sukiyaki and pie

Jill's birthday was this past week and we celebrated as a family tonight. Grandma Lois invited us over and Jill wanted sukiyaki. She LOVES it! We all do! And instead of the traditional birthday cake, she and I always ask for the Bread Basket chocolate cream pie. Mmmmmm!


I didn't think one pie would do it, so I decided to make another pie. I was thinking pecan, Allen's favorite. Well, it used to be. But now he raves about Toll House pie. They serve that at the Bread Basket too, but I thought I would try making it. I found this awesome recipe! It is soooo easy!
(this pie pan belonged to my grandmother Voran long time ago)



1 unbaked 9" deep dish pie shell (I make mine with lard, oh soooo good)
2 large eggs

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

3/4 cup softened butter (1 1/2 sticks)

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 cup chopped nuts (I used pecan since I was thinking I was going to bake a pecan pie)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Beat eggs in large mixer on high speed until foamy. Beat in flour and the sugars. Beat in butter. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. Spoon into pie shell.

Bake 55-60 minutes or until knife inserted 1/2 to center comes out clean. Cool on rack.

Here is Hannah trying out chopsticks to eat her sukiyaki.

I remember when I was a preschooler living in Japan and my maid/nanny teaching me how to use the chopsticks.

Hannah: "I must say I think I'm getting the hang of chop ticks - whatever you call them."

Sophie is too.

Notice both chopstick and fork in one hand!

Watching the KU game.

We ended up in the living room glued to it the last few minutes. But....STINK!

Can't believe the upsets during this March Madness, huh?

Dad cooking the sukiyaki

So, during the meal, somehow the topic of a carnivore comes up. Hannah explains what that means. Then she goes on to explain what an herbivore is.

I don't believe I knew what those terms meant until I was in highschool.

Papa (Allen) says "What do you call someone who eats only ice-cream?"

Answer: FAT!

Getting ready to blow out candles for her 29th birthday.

The whole family joined in to help.

Blew so hard the 9 fell over.

Mom and Dad volunteer at Et Cetera. My Mom comes home with the craziest gifts. She loves gag gifts. And we are recipients of these gifts for birthdays and Christmas (along with very generous gift cards of course).

" Don't be alarmed

Don't be misled

These aren't for you

But for your dishes instead.

So take off the bows

and pull out the stitches

You've now gained 3 dish clothes

And lost your bra and britches."

Jill was hoping I would give her this for her birthday.

I understand that Lindsay Frazier has also been hoping so and wants to borrow this!

Definitely a must see girly movie!

Well, despite KU's loss, we had a fun evening.

Hope this 29th year is a very blessed one, Jill!

29 years ago

29 years ago Jill Katrina joined the family. She was born early in the morning at our apartment in Wichita. Grandma Graber (Kathern) was there along with the 2 midwives and a friend. The weather was nasty - a tornado followed by snow. My parents were in Japan. When we called them, we played back via tape recorder (no video cams or skypes back then) Jill's first cry. My parents cried.

After she was born, we woke Josh up to introduce him to his new baby sister. She "gave" him a toy car and he thought she was ok!

See that doll beside Jill? His name was Adam! And now she sleeps with an Adam every night! We bought this doll at a garage sale to teach Josh about potty training (it had a hole in the bottom).

Fishing at the creek behind the farm house.

I think this is Jill around the 4th grade

After Jill graduated from highschool, she attended Moody Bible Institute in downtown Chicago where she lost her heart to Adam.

They married and lived in Green Bay, Wisconsin for 4 years.

But then they moved here!

Jill, you are so fun to be with!

A wonderful mommy

married to a super daddy.

Your godly wisdom and love for Christ amaze me.
So glad and proud that I am your mother! and the grandmother to your children.

Happy Birthday, Jill!

Retreat

Retreat – to draw back; an act or process of withdrawing especially from what is difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable; a place of privacy or safety: refuge. This month I have been privileged to go on 2 retreats! On March 5-6 Allen and I and the Webers hung out with some very special young couples at the Hesston Crosswinds Conference Center. Kendall and Amanda put together an awesome program with Cheri Busenitz’ help (she has put together conferences for several years in Alaska and is a great resource!). This conference was based on the book "Sacred Marriage" by Gary Thomas.

