The Event ~ Making German Garlic Sausage

Some German Russian family traditions just keep on going strong.  Specifically, making our own garlic sausage. 

When I married into this family in 1970, I learned alot about being self-sufficient.  We raised and butchered our own chickens, we gathered eggs, we milked cows, we froze pickup loads of fresh corn, did alot of canning,  stomped our own sauerkraut, and made our own garlic sausage.  Traditions in the family that kept going for a long time. 

Last night we made garlic sausage.  We do this about once a year, usually whenever we send one of our own market steers to the meat processors.  We put some of our fresh ground hamburger with some fresh ground pork, add some garlic salt, salt and pepper, and run it through the old German sausage stuffer.  Out comes rings and rolls of garlic sausage held together by pork intestinal casings (cleaned of course!).

It tastes so good fresh as we fry up several sample patties in an effort to get just the right amount of seasonings.  Adding about 25 pound packages of fresh sausage to the freezer is just another lesson in self-sufficiency ~ and eating good!

We enjoy getting out the old sausage stuffer.  This stuffer belonged to Tim's Grandpa Stricker, was passed on to Tim's Dad, and now we have it.  It has certainly stood the test of time through the last 80 years.

Perhaps the tradition will continue if the sausage stuffer continues to stay in the family and get passed down from generation to generation.  It is an event not to be lost through the years, but continued in the family history books!

The Event ~ Stop and Smell the Roses ~ and Everything Else

There are just certain things in God's magnificent creation that stirs the soul and makes me glad and thankful in the moment.  Certain things that make me realize how truly blessed I am to be able to recognize and enjoy the beauties that surround me.  Recognize is a key word, as so often life just zips by and if I'm not careful to "stop and smell the roses", I would miss so much of life.   True, some of these enjoyable moments are man-made, but all have their beginnings with God-created elements.  These magnificent simplicities of life must be pondered upon to be truly appreciated.  In no particular order, I appreciate

The colors of the sunrise and the sunset
The calm and quiet of a walk around the boundaries of the farm fields
The sun rays breaking through a cloudy sky
Standing atop a hill and being able to see miles and miles of beautiful landscape
The smell of  our few pine trees that sometimes reminds me of being in the mountains
Watching a gentle falling rain through the window
The aroma of opening a new can of coffee
Crawling into a bed just made with freshly washed sheets
Fresh baked bread hot from the oven and savoring the taste of the first warm slice
The colorful rainbow that arches over our farmland in the summer
Watching family kids of all ages play ball together in the yard
The red and black cattle dotting the green pastures around our home
Baby calves romping in a playful manner
The soft feel and quiet purr of a loveable cat in my lap
Identifying shapes in  fluffy cumulus clouds
Sharing coffee and conversation with friends with no time element
Snuggling up a freshly bathed baby in a soft towel
The scent of baby powder lavished on a freshly bathed baby
A new box of beautiful unused crayola crayons, and choosing that first color to use
Freshly polished hard wood floors
Harvesting abundant vegetables from the garden
A hug from a family member or friend
Listening to the sounds of the ocean the few times I have opportunity to be near the ocean
The white pigeons feasting on freshly turned soil in the fields of the valley
Cuddling with a grandchild and sharing a storybook
Sharing the breakfast table with my husband every morning

These are just some of the things in life that I appreciate in the moment.

The Event ~ Coloring Easter Eggs

One of the fun events of Easter that we have always enjoyed as a family is the coloring of Easter eggs.    Last night Tim and I, Cash and Annie enjoyed the quick few minutes it took to dye only a dozen eggs this year.  There is just something refreshing to eating a colored Easter egg.

Many traditions and practices have formed around Easter eggs. The coloring of eggs is an established art, and eggs are often dyed, painted, and otherwise decorated. Eggs were also used in various holiday games: parents would hide eggs for children to find, and children would roll eggs down hills. These practices live on in Easter egg hunts today. 

