Amy's Blog

Leftovers

2012-01-28T05:59:00.000-05:00

Bread doesn't get eaten as fast at the Cookie House as at the House 'n Barn. Last week I made croutons. This week Julie made bread pudding.

Julie baked a pumpkin cake a couple of weeks ago. We're a little embarrassed to admit how many potlucks and get-to-gethers it has blessed. We still have two pieces in the refrigerator.

We've decided not to bake cake in 9x13" pans anymore.

Reading

2012-01-27T05:04:00.000-05:00

Love my job

2012-01-26T06:39:00.000-05:00

Photo for illustrative purposes only. I don't normally wear a hat when I'm teaching, nor do I hold my hand at such an awkward angle.

Two years ago, when I was in the midst of my substitute teaching career, I prayed that God would give me a job I loved, or help me to love the job I had.

In August, I began teaching ESL classes at SVSU. When my students are absorbed with a task or at the end of class when I am gathering up papers papers and shutting down equipment, I pause for a moment.

"Thank you," I find myself praying. "I love this job!"

Green

2012-01-25T06:21:00.000-05:00

90th birthday

2012-01-24T06:20:00.000-05:00

My parents with Aunt Gertrude at her 90th birthday party last Saturday.

Happy birthday Aunt Gertrude!

Pray for an end

2012-01-23T06:04:00.000-05:00

Sunday, around a hundred people gathered on the courthouse steps to pray for an end to abortion.

Sunday marked the thirty-nineth anniversary of the Supreme Court decision, which legalized abortion in the United States. Since then an estimated fifty-two million babies have been killed.

One baby is scheduled to be killed next Saturday.

The baby's mother is reluctant to abort her child, but her mother is pressuring her.

Please pray that this child's life, and the lives of millions of other unborn babies, will be spared.

Pray to end abortion.

Worship

2012-01-22T07:30:00.000-05:00

This day may our hearts be pure,

and our hands clean,

That our prayers bear the fragrance of lilacs in the spring,

Our songs echo Heaven's Holy, Holy, Holy ring,

And our lives all glory to our Lord and Savior bring.

May our worship be acceptable.

Sunset

2012-01-21T06:18:00.000-05:00

Motivation

2012-01-20T06:51:00.000-05:00

Two of my sisters and I ventured to the west side of the state last weekend. Betsy went to share about her recent trip half-way across the world; Julie went to socialize; I went to see the water.

Notice

2012-01-19T06:27:00.000-05:00

Shiver

2012-01-18T06:07:00.000-05:00

Blue

2012-01-17T05:54:00.000-05:00

Studio

2012-01-16T06:40:00.000-05:00

One of the bedrooms upstairs in the Cookie House has a french door that leads to nowhere. From a real estate perspective, it's strange. But from a photographic perspective, it's wonderful!

Snow

2012-01-15T06:35:00.000-05:00

A snowflake is one of God's most fragile creations, but look what they can do when they stick together! ~anonymous

Lang girls

2012-01-14T06:12:00.000-05:00

Carmen and the girls came over yesterday afternoon for a portrait session. Then they stayed for a visit. The afternoon proved more interesting than planned when their van got suck in my driveway. But, since we girls had baked cookies earlier, we had treats to offer to our menfolk when they came to the rescue.

In progress

2012-01-13T06:40:00.000-05:00

Beans

2012-01-12T06:00:00.000-05:00

Taffy pull

2012-01-11T06:30:00.000-05:00

We met at the Byler estate last Friday for a church fellowship. After scripture reading and prayer, we buttered our hands and pulled long strands of stubborn taffy.

Halls of learning

2012-01-10T06:15:00.000-05:00

It's the beginning of a new semester.

Cup of chocolate

2012-01-09T05:47:00.000-05:00

Frost

2012-01-08T06:12:00.000-05:00

Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens?

Job 38:29 NIV

Domesticated

2012-01-07T06:04:00.000-05:00

Over Christmas break I baked bread and cookies, and rolled crust for chicken potpie, and even mixed a batch of spinach noodles. I hung pictures and arranged drawers and painted trim. We hosted family and friends for dinners and teas.

I felt domesticated.

Window shopping

2012-01-06T06:04:00.000-05:00

Hat

2012-01-05T06:44:00.000-05:00

Naomi gave me a hat for Christmas.

