GRANDMOTHER OLIVE'S CRANBERRY ORANGE CREAM MOLD

Grandmother Olive's Cranberry Orange Cream Mold

1 pkg ( 6 oz) black cherry jello
1 1/2 Cups boiled water
1 can ( 16 oz ) whole berry cranberry sauce
1 can ( 8 oz ) mandarin orange sections
1 pint sour cream
1/2 Cup toasted walnuts

Dissolve gelatin in boiling water.  Add cranberry sauce and stir until sauce is melted and berries float separately,  Add remaining ingredients and stir until well blended.  Pour mixture into 2 qt. mold and refrigerate until firm.

This is a different way to have cranberry for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas.

BLUE JAY

                                       

First dish is full of bird food.  The next four have the bird.  The last dish is empty.

JEAN POSTS

On February 7th, Edward and Margaret got married.  There had been much discussion, but Edward insisted that it be at his house.  So, we ended up having all the people we could fit in the house and the rest in the barn.  Bishop Joseph performed the marriage in the house and one of our ministers in the barn.  After Edward and Margaret got married in the house, they went out into the barn and were given congratulations.

We served the dinner in the house in shifts.  Bishop Joseph gave the blessing at the first shift.  He then ate a quick meal and had to go to someone else's house to preform a wedding there.  Poor Bishop Joseph had three weddings to perform that day.  We had invited Bishop Eli and Emma, but they couldn't come because Bishop Eli had two weddings to perform that day.

As usual, many of the women, myself included were in the kitchen getting ready for the dinner.  Shortly before their getting married, Anna and Grandmother Olive came and rushed me out.  They wanted to make sure I witnessed the marriage.  Anna stayed in the kitchen, but Grandmother Olive came with me and sat next to me - to make sure I saw the whole thing.

Two of the kind of funny or unusual things is that Edward's new barn had never been used until after the wedding.  An English neighbor had retired from farming, so Edward rented his barn while the new barn was constructed.  After the new barn went up, Edward asked the neighbor if he could rent the neighbor's farm until after he married.  The neighbor said as long as he was invited to the wedding.  Neighbor and his wife, were the first invited to the wedding.

The other thing was when Edward saw us ladies coming into his kitchen with all our pots and pans.  He kept saying not to scratch the counter, don't chip the cupboards, - on and on he went until David got him out of the kitchen and said us ladies wouldn't damage it.  After everything was over and we left, Margaret, said Edward went over that kitchen to make sure everything was all right.

The day after the wedding, we ladies got the house straightened,  while the men went over to the neighbors barn to bring all of Edward and Margaret's horses and cows to his new barn.  The neighbor agreed  to only take back of the men pictures, but people wouldn't believe him if he told them they took the animals right down the road from one farm to another.  The men saw the pictures.

Oh, I almost forgot that Edward had a picture of his grandmother in his shirt pocket.  He didn't let anyone know until after the wedding and only to family.  What got David and I a bit upset is that none of Edward's natural family came to be the wedding.  A couple of days later we mentioned it to Edward and Margaret, and Edward said that we are his family.  They left, he prays for them, but our family is his family.  He even has an adoption paper that says so.  It brought us to tears.

Margaret said she was so happy.  Now that she and Edward are married, she is really a member of our family.  The only family that she has really known.

Michael said, he might be next.

Be With God,
Jean

VETERAN'S DAY

OUR FIRST FALL SNOW !

It started to snow today, so I got out and took some pictures. 

ELMER'S POST

Halloween Day is also Michael's Birthday and my Birthday.  So we have always gotten together to celebrate birthday's.  This one was a little unusual as Michael wanted something special.

About a week before our birthday, he got his Mom and Dad, Jean and David, the girl he is courting and her parents and Anna and I to a meeting at Jean and David's house.  We had no idea what he was calling a meeting for because he has never done this before.. So we were curious about this meeting.

Michael was very serious about this meeting when we got there.  Jean had made some cookies along with coffee and tea.  They were wondering what this meeting was about.  Their worry was that he might be leaving.  So we all went into the living room.