Unfortunately, I have no pictures of these eventful Easter egg coloring events when the kids were little.   As the kids got older, we continued to enjoy this special event.  Following are pictures of Janel, Alexis and Cash coloring eggs in 1993,  Cash and exchange student Daniel coloring eggs in 1996, and Jakob, Josh, and Jon  coloring eggs in 1998.  Notice they were without shirts on in the evening on the deck.  Must have been a beautiful spring, unlike the one we are experiencing this year. 

The Event ~ The Loss of an Artist Friend

Audrey Towater, 86, who spent more than 30 years painting scenes of real life including school classrooms, government, businesses and sporting events, died April 13.

I got to know Audrey quite well during  the 13 years I worked at the Chamber of Commerce.  She and I shared lunch several times, and she invited me to special art events in her home. 

In 1993 she painted our family portrait around my infamous dining room table.  She also gave one of her unique paintings to Alexis for her high school graduation.   Her eye for detail and faces was incredible as she enjoyed painting crowds of faces in real life settings.  She painted with her fingers, and to this day I remain amazed at how she could create such detail with her fingers! 

Audrey was  unique and somewhat excentric, but all who knew her knew she was kind, giving and repsected in the community.   I was blessed to call her my friend. 

By the 1980s she was well known both locally and nationally. Her pieces are part of private collections at the University of Nebraska, the Nebraska State Capitol, the Capitol Archives of the United States, the Denver Broncos Coaches Building in Denver, the U.S. Olympic Headquarters in Colorado Springs, the New York Stock Exchange and Cheyenne Frontier Days Museum in Cheyenne, Wyo., to name a few.

Towater was recognized for her art and had her work featured in many newspapers, magazines and advertisements.  Her piece titled “A Nation in Shock,” which followed the assassination attempt of Ronald Reagan, is now displayed in the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California.  Towater was painting for Congresswoman Virginia Smith in Washington, D.C., in one of the hearing rooms, and went in early to begin painting the background before anyone had arrived.

She was waiting for the members to arrive.  Then  president was shot, so no member ever arrived that day. So she packed up with an incomplete painting, went back to Nebraska, ended up giving the painting to the president.”  The piece about that fateful day showed the Capitol building through a window of a room containing nothing but empty black chairs.

She was a very unique artist.  Her vibrance in her life and in her artwork probably most accurately reflects who she was.
She will be missed. 

The Event - Easter

Easter is a joyous celebration in the lives of Christian believers.   A celebration of the life of our Lord and Savior.  Like other Christian holidays, it has rapidly gotten lost in the commercialism for retail to harvest big bucks from the consumer.  It won't surprise me if  certain movements will  insist on taking the cross out of Easter as they have already insisted on removing the nativity from Christmas, prayer from schools, the 10 Commandments from public display.  

On Easter Sunday, Christians celebrate the resurrection of the Lord, Jesus Christ.  Jesus came back to life, or was raised from the dead, three days after his death on the cross. As part of the Easter season, the death of Jesus Christ by crusifixion is commemorated on Good Friday,  always the Friday just before Easter. Through his death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus paid the penalty for sin, thus purchasing for all who believe in him, eternal life in Christ Jesus.

The biblical account of Jesus' death on the cross,  his burial and his resurrection or raising from the dead, can be found in the pages of the Bible in Matthew 27:27-28:8; Mark 15:16-16:19; Luke 23:26-24:35; and John 19:16-20:30.

As a family, we have always attended a sunrise service, usually at 6 or 7 a.m.,  shared breakfast with our church family in the church fellowship hall, and shared the rest of the day with family over a ham dinner.  This year will be no different.  

However, on Saturday we will enjoy the opportunity to attend "The Thorn"  with Cash and Annie.  This is a  dramatic portrayal of the passion of Jesus featuring live dance, music, acrobatics and special effects  A very huge and dynamic presentation.in Denver. 

Picture taken from cruise ship in February.  What an awesome God we serve!
  

My prayer is that all of my family and friends will know the joy of Easter in their heart, soul and mind.

The Event ~ Meal Time at Janel's

In early March Tim and I made another trip to Eagle, NE where Janel and Tim live with their seven robust children ~ my seven robust grandchildren.  ROBUST:  having or exibiting strength or vigorous health; rough; strongly formed.   Yep, robust is a good word to describe them.  The occasion was Joshua's confirmation.  It was good to be there and share this special day with him.

