We have family friends who have been in the process of adopting two 1-year-olds from Haiti since September. They were not expecting to get their little ones for another year, maybe two. But because of the circumstances, the adoption process has been sped up.
My sister sent me to this news clip featuring Kristin and her husband, Mike, who have been told to pack their bags and be ready to meet up with their kiddos any day now.
Kristin is the reason I went to Gustavus College. Which cracks me up now...that I based my college decision so solely on this one person. But as you can see in this broadcast, she and her husband are pretty great people, opening their home to care for the orphan.
To watch this segment, click here.
recruiting for summer staff
I am out and about the next few weeks recruiting my camp counselors in student unions across Nebraska, looking for some faithful college students who love kids, love the Lord and love the outdoors. If you know anyone who would fit this role, send them my way. Carol Joy Holling is one exceptional camp and I have one sweet job, getting to guide 70 creative souls all summer long...Also, if you know of any potential campers, we have camps for 1st-12th graders and family camps. All the info is up now at http://www.nlom.org/ And if you go to this site, you may just find a video of me in perfect Camp Skit form. All I can say is that it was fun to make, and seemed funny at the time...
And here's a link to the video of our summer staff from 2009. It's nine minutes, and I think it gets the most fun toward minute three, so let it buffer and fly to minute three for the music video part. I hadn't seen this video since the last day of camp, and it was SO GREAT to watch it today, remembering the incredible work we do during the summer at Carol Joy Holling and getting fired up for another summer ahead. I'm so excited to see who God will call to serve on our 2010 Summer Staff and the lives that are transformed because that's just what God does at camp.
ode to pioneer woman
Last week our lunchroom conversation was over how we learned how to bake and cook. I told a story about how at some point in middle school I tried making cookies from The Immanuel Lutheran Church cookbook. This cookbook is comprised of classic recipes gathered from the female icons in my grandma's home town. I followed the recipe word for word and cried when the cookie dough turned into a rock. My mom said, "did you cream the sugar and butter?" I replied,"what do you mean cream the sugar and butter?" "Well, did you beat the butter, add the sugar and then the eggs one at a time?" "No! I did what the recipe said! I just put all the ingredients in the mixer together!"
My mom laughed and I was mad, "Why don't they write step-by-step instructions! How are you supposed to know to cream the sugar and butter?! Why didn't Hazel Linder write out how to make her cookies?!" And then we had a calm conversation about how this is how everyone learns how to bake...
There were other stories shared and then I brought up the brand new Pioneer Woman Cookbook my sister got me for Christmas (pure joy when I unwrapped this unexpected gift.) On every page of this cookbook, Ree (Pioneer Woman), shows in photographs every step of every recipe. Some pages have 12-20 pictures. And I adore it. Because I am a visual learner. Pioneer Woman Cookbook is quite the opposite from the ladies of Immanuel Lutheran who assume everyone knows what temperature bread bakes at. Though I must say the ladies of Immanuel are the actual, true Pioneer Women in the world, baking their bread, cookies and swedish tea rings each day because it wasn't an option to buy these things.
My friend Deb (regarding the Pioneer step-by-step cookbook) said, "that's what we need for that cheeseburger soup recipe!"
Hold the phone. Did you just say cheeseburger soup? Because this is my favorite soup of all time. Made by our wonderful friend Julie, Rory and I salivate frequently as we talk about this delicious cheesy soup. I have always wanted the recipe and never remember to get it from Julie. It's from Taste of Home, a personal favorite anyway, but in my mind, it's from Julie. I was overjoyed when Deb told me she had the recipe and would bring it for me.
And then she threw out the challenge. "Becca! You should document your cheeseburger soup making like Pioneer Woman! Just break it down and show pictures on your blog, step by step."
The recipe appeared on my desk on Monday. I went to the grocery store immediately after work and kept my camera handy.
So here it is: The recipe, and then the pictures. Long live Pioneer Woman.
Cheeseburger Soup
1 lb ground beef
3/4 cup chopped onion
3/4 cup shredded carrots
3/4 cup diced celery
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
4 tablespoons butter or margarine, divided
4 cups chicken broth
4 cups peeled and diced potatoes
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
8 ounces process American cheese cubed (I think regular cheddar would be better)
1 1/2 cups milk
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup sour cream
In a 3 quart saucepan, brown beef; drain and set aside.
In the same saucepan, saute onion, carrots, celery, basil and parsley in 1 tablespoon butter until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes.
Add broth, potatoes and beef; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10-12 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
Meanwhile, in a small skillet, melt remaining butter. Add flour; cook and stir for 3-5 minutes or until bubbly. Add to soup; bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes. Reduce head to low.
Add cheese, milk, salt and pepper; cook and stir until cheese melts. Remove from the heat; blend in sour cream. Yield 8 servings (2 1/4 quarts)
Clearly it's not the healthiest of all soups...but it is worth every single calorie. Enjoy!
My mom laughed and I was mad, "Why don't they write step-by-step instructions! How are you supposed to know to cream the sugar and butter?! Why didn't Hazel Linder write out how to make her cookies?!" And then we had a calm conversation about how this is how everyone learns how to bake...
