September 2nd, our youngest of eight children, son Kevin, will be 21 years old. It doesn’t seem possible that he’s that old already. I’m going to share the column daughter Elizabeth wrote for me after Kevin’s birth. 

“I’m 11 years old. I told mom I would write for her this week as she’s very busy taking care of my new baby brother.  Baby Kevin was born September 2 at 7:27 a.m. (2005).  He weighed 8 lbs 4 oz and was 21 inches long. We are very excited to have a new baby again, but we try to give my little sister Lovina extra attention so she doesn’t get jealous. 

Aunts Susan and Verena took care of us seven children while mom and dad were in the hospital. They were there two nights and two days. We were glad when they came back home. Baby Kevin has yellow jaundice and was supposed to stay at the hospital, but they let dad and mom bring him home for treatment. We have to keep a light, which they call a bili blanket on him. Mom has to switch it from back to front every two hours. It keeps her busy. We try to help Mom at night when we’re home from school. 

Aunts Verena and Susan came last night to help, and Aunt Emma and her Benjamin stayed with Mom, Joseph, Lovina, and baby Kevin while we were in school. Emma will come again tomorrow. Our neighbors brought supper in one night, which we really enjoyed. Mom has to take Kevin to the hospital every day to get a bilirubin test on his yellow jaundice. When it gets under “10,” Kevin can have the light taken off. I have to go to bed now so I can get up earlier to help Mom pack Dad’s lunch and get his breakfast. It is hard to believe Kevin is already six days old. We really enjoy him. I hope I wrote enough!”

All the changes from 21 years ago! I was so busy back then that I didn’t realize how precious it was to have our children still all at home under our care. I miss those days… life seemed less complicated. At the time, we didn’t think so, but the older your children get, the more you realize how precious those years were. A friend sent me these verses that I think say it all (author unknown).

Motherhood changes when your children grow up. You don’t always know where they are. You can’t fix every problem. You don’t get to make every decision. So you love them. You pray for them, and you trust God with everything you can’t control. There comes a time when being a mom means saying less and praying more. You give them room to live their lives. You trust what you taught them. You hope they’re happy. You pray they’re safe and you quietly carry them in your heart everywhere you go. 

I’m not sure who wrote those words, but they have a lot of meaning to them!

Last Friday we were invited to two weddings. One in Topeka, Indiana for Zachariah and Diane. The other in Berne Indiana for Jonas and Lisa. Sisters Verena and Emma and Joe and I attended the one in Berne. Lisa is our (late) brother Amos and Nancy’s oldest grandchild. Zachariah is a member of our church district. We wish both couples a long and happy married life! 

We seen a lot of family and old-time classmates there. My sisters Leah, Verena, Liz, Emma and I all sat together for the delicious meal. That doesn’t happen too often. They had a very tasty meal. On the menu was mashed potatoes, gravy, noodles, dressing, mixed vegetables, chicken, tossed salad, tapioca pudding, angel food cake, pecan, cherry and raisin pies. 

Last Wednesday, I helped daughter Susan paint her living room ceiling and walls. She painted it a light green. It really looked nice and bright. They are installing a new floor now. I hadn’t painted in a while, and the overhead painting woke up some muscles that I didn’t use for a while. Haha! We gave the big-sized room two coats of paint. The children came home from school and were amazed to see the freshly painted room. Kaitlyn,10, hugged me and said, “Thank you, Grandma, for making our living room look nice.” Little sweetheart!

We received the sad news that Aunt Leah, age 91, passed away last night. She was my Mom’s sister. Mom would be 90 now if she were still with us.   We would like to go to the viewing.  We won’t be able to attend the funeral regretfully. More on that next week. 

Daniel Ray and Verena have experienced the heartbreak of several miscarriages, and recently they have had to face yet another loss (ectopic pregnancy). They are open about their struggles and are grateful for your prayers. I have never personally experienced this kind of loss, but I can only imagine how difficult it must be to long for a child and endure such heartache and disappointment. May God give comfort, strength, and hope to them and to all couples who are struggling to have children. Verena is certainly a very special aunt, and all her nieces and nephews love their Aunt Verena dearly!

God bless!

Veggie Breakfast Skillet 

1-2 tablespoons olive oil   
1 bell pepper, diced
1 zucchini, diced
1 cup mushrooms (sliced)
6 eggs

Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium heat.  Add vegetables and saute until tender crisp.  Season with salt and pepper.   Crack eggs whole over veggies, placing around the pan and cover with the lid until eggs are cooked.  When the yolks get a white film over them they are done at over easy stage.

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 questionsforlovina@gmail.com and your message will be passed on to her to read. She does not personally respond to emails.