But there is something about going to Janel's house that ~ despite the hectic activity and anything but calming ~ is a feel of a healthy heartwarming home filled with love, exuberance and cherished family time.  Specifically:  meal time.  Amidst all the activity Janel releases her stress in the kitchen.  She is a darn good cook and her children and her husband know it, love it, enjoy it.  High on her priority list is sit down together family meals ~ whether it be breakfast, snacks, lunch or dinner.  It is together time. 

Even on school days, the children and mom and dad are at the breakfast table together.  Dinner is family time.  This is an experience that is nearly becoming a lost art in homes across the country.  But it is kept alive in the Andreasen home. 

Another practice in the Andreasen house is the red "You are Special" plate or the white "Celebrate" plate.  These plates are only used on special occasions only by the special celebrant.  Breakfast in bed is served on it every morning an Andreasen celebrates a birthday ~ child or mom or dad.  It gets used for birthday dinners, confirmations, first communions, and other days that are found to be special in the lives of one  of the Andreasens.  Certainly a tradition that will be a cherished memory as these children grow up and start traditions in their own homes.

Janel has a special way of making a special day very special in the lives of her children.  And she has a special way of making meal time a family time. 

She doesn't cut any corners when cooking for her family.  Eating at her house is an event ~ a very filling event!

The Event ~ Going Gently Through the Years

Years and years ago I heard a song sung at an anniversary celebration in our church in Bayard.  The song just spoke to me with its words ~ the message was so simple.   I have kept a copy of that song in my Bible ever since. 

I requested the song be sung at the confirmations of my daughter Alexis and my son Cash; again in church on graduation day for each of them.  All the grandchildren and great grandchildren that were present at my parents 50th wedding anniversary sang it together to them (after a quick 15 minute practice).    Actually, we didn't do a very good job, but it was the thought that counts.   It's a song I request to be sung at my own funeral - take note kids!

The song is titled "Go Gently Through the Years".  Now as I am writing this, I see the words and music are written by a lady whose last name is Rutledge.  Is this a coincidence or what???  Cash will be marrying a Rutledge  in two months!  The person who sang it at the above confirmations and graduations will also be singing at their wedding. 

1.  Go gently through the years, but go with strength.  Don't be ashamed of tears, of anger or of fears.  For they'r a part of you and you're alive.
2.  Go firmly through the night, but go in peace.  Know for yourself what's right, keep all your goals in sight.  For they're a part of you and you're alive.
3.  Walk bravely through each day, and go with God.  Show that you know the way, in things you do and say.  For they're a part of you and you're alive.
4.  Walk daily with your Lord, and walk in faith.  Meet Him in prayer each day, and He'll show you the way.  For He's a part of you and love you so.

The melody and the words are close to my heart and speak a truth that should be lived daily.  Blessings!

The Event - In Your New Home

I was rearranging the basement last weekend trying to get things back in order since the basement remodel job completed a month ago.  In the process, I bought two new heavy duty shelving units to help organize the stuff we need to keep in storage - like suitcases, ice cream maker, canning kettle, extra blankets, paint supplies, Christmas decor totes, etc. 

I came across a box of paraphernalia I still need to keep and go through - children's object lessons from my days as Sunday School Superintendent dating as far back as the late 70's and 80's when we still lived in Bayard and used again as Superintendent at Emmanuel Church in Scottsbluff. 

Anyway, on the top of all that stuff was a guest book and a card ~ from the  party Tim's parents hosted for us when we made that difficult move off the farm to the little house in the city (Scottsbluff).  They surprised us with a "we wish you well as you leave the farm and enter a new phase in your life" party.  The date was November 9, 1986.  They even had napkins printed for the occasion.