Drying rack

2012-01-04T05:05:00.000-05:00

Cheap masquerades as eco-friendly.

Kitchen door

2012-01-03T05:46:00.000-05:00

Cookies

2012-01-02T06:07:00.000-05:00

My aunt in Louisiana sent me an email informing me that the stock of molasses cookies in her freezer, which she has been rationing for the past year, is nearly gone. I got the hint.

Cooking baking has been on my to-do list for a couple of weeks. First I had to buy molasses. Then Judith gave me a bowl big enough to handle the recipe. Last Wednesday, I had a slow morning with my ESL calls to students in Korea, so I started mixing molasses, sugar and shortening... at six o'clock in the morning.

Our friend Grace happened to be staying at the Cookie House for a couple of days on her way from Canada to Indiana. Later in the morning she rolled out of bed and popped in to the kitchen to witness my progress. "I don't usually make cookies at six o'clock in the morning," I confessed.

New

2012-01-01T05:51:00.000-05:00

I am making everything new!

Revelation 21.5 NIV

Tea party

2011-12-31T06:31:00.000-05:00

...and a good time was had by all.

Silly girls

2011-12-30T06:20:00.000-05:00

Photo credit: Judith

Granddaughter

2011-12-29T05:05:00.000-05:00

Nessa and Grandpa

Postcards

2011-12-28T05:45:00.000-05:00

Julie and I decided on an international theme for our office area. She wanted a place to arrange items from her trip to Malawi, Africa.

The other day I remembered my international treasures. When I was in elementary school I collected postcards that my uncle sent me from the countries he visited as he worked with Habitat for Humanity. I chose a few of my favorites to display on the wall.

Thanks Uncle Wayne.

Sunday afternoon special

2011-12-27T05:54:00.000-05:00

Mennonite TV

Christmas Eve

2011-12-26T06:33:00.000-05:00

Julie and I hosted our family and Lauren's folks and brother at the Cookie House on Christmas Eve.

~Menu~

spinach salad with mandarin oranges, pomegranate and pecans

green beans with slice almonds

garlic bread

lasagna (regular and vegetable)

hot punch

angel food cake

brownie bites and cookies
vanilla ice cream

cake pops

Light

2011-12-25T05:07:00.000-05:00

That was the true Light,

which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

John 1:9 KJV

Home

2011-12-24T05:59:00.000-05:00

Betsy arrived home Thursday night after spending a couple of weeks on the other side of the globe. With the help of modern technology, I was able to video chat with her several times during her trip. Great as technology is, it doesn't compare with actually watching your sister walk through the airport exit and sighing with relief that she's home.

White

2011-12-23T06:47:00.000-05:00

Lake Michigan

2011-12-22T05:44:00.000-05:00

During my holiday break, I planned to visit the beach. It meant spending the afternoon in the crew cab of a truck with three guys in Carhartts, but yesterday I made it. After a short hike, I stood at the edge of Lake Michigan at Saugatuck Dunes State Park. I forgot about broken water-heaters and college syllabi and Christmas preparations as I marveled at the bigness of the water.

Cobweb

2011-12-21T05:41:00.000-05:00

Clare Livestock Auction

Spare

2011-12-20T06:41:00.000-05:00

It doesn't hurt to be prepared.

O Christmas tree

2011-12-19T05:55:00.000-05:00

I picked and decorated my Christmas tree on Saturday. It exemplifies the extent of my holiday spirit.

Pure

2011-12-18T06:30:00.000-05:00

Blessed are
the pure
in heart,
for they
will see God.
Matthew 5:8 NIV

Popcorn and cranberries

2011-12-17T06:44:00.000-05:00

Door

2011-12-16T06:49:00.000-05:00

Logan, with the help of Aaron, hung a door between the kitchen and the stairway to the upstairs. Betsy found the door somewhere in the granary. It's an old door with character that viewers either love or hate.

For the past couple of weeks, as I near the end of the semester, I've dreamed of how to paint it.

White

2011-12-15T05:52:00.000-05:00

I love knowing a God who makes weeds beautiful.

Sunlight

2011-12-14T06:05:00.000-05:00

One of the perks of leaving a pan on the stove while you're gone for several hours is the sunlight through the smoke when you return home.

