Dee's News November 2013

Polly and Samuel Girod were honored with a baby shower by several of their friends on Saturday, September 2 . 2013. The shower was hosted at the home of Daniel and Janelle Lustig of Vevay, Indiana.
Samuel no sooner arrived at the party than he was informed he had to “wear” a ball under his shirt for the duration of the celebration!

This made for many funny moments and photos that will be enjoyed for quite some time.

The guests also played several games and had a wonderful meal together.

Samuel and Polly say they are very grateful and feel blessed to have the support of their friends.

UPDATE: It’s a girl! The Girod’s baby was born the day after Dee wrote this article. Polly and Samuel are pleased to announce the arrival of their first child, little Rebecca Rose Girod. She was born on October 7, 2013 at 5:07 PM. She weighed 7.9 lbs and was 20 1/4 inches long. Welcome to the world, Little One. Congratulations to Polly and Samuel!

Barbara Emily Gingerich and Eric Beers were engaged to be married on September 13, 2013. Barbara is studying nursing at Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio. She also is employed at the university. Eric Beers lives in Pittsburgh, PA. He is employed as a metal worker at Vulcan Metals in Pittsburg .

Eric and Barbara are planning their wedding for June 13, 2014 at Bethel Baptist Church in Savanna, Ohio.
Their parents are Ezra and Lydia Gingerich, and Randy and Lori Beers. Congratulations to Eric and Barbara!

A benefit Hog Roast was held for William and Jenica Keim on Saturday, August 17. The event was put in place because of the huge expenses William and Jenica incurred after their son, Dalton, passed away in a home accident. It was also a time for family and friends to show their love, concern, and support for this family.
There was a yummy roast with all the trimmings, cooked by Harley Yoder. Pop corn, snow cones and ice cream were added treats, too. Games such as corn hole, volleyball, and pony rides were provided. A wonderful pie auction, with many varieties of donated pies, was enjoyed by many. Bidding was fierce and fun! The event was held at the Behind the Pines Ranch, at 3108 N Main St, Mansfield OH. Thank you to all who participated and to the friends who coordinated this special day for such a lovely family.

Congratulations to Dena Schrock for earning her GED! Dena earned her degree through the Buckeye Career Center. in New Philadelphia, OH. She learned she passed the test on October 7, 2013.

Becky Schrock and Michael Zimmerman were married on Saturday, August 17, 2013. Jason Pearl from Tennessee officiated the ceremony. Becky is from Ohio and Michael is from Pennsylvania. Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs. Zimmerman! 

Pumpkin Spice Cake with Brown Sugar Frosting
What you need:
1 pkg. (2-layer size) spice cake mix
1 cup water
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/3 cup oil
3 eggs
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
1 pkg. (8 oz.) Neufchatel Cheese, softened
1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 cup thawed COOL WHIP LITE Whipped Topping
Make it:
HEAT oven to 350ºF.
BEAT first 5 ingredients in large bowl with mixer 2 min. or until well blended. Stir in nuts. Pour into 13x9-inch pan sprayed with cooking spray.
BAKE 30 to 32 min. or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely.
BEAT Neufchatel and sugar in small bowl with mixer until well blended. Add COOL WHIP; mix well. Spread over cake.

Chocolate-Caramel Cookie Bars
What you need:
35 square shortbread cookies
1 pkg. (11 oz.) KRAFT Caramel Bits
1 Tbsp. milk
3 oz. BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate
3 oz. BAKER'S White Chocolate
Make it:
LINE 13x9-inch pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides; spray with cooking spray. Arrange cookies in single layer on bottom of prepared pan.
MICROWAVE caramel bits and milk in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1-1/2 to 2 min. or until bits are completely melted and mixture is well blended, stirring after each minute. Pour over cookies; spread to completely cover cookies.
MICROWAVE chocolates in microwaveable bowl 2 min. or until almost melted, stirring every 30 sec.; stir until chocolates are completely melted. Pour over caramel layer; spread to completely cover caramel layer.
LET stand 2 hours before cutting into bars.

