Our refrigerator keeps filling up with more wedding invitations. We are sorry we aren’t able to attend all of them. Belated congratulations go to niece Anna and Joseph. They were married April 2nd in Clare, Michigan. Anna is the daughter of Joe’s sister Christine and Jake. We wish them God’s blessings as they start their life together as one. 

Congratulations also go to Josiah and Marilyn! They were married May 8th in Woodburn, Indiana. Josiah was a member in our church but will make Woodburn his future home. 

Congratulations also go to Jonas and Sarah! They will exchange vows on Thursday May 14th, (Ascension Day), Lord willing in Geneva, Indiana. Jonas is a son to my cousin Liz and Joe from Kentucky. Sarah’s parents live in the church district we moved from twenty-two years ago. That area is my old stomping grounds and where I lived for the first 33 years of my life. It would be interesting to go see how much everything changed in the area. It doesn’t look like we will be able to attend but we appreciated the invite. 

Our hearts are saddened to hear of the passing of Aunt Barbara. Our deepest sympathy goes to Uncle Bob and his extended family. Bob is a brother to my father. Bob and Barb live in Mississippi and were married 61 years. They were blessed with a son Robbie and a daughter Lisa, four grandsons, and a great grandson.

On Wednesday daughters Elizabeth (and Andrea), Susan (and Jr and Sharlene), Verena, Lovina (and Brooklyn) and daughter-in-law Grace and I assisted daughter Loretta with her final cleaning for hosting church services on Sunday. I made a breakfast casserole and rhubarb custard pie for our lunch. The girls also brought snacks. 

Saturday evening supper was brought in for us in honor of Mother’s Day. Those here for supper were Daniel Ray and Verena, Dustin, Loretta and children, Joseph and Grace, Daniel and Lovina and Brooklyn, and son Benjamin’s special friend Joanna. They made supper on the grill. We had pepper poppers, hot wings, hot dogs, potatoes with carrots and ice cream. Dustin and Loretta brought the children’s bed clothes and gave them a bath before leaving for home. They were all clean to go to bed. They had everything ready to host church services the next day. 

The church was largely attended with lots of visitors due to a young soul in our church following instructions for baptism. What a surprise to me when my sister Liz, Levi and daughter Suzanne showed up too. It was so good to have them come. They live an hour from here. Sister Verena came with sister Emma. She had been at Emma’s house for a week. She went home with Liz and Levi Sunday afternoon. It was nice that we four sisters could eat lunch together. 

Dustin and Loretta served a good lunch of homemade wheat and white bread, ham, cheese, peanut butter spread, pickles, pickled red beets, hot peppers, strawberry jam, butter, a variety of cookies, coffee and tea. In honor of Mother’s Day ice cream was also served to everyone. The men washed the dishes so the women could sit and visit also in honor of Mother’s Day. Popcorn was enjoyed while everyone visited. 

Saturday Susan and Ervin stopped in to give me a nice hanging flower for my porch for Mother’s Day. They had plans to come to church at Dustin’s but Ryan woke up sick on Sunday morning. This was a disappointment, but such is life. Isaiah had his 8th birthday on Sunday as well. Sister Susan would have been 50 on Sunday if she were still with us. Rest in peace dear sister. May 11th was son-in-law Ervin’s 32nd birthday. We wish him and Isaiah a happy birthday!

Sunday evening our supper guests were Tim, Elizabeth and family, Dustin, Loretta and family, Verena and Daniel Ray, and Joanna. Tim’s also brought another hanging flower for my porch. I received nice flowers, lovely cards and money from my children in honor of Mother’s Day. I hope I can always be the mother they deserve. None of us are perfect and I fail often but my love for my children only deepens as they grow older. I pray they will always keep God as their guide as we travel into the unknown future. My Mother often told me that it takes many prayers to raise children. I treasure those words! My wish is that every Mother is acknowledged by their children on Mother’s Day. A Mother sacrifices a lot while raising children. It feels good to be appreciated! My heart also goes out to those that would love to be a mother and yearn for children and face disappointments to miscarriages. Also to those that have lost children much too soon.

God’s blessings to all! 

RHUBARB CUSTARD PIE

1- 1/2 cups rhubarb, diced
2 Tablespoons flour
1 cup sugar 
2 eggs
3/4 cup cream or whole milk

Spread diced rhubarb on the bottom of an 8-inch unbaked pie crust. Beat together the rest of ingredients and pour over rhubarb. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to an hour or until set. 

Note *This was my mother’s recipe and she had 8-inch pie pans. I have 9-inch (not deep dish) pie pans so I usually make this recipe x3 for two 9-inch pies. I use the same amount of rhubarb. 

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.