Cup of chocolate

2011-12-13T06:19:00.000-05:00

After caroling at the Dow Gardens Christmas Walk last Friday night, friends stopped by the Cookie House for a cup of hot chocolate.

Moving day

2011-12-12T05:25:00.000-05:00

Friday was moving day. Our family helped Julie and me move our possessions into the Cookie house.

Taste

2011-12-11T06:17:00.000-05:00

Taste and see that the LORD is good

Psalm 34:8 NIV

Abstract 2

2011-12-10T06:26:00.000-05:00

With the colder weather, I often walk through the fine art building on my way from my office to the education building. We could blame my abstract period on that. Or, we could blame it on the fact that light is limited this time of year and I am desperate for subjects.

Frosted cookie house

2011-12-09T05:41:00.000-05:00

Abstract

2011-12-08T06:29:00.000-05:00

Spices

2011-12-07T06:02:00.000-05:00

Mennonite TV

2011-12-06T06:27:00.000-05:00

When friends come to tea, we can watch "Mennonite TV" together.

In an attempt to stay warm in a drafty farmhouse with little insulation and a propane furnace, Julie and I purchased a biomass stove. The stove, which can burn corn, sawdust pellets or dried cherry pits, is now the centerpiece of our living room.

It's our home entertainment system.

Kentucky red dirt

2011-12-05T05:30:00.000-05:00

Prepositions

2011-12-04T06:12:00.000-05:00

For from him
and through him
and to him are all things.
Romans 11:36 NIV

Compatibility

2011-12-03T06:41:00.000-05:00

Apple pie

2011-12-02T05:52:00.000-05:00

I've been perusing Naomi's cooking magazine for photography ideas.

Conversation

2011-12-01T06:01:00.000-05:00

Snow

2011-11-30T11:05:00.001-05:00

School visit

2011-11-29T05:30:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was one of those days I loved being a teacher. I took my class to a nearby elementary school where they told second, third, and fourth grade students about their home country. My students were nervous about speaking with the children, but by the end of the hour I could barely drag a couple of them away. They had a blast and asked to go to the high school next week.

Shop

2011-11-28T05:27:00.000-05:00

Sometimes the wise man does build his shop upon the sand. Though, in this case, the wise man plans to pour rock (concrete) on top of the sand.

The boys continue with their preparations to erect a pole building. They have big plans for the building, which will serve as a machine shop.

Patience

2011-11-27T06:03:00.000-05:00

Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. James 5:7 NIV

Patience is a difficult virtue to practice when a nine-hour car ride stretches to twelve.

7:08 AM

2011-11-26T05:47:00.000-05:00

Betsy and I slipped over to the Cookie house (Julie and my house) around 6:30 Wednesday morning. We applied the last coat of finish to the kitchen and dining room floors before our family headed south to visit relatives in Bowling Green, Kentucky for the Thanksgiving holiday.

I wanna see

2011-11-25T06:25:00.000-05:00

Hosanna

2011-11-24T06:18:00.000-05:00

Freedom

2011-11-23T05:58:00.001-05:00

No hose today. We're on holiday.

(For you teachers who have a half-day today, I recommend knee highs)

Aaron

2011-11-22T06:24:00.000-05:00

Red

2011-11-21T06:02:00.000-05:00

Roses from my birthday

TESOL reminder

2011-11-20T06:32:00.000-05:00

If I can speak Arabic, Chinese and Korean,

and can teach indefinite and definite articles,

but am not motivated by love

my communication is as effective

as a beeping fax machine

or the vibration of a forgotten cell phone.

(see 1 Corinthians 13.1)
TESOL stands for teaching English to speakers of other languages

Tea party

2011-11-19T06:53:00.000-05:00

Soon I will play tea party with friends at my house.

Storytime

2011-11-18T05:40:00.000-05:00

Green

2011-11-17T05:30:00.000-05:00

Food festival

2011-11-16T05:23:00.000-05:00

Cuba

In celebration of International Education Week, students from around the globe took over the cooking for Saginaw Valley State University's International Food Festival. Cuban music blared from a CD player and a Saudi Arabian flag adorned the buffet in SVSU's cafeteria during lunch on Tuesday. Faculty, students and guests sampled cuisine from fourteen different countries. Many of SVSU's 500 international students, who hail from thirty-five countries, participated in the annual event, which was expected to attract 2,000 diners.

