Sweet surprise

 

Years ago I made strawberry jam for my mom and gave it to her in this jar. I made the top for the jar. It's one of the things I kept after she passed away. I found it recently and gave it to my daughter, Stacy. Tonight she called and said she had a surprise for us. Imagine my surprise when she walked in and handed me this jar...

containing homemade blackberry jam!

 

Not only will homemade biscuits taste wonderful tomorrow morning with this jam, but I will have sweet memories of my mom!

Thank you, Stacy, for this gift!

National Pie Day!

Today is National Pie Day.  I couldn't let this day pass without baking a pie. I tried a new recipe, Warm Apple-Buttermilk Custard Pie! Doesn't that sound good? Here is the recipe!


1/2 (15-ounce) package refrigerated piecrusts (I made mine because I love home made ones)

1/2 cup butter or margarine, divided

2 Granny smith apples, peeled and sliced

3/4 cup sugar, divided

3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, divided

1 1/3 cups sugar

4 large eggs

Click to see savings

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 cup buttermilk

3 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened

1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

Preparation

1. Fit piecrust into a 9-inch pieplate according to package directions; fold edges under, and crimp. Prick bottom and sides of piecrust with a fork.
2. Melt 1/4 cup butter in a large skillet over medium heat; add apple, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Cook, sitrring occasionally, 3 to 5 minutes or until apple is tender; set aside.
3. Beat 1/4 cup butter and 1 1/3 cups granulated sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. A eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until yellow disappears. Add 2 tablespoons flour and vanilla, beating until blended. Add buttermilk, beating until smooth.
4. Spoon apple mixture into piecrust; pour buttermilk mixture over apple mixture.
5. Bake at 300º for 30 minutes. Stir 3 tablespoons butter, remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar, brown sugar, 1/2 cup flour, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon until crumbly. Sprinkle over pie. Bake 40 more minutes or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean. Let stand 1 hour before serving.

Enjoy!

New Year...Old Letters

 

 

 

2013...a new year. We started our morning with coffee, homemade cinnamon rolls, and Jim's scrambled eggs. 

 

After breakfast we sat at the kitchen table and read

cards and letters

 my mother in law had saved over the years.

 

Jim handed me one of the letters and it was from his aunt. Reading her letter was like hearing her talk. I was holding in my hand a letter telling about her day, her family, the weather, her friends she had been with and ending with asking about my mother in law and her family. There were other letters and cards and two touched my heart as they were written by my two daughters, Stacy and Amy. The thing that was very meaningful to Jim was a large brown envelope addressed to his mom from his Uncle Jim, the uncle he is named after. His uncle was in the Army and had sent his mom a linen handkerchief as her Christmas gift in 1943, four years before he was born.

 

I began to think about how we have lost the art of letter writing. Holding a letter written by a loved one, seeing their writing, being blessed again by their encouraging words, or laughing at something funny they wrote is something we miss with text messages, facebook status', and email. These forms of communication are great but I am thankful for cards and letters that I can read over and over... and remember.

 

 

 

 

She continues to touch lives...

 

This is one of my favorite pictures of my daughter Amy. 

It was taken in Honduras in 1998, just weeks before she went home to the Lord. She loved children, so it seems so natural to see her with these little ones. I love the smiles on all their faces! I thank the Lord for the opportunity He gave her to go to Honduras.  She is still touching lives there with a scholarship we give each year in her memory. This year we are so thrilled to have enough money to present two scholarships of $1,000 each to two graduates of Ruach International Christian Academy in Comayagua, Honduras. This graduation and presentation will take place Sunday evening. This year they have arranged it so that we that cannot be there can watch it live. I can hardly wait to see the surprised faces when the names of the scholarship winners are announced!

 

Scholarship time...

Each year we give a scholarship in memory of our daughter Amy. Jim will be traveling to Honduras this month to make the presentation to a senior in Ruach International Christian Academy. To know we are blessing a young person that might not be able to attend college without this help is so wonderful. We could never thank our friends and family enough for helping make this happen. We are so glad we have been able to keep in touch with some of the students that have received scholarships!

 

My sister, Stephanie and Jim presenting last year's scholarship

Amy Elizabeth Pack Memorial Scholarship

 Last year we presented a $1,000 scholarship to Pedro Paul Luna Aguilar from Ruach International Christian Academy. He is currently attending college in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

We love hearing back from the students that have been presented this scholarship and see their dream for an education coming true. For example, two years ago we presented two scholarships which went to Gerson Acosta and Johany Acosta. Today they are both in medical school in Tegucigalpa.  Another young man named Carlos is also a med student in Tegucigalpa.  Celestino Garcia is a senior at ORU this year and was just selected as the $20,000 Whole Person Scholarship Winner from ORU. This scholarship program has been established to recognize those students who are well-rounded and dream of furthering their education.

We are excited to be able to present another scholarship this year to a graduating senior from Ruach International Christian Academy. Jim will be attending this graduation and presenting the scholarship.

Helping another young person fulfill their dream is a blessing to us, as is keeping Amy’s life story and testimony alive!

