family – daily portion

My youngest loves trying new things in the kitchen with me. Last week we decided it was time to try another recipe from Grandma’s box. It’s been a while since we tried one of Grandma’s recipes because the past few months have been a little nuts around here.

We looked thru some of the cards and decided to try something we hadn’t ever heard of before. “Graham Wafer Squares”. My mom informed me that she remembers these as “Funeral Squares” because it was something mennonite women would bring for the funeral dinner after the service. We weren’t sure if this was promising information or not.

At any rate, we made sure we had all of the ingredients and got started. In the midst of beginning the recipe, we decided to make some changes and make the squares our way.

You can see the recipe below. To those ingredients, we added chopped pecans to the filling, and a chocolate ganache sort of layer before the final graham cracker top layer. One issue: we weren’t sure what “ice” meant – glaze? royal icing? frosting? We used a cream cheese frosting to top the squares and it was a little too much. In the future, we may do something a little less rich.

Side note: I was especially happy to make a recipe that was credited to my Grandma’s sister, Aunt Betsy – who I loved dearly and spent a lot of time with in my childhood. Also, I can tell you that I think Aunt Betsy would have endorsed our changes. I believe I may have seen her “gild the lily” in her kitchen on more than one occasion.

Friends, these squares, especially with the chocolate and pecans, were wonderful! We loved them and will definitely make them again. Just reading the recipe, it’s hard to know what they will be like. I mean, graham crackers, with graham cracker filling doesn’t necessarily sound promising. But, I can tell you they are worth making – and you should try them! If you do, let me know what you think! 🙂

A few tips: We made these in a 9×9 pan. The chocolate layer was simply about a 1/2 cup of hot cream, poured over a 1/2 cup (ish) of chocolate chips, let the mixture rest a bit til the chocolate melts, whisk and ladle over the graham cracker mixture. I think a nice mixture of milk and powdered sugar with a bit of vanilla extract would work nicely for the glaze.

If I take just a moment to think about my extended family, specifically my mom’s side – The Brubacher Clan – I’m overwhelmed with memories- memories that are full of emotions, sounds, tastes and experiences. As I type this I’m literally thinking, “I have no idea where to start or how to convey what I want to say…” but here goes…

The Brubacher family -Reuben and Annie’s family began in 1943 when they were married at a very young age, and their heritage was the Mennonite tradition. Eventually Brethren, and then Baptist – my grandparents raised their family with their faith and God at the very center of life. Later as an adult my Grandpa went to seminary, became a Baptist Pastor and was a shepherd to many congregations in Ontario, Canada over the years.

Both Reuben and Annie have gone on to Heaven now. What they left behind is remarkable. I saw it today when I got my own statement from their estate. I read it like a genealogy from the Gospel of Matthew… “Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers…”

Ours went like this: “The residual beneficiaries of the estate are…. Marvin Ray Brubacher, Donald Lee Brubacher, Rose Young, Sharon Harris, Nancy Switzer, David Brubacher, Ernest Jeffrey Brubacher, Heather Joy Weber, Andrew James Brubacher, Marilyn Young Bosley, Melody Young Day, Daniel Lee Brubacher, David Mark Brubacher, Jonathan Scott Brubacher, Lee Julian Brubacher, Donald James Brubacher, Paul Reuben Harris, Stefanie Anne Ritchie, Mark David Switzer, Kristi Sharon Waun, Angela Jean Pierik, Jenna Elizabeth Ibrahim, Michael David Brubacher and Kara Anne DeKat.

I look at these names and I can’t help but see a lot of people- my aunts, uncles, and cousins whom I love dearly. And then I see in my mind’s eye those people’s spouses and children too. But I can also see all of us as Grandma and Grandpa’s offspring – all of us following Jesus in different ways just like they did. Many giving their lives in His service just like Reuben and Annie did.

Okay – so, here’s the cool thing! Even if these weren’t my people – even if I didn’t get to be a part of the great big, crazy, fun, loud Brubacher family, I have something better! I know it seems impossible that there might be something better. But the truth is: I’ve been adopted into God’s family. Isn’t that amazing?

Right now at my church we are singing a Community Scripture Song together from Galatians 4:4-7. At face value it is fun to sing but, at its core the message is life-changing!

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

I write these words with a heart of thanksgiving – for my earthly family – and for my Heavenly Father who sent his Son so that I could be adopted into His family. Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift! AMEN.