Cravings

With somewhat regularity, we have people from the States asking what they can send to us that might make us smile, things we can't find here.  In the beginning, that list was really long. It has shrunk over the last couple of years, in part due to more shopping options here, (We can actually get Dr. Pepper on occasion, and I've even seen Tobasco!), partly because we've either adjusted our tastes or expectations, and also because we stocked up when the Ebbers shipped over a container. I like to think we're acclimating.  Katy has learned to make Reece's Peanut Butter Cups, which are actually pretty good. I've got a great hot chocolate recipe.  We drink our drinks without ice, eat frozen vegetables in the winter time, and have learned to make a lot from scratch.  No one's complaining and no one is starving, that's for sure.

But, still, we have cravings: for a good hamburger cooked on Big Daddy's Viking Grill, Chick-Fil- A, Krispy Kream, and Daniel even craves the Mexican restaurant in Kosciusko. They'd be pleased to know that.

So, this weekend, Ed was gone to Germany for meetings and I had a little extra time on my hands. While I don't consider myself much of a baker, I decided to try a new recipe. There's this website we discovered that has copycat recipes that really come in handy when we have cravings. For those of us who don't have ready access to Panera Bread, we found a recipe for their brocolli cheese soup. I've found pizza crust from Pizzaria Uno, and Abi once saw a recipe for Oreos, that we've yet to try. Yesterday, I made Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls.  OK, so I'm not such a sweet tooth person, but oh my! These are divine! I could hardly stop myself from eating them, and they weren't too time consuming to make.  The recipe makes a lot and they are scrumptious!!  All we needed was a good hot cup of Starbucks to go with it.

Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls

2 pkg yeast

1 c hot water

2/3 c sugar

1 t sugar

1 c warm milk

2/3 c butter

2 t salt

2 beaten eggs

7 c flour

Mix the water, yeast and 1 t sugar.  In another bowl, mix milk, 2/3 c sugar (I used a little less), salt, butter, eggs. Add to the yeast.  Add the flour slowly, knead 5-10 min, cover and let rise in a warm place 1-1/2 hours. Punch down. Let rest 5 min. Roll out 15" x 20".

Mix 1 c melted butter, 1 3/4 c sugar, 3 T cinnamon, 1 1/2 c walnuts chopped. Spread over dough. Roll up and pinch to seal. Cut into 16 slices.  

Coat the bottom of a 9 x 13 (or bigger if you have it) with butter. Sprinkle with sugar. Place the rolls in the pan. Let rise 5 minutes. Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes (I left mine in longer b/c the inside wasn't quite done). 

When cool pour glaze on top:  2/3 c melted butter; 2 c powdered sugar; 2 t vanilla; 6 T hot water. Combine.

Catching up

I know you're supposed to publish a blog a day or whatever, but I've had a load of pictures to post from Christmas and New Years, and this was the only time I've had time to do it with all the computers free. We've got pictures scattered across 3 computers, so I needed access to all of them to make this work. Katy and Abi were at the gypsy market buying a skirt sworn to have been worn by Bionce', you know the singer who was in the new Pink Panther movie. The gypsy even gave Katy a deal, offering it to her for 10 RON, about 4 dollars.  Daniel had been at a sleep over with Nicholas, Jonah and Sam Hoe, and Aaron Ebbers at Nic's place, so he was tired and crawled in the hammock that he's got attached below his loft and watched hunting videos.  Ed was in the barn all day finishing, or almost finishing, the guest room. All of you who are afraid that if you visit we may stick you out there:  Fear no longer!  It is lovely! Quaint. Cozy. You'll be begging to stay out there. I'll post pictures next time.  It's been Ed's handiwork, literally. Without hunting, he's needed outlets and the barn has been a great opportunity for him to do something with his hands that is totally unrelated to the weight he carries with the rest of the work here.  So, for many different reasons, I'm grateful for the barn/guest house/cabin-uta!

Colinde

So, Romanians are really good at making their food look pretty. If I had made these salads, I might have put them in a cute bowl, but never would I have thought to make a
daisy out of a red pepper!

Katy and our friend Anushka. Anushka lives in Moldova but is a student at the
University of Transylvania in Brasov. She's studying English and French.
One of our favorite people in Romania. More on her later...

Carmina with a mouth full of chocolate and her mom, Tatiana. Florin, Tatiana's husband did all the work on the exterior of our house. They are some of our oldest friends here.

Darin with the ladies.
We're hoping one of these gals will catch his eye.
Actually, he's already being pursued by at least one.

On the Sunday before Christmas we hosted a Christmas party, inviting those who normally attend Bible Study, along with some of our other friends who don't. We sang carols, this time making sure all of the words were translated correctly. Last year we were singing, unknown to us, about angel's booties. Apparently there's only one letter difference in cursing and talking about choirs. This year, we got it right, and enjoyed carols, Scripture, and the testimonies from a few of our friends of the difference Christ's coming makes in their lives. Then we feasted.