I love this picture of the pregnant young ladies! They are so cute! (Pictures by Kendall. I forgot my camera)

Allen explaining marriage to the guys. Ha!

Each marriage goes through seasons. There are often rough years; whether infertility, expectations not met, a spouse who spends too many hours at work…. Most marriages will not go unscathed at some time. Many people enter marriage thinking that this one person will fulfill all their needs and fill a void in their heart and soul. But really, only God can be our primary source of satisfaction and joy in life.

When a diamond is first mined, it looks pretty ugly. But after being chipped away, it begins to sparkle and is beautiful! Marriage often is the setting for us to be chipped away – our selfishness, the struggles and challenges. “As iron sharpens iron…” Prov. 27:17. Marriage is a setting to help us become more like Christ. So, take a look at your left hand - at the diamond you put on when you got married. Let it remind you that it is going through the tough times and sticking it out together, with God's help that will help your marriage shine and be a reflection of God to the world. This past weekend, March 13-14, Jill and I attended our women’s retreat at Rock Springs 4-H camp close to Junction City. What a fun time!

Friday evening we spent playing games. First we shared our full names (many people had the same middle name. I was the only one with Corinne as my middle name). We also shared one thing most people don’t know about us. That was soooo funny! Lots of secrets!! I shared about the time on the ship going back to Japan when I was 8, my missionary friend and I went out on deck after dark. We were supposed to be in bed but we snuck out. There was a young kid out there who grabbed us and he started to throw me over board. He was probably joking - who knows - but I remember seeing the decks below, watching the water churning by, the moon reflecting on the water while hanging over the rail. Then I heard a shout. My friend's dad, Uncle Verney, came on deck. This kid dropped us and ran. I guess Uncle Verney got him because this kid was locked up the rest of the trip. His parents weren’t happy about that but the captain was adamant that he would stay there until we reached port.

Ice-breaker game. Bobbie and Julie

Our youth pastor’s wife, Christina, spoke from Phil 3:4-8. Paul had quite the pedigree! But in the face of that, his only true asset was knowing Christ. It isn’t about performance or how great our past is. Christina challenged us to think about what we need to lose in order to gain Christ. It is knowing Christ that matters. He is all about relationship. Follow hard after Him! With all your heart, soul and strength!

I loved the workshop on the story of hymns. I love those stories! Most were written in adversity. “You cannot climb a smooth mountain.”

Well, I'm rested, refreshed. What a great time getting to know others better. Much encouraged! Thanks to all who worked so hard to provide this time for us!

5 years

Five years ago today, I made a 14 hour trip up to Green Bay, Wisconsin for the birth of our first grandchild - Hannah Kathern. Today Hannah celebrated her 5th birthday. And she lives about 3 minutes away from us now!

How blessed are we!

Hannah wanted hamburgers and hot dogs for her dinner.

It was warm enough outside for our first grill of the season!

A five generation picture.

Happy birthday, sweet Hannah.

You are very special to us!!!

Gratitude

Last night I was privileged to listen to Gracia Burnam. Gracia Burnham and her husband Martin were missionaries in the Philippines with the New Tribes Mission for 17 years from 1986.

The couple was among a larger group kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf, an Islamist separatist and terrorist group operating in the southern Philippines, on May 27, 2001. While most of the group were freed after ransoms were paid and several beheaded, the Burnhams were in captivity for a year and a few days. The kidnappers demanded $1,000,000 for their release. A ransom of $330,000 was paid, yet the kidnappers refused to release them. During the eventual rescue attempt by the Philippine Army on June 7, 2002, Martin was killed by three gunshots in the chest and Gracia was wounded in her right leg. Since her release and the death of her husband, Gracia Burnham has returned to the United States with their three children. She has written two books about her experiences, In the Presence of my Enemies and To Fly Again, which I purchased last night.