There were other stories shared and then I brought up the brand new Pioneer Woman Cookbook my sister got me for Christmas (pure joy when I unwrapped this unexpected gift.) On every page of this cookbook, Ree (Pioneer Woman), shows in photographs every step of every recipe. Some pages have 12-20 pictures. And I adore it. Because I am a visual learner. Pioneer Woman Cookbook is quite the opposite from the ladies of Immanuel Lutheran who assume everyone knows what temperature bread bakes at. Though I must say the ladies of Immanuel are the actual, true Pioneer Women in the world, baking their bread, cookies and swedish tea rings each day because it wasn't an option to buy these things.
My friend Deb (regarding the Pioneer step-by-step cookbook) said, "that's what we need for that cheeseburger soup recipe!"
Hold the phone. Did you just say cheeseburger soup? Because this is my favorite soup of all time. Made by our wonderful friend Julie, Rory and I salivate frequently as we talk about this delicious cheesy soup. I have always wanted the recipe and never remember to get it from Julie. It's from Taste of Home, a personal favorite anyway, but in my mind, it's from Julie. I was overjoyed when Deb told me she had the recipe and would bring it for me.
And then she threw out the challenge. "Becca! You should document your cheeseburger soup making like Pioneer Woman! Just break it down and show pictures on your blog, step by step."
The recipe appeared on my desk on Monday. I went to the grocery store immediately after work and kept my camera handy.
So here it is: The recipe, and then the pictures. Long live Pioneer Woman.
Cheeseburger Soup
1 lb ground beef
3/4 cup chopped onion
3/4 cup shredded carrots
3/4 cup diced celery
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
4 tablespoons butter or margarine, divided
4 cups chicken broth
4 cups peeled and diced potatoes
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
8 ounces process American cheese cubed (I think regular cheddar would be better)
1 1/2 cups milk
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup sour cream
In a 3 quart saucepan, brown beef; drain and set aside.
In the same saucepan, saute onion, carrots, celery, basil and parsley in 1 tablespoon butter until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes.
Add broth, potatoes and beef; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10-12 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
Meanwhile, in a small skillet, melt remaining butter. Add flour; cook and stir for 3-5 minutes or until bubbly. Add to soup; bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes. Reduce head to low.
Add cheese, milk, salt and pepper; cook and stir until cheese melts. Remove from the heat; blend in sour cream. Yield 8 servings (2 1/4 quarts)
Clearly it's not the healthiest of all soups...but it is worth every single calorie. Enjoy!
margaret harrington
My mom wrote a comforting email to me yesterday and she signed it with these beautiful words. I actually could take a deeper breath after reading this line. And I spent some time thinking through the beautiful, undeserved reality of eternal life.
I still can't imagine what Renee is going through. But I do know that she and Ben serve a loving God who has promised eternal life for all who believe in Christ Jesus. And in Him alone is peace that passes all understanding.
I still can't imagine what Renee is going through. But I do know that she and Ben serve a loving God who has promised eternal life for all who believe in Christ Jesus. And in Him alone is peace that passes all understanding.
heavy heart
I have been reading articles all day long about Benjamin Larson. Ben was a seminarian at Wartburg seminary, finishing up his senior year. He and his wife, Renee, were in Haiti for J-term as Renee gathered information for her thesis and Ben led workshops for lay leaders of a new church. Ben's cousin was also there, teaching the future leaders of this church.
When the earthquake hit, Ben's cousin and his wife Renee were able to get out of the building they were staying in. But Ben was on the third floor, the building collapsed and he hasn't been seen since the quake.
Renee and I worked at Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp together and just this past year we reconnected when she and Ben were in Lincoln for their seminary internships. We were so excited when we bumped into each other because we were each the first person we "knew" in Nebraska. We commented on how odd it is to move somewhere so new and never bump into to anyone, because you don't know anyone to bump into.
Renee and Ben are salt of the earth people. Just as good as it gets. My heart is so sad for Renee. How on earth do you live through this horrific nightmare? How do you deal with the horrors you saw, terror you felt, unbearable sorrow you now live with? I have been watching footage of the earthquake all week, but hearing this news this morning pretty much knocked the wind out of me. A hundred thousand lives are a hundred thousand human souls, all loved and mourned by someone. It's just too much.
Please pray for comfort and love to surround Renee and all of Ben's family.
You can read more about Ben in the following article:
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/US/01/14/haiti.seminarian.killed/
This link is from the church Ben's mom is a pastor at: http://www.flcduluth.org/
When the earthquake hit, Ben's cousin and his wife Renee were able to get out of the building they were staying in. But Ben was on the third floor, the building collapsed and he hasn't been seen since the quake.
Renee and I worked at Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp together and just this past year we reconnected when she and Ben were in Lincoln for their seminary internships. We were so excited when we bumped into each other because we were each the first person we "knew" in Nebraska. We commented on how odd it is to move somewhere so new and never bump into to anyone, because you don't know anyone to bump into.
Renee and Ben are salt of the earth people. Just as good as it gets. My heart is so sad for Renee. How on earth do you live through this horrific nightmare? How do you deal with the horrors you saw, terror you felt, unbearable sorrow you now live with? I have been watching footage of the earthquake all week, but hearing this news this morning pretty much knocked the wind out of me. A hundred thousand lives are a hundred thousand human souls, all loved and mourned by someone. It's just too much.
Please pray for comfort and love to surround Renee and all of Ben's family.
You can read more about Ben in the following article:
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/US/01/14/haiti.seminarian.killed/
This link is from the church Ben's mom is a pastor at: http://www.flcduluth.org/
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