This was our third Christmas in Romania. God has been so good in providing us with dear friends we enjoy, a wonderful team, and a purpose that makes it worth it.

Christmas Eve Part I

Hard to believe these two will be in Jackson together next year. Makes me jealous.

On Christmas Eve afternoon, Katy hosted her first piano recital featuring her first and only student, Jessalyn Ebbers.

Angela was intrigued with Skype and the webcam. We were trying to see Sarah Potts and wish them all a Merry Christmas.

Abi and Daniel sporting his new hat from Angela, looking like a Tigan.

Angela came over for a visit before we went to the Christmas Eve service at the Baptist Church where our friend Corin is pastor.

Christmas Eve Part II

Ed and I gave each other a new camera for Christmas. Nice, no? I'm just glad he likes to read instruction manuals, that way he can learn and tell me what to do. He seems to know what he's doing. I like the frosty clothespins.

Some of the most creative gifts exchanged...Abi gave Ed a rooster chalkboard.

Daniel gave Katy some old German piano music and framed one of the pieces.


Michael didn't get very creative with his gifts, but he sure looks good in the scarf Abi gave him.

Christmas Day Part I

Christmas morning with full stockings and lookin' good!!

The brass band that walks the streets Christmas morning playing the same song over and over again, hoping people will, in generous Christmas spirits, give them cash to make them stop. We did, though maybe it wasn't completely from benevolent hearts. But they did leave.

Happy kids sporting new pj's, hats, boxers and a fancy new leather flask from which Dan can't seem to remove the funky taste it adds to water.

Christmas Day Part II

Christmas dinner was in the barn. Our Brasov team pitched in to make a feast: turkey cooked on the green egg, dressing, cranberry casserole (with cranberries from our US visit in November), mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes (which are more easily found at local stores these days), salad, green been casserole, beer bread, and sarmale (We had to have at least something from Romania's tradition. Sarmale is pickled cabbage stuffed with pork, rice and spices, and is really really yummy, especially with a dollop of sour cream on top). My sweet friend and neighbor, Angela, made over 100 sarmale to share with us for Christmas.

With visions of making a world class snowboarding video, the kids thought they needed some edgy costumes (or non-costumes) to go with it. Yes, it was below freezing out!

Our Romania team Christmas tradition, started last year, is an Ultimate Frisbee match in the snow. We added a few more to our number with some Ebbers kids.

The winners: Ed, Emily, Katy, Jessalyn, Isaac and Nicholas. Yes, it was below freezing!

The not-winners: Michael, Abi, Daniel, Darin and Aaron

My friend, Melania

Every Thursday morning at 9:30, well almost every Thursday, I log on Skype and wait to see my friend Melania's name light up on the screen.  She lives in Targiu Jiu, a town about 5 hours from us. She and her husband planted a church that meets in their home a few years ago.  It's called Apa Vie, which means Living Water.  The ground they are plowing is hard and the region where they live is dark.  It makes life pretty lonely for them.  Melania has told me that she has no real peer female relationship there, no one with whom she can share her struggles and be transparent.  I've tried to be that for her when we've met face to face every few months and on our Skype visits in between.  We're both encouraged when we hang up and look forward to the next time.  It's funny how that works.  Darin reminded us all of the proverb that says, "He who waters will himself  be watered." (11:25)  While most of the time, I'm skeptical to believe it and want to keep my tank full, experience shows that it's true. (Not to mention that it's God's Word, so of course it's true!)

Melania is about my age, with two little girls, Amanda and Anita. She's a good mom and is working hard at raising them differently from how she was raised. Families who are raising kids to know and love Jesus and that are grace-centered are rare in Romania these days.  She told me on Thursday that much of what she and Daniel have learned has been from observation. Jim and Julie Richards and their family, from a PCA church in Nebraska, have known the Gavanescus since 1997. Daniel and Melania watch them interact as a couple and as parents when they come to Romania annually for a few weeks at a time.  It's amazing the ways God uses community.  I find it a privilege to be used by Him in Melania's life.  

Gratar Inghetat (Frozen Cook-out) Part II

Our neighbor Traian, Hannah Ebbers, and Lucky (the father of Blitz's puppers)

The frozen group

My favorite kids in the whole world! 

A happy, complete family

Lots of pics from the holidays...working backwards

The full team, with Nic's fiance, Melissa, and Darin's mom

For New Year's Eve day, we gathered with about 40 people at Maial, a "valley" near the Ebbers' house in Codlea for a gratar. It was so cold that the Sprite froze after sitting out 1/2 an hour! We think we were nuts, but had a great time. We sledded, played soccer, ate, and struggled to stay warm snuggling up to a warm fire and sipping on vin fiert (hot wine) and visinata (sour cherry brandy) all made from the fruit from our yard this summer.

Michael, who we think is the nuttiest one of all, without a jacket!

Darin, working on getting meat to cook when it's -15 celcius outside.

Ed, Francisco and Martita Berrios, and Michael (who finally put on a jacket!)