Easy Apple Crumble Pie
What you need:
1 HONEY MAID Graham Pie Crust (6 oz.)
1 egg white, lightly beaten
1 can (21 oz.) apple pie filling
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1-1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) cold butter or margarine
3/4 cup PLANTERS Chopped Pecans
1 Tbsp. powdered sugar
Make it:
PREHEAT oven to 375°F. Brush pie crust lightly with some of the egg white. Bake 5 minutes; cool.
SPOON pie filling into crust. Mix flour, granulated sugar and cinnamon in medium bowl. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs; stir in pecans. Sprinkle over pie filling.
BAKE 25 to 30 minutes or until topping is golden brown. Cool slightly on wire rack. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

The sweat of the day’s hay baling had dried on Jonas Peachy’s back by the time the late supper was over. The day had presented a great concern to this older teen as he’d hidden his beloved transistor radio in the hay loft. ‘Would it be discovered?’ It hadn’t been! Now he wanted to find it in the loft filled with fresh hay.

The summer sun had lent its light to lengthen the day as Jonas asked to be excused and quickly made his escape out the back door. Passing behind the shop and chicken house he made his way to the barn out of sight. Breathlessly he climbed the ladder to the hay loft in search of his treasure. It took a bit for him to get his bearings, and spot the support post by which he had hidden the radio. By moving several bales of hay he found the pocket of space with his secret still undiscovered.

With a grateful, yet fearful heart he tuned in to the station he always listened to. He was just in time to hear the well recognized voice of George Beverly Shea singing;

                                                    “Down at the Cross where my Savior died,

                                                    Down where for cleansing from sin I cried;

                                                    There to my heart was the blood applied;

                                                     Glory to His Name! Glory to His Name!”

As Shea sang the invitation in the last verse: “Come to this fountain so rich and sweet; Cast thy poor soul at the Savior’s feet...” Jonas’ heart was drawn with longing for something other than the same religious bondages he’d always known. It seemed that there was something missing in his religion.

“Maybe cousin Levi was right when he told me that we needed relationship and not just religion,” Jonas told himself.

Keeping the volume of the radio low he listened intently as Dr. Graham came on with his profound message taken from John 3:3. “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

As Billy Graham started his message, Jonas was so intent in receiving spiritual water for his thirsty soul that he didn’t hear the rustling at the loft’s entrance until he heard his dad’s authoritative voice booming into the semi-darkness “Vas bisht du am du?” (What are you doing?)

Jonas was caught red-handed! What could he say?

“Where did you get that radio?” Rufus wanted to know.

“Someone gave it to me and told me I needed to listen to Billy Graham’s preaching,” Jonas explained.

“You know the church rules tell us these things are evil! You know better that to have one of these things on my property!”

“But Dad, how can something like this be evil? It can’t turn itself on or off. Someone had to tune it to a certain station. Doesn’t everything have a good and evil to it? Can’t our horse and buggy take us to an evil place as well as to a good one?” Jonas tried to reason with his dad.

Rufus remained stern! “Gep sell ding zu mich!” (Give that thing to me.)

“No, I will not give it to you,” the older teen defied his dad. “You can come and take it, but I will not give it because I was being fed spiritually as I listened to the words that came over the air waves. I am not willing to give this up!”

Rufus, enraged by the perceived defiance of his son, snatched the transistor from Jonas. “I told you that you know the rules and as long as you’re under my roof you will obey them.”

Jonas knew that to argue any further would only make matters worse. Unshed tears mixed with anger as the youth plotted his next steps of release from the bondage he experienced. The unreasonable intolerance of his father was driving him farther away rather than enhancing their relationship.

Jonas’ heart was crushed and angered and yet he’d heard the voice only minutes earlier calling, “Come to this fountain, so rich and sweet, Cast thy poor soul at the Savior’s feet.”

Tears pled to be shed, but anger refused them. “I will find a way to get out of here,” Jonas vowed silently.

Because of the shaky foundation that this vow was built upon, Jonas was setting himself up for a rough road ahead. However, at the same time, he was being drawn by an intense hunger for a relationship with God! He knew this hunger would be his guiding light.

Birthday Party!!

Ashland Alpaca Farm Tour and Game Night