I took my mom and a couple elderly ladies. They wanted to be there early and it was so neat that Gracia came over to talk to us. She is such a sweet and precious lady!

This was one of the outfits she had with her in the jungle for that year. She used it as a skirt (it cinches closely around the waist) and also to give herself privacy to go to the bathroom, or change. Or served as a blanket when it was chilly.

Often they were so very thirsty or hungry. She sang this song by Nichole Nordeman. She says it makes her cry every time she hears it.

"He tends His flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in His arms
and carries them close to His heart;
He gently leads those that have young."
Isaiah 40:11

Redeemed

Praise the Lord, O my soul;

and all my inmost being, praise His holy name.

Praise the Lord, O my soul,

and forget not all His benefits -

Who forgives all your sins

and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit

and crowns you with love and compassion.

Psalm 103

Today at Mom To Mom, our speaker shared Psalm 103 with us. We had our own version of these cardboard testimonies. Some of them were:

Relying on parent's faith - Personal, intimate growing relationship with Christ.

Parents divorced - broken relationship with parents. - Blessed with 30 year marriage and healed relationship with parents - wonderful stepmother and stepfather.

Depression, suicidal - Joy in Christ!

Married "too late" to have children - Our God-chosen children (photos of 3 precious children)

At 9 I lost my mother, grew up lonely - But Mama left a legacy - my name - Grace - and faith to trust God's grace

Hubby had 3 cancer surgeries - God is our Peace, Refuge & Strength, & Ever-Present Help

I was told my family should have died in a house fire - But God has a plan for our lives so I will continue to seek Him and do His will

Empty Nest - "Tweetie, let's go out to eat!"

What a blessed Redeemer! How has He redeemed you?

Vacation at Nana and Papa's

We had the grandchildren here for several nights while Jill and Adam attended a conference in Kentucky. They had told the children that they would be having a vacation at Nana and Papa's house. What a wonderful vacation we all had! Of course I was too busy to blog or do anything much except play!

Dancing with Do-Do-Do-Do-Do-Dora....

Racing through the house

Taking wonderful bubble baths.

Preschool for Hannah (with her wonderful teacher!!)

The girls LOVE going to the "Puppy store" (that is what the girls call the country store close to us that has supplies for farmers but also carries chickens, dogs, bunnies, hamsters...)

We took a trip to Exploration Place...

and you can probably guess where we stopped for lunch!

We can't go to Wichita without a stop at McDonald's!

Mom invited us over for a waffle supper. Aunt Mindy was able to come too!

As the days are getting nicer, and it was coming to the end of February, we decided it was time to put away the snowmen and other winter decorations and get out the Spring and Easter decorations! Hannah loved helping me decide where all the decorations should go. It was fun to tell her about some of the decorations. "This came from Grandma Lois" or "My friend gave this to me". She loves to hear all those stories.

Another friend made this. Because she could not find anything in the stores that represented the REAL Easter - everything was bunnies, chickens, etc. - she designed and made this tomb scene where the women go to the tomb and find it empty. This friend passed away from cancer some years ago and is now in the presence of the One who died and is risen!

Silly Papa!

Ever since weather statistics have been taken in the late 1800's, we have never had a winter that we have not had some days of 60 degree weather. There always is at least 1 day in January or February where there is a fluke day or two of 60-70 degrees. But not this year. It has been a LONG winter! But the weather did get into the high 40's and with not much wind, so we went out to play. And we saw our first robins so Spring is on the way!

Feeding the birds. The pretty birds.

But not these guys! They are pretty in their own way - but look at them! (Can you see all those dots on the lake?- those are geese!) Has anyone else noticed the HUGE population explosion of Canada geese?? I saw on the news that in Wichita they have signs posted not to feed them. I think they have it all wrong. I think they should feed them some food laced with birth control!

Well, the kids are back home now and the house is quiet once more. But I get to babysit again tomorrow while Jill teaches piano. What a lucky Nana I am! Missing my Arkansas grandchildren terribly and hope to see them sometime soon.