The napkins were imprinted with "I AM THE LORD, YOUR REDEEMER WHO LEADS YOU IN THE WAY YOU SHOULD GO."  Isaiah 48:17  followed by  "Best Wishes for the Strickers   November 9, 1986" 

Then the guest book held signatures of those present.  It brought tears to my eyes to remember back to that time, and the people who were so dear to us and cared enough to share with us in this traumatic relocation.  And then to realize that several of the people whose signatures appeared are no longer living here on earth.

The card also spoke to me, so much so, that I can't bring myself to toss it even now. 

A Wish for you in Your New Home
Every home where love abides and friendship is a guest
Is surely home sweet home and there the heart can rest.
May your new home be blessed with laughter and love
And all of the hppiness you're dreaming of.
May it always be filled with contentment and rest
And may friendship be always a favorite guest.

Best wishes from your friends in Bayard

This verse can apply to my home regardless whether it is old or new, regardless how long we have lived in a home.  It should apply to every home everywhere, but, alas, it doesn't.  But I can claim this message and again thank my friends for being a part of it ~ back then in 1986 and today as well.

This is but a small glance at a very cherished event in my history book.  This needed to be preserved in my blog book.

The Event ~ The Caribbean Cruise

The long-anticipated cruise that I surprised Tim with was awesome.  We thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.  We met some wonderful friends, the weather was great, the food fantastic, the fellowship amazing, the snorkeling awesome, the beaches relaxing.

This is the ship tendered at CocoCay Island.  We took tender boats the short distance to the island.  The other two islands we stopped at we docked.

I loved snorkeling.  What a magnificent underwater world!

                    Tim and I enjoyed riding the tidal waves several hundred feet out from the beach.

Sharing the breakfast table with new and different friends every day always provided good fellowship.

We enjoyed relaxing on the beaches and on the deck.  I think I enjoyed the sunbathing more than Tim.

I enjoyed the peach and rum drinks served on the decks.

I was just gutsy enough to try surfing the wave on the top deck of the ship.  Twice, in fact.  I don't think there were too many 61 year old grandma's that did this!  Both pictures below are me on the wave!

The dining rooms were magnificent!

The views from the islands were picturesque

The coffee was always on ~ along with the cookies, chocolate brownies,

ice cream, rum squares, pizza, sandwiches, decadent desserts, and lots more. . . .

This was between meals!

The staff on ship were delightful, pleasant and lots of fun.  We had the same waiter each nite and shared the dinner table with the same people.  Pictured below are new friends Jolie and Arthur Huntington from Maryland, our waiter  ~ Marcos, and Jack who also shared our table. 

Almost every staff person we met freely shared their faith in Jesus, and were very excited to have our Christian group of about 300 on board.  They talked very openly about their faith once they knew we were Christians.   What a blessing to visit with them. 

We met life friends Jack and Lori Gould and bonded with them and just hung out together alot.  We met them on Sunday morning before the cruise when Jack asked to share our breakfast table in the complimentary but crowded breakfast area of the hotel.  By the time breakfast was over, we had already shared so much and found so much in common.  We enjoyed their company and they just added to the pleasure of our cruise.    They are from Ontario, Canada, and we are already planning to see them again someday.  They are an awesome couple that we had so much fun with. 

Lori and I enjoying the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean Sea.

What was most amazing and a highlight of the entire cruise were the magnificent sunrises and sunsets.  Tim and I got up early enough on several mornings just to walk around the deck and enjoy the amazing sunrise.  In the evening we would gather on the deck again to watch the sunset dip below the sea. 

The sunrise and the sunset is an event that only the hand of our awesome God can place upon the horizon.

We enjoyed a few seminars from Christian speakers as part of our Christian Couples of Promise group.  We listened to Kevin Lehman, who wrote "The Birth Order Book";  Phil Calloway, a Christian comedian; and Steve Green, a contemporary Christian singer.  Sharing that time of inspiration with 300 other cruisers was also a highlight of the trip.  We were able to share prayer together at every meal, which one usually doesn't do with strangers on a vacation.  But our new friends were not strangers ~  they were friends and brothers and sisters in Christ.

Yes, it was a wonderful way to celebrate reaching the milestone of our 40th anniversary!  Thank you, God, my family, my husband for 40 years of a blessed marriage!