We have entered the fourth month of 2025. It is 26 degrees at 5:30 a.m. My husband Joe and son Benjamin have both left for work. I have lots and lots of laundry to wash today so I thought I had better get this column done first thing this morning.

Yesterday Joe and I attended the funeral of his uncle Dave, age 79. Dave was never married but left behind four sisters, nieces and nephews. Two of his sisters are close to and over 90 years old. Dave was Joe’s mother’s brother. Everyone seemed to have a story to say about Uncle Davy. He will be missed by many. The funeral was held at Joe’s aunt Mattie’s and cousin Martin’s place. Mattie is my brother-in-law Jacob’s mother and Martin is his brother. Joe and I traveled the 2 hours with sister Emma, her son Ben and Crystal and baby Wesley. Wesley did great with traveling. He is so adorable and has the sweetest smile. Sister Emma greatly misses her husband when she visits his home place and family. It seems Jacob should be around somewhere. Rest in peace Jacob, you will always be remembered!! We visited with some of Joe’s family and cousins he doesn’t often see after the funeral. We also visited with my sister Liz and Levi, their daughter Elizabeth and family. They seem to be adjusting well in the new community they moved to.

March 9th, sisters Verena and Emma, sister-in-law Sarah Irene and I attended the funeral of dear cousin Sovilla ,58, who lost her battle to cancer. She left to mourn her husband Leroy, a son and his wife, three daughters and their husbands and eight grandchildren. We heard later that her ninth grandchild was born the afternoon of Sovilla’s funeral. Also surviving is Sovilla’s mother (Aunt Emma) age 84, three sisters and six brothers. Sovilla will be greatly missed by all who knew her. She was a close cousin to me and was a very kind hearted person. Our sympathy goes out to the family as they mourn the loss of a very dear loved one. May God keep his loving arms around them and help them through this trial. Sarah Irene and Emma are both widows and know the pain of losing a dear partner. God makes no mistakes. We don’t always understand why things happen but let us trust in him. Someday we’ll understand it all!

On Sunday March 30th Council services were held here with daughter Loretta and Dustin hosting it. Council services are longer than a regular church service so around lunch time we serve lunch to everyone. We set two tables, one for men and one for women. We could serve several dozen at a time. Lunch was served here in the house and church services were in the pole barn. On the menu was chicken and noodles, homemade wheat and white bread, egg salad, peanut butter spread, cheese, pickles, pickled red beets, hot peppers, butter, grape jelly, cookies, coffee and tea. We started serving at 11 a.m. and were done by 12:30. Services lasted until 2:40 p.m. and then everyone left for home. I must say I was quite relieved that it was over. I am glad to take our turn but after having it held here three times in March I’m glad it’s over. Council meeting is preparatory services for communion which will be held at our neighbors in two weeks. Plans are to ordain a deacon, Lord willing. March was a full month for us with hosting church here three times, attending two family funerals, butchering hogs, etc.

Next on our agenda is to bring sister Susan’s belongings over here in the pole barn and have a garage sale to sell it. It will be sad to see all her earthly belongings being sold but we can’t change God’s plan so we need to move forward. Susan has so many nice things she collected over her short stay of 44 years on this earth. Rest in peace dear sister. You are still dearly missed.

I’ll share the recipe for Egg salad. Dustin and Loretta have their own chickens so it wasn’t as bad to use 7 dozen eggs to make it. The price of eggs in town is unbelievable. I’m so glad our daughters share their eggs with us.

God’s blessings to all! 

Egg Salad

3 pounds hot dogs, chopped
3 dozen hard cooked eggs, peeled and chopped
2 cups whipped salad dressing
2 cups mayonnaise 
Season to taste with your choice of seasoning

In a large bowl mix hot dogs and eggs. Then stir in salad dressing and mayonnaise. Season to taste.
Note- Ham can be substituted in place of hot dogs.

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.