HAGDWJ!...... and other signs of love. Macaroni Special

I LOVE YOU - in sign language and stickers from Lily

WARNING: This post is sprinkled with signs of LOVE.  

This morning, after Kim and I walked in the GBN field house at 6AM,  I met Ellen Henderson for coffee at Starbucks.  Carri and Ellen had been meeting on a regular basis and when the Madison's moved I asked Ellen if I could take Carri's place.  

This was our first time meeting, we shared a scone and sipped our drinks as we caught up on each others lives.  We talked about our kids, we love our kids.  We talked about Pastor Tom and Barb, we made a plan to try to get to know her better.  We talked about JT, Carri and Lily, we both miss them a LOT. We agreed that Lily is a very smart 3 year old! We laughed about JT buying espresso at the gas station now, but we are glad they seem to be settling in to their new town. We talked about our parents, how it is hard to watch them getting older.  We talked about our Bible study groups, Ellen's needs more people, our group needs to get involved somehow. Then all too soon it was time for Ellen to head off to work and for me to go home and clean bathrooms.

A kiss from Max

As we said goodbye in the parking lot, I said "Have a great day with Jesus!"

I thought of YOU.  

I can't remember when I began telling you to "have a great day with Jesus".  Was it in high school?  Jr high?  Whenever it was, it became part of my goodbye routine: A hug, a kiss on the cheek if I could get one, then I'd tell you "I love you, have a great day with Jesus" as you raced off to wherever your day was taking you.  

A rose from Dad

When I learned how to text, it became my daily greeting, "I love you, hagdwj!"

But, even though you get this message from me in some form almost everyday, I want you to know it is not a meaningless ritual for me.  "Hagdwj" has become for me an opportunity to invite Jesus into my day.  I know He loves me.  I know He is always with me.  But this phrase has become a cue for me to become aware of His presence and actually include Him in my day.  Instead of heading out to face my day alone, I make the choice to bring Jesus with me.  It brings me comfort to know Jesus is heading out into the world with you too!

To bring you comfort, I am sharing this favorite recipe.  You have both enjoyed this soup for years.  It is from the Best of Friends, Too! cookbook, a gift from Auntie Lou's friend Gayle.   Emily, I know you stayed home sick today, you probably have everything on hand to make this for dinner.  Hope it helps you feel better.

Macaroni Special

2 1/2  cups shell macaroni (or whatever shape you choose)

3 1/2 cups 2 % milk ( I always use skim)

butter or margarine

salt and pepper to taste

Cook the macaroni according to package directions.  When done, drain and add milk.  

Heat to desired temperature.  Ladle into individual bowls;  top with a tablespoon of butter;

add salt and pepper to taste.  It can't get any easier!

I always added the butter, salt and pepper to the mac and milk in the pan before serving. 

Either way it tastes great! 

I love you, HAGDWJ!

Photos of people we love and new artwork from Lily

Our Wedding Day- Macaroni Overnight Salad

Twenty-nine years ago today your Dad and I got married.  We were young, and in love, and chose a winter wedding in Minnesota. Hopefully we have grown wiser as well as older.

Our wedding fell on the middle of three weekends of terrible weather in southwestern Minnesota.  I did some hunting online and found these statistics about the weather that day:

Winds= 45-60 MPH

Wind Chill= 50-100 degrees BELOW ZERO

which combined to produce a "severe ground blizzard"

Check out the frost on the door frame and windows!

As a result we weren't sure if it was safe to let our friends and family travel to be part of our special day.  

G'pa and G'ma, Aunt Shirley and I drove in from the farm the evening before to have an early dinner with the Warnygora's and other friends who had arrived.  The wind came up and we are still surprised that we found our way home that night. Many times that weekend, Grandpa recommended that we postpone the service, but at some point we called the local radio station and had them announce that our wedding would go on as scheduled! We were so grateful to all those who braved the roads and we greatly respected those who were forced to stay home.               

Aunt Jana wore my friends' dress un-hemmed and with no shoes.

 As you can imagine, some key people were unable to attend.  

Among the missing: 

*a bridesmaid (Aunt Jana wore the dress which fit perfectly)

*our soloist (the youth pastor at the church was able to sing all the songs we had chosen beautifully)

*our guitarist arrived, frozen and white knuckled, about 1/2 an hour before the service, but his guitar and voice warmed up and warmed our hearts!

It is fun to look back at our wedding pictures. I met Auntie Lou for the first time that weekend.  Who knew she would become one of my favorite people ever!  Uncle Chuck, Corey and Andy stayed home.  I don't think Kate was even born yet??? Todd couldn't come, he was at a hockey tournament.  Check out cute baby Stephanie! They were brave to bring out their tiny baby in that horrible weather!

Keith and Chandra weren't born yet either. And Aunt Shirley hadn't even met Uncle Dwight yet.  Goodness, it is hard to imagine our family without him!

Fast forward to 2011.  Kelly and Dan got engaged this weekend! Congratulations!!!  We wish them all the best! Because of this, in the last few days I have been thinking about how weddings have changed over the years.

When we got married in Worthington in 1982 a catered reception was not the norm.  Grandma, Aunt Marion, my sisters and I spent hours that week preparing the food.  We even made hundreds of molded mints, which were a popular thing in our area at that time. I don't really remember what food was served, but I am sure it was served buffet style, kind of like a glorified church potluck. The ladies of the church worked in the kitchen serving and cleaning up.  We ordered the yummy cake from 2 local ladies who made cakes for absolutely every event in the area.  It was served, no doubt with individual plastic tubs of vanilla ice cream and egg coffee.  That was the way it was done, and it worked out great.  My, how times have changed!

Here is a recipe that was served at our wedding.  Grandma joined our family with this in her recipe box.  I haven't had it in years, but it is a winner! (Aunt Shirley sent me the recipe, the notes are from her.)

Macaroni Overnight Salad

Cook 1 box ring macaroni (7oz.)

Cool and combine the following:

1 medium can fruit cocktail

1 medium can pineapple

1 medium can seedless grapes (I have seen it using fresh grapes)

Drain (saving ½ cup), add 2 cups miniature marshmallows and mix fruit with macaroni.

 

Cook in double boiler:

4 beaten eggs

1 cup powdered sugar

½ cup fruit juice

Stir constantly until thick, cool and pour over mixture.  Refrigerate overnight.

Add 1 cup whipped cream before serving.  I have also added the marshmallows with the whip cream instead of the night before. 

 I don't remember the marshmallows but it has been 29 years!  Maybe Kelly might like to serve it at her reception. I bet I can find some mint molds if she is interested.  I hear they might be making a comeback!