The past couple of days I have been itching to bake something. But I couldn’t figure out what I’ve been in the mood for. My bananas aren’t ripe enough yet for banana bread. None of the recipes I brought with me from home look appealing (or else i don’t have the ingredients). So I looked through some of Joy’s Australian cookbooks and found a recipe for French Coffee Cake with coffee as one of the ingredients. Sounds good to me!

Unfortunately I added too much coffee. The recipe called for 1 TBS, and I accidentally added 2. Woops! Still tastes yummy, even though strong.

The next time i do this cake I will pit the correct amount of coffe, but also, I think when i make the icing, I will try and disolve the coffee before mixing it in. We’ll see how that goes.

I’ll post the recipe later.

Tangy Chicken Breast

Tonight I made tangy chicken breast with corn and rice. I think it came out superb! I used half the recipe for 4 chicken breasts, but it was enough, and I saved the left over marinade for maybe another breast later on this week.

I was lucky enough to find parboiled rice here. Uncle Ben’s no less! And I was also fortunate enough to find that parboiled is the same in Bosnian as it is in English. Ha!

Ingredients

• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
• 1 cup Worcestershire sauce
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

Directions

1. Place chicken in a single layer in a bowl or pan. Mix together Worcestershire sauce, oil, lemon juice, and garlic; pour over chicken. Cover. Refrigerate for at least 6 hours.
2. Take chicken out of marinade, and place on broiler pan or grill. Broil until done, approximately 7 minutes on each side.

So yummy!

I showed this hairstyle to Joe last night. He loves it. I really do too. I am torn as to whether or not I should do it though. I mean, I will like it for sure. But I’ve been growing my hair out now for almost 3 years for the purpose of having long hair at my wedding. Now I’m engaged. I should probably see it through. But gettting your hair done here is so much cheaper!

I know if I did this my dad would hate it. But Joe loves it. And so do I. And dad’s not here, is he? Hmmmmmmm…….

********

Dad says, “If Joe likes it, go for it.”

I’ll probably get it done sometime next week!

Joe likes small cups, and Bosnians love to drink their coffee strong and in small cups so I had to make an effort to get at least a couple for myself.

I love these!

Already shopping and planning for when Joe and I have a place together.

My domestic skills have been put into practice too. I made chicken and eggs salads for a workshop that the library had and the women raved about them (yay!).  This afternoon I made scrambled eggs for lunch and tonight will be spaghetti and salad. I know, easy stuff, but I’m doing it little by little which I am proud of myself for. Also, I’m feeling like limited to what I can prepare here that is “American” (since i’m not too keen on the ethnic food here).

I’ll try to take pictures of what I make from now on!

Every Day…

(in the Post office with my index card, memorizing Phil. 4:11-13)

• Never allow yourself to complain about anything – not even the weather.
• Never picture yourself in any other circumstances or someplace else.
• Never compare your lot with another’s.
• Never allow yourself to wish this or that had been otherwise.
• Never dwell on tomorrow – remember that [tomorrow] is God’s not ours.

This list was written by Ella Speese, a missionary to Africa. But it is applicable for everyone at all times. I’m trying to put it into practice now.

I have now “lived” in Bosnia for a little over a week. It has been emotional, but I think i’m finally over the jet lag and starting to get the hang of things here.

What I didn’t expect would be the stress I would have over the things going on at home that I am not even a part of. But the Lord knows what I need and I discovered this book in the library.

In October I had gone on a ladies retreat with my church and the speaker told of the 3 years that she lived in Poland and God brought her through this book.

It’s for women who worry, and how to find contentment wherever they are and in whatever situation they find themselves in.

Yesterday as part of the 12 week bible study, I had to memorize Phil. 4:11-13. “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned that in every situation to be content. I have learned to be brought low and how to abound. In any and every situation I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.”

Already, since beginning this study, I have felt calmer, and better able to cast my cares upon the Lord. My cares seem small in comparison to what others face, and I am sure that as the Lord brings me through learning contentment in Him, situations will arise to challenge me and try that contentment. But I know that I can do all things thorugh Him who gives me strength.

Yesterday I got to walk about and see some sights. This is one of my favorites:

There once was a mouse (we’ll call him Winston). Winston was unlike many others. He dreamed of traveling the world.

Winston lived in a house in Maine where he would scurry about with the other mice in his family. Sometimes he would go outside and depending on the season he would look for food in the meadows, or frollick in the snow.

But Winston was restless and one day he overheard the girl who lived in his house, named Nicki, talking about traveling to Bosnia. Winston needed to go with her. He needed to travel the world.

One day Winston found Nicki’s suitcase and crawled into the otside pocket. “No one will notice me here,” he thought to himself. The he waited. He waited and waited. Days went by and Winston got hungrier and thirstier, but he would not leave for fear that Nicki would leave without him. He waited and waited, and eventually winston died.

