Thanksgiving-Peppernut Making

Happy Thanksgiving! We hope everyone had a wonderful day
giving thanks to the Lord for His bountiful blessings.
We remember Psalm 100 today;it is certainly a thankful psalm!

PSALM 100
A Psalm for giving thanks.

1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
2 Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
3 Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
5 For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.

Susanna dressed up as a Pilgrim first



Then she dressed up as an Indian!


Pretty cute Indian!


Paradise Pumpkin Pie


Harvest Pie


This evening our Grandparents, affectionately called Memaw and Papa,
came over to enjoy a meal and then make an annual holiday treat.
Peppernuts!

What are peppernuts??
Peppernuts may taste like cookies, but they are smaller-much smaller-
about the size of a hazelnut or dime. Ladies used to take pride in how
small they could make them. Grandmothers rivaled the size of large peas.
Others painstakingly cut theirs in perfect little circle using a sewing
thimble for a cutter.
-Peppernuts, Plain and Fancy
A Christmas Tradition from Grandmother's Oven
by Norma Jost Voth

First we make the dough.....A total of 20 c. of flour,
as well as various spices such as cinnamon, allspice, ginger,
and real pepper! Our recipe also includes anise oil.
Other variations include gumdrops, nuts, coconut, dried fruit, etc.


Then we roll the dough out in to long ropes, "snakes!"




Susanna and Caroline helping


Our "snakes"



Dad enthusiastically cutting the peppernuts!


Papa is our best cutter!


Good thing we have a double oven...
We can get 6 pans in there at one time!


Precisely cut and uniform!


The finished product! Almost 3 gallons...Stop by and try one! (or two)


We also got to sing some hymns!

Random Shots

Here are a few random shots from around the house.....We have all been busy with school and Thanksgiving preparation (Mom is doing our church Thanksgiving meal on Sunday) plus a few coughs and runny noses. The weather has been pretty chilly, although, we did have a beautiful 60+ degree day this week!!


Susanna trying on some BIG shoes!

Loving those warm fires

Caroline ready for her violin concert

Girl Fun

Last weekend Caroline and I had a super time having our good friends, Kelsey and Katy, over to hang out, dress up, and have fun together.

Shoes!


Makeup!


Susanna trying on my shades!


Elizabeth


Kelsey dressin'up


On Friday night, we all got to go to the play "OKLAHOMA", which our high school was putting on. After the first scene we thought it was time for intermission already! Talk about a long play!

The four girls-2 sets of sisters!

State Piano Competition-Lawerence, KS

This past Saturday, November 8, we got to go to Lawerence, KS to participate in KMEA State Piano Auditions at the University of Kansas. Caroline and Elizabeth both played and received I ratings (basically 4th place).
We also enjoyed a lovely time of food and fellowship when we met a dear friend for lunch at Panera Bread. Yum!!

It was a fun day overall and we were so glad to have attended it!

The University of Kansas! (sorry it is so blurry)


The children with our friend Morris Talbert


KANSAS!


Eric and Miles in front of Allen Field House


Caroline with her result sign (her name is towards the bottom)


Caroline's Certificate


Elizabeth's Certificate

Photo Shoot

A few weeks ago, we decided to go take some pictures for Christmas, school, and all of the children together. Here are a few of the 50+ that we took! Let us know which one(s) you like!

Holy, Holy, Holy

As the seasons are changing, we praise God for all He has made.
What a Holy and Creative GOD we serve!!!!!



Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
EARLY IN THE MORNING our song shall rise to thee.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!





Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,
casting down their golden crowns around the GLASSY SEA;
cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.




Holy, holy, holy! Though the DARKNESS hide thee,
though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,
only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,
perfect in power, in love and purity.




Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name, in earth and SKY and sea.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity.

District Piano Competition

This past Saturday Caroline and I had the great experience of participating in Kansas Music Educators Association's (KMEA) District Piano Competition! It was held in Sterling, KS at Sterling College. Caroline and I were both in group B, where you play 3 songs instead of the usual 2.(Very elite group!!!)
You must play each of your songs from different time periods of music.
Caroline played
"Aria" by Domenico Scarlatti
"Sonatina in C" by Muzio Clementi
"The Merry Farmer" by Robert Schumann

I played
"Invention No. 1 in C Major" by Johann Sebastian Bach
"Cavalry Gallop" by Dmitri Kabalevsky
"Important Event" by Robert Schumann
(If you want to watch/listen to these you can find them all on Youtube or come on over and we can play them for you!!!)

After playing our songs before an adjudicator, you have to wait until they post your results. If you get a "II" rating (2) you are finished, but if you get a "I" rating (1) you get to go to State Piano Competitions.
Well.......(drumroll, please!!)
Caroline and I both got "I" ratings, so we get to go to STATE!!!!!
It is held @ the University of Kansas on November 8. We will continue practicing our songs until then!



On our way to State Competitions!!!!

Happy Birthday!

The sweet 2 year old!

Vacation in Colorful COLORADO

I know it has been a couple of weeks since I last posted, but life has been busy. We started school August 1, 2008, and the has kept us occupied during the morning/afternoon. In addition to school stuff, and extra activities, we prepared for a trip to COLORADO.
It started out by attending our cousin's wedding, in which Caroline and I (Elizabeth) played most of the music. It was a lovely wedding and we were happy to participate in it.

The next day (Sunday) we drove to Colorado. We stayed in a really nice condo owned by some friends of ours. During the week we biked 25 miles, went whitewater rafting, and had a great time relaxing with a great view out the living room window!
Everyone had a wonderful time and we are glad to be home with some great memories!

Rafting in a "ducky"

Whitewater Rafting!

Susanna

Dad and Caroline

Eric finishing up a 14 mile bike ride!

Caroline was close behind!

Susanna with Daddy and Mommy!

A couple of us biking up from one of the little towns close by

Dad got to go too!

Elizabeth and Caroline playing prelude music

Caroline and Elizabeth with the Bride!


Susanna on the dance floor. She looked so cute standing in the sun!


Susanna and Aunt Jill

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to Eric!
On his special day, May the Lord continue to show Eric HIS plan for his life, and as he grows into a man of God.
Happy 13th Birthday!
Please leave a comment, if able to wish him a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

Happy Birthday

Happy 11th Birthday Caroline!
May the Lord bless you on this special day!
We are also thankful for this lovely girl that the Lord has given us!
Continue to serve Him!
Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday!

Happy 8th Birthday, Miles!
Miles celebrated his 8th on 8/8/08!
We are so thankful for this precious boy that we have been entrusted with!
From his funny jokes to his cute smile, he is definitely a blessing!

(Sorry this is a few days late.....)


The Birthday Boy!

Vacation Bible School

This week we are enjoying VBS at our church. The theme is "The Incredible Race"
We are learning great bible verses, eating super snacks, playing fun games, seeing a hilarious puppet show and hearing an interesting bible story.
Miles is in the 1st grade group with Elizabeth as his team leader/helper.
Eric is helping out in the Rec. area.
Caroline is in the 5th/6th grade group, and is also doing part of the missions moment.
My group (Miles' too) had 15 the first day and 18 the 2nd day.
70% of the group is boys and the other 30% is girls. So you know what happens when you have around 12 energetic 7 year-olds!
It has been a blessing to our family, our church and our community in being able to be a witness for the Lord!