Where do I begin…

Hello. It’s November 5th at 10:39, and I’m just saying Hi. To say life has run away with me is an understatement. Many things have happened since I last posted that I could write about. I’d like to start a conversation and ask how you’ve been? Maybe have a cup of tea and talk about What’s been happening over the last year or two? But that’s kind of hard to do on the blog…

so… In the great words of Roger’s and Hammerstein’s from the Sound of Music, “Let’s start at the beginning, a very good place to start…” I actually have no idea where that is, so I’ll just tell you some of the stuff of life lately and catch you up.

First, the kids: everyone is doing great! Emily graduated from MTSU in the spring with a degree in English and communications, with a side of photography and art thrown in. She got a job before she even graduated (miracle of miracles) and she is enjoying the working life as an adult. Isaac is finishing up another at Chatt State and working at Chick-fil-A, and we love to see him thriving. He may change his major shortly, but we are proud of the energy and thoughtfulness he brings to all of his endeavors! And then, there’s Mackenzie – our budding artist and musician. Youth Symphony, Community Orchestra, Art lessons, working at the Signal Mountain Cookie Lady bakery – her senior year is full of amazing activities and she is loving it. She’s also a part of book club that is partly inspiring and partly hilarious. (that’s my take, not hers).

Next up: Michael and I both turned 51 a few months ago and had our 27th anniversary. We are officially of the age where you stash reading glasses all over the house in case you need to actually see something. But I digress. They say time flies when you’re having fun – and for the most part that has been absolutely true of our life together. But, this year has been a little more difficult and at times has felt like it slowed to a stand-still with its challenges. In October, after 26 years working in insurance, the work environment became untenable with high stress levels and Michael resigned from Unum. We are equal parts excited and apprehensive about the possibilities. Over all – we are thankful that we have time and financial margin to figure out our next steps.

Finally: my work has landed me as Creative Director at St.Mary of Magdala Anglican Community. It is a regular adventure of planning liturgy and leading worship week to week, as well as using my gifts towards communication and hospitality. Really, it’s a dream job and I enjoy every minute. I still get to play piano out in the community, and I’m looking forward to playing for a musical locally this coming spring.

And now a glut of photos…

Our recent trip thru Cade’s Cove in the Smoky’s was lovely.

performing with a friend, the best.

new (old) music

visiting my mom’s to practice, I don’t get to do it often enough – but, its always like spending time with an old friend.

Mac’s first apple pie. gorgeous.

new warmth for the back deck

One lone Beauty, a little later than I expected in the season…

Still my favorite spot at Chester Frost…

See you soon friends! hopefully sooner than later.

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Not your usual suspects : Grandma B’s recipe #13

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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.

a bit of history · friends and loved ones · Uncategorized

From the house and lineage of Brubacher

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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.