Newletter Time!

Ethan is leaving this afternoon on a long airplane ride to Northern Romania.  He will begin a three year relationship with the pastors in that region teaching them and training them in Bible, theology and preaching.  As I am sitting down to write a newsletter, I realized there are several friends, relatives, and acquaintances who may not receive our email prayer requests.  We send these out every time Ethan travels and periodically throughout the year.

I invite you to sign up today with your most current email address  Please click this link and complete the simple form to sign up for our prayer newsletters.  Thank you!

Romania Monastery Building, 2015

Look at the Birds of the Air: A Prayer by Elysia

Ok, Jesus, I am looking!  This morning I asked you to send the birds back to our bird feeders.  I have been missing them.  The weather has been so dull and overcast recently.  The cold weather has never kept the birds away from our woodsy yard, but for some reason they have gone.  Maybe the reason was that this was for Your glory: in answer to a simple prayer.  

The weather is so cold today, but the sun is shining.  As I was eating lunch and looking out our bay windows, I saw my little friends, two chickadees--my favorite kind of bird!!!  Chickadees are wonderful because they chirp and play and eat, even during the cold of winter in Minnesota.  I was so happy that you answered my prayer that I ran to get a camera.  The chickadees had left already, but I saw another of my well-like birds, a nuthatch.  Thank you, Jesus! Amen.

Merry Christmas to You!

And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7

“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. Luke 2:14-20

Norwegian Fruit Soup Recipe (Sut Suppe)

Becoming a working mom has been an adjustment in my life.  Since September, I have been teaching Title I Math and Reading, teaching a 3-4th grade Social Studies Class, and am now working on my artwork for sale.  This leaves much less time for the homemaking treats I enjoyed working on in my spare time.  Today Amy and I have the day off from school for Christmas Vacation!  After our shopping we decided to bake some more goodies for Christmas.  Amy mixed up a delicious Scandinavian Almond Cake recipe, and my project included boiling potatoes for lefse and mixing up some Christmas Sut Suppe (my husband's favorite Christmas treat).  I am recording the recipe for your enjoyment and for posterity's sake.

Cutting up Prunes for Sut Suppe recipe

Sut Suppe / Frukt Suppe Recipe
Dictated in the exact words of my father-in-law, Luther

1-2 lb. prunes
1 lb. raisins
dried fruit (apricots, apples, pears)
1.3 c. tapioca
red hots, opt.
red food coloring, opt.
cinnamon
nutmeg

"Cut dried fruit into smaller pieces and soak in water for a while before adding to the other stuff.  To the dried fruit mexture, add water enough to cover the fruit. Gradually heat so it comes to a boil (watch so it doesn't burn).  When it gets toward the boiling point add ⅓ cup tapioca.  This serves as a thickening agent.  Let it cook slowly for a while - perhaps 15 minutes.  Add some cinnamon and nutmeg to suit your taste.  If you have cinnamon candies, they can be used (provide red color and flavor).  Add red food coloring if you wish to give it a nicer color.  Keep stirring quite regularly as the tapioca will settle to bottom and burn if not watched.  The put in jars like for canning or otherwise store in fridge and enjoy!  A blob of true whipped cream on top is very becoming to this delectable dish that surely was developed in the kitchen of King Harold the Holy."

Hymn of the Week: All Your Works Are Good

All Your Works Are Good (Psalm 104) by Sandra McCracken

Here is a modern hymn for y'all:

All Your Works Are Good
Written by Sandra McCracken, Jill Phillips and Julie Lee

The moon it marks the seasons The sun knows when to go down The ocean holds its creatures The river knows its bounds
The birds, the trees, the cattle And all things great and small We find our place in creation Your hand sustains it all
Chorus
All your works are good
All your works are good
From everlasting, to everlasting All your works are good

He makes the clouds his chariot He wraps himself in light
He stretches out the heavens, like a tent across the sky
He knows our every burden When darkness veils our eyes He comes with spring returning, Bringing death to life (Chorus)
As we labor until evening There’s a message on the wind Be still and know your maker Be satisfied in Him (Chorus) 

© 2015 Drink Your Tea (ASCAP) / Sill House Road Music (SESAC) / The Gullahorns Music (ASCAP)

Happy Harvest Day

Cosmos, Zinnias, and Marigolds

Three types of tomatoes

the BIGGEST tomato!

The tomatoes are starting to come in from our garden.  Though summer is winding down, the garden keeps on giving with lots of harvest coming in the fall.  Today I picked beets and pickled them as well as many tomatoes that are beginning to ripen.  The deer are awful, so I thought I would pick some of them before the deer eat them.  They ripen just fine indoors.  One tomato was half the size of Amy's head!

One of the greatest pleasures I have enjoyed this year from the garden are the annual flowers I included amongst the vegetables.  Marigolds, zinnias, cosmos, gladiolas, and sunflowers (we never saw them grow very much since the deer ate them off the stem) brightened our senses.  Glory to God, our Creator - a creative Genius!

Lots of Love,

Elysia

Psalm of Praise by Lizzy

I'm Never Alone

words by Elizabeth Larson

When I fall You pick me up
When I thirst You fill my cup
You always are near...Jesus
You will comfort in the troubled times
You will calm my restless mind
You always will hear...Jesus

I'm never alone
With You I'm at home
God I follow You
You'll see me through
When I need You You'll come
You are God's only Son
I'm never alone

When I call You'll come to me
You washed my sins and I am set free
I thank You God...

When I call You'll hear my cry
You're worth more than what I can buy
I will praise You all my days
You're prefect in all Your ways
You're more than enough