As we all knew, Michael's original parents are in prison.  What they are for doesn't matter in this post, but his Father is in for life.  His Mother is in with a possible parole in about 10 years or so.  Michael's request is that he would like to go to prison and see them.  Jean asked why.  He says I have to settle my life.

He went on and said he was brought up on the streets, more or less, living with his parents.  They taught  a bad way of life.  His Dad called him devil because because he was born on Halloween.  Since he has come to their house, he has changed.  He has learned a different way of life.  He felt that Jean, David, Anna and I were the big figures in his life.  We had  done a lot of changing and more to do.  David said the greatest changed was the Lord which Michael agreed., but human wise it was us.

He had to go to the prison and settle all the anger he had for his parents and even the  hate.  He knows he went with Jean and David after they got him and swore he wouldn't go again,  but felt he had to.  Over the time he has gotten over the hate.  He wants to go to his parents and let them see him now.  See that he does not hate them and that he has a new life how.  It's who he wants to go with him.

We all agreed except the girl he is courting's Father.  Michael said he wanted just her to go so she can see the family he came from.  He wanted her know and hold nothing back from her.  Also, he wanted me and if possible Anna to go with him.  Jean and David assumed them, but Michael said this might sound silly but Elmer and I were born on Halloween.  He wanted to go on Halloween.  After discussion, it was decided that Michael, his girl, Anna and I would go.

So we got Dottie to drive us to the prison and back. Michael had explained to his girl about her parents, so she knew about them, but she had never been to prison before.  When Dottie pulled us where we got out, we help hands and prayed before we went in.

Michael and I went to see his Father first.  His Dad was on one side of a clear wall and Michael picked up the phone.  His Dad made comments about Michael's dress and mine.  Michael explained that he was at peace in a new way of life.  His Dad said it wouldn't last.  Michael tried to tell him about the Lord, but all his Dad did was cuss and swear and ask if there was a Lord why did they live the way they did.  Why was he here.  Michael tried to explain but he called Michael the devil.  I told Michael to leave, he had done all he could.  Michael left and I got on the phone.  I told him who I was and why I was there.  Michael and I were both born on Halloween, different years.  I explained how I met Michael and our religious ways.  I also to told him to heed what Michael told him.  I prayed a short prayer as he cussed and I left.

At her request, Michael came back and introduced his girl to her Father who called their religion fake. They were backwards, they were dumb to marry. She was forcing him to change and on he went.  When he cussed, Michael and she came out.

When we got together, Michael and I found out that Anna and she had been to see Michael's mother already.  Her view was so different.  So Michael and I went to see her.  She was thrilled to see Michael, glad that he had changed and come to a much better life.  She even asked Michael and his girl to pray for her.  She asked Michael if he would write to her to tell him of his life.  He said he had to think about it.

When we got in the car again, we discussed it.  Michael felt bad that his Father didn't believe his way of life was forever.  He felt bad that his Father did not appreciate his praying.  I told him that God works in mysterious ways.  What he told his Father might work on him when he is back in his cell.  It is a start.

Michael felt relieved.  He saw his parents and showed them his new way.  He was glad they met his girl.  But, he doesn't want to come back there for a long time.

When we got home Jean had dinner for us all.  She was surprised to see Michael is a very good mood.  She also had cake and presents for us.  Anna also gave us gifts.  Even Michael's girl gave us friends.  Michael and I also exchanged gifts.  Michael thanked Anna and I for going with him.  We let him know, we were glad to do it.

So we had an interesting birthday this year.

Trust God's Wisdom,.
Elmer

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE PERSECUTED

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER is the first Sunday of November.  This day is to pray for the people being persecuted for their belief in the Lord.  Some of the people are in prison in foreign countries.  Some are being persecuted.  Some can not get jobs because of their belief.  Some of their family will not associate with them.  Our prayers are for their support and peace with the Lord.


I am having trouble getting pictures on here right now and I don't know what the problem is.  But I could not ignore today.

Marilyn