Eventually Nicki pulled out her suitcase and started packing. A few days later she noticed that her suitcase smelled pretty bad, but she didn’t see anything wrong with it. “It must be mildew or mold,” she thought to herself. “I hope my things don’t get ruined, but I really need to use this bag.” And so she finished packing, placed her pillow on top of her things, closed the bag and ziped it up.

Nicki did indeed travel to Bosnia. When she arrived she was very tired, and hadn’t had mor than 2 hours of sleep. She waited for her three bags, but only one came.

Winston’s dead body lay in one of her missing bags; the one containing her knitting needles and most of her winter clothes.

Nicki filed a mising bags report at the airport and was told she would receive her bags the following day. The following day, those bags came, and Nicki received them after her first day working in the English Library she was there to work in.

That evening she started unpacking her things, and the bag smelled worse than she remembered. She took her pillow out, and it smeled just as the bag did.

When dinner came by delivery, she set down her unpacking task and ate while watching a movie with her friend, J. When the movie ended Nicki decided to go to the office to talk with her fiance, Joe.

Nicki didn’t get back to her home until 2AM, but still she wasn’t tired enough to go to sleep. She decided to continue unpacking her stinky bag. Once everything had been unpacked and put away, she checked the outside pocket, and she felt something unfamiliar. As she pulled it out she discovered Winston’s decomposing carcass.

She screamed, but Joy did not wake up.

She thought, “I can’t leave it there, I need to find something topick it up with.” There were no paper towels or napkins. The she spotted a washcloth she had knit. “This will have to do.”

She picked Winston up, photographed him, wrapped him in a plastic bag and disposed of him in the trash.

She thought, “I must tell this mouse’s story for him.”

And that is Winston’s tale.

I should be packing right now, but instead I’m baking.

Baking cookies for Joe which for some reason are coming out terrible. This stresses and frustrates me because thi will be the last time he gets his mom’s cookie recipe cookies before I come home.

Baking scones for Jessie’s baby shower tomorrow, only to find out that we don’t have enough butter in the house. Which means I will have to set it aside until I can get to the grocery store. Maybe Jessie will need to wait till I get home before she gets the bibs I’ve made but not finished.

Needing to make noodles for the chicken noodle soup that is for supper tonight.

AH!

Buttermilk Scones

Today I made scones for breakfast. Mmm.

While in Kansas, Joe’s mom was telling me that the key to good scones in Buttermilk. A couple weeks ago I thought I would give it a try and see how well it came out. I looked online for a buttermilk scone recipe (it helps me if the recipe already calls for that ingredient rather than trying to substitute in baking).

And voila!

I added chocolate chips instead of currants to the scones pictured. The scones I made for breakfast this morning were plain, and I had them with butter and jam. Mmm.

Bosnia Preparations / /

Last night I got really sad. I was just thnking about all of the things I had left to do before leaving and the amount of time I had left to accomplish them. I realized that it wasn’t that long. I realized that I wuld have to say goodbye to everyone and not see them for 7 months. While this would usually be something incredibly exciting to me, I hate the idea of leaving Joe for so long. I have a hard time being away from him for a weekend, nevermind 7 months! Last night the weight of it fell on me, and I shed some tears.

The good thing to know is that while I am gone we will still be communicating. We will still be planning. We will still be praying that Joe finds some steady work, and that we can start planning our wedding when I come back to the States.

When I Come Home / /

I am praying about what the Lord would have me do when I come home. I have been thinking of becoming a volunteer at Alpha Pregancy Crisis Center in town, but only if that’s what God wants from me. I don’t want to be idle, and I do want to do something of eternal value wherever it is that I am

Prayer Requests / /

• Joe would get a job
• We would be able to get married
• Clear knowledge of what I should do when I get home
• Protection while on my journey in Europe
• God’s will be done

BOSNIA UPDATING / / Oh dear. I leave for Bosnia in a little more than 2 weeks. My room is in disarray (but that’s because I’m messy), and I’ve packed most of my belongings into the attic or my hope chest to stay until my return in October.

I’m mildly in denial about leaving the country. I mean, I know it’s coming, and soon. However, I would much rather not be thinking about it, and instead crafting, or cooking.

I’ve been told that my TL’s wife, P, has offered to help me learn to cook if I have trouble or need assistance. I just want to know if I’ll be able to get my hands on a sewing machine? Or at least some yarn?

LENT / / I gave up coffee and soda for Lent. I definitely didn’t think it through until today. I don’t mind that I gave up soda (this may very well last beyond Lent), but coffee… Let me just say that there are 40 days of Lent (not including Sundays), and I leave for Bosnia in 17 days. THERE ARE NO STARBUCKS IN BOSNIA! This means I don’t get to drink from that caffeine oasis until OCTOBER! Granted, I can get their non-coffee products, but really, what’s the point?

I digress…

DAY-TO-DAY / / Yesterday I made waffles for Joe for breakfast, and then I made supper for my family of TEN! I’m really starting to enjoy becoming domestic, just in time to live on my own for 7 months.

