We had a good soaking rain during the night but also some lightning and wind. I am so thankful when all is okay after a storm. After our last storm we think of it more. The sun is shining this morning, but it feels like it’ll be another hot, humid day.

Daughters Susan and Verena and grandchildren Jennifer and Ryan have plans to come here today. Verena wants to clean her bedroom and Susan will help me paint the master bedroom. We moved our bedroom suite into the living room so it’s a little bit crowded in here right now. Hopefully it will all be back in place by tonight.

Last week daughter Susan helped me paint Lovina’s bedroom upstairs. Little by little we are getting some cleaning done. Daughter Loretta finished her wedding dress. I had to help her here and there but she’s catching on fast. She needs to sew herself a dress for the wedding of Mary and Danny that they have a part in. Mary is the girl in our church getting married a week before Loretta.

I now have my material for the wedding next week of nephew Michael & Laura in Kentucky. I was asked to be cook and to wear royal blue. Son Joseph and Grace (his special friend) were asked to be tablewaiters (servers) at their wedding. Grace is supposed to wear royal blue as well.

Daughter Lovina and Daniel (her special friend) were asked to be servers in niece Saloma and Jamin’s wedding next week in Tennessee. Lovina needs to wear black at their wedding.

The material for Dustin’s pole barn should arrive this week. Plans are to try to frame the 40-ft. x 80-ft. pole barn and put the roof on Saturday if enough help shows up. Then it should take another day to pour cement, put the sides on, and install windows and doors if there is enough help there. We will take one day at a time.

Sunday was the first time we attended church since brother-in-law Jacob passed away. Sister Emma had a hard time being there without him. We all felt the emptiness. Nephew Steven, 14, has started his last year (8th) of school, and I’m sure it isn’t easy not being able to have his dad around. They all need our prayers as they travel into the unknown future.

Sunday was also sister Verena’s 55th birthday. Emma and all of her family and all of our family took supper to Verena’s house. All of sister Susan’s belongings are still there, and we miss her dearly. Daughter Susan brought her horse and her borrowed buggy. It was dark before she left, so son Benjamin packed his clothes and went home with her. He carried the sleeping children in the house for her and took the harness off the horse and turned it out in the field. Susan said this helped her out so much, as she always has to do that. Benjamin had his driver pick him up at Susan’s on Monday morning to go to work. Since Benjamin went home with Susan, daughter Verena decided to come home for the night.

Sister Verena is starting to stay some nights by herself. Life goes on and the road ahead still looks long but with God’s help we will make it through our many trials. God’s blessings to all!

Pizza Stuffed Peppers

6 bell peppers (any color)
1/2 pound ground beef or sausage, browned
2 ounces pepperoni slices, diced
1 pint pizza sauce
2 tablespoons sugar
1 4-ounce can mushrooms, drained
3 cups cooked rice
2 tablespoons parmesan cheese
Shredded mozzarella cheese, approximately 1/2 cup

Remove tops of peppers and inside seeds and blanch 3-5 minutes in boiling water. Drain and set aside. Combine all remaining ingredients except mozzarella. Set peppers in baking dish and fill each pepper half-full of mixture. Add a layer of mozzarella, then fill top of pepper. Cover and bake about 1 hour at 350 degrees. Uncover and arrange additional mozzarella on top, then return to oven briefly to melt cheese.

Lovina’s Amish Kitchen is written by Lovina Eicher, Old Order Amish writer, cook, wife, and mother of eight. Her newest cookbook, Amish Family Recipes, is available wherever books are sold. Readers can write to Eicher at PO Box 1689, South Holland, IL 60473 (please include a self-addressed stamped envelope for a reply); or email LovinasAmishKitchen@MennoMedia.org and your message will be passed on to her to read. She does not personally respond to emails.