I don’t make dessert too often, but when I do, oh man, my stomach is in for trouble. I add pounds just looking at the finished product!

Tonight I made this:
It’s from the pioneer woman, and it was awesome. My own pictures are coming soon!

I know you’ve been waiting eagerly for this.  Here’s a few photos from the last month or so.  We’ll start with possibly the most hilarious thing I’ve ever seen having to do with InterVarsity staff.

Hilarious skits at RSC 2008

At our regional staff meetings, we played some games to celebrate 2 staff who are in their last year (these were their favorite games).  One was “Skit in a Bag” where you have to put together a 5 min skit using totally random objects as props, NOT with their typical uses.  This group had the theme “Synchronized Swimming at the Olympics”.  I’ve never seen my AD do water ballet on carpet with a weird wrench thing plugging his nose, but it was SO funny!

Jon the water goddess

Ta da! The big finish.  I give it a ten for originality.  Let’s just say they “won” the game.  My team lost miserably.

My "missionary" shoes

We studied part of Acts during the week and talked about being missionaries.  We brought our shoes, people filled them with notes of encouragement and Bible verses, and then we sorta “displayed” them around our regional vision, which is about going to Jerusalem, Judea and the ends of the earth, from Acts 1:8.   These are my “missionary” shoes – I already feel like I’m “at the ends of the earth” so to speak, but I know eventually I’ll be more comfortable at Grinnell and it will become my home.

Tom Lin, our Regional Director

Lindsay and Len celebrating Len's many years on staff

Cenral Region Staff! Aren't we a good looking bunch? I LOVE Amy's expression

Those 4 1/2 days were tons of fun.  I got to do archery for the first time, hang out with new people, play some Settlers (I should post about that sometime…) and have some really great time with the Lord.  Moving to a “new” part of the country has been hard.  There are some familiar faces, but even so, adjusting to new traditions, patterns, ways of thinking is a bit tricky.  A lot is similar to New England, but there’s enough that’s different that I’m relearning what it’s like to live in the Midwest.  I’m in a strange situation because Grinnell (the town) is a pretty typical small town with farmers and families, but it’s also pretty influenced by the college, which is much more akin to the elite schools and towns in New England that I’m more familiar with.  So, in a sense, I’m sorta in two worlds at once – my old Jerusalem (the midwest) is now my new ends of the earth, and yet there are pieces of my old ends of the earth (New England) that will eventually become my new Jerusalem (Grinnell).  Catch all that? 

After RSC, and a flurry of crazy winter weather, we drove out to Nebraska.  Here’s a few pics from our time out in Alliance.  Gotta have a picture of the cows. 

Cattle Country

More cows.

As previously stated, I joined Jerod and his dad for some hunting excursions.  I went out with them twice – the first day was FRIGID cold.  The second time was much more bearable.  I think most of these are from the second time – otherwise, I have a feeling my finger probably would have gotten frostbite.

Nebraska Grasslands

The beautiful Nebraska grasslands, right at dusk.  It started getting dark around 4 pm – so I snapped this picture on the way to our next spot.  Unfortunately, wordpress doesn’t render the colors quite as richly as I’d like.  It always looks a bit “washed out”.  I’ll try to work on that.

On the hunt for some pheasant.

Here’s Jerod on the hunt for some pheasant – he got one too!  I think we just ate it for dinner a few nights ago…SO much better than I thought it would be.

Both Jerod and I have Danish ancestors, and one of the traditions (sort of) on my mom’s side of the family is having aebilskivers (pronounced able-ski-ver) on Christmas morning, most often when at my Nana and Papa’s in Chicago.  So we made some for the family that morning!  Jerod actually puts apples in them the way you’re supposed to, I prefer plain.

Our Christmas Stockings

I brought my old Christmas stocking with me – I had this one when I was younger and people called me Jenna.  I think my mom made it.  Jerod’s is made by his mom too – I love that it has sequins on it!  heehee, so cute

Christmas Morning!

It's a Christmas mystery!

So, Jerod and I had trouble getting all of our Christmas shopping done before we left for Nebraska because of all the craziness going on.  And we had the toughest time figuring out what to get Liz (his step sister) and Jaime (her husband).  We finally decided to grab something left over on their wedding registry (they had A LOT they didn’t receive) and have it shipped to them in Minneapolis, but we wanted to give them something to open.  So, we printed out a picture of their gift (this schnazzy wine opener set), mounted it on some tag board with rubber cement, and then I cut it into puzzle pieces.  They had to put together their puzzle to figure out their gift.   We also gave them a dollar store cork opener as a joke.  They LOVE it, and it was tons of fun to see them work at it.

Red Velvet Cake

And last, but not least, is the red velvet Christmas cake that Micki made.  We were overwhelmed with cookes and sweets during the week.  This in particular was quite decadent! A wonderful Christmas had by all

This recipe is a favorite of Jerod’s, cooked by his mom Gloria, the original Mrs. Weinman.  It’s an adaptation from the Bethlehem Bounties Church Cookbook, from Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Brush, CO, where she grew up.  It was originally published in 1986, and you can trace this recipe back to Ann Lund.  I think the history makes it kinda fun  This is a great way to use up zucchini, though I’m a bit “late” for the prime time of zucchini season.  We had a huge one from the farmers market a few weeks ago, and it lasted two weeks!

Ingredients

3 eggs

1/3 c oil (you can use more if you like)

3 t vanilla

1/2 c chopped walnuts

2 c ground or shredded zucchini

1 c sugar

1 c brown sugar

3 c flour (or combination of oat and regular flour)

1 t baking powder

1 t baking soda

1 t salt

2 t cinnamon

1/2 c crushed unsweetened pineapple, drained

1/2 c raisins, dates or choc chips (I like the chocolate, but I put in a little bit less)

Mix all ingredients together using an electric mixer.  Pour into greased and floured loaf pan.  Bake at 350 for 50-60 mins until done.  You may also divide this into 2 smaller loaf pans, which is what I do.  Enjoy!