Kuwait

Japan

Tanzania

China

Korea

Brazil

(American)

Soft-serve

2011-11-15T05:49:00.000-05:00

My favorite part of the Old Country Buffet is the soft-serve ice cream machine. I love twirling the ice cream in the bowl.

Raking leaves

2011-11-14T06:25:00.000-05:00

Naomi and I tried one of my birthday gifts Saturday afternoon. Mom gave me a rake, a shovel and a snow shovel. We didn't need the snow shovel yet, but we did put the rake to use. I raked the leaves into piles and Naomi hauled them to a heap near the edge of the field.

(My staunchest admirers and severest critics object to all black and white November photos)

Prayer for our church

2011-11-13T06:38:00.000-05:00

Lord Jesus,

I pray for your children, my brothers and sisters, all around the world.

May we who are hungry be filled,

that we might offer others the Bread of Life.

May we who are hurting be healed,

that we might lead others to the Great Physician.

May we who are lonely be comforted,

that we might introduce others to the Friend of sinners.

May we who are imprisoned be freed,

that we might convey others to the Victor over death.

May we who are inadequate be filled,

that we might reveal to others the Almighty God.

May your Name receive the glory.

May your kingdom come and your will be done.

My day

2011-11-12T06:15:00.000-05:00

Thursday, November 10

4:59 AM Calling my first student in Korea

9:16 AM Braiding my hair

10:23 AM Writing lesson plans

12:26 PM Driving to the university

1:39 PM Studying with students

4:20 PM Waiting for the copy machine

4:52 PM Mailing a package

5:05 PM Watching the sunset

5:36 PM Grading quizzes

6:32 PM Sharing dinner

8:07 PM Removing my contacts

Bestest

2011-11-11T06:34:00.000-05:00

Even if it's not the best birthday of my life, today's date is the best birthday of my life.

Irony

2011-11-10T06:06:00.000-05:00

My Mom finds it ironic that I am teaching grammar. During college, I embraced the theory that the formal study of grammar is unnecessary. This semester I have been immersed in grammar. My students may not think grammar is fun, but at least my Mom finds my class (or the fact that I am teaching grammar) amusing.

Here are a few of the exit outcomes that we have achieved already this semester:

I can use affirmative and negative sentences in the Past Progressive.

I can use some basic separable and non-separable phrasal verbs.

I can use modal verbs and phrasal modal verbs (have to, had better, ought to, be supposed to, etc.).

I can use many noncount nouns.

I can form basic tag questions from affirmative sentences.

I can ask and answer questions about the subject and questions about the direct object in a sentence.

Detail

2011-11-09T06:02:00.000-05:00

Yes, so far it's black and white week. November might be black and white months. The colors haven't been inspiring and with the time change it's increasingly difficult to find good light when I return home from the university.

Dinnertime

2011-11-08T06:20:00.000-05:00

As I was sorting pictures, I noticed that these photos from two consecutive nights complemented each other.

Playing house

2011-11-07T05:49:00.000-05:00

"Where are the toys?" Samantha asked the minute she walked in my house. She spent hours playing with the dollhouse while her parents played with the life-size house. Her dad painted the kitchen ceiling and her mom patched holes in the lathe and plaster.

"Do you want to play with me? Samantha would ask anybody nearby, and so most of us played house, at least for a few minutes, on Saturday.

Letter from a friend

2011-11-06T06:41:00.000-05:00

Like cold water to a weary soul

is good news from a distant land.

Proverbs 25:25 NIV

Kitchen table

2011-11-05T06:01:00.000-04:00

My kitchen table is pleasing, as long as you ignore the mess around it.

We sisters painted the kitchen walls last Saturday. Unlike some of our other choices, we were both happy with the color.

I bought the table and four chairs at a garage sale for $20. I swapped a couple of the garage sale chairs for a couple from Mom's front porch collection, since I wanted an assortment of chairs. Then we painted the table and chairs "Artisan White."

Betsy painted the inside of the cupboard white. Julie washed our dishes (most of our treasures were from Grandpa's auction finds) and arranged them on the shelves.