CRAFTING / /

Projects done

• knitting needles case #2 (which I gave to Deidre)

Projects in process

• hat for Joe
• 2 baby quilts

Projects I want to start

• crochet hook case
• a couple of skirts
• coffee cup cozy
• sewing/embroidery needle book (I hope to have my own tutorial posted for this

BOOKS / / I ordered a couple of books on Amazon.com which should be arriving in a couple of days. I’m very excited!

My Pastor had both Joe and I get Now You’re Speaking My Language by Gary Chapman to read and discuss while I’m away in order to get us ready for pre-marital counseling which we will start when I come home.

Ok, that’s all!

Listening to::
Artist: Elliott Smith
Album: Figure 8
Song: Son of Sam

Reading::
Book: Kiss
Author: Ted Dekker & Erin Healy
So Far: Excellent! Captivated by the first chapter.

Currently I am::
- knitting a hat for Joe.
- contemplating a list of things “to do”

• call finance
• make list of people who need physical newsletters
• sew gifts for people (before I leave!)
• write thank yous
• get things mailed at the post office
• pack

- wanting to sew a quilt

This post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

Password:

Well, my time with Joe in Kansas. Let me share with you some of the highlights!

Day 1 – Joe’s mom was there to greet us at the airport. When we got back to the Corridoni’s, Joe’s good friend Dan was there waiting for us. He had driven all the way from Arkansas to visit. “The Dan” is taking some photography classes so he took some pictures of us.

Day 2 – In the morning we went to the bakery where Joe’s mom works, baking cinnamon rolls, scones, and cookies.

After that, we went to get jeans for Joe, and the grocery store to buy ingredients for the evening meal. I volunteered to cook.

I had used the recipe for carrot soup taken from Elizabeth Carroll’s blog. I did, however, change a few things. I needed to triple the recipe and we didn’t have any dill. I didn’t make the pesto at all (because Joe doesn’t really like it). I used 2 onions instead of three. When I went to puree the carrots, it didn’t turn into the thick baby-food consistency I was looking for. OH NO! I added

6 small potatoes (peeled, cubed, and boiled till done)
1 small bag mixed vegetables
1/2 c. bacon (fried till crispy) for flavor

I also fried the rest of the package of bacon and crumbled it into bits to sprinkle on top, and grated sharp cheddar cheese (parmesan may have been just as good and easier).

It was delicious! I don’t know what went wrong as far as the thickness of the soup, but Mm, mm, good!

After dinner, we all went to Starbucks and then to Borders. I’ve found a few more books I want to own.

When we got back to the house, Dan took more pictures. He had a project to do for a class and Joe and I agreed to be used as his subjects. It was fun.

Day 3 – HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOE! In the morning, Joe’s mom made us biscuits and gravy. So good! Dan hung out for a little while, and then left us to meet some of his friends, and then to drive back to Arkansas. We took Sam to his ballet practice, and I don’t think his teacher liked us very much. O’well. In the evening we went to Joe’s grandma’s where she showed me how to make noodles and Joes favorite chicken noodle soup. It was delicious. We had chocolate cake and apple pie for dessert along with coffee. Joe and I BOTH had presents to open! Joe’s mom had them for my month ago birthday. He got some money, and I had given him some books by Eric Sloane and John Seymour. I got a new rotary cutter and some cutting rulers. So fun! We played Catch Phrase and Golf till about midnight, and then went home

Day 4 – Church, hanging out, and more grandmas. Grandma made briskett (oh man!) and again, showed me what to do to make it. Grandma gave me tons of recipes for foods, and pattern for a really cool bag, and a precipe for making your own lip balm (though I’m not allowed to give out the lip balm recipe). So I can’t wait to get started!

Day 5 – Joe and I went to meet Joe’s friend Jeff for coffee. Joe’s mom and brother showed up. we hung out at Starbucks for an hour and a half.

I made cinnamon rolls (pictures will be posted soon. sorry I’m not allowed to post the recipe) that were super yummy.

We went out to bring Sam to his voice lesson, and then to the post office where Joe mailed himself his dad’s bow saw (which was given to him). We also went back to Borders for a little while.

In the evening Joe and I went out to eat with his parents. That was really nice.

Day 6 (tomorrow) – wake up at 3:30 am. leave at 4 am. flight at 6am. home at 12:51 PM.

Tomorrow morning Joe and  will be on a plane, heading for Kansas to visit his family. I got us tickets for his birthday and his friends and family pitched in so that he could afford to go.

I’ll be packing most of the morning. I hope I don’t forget anything!

This will be the first time we’ve flown together. I’m pretty excited.

We will arrive in Wichita tomorrow around 5:30ish, and his mom should be picking us up from the airport. The last time I flew into Wichita, I was meeting Joe for the first time, last January.

I’m going to be taking down recipes for:
- Bee’s chicken noodle soup
- Brisket
- Bee’s cinnamon rolls

Mmm.