Yes, I know you haven't heard from me in some time. It's not that I don't have anything to say (no comments). It's because I haven't made the time to sit and write. Putting thoughts down on paper (or screen) just doesn't come naturally and so often I procrastinate in beginning a new post.
Right now, I am sitting in a place where I can see the bright sunlight through the brand new birch leaves, and it's 9:25 pm. What a glorious sight! We've spent the last week working along side our First Baptist Ocala, FL family in an effort to spring clean the camp. The group was such a blessing! They cleaned every building from top to bottom, split more than a year's worth of wood, and raked more leaves than I even care to talk about. In fact, I'm afraid if I truly mention how many loads of leaves we haul no one would ever come help at the camp. There is really a method to our madness of "raking the forest", as Andy says. It's a way to decrease our mosquito population and help create a fire protection barrier around our camp building, but more than anything, it makes the place look like a well-kept, well-loved park.
My body aches in places that I didn't even know would ache after such a hard week of work, but my spirit is revived and ready for the busy summer. Not only did our Ocala family bring hands to help around the camp, but they brought the fellowship we needed to fuel up our tanks. It was a week of sightseeing, singing around the campfire (thanks to David), creating new variations of S'mores, game nights, and tons of fun and laughter. So many special memories and moments!
If all has gone well, the Ocala team is now in the air heading back to the sunny south. I am praying for safe travels for these dear people. I am also praying that their tired bodies will get the rest they need because many of them have to be back to work Tuesday morning. I am also praying that I'll see them again soon because I'm already missing them terribly. They're all a part of our camp family now...whether they want to be or not, and they always have a home in Alaska as long as I am here. What a wonderful week! What a wonderful week of blessings! What a wonderful God we serve!
Night all!
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Monday, November 1, 2010
Lots of Eggs, Milk, Grey Hairs, and Sweat= One Banana Pudding
Ever searched for recipes on the Internet? I have! We are always looking for new food items to add to the camp menu. You know, to change things up every once in awhile. Don't get me wrong, our camp food is wonderful, (That's why I am an official member of Weight Watchers!) but it gets old when you eat it week after week. Can I get an "AMEN" from the summer missionaries and volunteers out there?
Usually, I try the recipe out at home before cooking it for a group. Not really sure why I didn't do that with the banana pudding recipe?!? I've made banana pudding before, but never for 50-75 people with one recipe. The recipe looked easy enough. Sure, I could do this...with no problems. RIGHT!
The day began as most days go in the camp kitchen. Breakfast was prepared, served, and cleaned up without a hitch. Now it was time to start preparing the final meal of the retreat. Walter's pot of vegetable beef soup simmered on the stove as I began gathering ingredients for the banana pudding. Everything was measured and neatly organized on the prep table, and the vanilla wafers and bananas were anxiously awaiting for the yummy pudding to be prepared and poured over them.
The recipe called for 12 egg yolks. I had a bit of a problem separating the yolks and whites and finally decided to just put the entire egg in the recipe...all 12 eggs minus the shells! Okay, the really good cooks reading this are already shaking their head. 12 eggs, a gallon of milk, butter, sugar and flour in the specified amounts were placed on low heat. The recipe instructions were to stir constantly until thickened. An hour later, I'm still stirring and this stuff is not thickening. Actually, it looks like it's separating! OH No! Do I have enough eggs and milk to do this over again? More importantly, do I have enough time with lunch set for 12:30...being that it is 11:30 now? The panic begins, the sweat starts to bead up, and the grey hairs begin to multiply! And then Walter walks in to the kitchen...
He noticed my stress monitor escalating and stepped in to help. We rounded up another dozen eggs and gallon of milk, and began the process all over again. This time I only used the egg yolks! I followed the recipe to the T. 12:15 and I'm still stirring. This stuff is not getting thick. 12:25 and Walter is already bringing in the canned pudding to pour over the vanilla wafers and bananas that have been sitting in that pan for a long time. 12:30, the leader of the men's retreat checks in and asks if lunch is still on for 1 pm. Can you say relief? Can you say answered prayer? We decided to hold off on the canned pudding and continue our journey with this concoction on the stove. At 12:45, we decided to pour the mixture over the wafers and bananas and take our chances. Praise God, the pudding immediately started to thicken and the men loved it!
