and providing updates as she can!

Kathy writes:

This year, the Feusse's decided to color Easter Eggs using all natural products.  So, you can tell from the picture, I am going to use Tumeric (yellow)  I could have used Cumin too, but choose Tumeric.  The grape juice concentrate with very little water added is supposed to be blue, with more water added, purple.  Spinach obviously will be green, beets hopefully will be pink, cherries will be red...and the most interesting one was yellow onion skins made orange.  Now, I am using words like "hopefully" and "supposed to" because the red, pink, blue and purple all look the same to me...so I am hoping that they will be different on the eggs tomorrow.  I will let you know how it turns out.

The onion skins pre-cooking

the beets

the cherries

we eat range free, brown eggs...so I hope the color will be dark enough to show up over the brown egg.

the spinach after being cooked completely down.

straining what I thought was grape "gunk" for lack of a better word...which actually need up being sugar...ick!!

from left to right: green, yellow, orange, pink, red, blue and purple (see the last 4 do look a like)

 Hoping for 7 colors, not 4.

Resurrection Rolls - From Kristi

Kristi writes:


In preparation for Easter, here’s a tasty treat to try with your children (or your husband).

Resurrection Rolls

1 tube of crescent roll dough
1/2 cup (or less) melted butter
Large marshmallows
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
 
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Give each child a triangle of dough - representing the cloth in which Jesus was wrapped
Give each child a marshmallow - representing Jesus' purity
Have each child dip the marshmallow in melted butter - representing the oils of embalming
Then have them dip the butter marshmallow into the sugar/cinnamon mixture - representing the spices used to anoint the body of Jesus
Wrap the coated marshmallow tightly in the crescent dough (bring up the sides and seal the marshmallow inside) - representing the wrapping of Jesus' body after His death


Place in preheated oven for 10 minutes - representing the tomb, pretending like it was 3 days!!!

When the rolls are cooled slightly, the children can open their rolls and discover that the marshmallow is gone - representing the empty cloth and tomb.  JESUS is RISEN!


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