Cynthia L. Herzog 
It’s Tuesday night and I’m sitting here writing by the table. I hear the wind blowing outside. The temperature is 40 degrees, but the wind chill makes it feel colder than that. We are so ready for warmer temperatures, and April being here in a few days makes us yearn for warmer days. According to the forecast, snow will arrive again this week. It’s good that God controls time, and we have to accept what we are given. I enjoy all four seasons of the year here in southern Michigan.
My husband Joe and my sons built raised beds for our only garden. They also take orders to sell any size which keeps them busy on some nights.
Today I’ve been away most of the day on dates so I haven’t done anything here at home.
Last week I sewed several dresses and shirts. Some were for a friend so I’m glad I filled that order. I have several more cut out shirts to sew, hopefully again this week. His daughter Susan had a shirt cut out for Mose before he died. She gave it to me to sew, and it fits her son Benjamin, so she gave it to him. Sewing Mose’s shirt made me think how much we still miss him. Gone, but never forgotten. Life goes on and although we miss him very much, we know he will not return. God doesn’t make mistakes, so we trust He has a plan. Susan is so successful in raising her children and taking care of everything in her home.
On Sunday, we were just going to be home for the day, except Joseph and Lovina had planned to go with their special friends to church. I invited our family, Sister Emma and her family, and Sister Verena to come over for lunch (dinner, as we call it). His daughter Elizabeth, Tim and his family could not come, because his parents, his sister and his family were going for the day. Emma’s daughters and families couldn’t come either, because they were going to church at a co-worker’s house.
Those who came were sister Verena, sister Emma and sons Jacob, Benjamin and Steven, Benjamin’s special friend Crystal and her son Isaiah, daughter Loretta and Dustin, daughter Susan and children Jennifer and Ryan, and daughter Verena.
Our menu included mashed potatoes, gravy, peas, buttered beets, meatloaf, cheese, hot peppers, chocolate, vanilla and pecan pies, minister (see below), cookies and ice cream.
The afternoon was devoted to visits and games. The Cover Your Assets game was the main game played. Before everyone went home, I reheated some of the leftovers and made some snacks to eat.
Sister Verena returned home with her daughters Susan and Verena and spent a few days there.
Joe regrets that Jacob is not there to visit him. It’s not easy for sister Emma to go home without her beloved husband. Don’t forget to visit and keep in touch with these lonely widows if you are family. They are so often forgotten after time. They didn’t choose to be alone and would be so happy if their lives returned to normal. Again, we have to put it in God’s hands, because he makes no mistakes!
I’m going to share the recipe for Minister’s Delight, which Sister Verena made for Sunday dinner. God protects you!
The Minister’s Pleasure
1 homemade pint or 21 ounces cherry or apple pie filling
1 package yellow cake mix
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup chopped walnuts, optional
Place pie filling in a 9 x 13 inch cake pan. Combine cake mix and butter (mixture will be crumbly) and sprinkle over filling. Garnish with nuts if desired. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes.
Lovina’s Amish Kitchen is written by Lovina Eicher, Old Order Amish writer, cook, wife, and mother of eight. Her latest cookbook, Amish Family Recipes, is available wherever books are sold. Readers may write to Eicher at PO Box 1689, South Holland, IL 60473 (include a self-addressed, postage-paid envelope for a reply); or email [email protected] and your message will be forwarded to them for reading. She does not personally respond to emails.