Aaron removed the broken glass from the door to the sunroom and we replaced two of the panes with plexiglass.

If you stand in the right place our kitchen looks inviting.

Brown

2011-11-04T06:03:00.000-04:00

Doors

2011-11-03T05:57:00.000-04:00

Our first project, after we signed the final papers, was to change the locks on our house. Julie removed the locks and took them to the hardware store to have them re-keyed. Then she began installing them and I finished up the job. I was so proud of our accomplishment!

The doors still needed work. The sunroom door wouldn't shut properly (we found it blowing in the wind one day after I thought I shut and locked it) and the kitchen door stuck so badly that Julie pulled the doorknob completely off the door one day in her attempt to open it. Aaron came over the other day and adjusted our doors. Now we have doors that open, close and lock.

Caramel apples

2011-11-02T06:12:00.000-04:00

Slice apples.

Pour chopped nuts in bowl.

Unwrap caramels and place in bowl.

Add a couple of teaspoons of water.

Microwave caramels until melted.

Dip apples in caramel; dip in nuts.

Eat.

Sunroom

2011-11-01T05:24:00.000-04:00

Julie's friend Mandy came over the other day and wielded a roller as we painted the sunroom. We chose "Yellow Ducking," which turned out to be identical to the color already on the walls. But, a fresh coat of paint always helps a room feel light and clean.

Pumpkin patch

2011-10-31T05:41:00.000-04:00

After midterms, several of us teachers took our international students on a field trip to the pumpkin patch last week. We inspected the animals, navigated a corn maze and ate donuts and drank cider.

Frost

2011-10-30T06:02:00.000-04:00

Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens

Job 38:29 NIV

Sunlight

2011-10-29T06:20:00.000-04:00

For my aunt. Yes, I waited until I was done driving and finished talking on the phone before I attempted to capture the marvelous (rare) October sunlight.

Purple...

2011-10-28T05:22:00.000-04:00

Magenta? Maroon? Mulberry? Red-violet? Plum? Ruby? Rose?

Washroom

2011-10-27T06:05:00.000-04:00

Known, on the other side of the border, as the "restroom."

Powerline road

2011-10-26T06:02:00.000-04:00

Brant, Ontario

Guided

2011-10-25T05:51:00.000-04:00

The Lord directs our steps, even when Mapquest doesn't.

Julie, Betsy and I drove to Canada last weekend to attend our friend Layne's wedding.

My directional style differs from that of my sisters. I sometimes like adventures that other people define as "lost." My sisters prefer I confine my adventures to Michigan when they're not riding with me.

I did print directions before we left. But, I did not examine them in detail. Mapquest couldn't find the exact location, but I figure that once we got close enough we'd figure it out. Also, I forgot which were the directions to the ceremony site and which were to the reception site.

We ended up touring country lanes in Ontario. We drove past the Tim Horton farm. The weather was lovely and the scenery with peaceful, while the climate in the car was growing a little stuffy and stressful.

So, I prayed a simple prayer asking the Lord to show us where to go and to help us in our sisterly interactions.

Minutes later, on a country road in the middle of nowhere we ran into the bride and groom. The groom was strumming the guitar. They were posing on what usually was a deserted road but on Sunday afternoon was, as a couple out for a stroll in the country described it, more like Piccadilly circus.

The groom pointed us in the right direction, and fifteen minutes later we arrived at the ceremony site.

My sisters vowed to print their own set of directions next time we set out on an adventure.

Orange

2011-10-24T06:10:00.000-04:00

Rest

2011-10-23T07:06:00.000-04:00

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God

Hebrews 4.9 NIV

Before

2011-10-22T06:31:00.000-04:00

Kitchen looking toward the dining room

Kitchen, sunroom door to the left

Dining room, living room doorway to the right

Living room

Downstairs bathroom

Sunroom (laundry room)

Upstairs bedroom

Upstairs bathroom

Front door

2011-10-21T05:56:00.000-04:00

Photo by Betsy Cook

A door opened.

A week ago, Julie and I signed the final papers to purchase a three bedroom, 1900 era farmhouse three miles from our parents' homestead. The house actually has four doors--one which blows open in the wind after I think I have it shut and locked.