 

 

Friends and Family

Jim had a meeting in Minneapolis and because it was so close to our friends Sally and Ron's house I went with him.

It is wonderful to be with long time friends that you feel so comfortable with. We laughed together, cried together, and talked and talked.  One day Ron walked in the room and reminded us how many words women had and he was sure were were using all of them. We were making up for all the days, months, years we are not together.

 As we sat by the fire visiting that first morning we looked outside and saw snowflakes!

 

 

 

 

When we were on the plane flying home I could not help but think of this verse as we looked out the window. 

 

 The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Psalm 19:1

 

 

 

 

 While we were gone, Colette and Ashlynn's school had the children dress as their favorite book character and bring that book to school. I am so glad both mothers sent me pictures of the girls!

Colette dressed as Kaya, one of the American Girl dolls.

She carried the book that was her story.

 

 

Ashlynn was Angelina Ballerina.  Angelina is a is a ballerina that is a mouse!

Ashlynn made the cutest little mouse.  

 

 

I am thankful for the opportunity to visit our friends

and thankful to come back home to family! 

Look forward to this all year!

We went on our yearly family vacation the end of September.  I look forward to this get-away all year. This year I had a special visit from a sweet friend I had lost touch with. We were stationed together in the Army for two years with Carol and Gene and after some years, lost touch with them. I had tried to find them without success but with Facebook and a mutual friend she contacted me. We were very sad to learn of her husband's death just months ago. I was thrilled that we would only be an hour away from her our first night.  She and I had a wonderful visit and plan to stay in touch.  

 

Jim and I woke early one morning. 

We watched the sun rise and took a walk.

 

 

 

Lots of fun on the beach!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dinner fun with family

Having a lunchable meant she always had something she liked to eat

 

We ate at one of our favorite restaurants...Cozmos

 

 

 

 

 

At McGuire's people sign dollars and staple them to the wall!

 

 

 

Everyone looked forward to the nights Stacy and Ashlynn made cookies for us 

 

 

 We made lots of memories and had a wonderful week!

 

New school year for two darlings...

Our cute granddaughter, Ashlynn, started Kindergarten this year. Her mom said she was so excited she was up at 5:00 that first morning!

 

 

 

 

 

I have taken care of Colette since she was 4 mo. old.  She started 2nd grade this year.  I love this picture of her and her sweet sister, Sabrina.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had fun picking up both girls from school on their second day!

(sun was in their eyes)

 

 

I am thankful for these two little girls!  They both make me smile and bring me happiness!

 

 

Cute poems were part of who she was

 

 

Fourteen years have gone by since our precious daughter went home to the Lord.

in memory of Amy Elizabeth

 

As I was thinking about her this week I went to a folder we have that holds some poems she wrote.  She had a great sense of humor and some of the poems really make you smile. 

This one was written about her Daddy, who was on a mission trip in Africa. This trip was one of his first since becoming Missions director for Life Outreach, International. She gave it to him when he returned.

It is one of my favorites. 

 

My Daddy Went to Africa

 

My Daddy went to Africa

And didn't take a gun.

If an elephant's after him,

Will he know to run?

 

Johnny said there's tigers there.

They just roam around the place.

And if you hear their stomachs growling,

You'd better hide your face.

 

Sally said her grandpa went

And met a crocodile.

He tried to take its picture,

But he refused to smile.

 

Billy said I better pray,

'Cause it's always night and never day.

The Indians come and tie you up,

Cook you for breakfast, and drink you out of a cup.

 

I told them that they all were silly,

and my Daddy would be just fine,

Because he was taking Bibles to the children,

So they could know about Christ.

 

There'd probably be no elephants, tigers, or Indians,

But I know if there were, he'll be safe because his journey's just begun.

 

 

It could get boring sometimes when she was in the hospital.  She wrote this one day during one of those times. I have typed it just as she wrote it.  I love it too!

 

hello

i'm joe.

this is

my dog

wiggles.

when my

dog wiggles

his tail

waggles.

wiggle's,

i love you.

 

Today, as every day, I thank the Lord for His gift to us of Amy!

 

 

 

Week-end of shower and friends...

Shawna and I had fun planning a brunch baby shower for our friend, Monica!  We were happy to have help from our friend, Teresa and Shawna's mother in law, Cheryl. Monica's nursery theme is Safari so we kept that in mind as we decorated.

P for Baby Preston

Every safari needs a jeep!

Thanks to my very talented son-in-law, Austin

Vanilla, Chocolate, and Lemon Cake balls!

Homemade...by Shawna

We also had donut holes.

And yes, that is the cutest diaper cake

that Shawna also made!

Aren't these little fruit cups and small spoons cute?

Monica received many nice gifts and baby Preston will look adorable in his cute outfits.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the evening our dear friends, Chad and Heather, along with three of their four children arrived for the night.  They live in Japan and are in the states visiting family and friends. We had a wonderful time with them.

Noa loved playing our piano

Lili's first time to break an egg...

She then cooked our scrambled eggs for breakfast!

Good bye till next summer

I am so grateful for the friends the Lord brings into our lives...

some close by and some far away...but all always in our hearts!