So, what did I learn from this experience?
1) Never use a recipe for a group that you haven't tested in your kitchen first. Okay, I'm going to say this again.... never use a recipe for a group until you've tested it first!
2) Always have enough ingredients to prepare the recipe twice.
3) Be grateful for Walter and Pam and remember that they are the official camp cooks!
4) Serving others with love may sometimes mean panic and a few more grey hairs.
5) Sticking to something I know a little more about (cleaning) and letting the professionals run the kitchen make me very happy and less stressed!
Can't let you leave without a bathroom project update! The dining room table is now our medicine cabinet, and we are all using the same bathroom... one-at-a-time, mind you! The sheet rock mud has been applied, dried, sanded, and the paint has been purchased. Yes, that event took a trip to Home Depot, then to Lowe's, and back to Home Depot...and we're still not sure the paint is exactly the color we asked for. May have to make another trip to Home Depot tomorrow to fix that problem! Thanks to those who've made suggestions on colors/decor for the remodeling job. I even have a contractor/friend on speed dial in case we need him to rush over and either save my marriage or referee the fight-in-progress. Good news, we haven't even had harsh words over this... yet!
Hope you have a great week!
Usually, I try the recipe out at home before cooking it for a group. Not really sure why I didn't do that with the banana pudding recipe?!? I've made banana pudding before, but never for 50-75 people with one recipe. The recipe looked easy enough. Sure, I could do this...with no problems. RIGHT!
The day began as most days go in the camp kitchen. Breakfast was prepared, served, and cleaned up without a hitch. Now it was time to start preparing the final meal of the retreat. Walter's pot of vegetable beef soup simmered on the stove as I began gathering ingredients for the banana pudding. Everything was measured and neatly organized on the prep table, and the vanilla wafers and bananas were anxiously awaiting for the yummy pudding to be prepared and poured over them.
The recipe called for 12 egg yolks. I had a bit of a problem separating the yolks and whites and finally decided to just put the entire egg in the recipe...all 12 eggs minus the shells! Okay, the really good cooks reading this are already shaking their head. 12 eggs, a gallon of milk, butter, sugar and flour in the specified amounts were placed on low heat. The recipe instructions were to stir constantly until thickened. An hour later, I'm still stirring and this stuff is not thickening. Actually, it looks like it's separating! OH No! Do I have enough eggs and milk to do this over again? More importantly, do I have enough time with lunch set for 12:30...being that it is 11:30 now? The panic begins, the sweat starts to bead up, and the grey hairs begin to multiply! And then Walter walks in to the kitchen...
He noticed my stress monitor escalating and stepped in to help. We rounded up another dozen eggs and gallon of milk, and began the process all over again. This time I only used the egg yolks! I followed the recipe to the T. 12:15 and I'm still stirring. This stuff is not getting thick. 12:25 and Walter is already bringing in the canned pudding to pour over the vanilla wafers and bananas that have been sitting in that pan for a long time. 12:30, the leader of the men's retreat checks in and asks if lunch is still on for 1 pm. Can you say relief? Can you say answered prayer? We decided to hold off on the canned pudding and continue our journey with this concoction on the stove. At 12:45, we decided to pour the mixture over the wafers and bananas and take our chances. Praise God, the pudding immediately started to thicken and the men loved it!
So, what did I learn from this experience?
1) Never use a recipe for a group that you haven't tested in your kitchen first. Okay, I'm going to say this again.... never use a recipe for a group until you've tested it first!
2) Always have enough ingredients to prepare the recipe twice.
3) Be grateful for Walter and Pam and remember that they are the official camp cooks!
4) Serving others with love may sometimes mean panic and a few more grey hairs.
5) Sticking to something I know a little more about (cleaning) and letting the professionals run the kitchen make me very happy and less stressed!
Can't let you leave without a bathroom project update! The dining room table is now our medicine cabinet, and we are all using the same bathroom... one-at-a-time, mind you! The sheet rock mud has been applied, dried, sanded, and the paint has been purchased. Yes, that event took a trip to Home Depot, then to Lowe's, and back to Home Depot...and we're still not sure the paint is exactly the color we asked for. May have to make another trip to Home Depot tomorrow to fix that problem! Thanks to those who've made suggestions on colors/decor for the remodeling job. I even have a contractor/friend on speed dial in case we need him to rush over and either save my marriage or referee the fight-in-progress. Good news, we haven't even had harsh words over this... yet!
