Happy third anniversary to daughter Loretta and Dustin on October 1! I wish them many more happy, healthy years together.

It is still so hard for me to believe that five out of our eight children are married and have homes of their own. In the back of my mind, I always pictured life slowing down when our children started moving out. I was quite wrong as we are busier than ever it seems.

All the children now have work that needs to be done on their properties.

My husband Joe, son Benjamin, and Daniel Ray (Verena’s special friend) put in three horse stalls in our new barn on Saturday. We need to have three more put in yet. The tack room and feed room need to be built in yet. It all takes time and money, so we work on it as we can.

Daughter Elizabeth and Tim are having some struggles right now. They had several inspections and received the bad news that their house has four or five different molds. They have been extra sick and have lots of allergies, which they discovered was coming from living in this house. They were advised to not keep a lot of their belongings, especially mattresses, upholstered furniture, or anything that could carry mold into another house. They are in the process of making their detached garage into living quarters while they tear into the house to see what can be done. The inspectors advised to tear down the house and start new. This is very disappointing since they remodeled and were very satisfied with the house they had. Their house isn’t that old yet.

If anyone has been through this and has good advice, they would appreciate hearing from you.

Their children were very disappointed that some of their belongings they treasured need to go.

Although it’s hard to part with your belongings, there is a brighter side, and that is no lives were lost. My sympathy and prayers go out to all the families affected by the hurricanes. I can’t imagine how that would be losing their belongings plus family members. May God help them through this trial in life.

Recently Joe and I took supper to nephew Ben and Crystal as they enjoy their new little one Wesley Benjamin. He is welcomed by a brother Isaiah. Daughter Loretta and Dustin and sons, daughter Lovina and Daniel, son Joseph and Grace, daughter Verena and Daniel Ray, and son Kevin also joined us and helped bring food. Sister Verena also was at sister Emma’s at that time. Ben and Crystal live on the same place as sister Emma and sons Jacob and Steven, so we all ate over in Emma’s garage area. On the menu was mashed potatoes, gravy, mixed vegetables, grilled hamburgers (and all the trimmings). Dessert was cherry delight.

Of course, baby Wesley was passed around for everyone to admire. He’s a sweetie! Grandson Denzel just stared at him and touched his hair then smiled.

Sister Verena came here Saturday night and went to church with us Sunday, which was communion services. She went with us Sunday evening to Dustin and Loretta’s house for a delicious supper of mashed potatoes, gravy, cheese and rare beef.

Today is now Tuesday morning and Verena stayed here again for the night. She wasn’t feeling good yesterday. Hopefully she will feel better today. All my daughters are planning to come home for the day. Half of our 12 grandchildren are in school.

On Thursday, we plan to attend the wedding of nephew Andrew and Diane in Rome City. Son Joseph and Grace are table waiters. Daniel and Lovina are evening servers. Joe and I have to wash dishes after each meal.

It sure will be different to not see brother Albert at his youngest son’s wedding. Joe and I were married on brother Albert’s 29th birthday. He died on my 53rd birthday. Rest in peace, dear brother.

When my siblings get together, our group seems so small with brothers Amos and Albert, sister Susan, and brother-in-law Jacob (Emma) not with us anymore. We don’t understand the meaning of God choosing them early in life, but we do know he doesn’t make mistakes, so we put our trust in him. He can help us through this. God’s blessings to all!

This recipe is in my cookbook The Essential Amish Cookbook. Try replacing the carrots with apples for a great apple cake. My friend from church did this, and it’s so delicious.

Carrot Cake
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups carrots, peeled and grated
1/2 cup nuts, chopped

With an electric mixer, beat eggs, sugar, and oil at medium speed until smooth. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Add egg mixture, beating at low speed until blended. Fold carrots and nuts into batter and stir until well blended.

Pour into a greased and floured 9 x 13-inch baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 35–40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Cool.

Frosting
4 ounces cream cheese
1/4 cup butter, at room temperature
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a small bowl, mix cream cheese and butter until well blended. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Spread over cooled cake.

Lovina’s Amish Kitchen is written by Lovina Eicher, Old Order Amish writer, cook, wife, and mother of eight. Her three cookbooks, The Cherished Table, The Essential Amish Cookbook, and Amish Family Recipes, are available wherever books are sold. Readers can write to Eicher at Lovina’s Amish Kitchen, PO Box 234, Sturgis, MI 49091 (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.