It's a foggy Tuesday morning and my daughters Elizabeth and Susan are coming for a day trip. They're coming by horse and buggy and I hope they'll make it safely through the fog. My daughter Loretta is also coming for a day trip. My daughter Verena went to her house across the road this morning and stayed with her until she and the little boys woke up.
I also went to bed at 3 a.m. so my head is fuzzy but my heart is much lighter. Brother Albert was admitted to hospital yesterday and last night the doctor called the family to come in as he thought he would not survive the night.
Joe and I went to the hospital with our sisters Verena and Emma to be at Albert's bedside. His caring and loving wife Sarah Eileen was there, along with his 10 children and their spouses. Sisters Leah, Paul, Paul Jr., sisters Liz and Levi, sister-in-law Nancy and their sons Sam and Katie Ann were there too. Albert and Sarah Eileen's sons Joseph and Amanda arrived 45 minutes after we left home. They live in Wisconsin, so they drove 8 hours to get to the hospital. So all 11 of Albert's children were gathered at his bedside.
Albert has been with us for a while but he has been very tired and has been sleeping a lot. I called the hospital this morning and spoke to Albert and Sarah Irene. Sarah Irene said that Albert has slept really well and is feeling better than he has felt in a long time. How we hope for a miracle but we leave it in God's hands. He knows the future so let us trust in His will.
Albert asked me and Joe about our daughter Lovina and Daniel's wedding and wished we could help. He was asleep when we left the hospital. The kids were singing to him and he seemed very peaceful. Thank you all for your prayers. Please keep them in your prayers.
Joe's sister, Ruth, is also coming over today to help clean up after the upcoming wedding, and she said she'll bring lunch, which will be a real help to me.
Tonight we will be attending the kindergarten graduation of our grandchildren, Jennifer (age 6) and Isaiah (age 6) (Ervin and Susan's children).
On Saturday the whole family came to help out, including a birthday cake made by their daughter Lovina for their grandson Isaiah.
That day (May 18th) was Lovina's 20th birthday, and her fiancé Daniel baked and decorated a cake for her as a surprise gift.
On Saturday evening, Joe and I drove with Dustin and Loretta to Susan and Irvin's house. Tim and Elizabeth were there too, and we sat around the campfire and grilled hot dogs and other things. It was a nice way to relax after a hard day's work. Dustin, Joe and I stayed the night at Irvin's house. The next morning, Irvin and Susan cooked us a delicious breakfast before we went home. It had sausage, bacon, fried eggs, scrambled eggs, pancakes and cheese.
Curtis, who was 5 years old, slept in the same bedroom as Joe and I, who slept in separate beds. In the middle of the night, Curtis started crying, so Joe brought him into our bed. The next morning, Curtis woke up with a smile on his face and said, “I got to sleep with Grandma and Grandpa.” Spending time with these beautiful children is so precious. So precious.
Gotta keep busy…God bless!
Berry Cake2 1/2 cups flour, 1 pinch salt, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/2 cup butter (softened), 1 cup sugar, 2 eggs (beaten), 1 cup milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1 pint fresh berries (dusted). Whisk the flour, salt, and baking powder in a bowl and set aside. In a large bowl, whisk the butter and sugar, then add the eggs, milk, and vanilla and mix until just combined. Gently fold in the flour mixture and fold in the berries. Pour into a greased 9 x 13 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Lovina's Amish Kitchen is written by Lovina Eicher, an Old Order Amish author, cook, wife, and mother of eight. Her two cookbooks, The Essential Amish Cookbook and Amish Family Recipes, are available wherever books are sold. Readers can send a letter to Eicher at Lovina's Amish Kitchen, PO Box 234, Sturgis, MI 49091 (please include a stamped self-addressed envelope for return mail) or email her at LovinasAmishKitchen@MennoMedia.org. Your message will be passed on to Eicher and she will read it. She does not respond personally to emails.
