On April 16th, 43 years ago, my oldest sister Leah and Paul were married. I was in third grade at the time, but for some reason I always remember that Good Friday was the next day. I remember sitting next to her mother when Leah and Paul were married. I couldn't understand why her mother cried at the wedding. Now that my own children are married and away from home, I understand the meaning of her tears. We wish Paul and Leah a happy wedding anniversary and many more happy and healthy years together.
Now our other children will be leaving home and starting lives with friends.
The wedding date for daughters Lovina and Daniel was announced in church on Sunday. By the Lord's will, they will be married on June 21st. Daniel lives where his daughters Susan and Verena lived, and that will be their home.
We are going to have a busy few months preparing for this wedding. I haven't started sewing for the wedding yet. Hopefully I can get it done in the next week or so.
Last night I had my first asparagus of the season. The rhubarb seems ready to go, but Joe keeps reminding me that we need rhubarb custard pie on the table soon.
My son Benjamin mowed our lawn for the first time this week. The stitches were removed, and things seem to be going well. The doctor told him to be careful about infection because the wound was deep. Benjamin is tolerant of pain and doesn't complain much.
My husband Joe planted 100 sweet onion plants on Saturday and also some radishes. I also want to pick potatoes, lettuce, and peas from the ground. On Saturday, Verena's special friend Daniel Ray cultivated the garden and flower beds for us. Robina's special friend Daniel was also here to help with the new pole barn. The cement is now ready.
Our plan is to set the wedding table in our new pole barn. The wedding will be held in a separate pole barn, so everything is on our farm.
Daniel and Lovina are also planting a garden, so they will have plenty of vegetables to use even after they get married. I want to make rhubarb juice for us and for them. They are excited to become one and start their life together.
May God always be their guide. We're sad to see Lovina leave, but we're thinking of it as the birth of another son. Daniel is a kind, loving and respectful person, so we welcome him into his family.
Brother Albert has been discharged from the hospital, but is still weak from the surgery. I would like to visit him soon. I wanted to give him time to get used to the house. It seems that many tourists visited. I hope you get enough rest and don't overdo it. Although the visitors are well-intentioned, there are times when it is good to ask the patient if they would like to be visited.
Albert's son-in-law, Amos, remains in a hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana. He has also been diagnosed with cancer. He is 43 years old. Our thoughts and prayers are with both families as they go through this ordeal. May God comfort and heal them. Thank you for all the prayers! God bless you all!
Lovina's Amish Kitchen This book 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.