Hope you have a great week!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
What Was I Thinking?
Yesterday, I started ripping... more like scraping wallpaper off the bathroom walls. What was I thinking? Actually, a week or so ago, I began the job. As I stood in the shower, all I could see were the curling edges of the old paper. Paper that we inherited when we moved to the camp five years ago. It was pretty paper, but those curling edges were getting on my nerves. So... I started ripping! Well, today about 98% of the wallpaper is off, and 100% of everything that was in the bathroom is now on my bed.
My questions now...What to do next? Decorating is not a strength and I have no idea what I want this room to look like when it is finished. Any suggestions? Thank goodness for long Alaskan winters. I'll have plenty of time to figure it out.
My questions now...What to do next? Decorating is not a strength and I have no idea what I want this room to look like when it is finished. Any suggestions? Thank goodness for long Alaskan winters. I'll have plenty of time to figure it out.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Definition of "Sherry Clean"
I guess I need to explain the term "Sherry Clean". When we first arrived at camp in 2006, I implemented a pretty intense cleaning regiment. Just wanted to make sure that the camp was as clean and tidy as it could possibly be. The joke started out that there were two types of clean... clean and then there was "Sherry" clean. By the end of the summer, the joke turned into a personal attack. I must admit that I cried more in that first summer at the camp than I have in all my life put together. My mind and heart were so torn. How could I love this place and the ministry so much, but feel so defeated? How could I have been so convinced that this was EXACTLY where God wanted our family, but feel such doubt in making the 5,000+ mile move across country. How could I ever share this heartbreak with my family and friends? What would they think of my weakness? So...I handled the situation by not telling them. Actually, they will hear about it for the first time if they read this entry.
Well, I made it through the first summer, but the wounds of my heart were still open and vulnerable. I praise God that He gave me a quiet winter to heal. I spent a lot of time thinking, praying, and studying. I don't think I'd ever read my Bible as much! I was searching for a way to "clean" my wounds, heal, and continue to serve others through the camp ministry... and my God did just that!
"Sherry Clean" is still a very common term around camp and known by anyone who has ever volunteered at the camp. Each volunteer leaves with the certification of being " Sherry Clean" machines!
I know the camp will never be a 5 star resort, but it can sure be as clean as one. Now, I must admit that this rule does not apply to my house. It's never "Sherry" clean! As I write this blog, I see rooms that are a bit dusty, cluttered, and in need of some "Sherry" clean attention. Maybe later.
I am thankful that I can now laugh and joke again about "Sherry Clean". It's a term that means so much to me. It reminds me of the rough road I traveled in the summer of 2006, but more importantly, it reminds me of how God cleaned it all up and made me a much stronger person.
Have you had your "Sherry Clean" moments? Share those with me.
Remember... God is your friend... so is Clorox!
Well, I made it through the first summer, but the wounds of my heart were still open and vulnerable. I praise God that He gave me a quiet winter to heal. I spent a lot of time thinking, praying, and studying. I don't think I'd ever read my Bible as much! I was searching for a way to "clean" my wounds, heal, and continue to serve others through the camp ministry... and my God did just that!
"Sherry Clean" is still a very common term around camp and known by anyone who has ever volunteered at the camp. Each volunteer leaves with the certification of being " Sherry Clean" machines!
I know the camp will never be a 5 star resort, but it can sure be as clean as one. Now, I must admit that this rule does not apply to my house. It's never "Sherry" clean! As I write this blog, I see rooms that are a bit dusty, cluttered, and in need of some "Sherry" clean attention. Maybe later.
I am thankful that I can now laugh and joke again about "Sherry Clean". It's a term that means so much to me. It reminds me of the rough road I traveled in the summer of 2006, but more importantly, it reminds me of how God cleaned it all up and made me a much stronger person.
Have you had your "Sherry Clean" moments? Share those with me.
Remember... God is your friend... so is Clorox!
An Attempt to Stay in Touch.. with Reality and the World
Welcome to "Sherry Clean"!
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