Today is already the last day of April. Four months have already passed in 2024. Where does time go? A week passes by in the blink of an eye.
Today my husband Joe is scheduled to see the doctor who operated on him last week. Joe got a toothpick-sized splinter in her hand while she was at work, so she took a week off from her job. She went to the hospital after the accident, but X-rays failed to find anything. Joe was in so much pain in her hand that it continued to swell, so she took several days off from her job and stayed home. She said Joe usually doesn't complain much when he gets splinters, but this time she was in a lot of pain.
He went to the hospital again on Thursday morning. I thought he would be back soon, but he was admitted to the hospital and prepared for surgery. He had a severe infection in his hand from the shrapnel. I went to the hospital to attend his surgery and stayed with him overnight. We returned home late Friday afternoon. Doctors were concerned about Joe's blood pressure and blood sugar levels and asked him to stay another night. They had a heart monitor on him while we were there. Joe didn't want to stay another night. He thought he would feel better once he got home. However, you should talk to your doctor about this.
So our day turned out differently than planned. We were going to Norman and Katie Ann's wedding.
Our kids went to a wedding dinner. His son Joseph and his special friend Grace served as wedding night servers.
On Friday, on our way home from the hospital, Joe and I stopped by my brother Albert's house to check on him. Since being diagnosed with cancer, he has lost a lot of weight. He seemed to be in a good mood, so he had a pleasant visit with Albert and Sarah Irene. Albert and Joe worked together at a metal and truss shop and were used to seeing each other every day.
Albert saw a doctor yesterday. They planned to do more tests to see what to do next. A hospice nurse comes every four days to take her vitals and change her colostomy bag.
Today, I'm dropping off my sister Verena at Albert's house while I go to Joe's appointment. Then I go to visit Albert after the appointment and pick up Verena.
When his son Benjamin needed a 3 1/2-inch nail removed, Joe asked the same doctor to perform the surgery. I hope no one in my family needs his services.
Thank you for all your prayers and please keep Albert in your prayers. May God help Albert accept the future that awaits him. We know that God's way is not necessarily our way. God makes no mistakes, but how much we want Albert to be healed! May your will be done!
Albert's son-in-law Amos's condition is improving. After a second opinion, his disease may not be cancer. We wish him continued recovery.
On Wednesday, my daughters and I will be going to my sister Emma's house to help out. Her sons Benjamin and Crystal are scheduled to host a church service in two weeks. I want to make a casserole to take to lunch. Benjamin lives on the same property as Emma.
Last night I made three rhubarb custard pies. Also, the chicken pot pie I made for Albert in a 9×13 pan. I'll also have some pie. I hope this helps even a little. One of his rhubarb custard pies was still warm last night so it disappeared quickly with dinner.
My oven at home has given up, so baking something now requires more effort. I have an old stove in my pole barn that I can use, but I have to go and check to see if anything is being done every time, and it takes quite a while to go back and forth. Since Joe lost his job, he doesn't know if he'll be able to find a new job before the wedding. Since my last wedding, food prices have increased significantly. Take it one day at a time, let go, and let God. May He bless you all.
rhubarb custard pie1 1/2 cups rhubarb, cut into small pieces 2 tablespoons flour 2 eggs 1 cup sugar 3/4 cup cream or whole milk 1 (9-inch) unbaked pie shell Place rhubarb in pie shell. Mix the flour, eggs, sugar, cream or whole milk together and pour over the rhubarb. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
Lovina's Amish Kitchen is written by Lovina Eicher, an Old Order Amish author, cook, wife, and mother of eight children. Her two cookbooks, The Essential Amish Cookbook and Amish Family Recipes, are available wherever books are sold. Readers may write to Eicher at Lovina's Amish Kitchen, PO Box 234, Sturgis, MI 49091 (please include a stamped, self-addressed envelope for return). Or she can send her email to LovinasAmishKitchen@MennoMedia.org and her message will be passed to her to read. She does not respond to her emails personally.
