The Snow Didn't Keep Us Away...

Even with a snow delay, we were able to meet. We had great food and a special time gathering around tables to talk and share. Lori's devotional about Mary really made each of us ponder the miracle God gave us through our Savior Jesus Christ.

A fun gift exchange that had us swapping #7 with #2 if the bag was blue and finding a red gift to swap with #9 instead (or something like that).

December 9 Christmas Brunch

In case of bad weather:

* If the Juniata schools are closed, we are cancelled.

* If the schools are 2 hours delayed, we plan to meet at 10:30am, but...

* Listen to WJUN, WGRC, and WQJU for details.

Hope to see everyone there!!

(Photo glimpse from last year)

Snowmen: Cold Hands, Warm Hearts

Paint was splattered,
Hot glue was oozed,
Nails were pounded,
Scarves were tied,
Snowmen came to life while...
Laughter was heard,
Stories were told,
Support was given,
New friends were made.

Betty Scholl gave instructions on how to

create our own snowmen.

BEFORE.......

Special Touches Added

Finished Projects!!

Toys & Clothing Collected for Area Children in Need. Thanks to all who bought items to give them this Christmas!

November 18 Christmas Craft SNOWMAN

Check out this beautiful snowman craft we are going to be making on November 18 with Betty Scholl's instruction.

If you didn't sign up at the last event, contact Wanda 463-9092 to make sure we have enough supplies for everyone. Cost $15.00. See you there!

Reminder: If you chose to buy gifts for the local children we're supporting this Christmas, bring them wrapped to this event.

October 21 Ladies Time Together

Did you know the world produces 2,750 calories per person per day? Did you know that the US is the only industrialized nation with wide spread hunger and that every 3.6 seconds someone in the world dies of hunger?

Our speaker, Jenn Esbenshade, gave us a lot to think about concerning how we can connect our eating to our faith. Jenn spent 3 years in Guatemala with her husband while serving with Mennonite Central Committee. She was able to share first hand experiences from their time there. In the US, we are fortunate enough not to know the fear of not having our own land or the inconvenience of purchasing food. Many people in the world do not have sufficient land to grow or income to purchase enough food.

We were challenged to think about fasting more and feasting less. Fasting may not mean giving up all food, but rather not feasting every day and using that time to honor the Lord (Isaiah 58:3-11) See photos below the recipes about food consumption around the world. Reference: Micah 4:1-5

VIDEOS: Jenn Esbenshade showed us all how to easily make our own yogurt and ricotta cheese. The following is a video of Jenn demonstrating the ease of making home-made yogurt. There is also a video showing how to make your own ricotta cheese.

Plain Yogurt
3 3/4 cups milk
2 Tbsp. yogurt (with live culture)
Warm milk until bubbles just begin to form. Let milk cool until around 115-120 degrees. Put yogurt in bottom of glass quart jar. Pour milk on top and stir. Place jar in oven with light n for 4-8 hours until yogurt has set (check often since weather/temperature affects it). (This also works with buttermilk)
Variations: Vanilla: Add 2 Tbsp. sugar and 1 tsp. vanilla to jar along with yogurt. Fruit: Once yogurt has set, stir in 1 cup pureed fruit.

Great to add to your yogurt:
Granola
1/2 cup maple syrup or honey
1/4 cup water
1 tsp. salt
4 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup wheat bran
1/4 cup ground flax
1/2 cup chopped nuts
Combine liquid ingredients then stir in dry. Place on baking sheet and bake at 250 degrees for 2 hours. Stir midway.
Variations: Warm 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1/4 cup water to liquefy sugar. Continue as directed. You may also replace germ, bran, and flax with 1 more cup oats.


YouTube Video on Making Ricotta Cheese:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRvdJKcHaMc


Ricotta Cheese Ingredients
1/2 gallon milk (or 2 quarts whole milk and 1 cup heavy cream)
3 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice or white vinegar
Salt

Other Great Recipes:
Easy Pudding
3 Tbsp. Cornstarch
3 Tbsp. Sugar
2 Tbsp. Baking Cocoa
2 cups Milk
Mix dry ingredients in a sauce pan. Pour in milk and whisk. Cook over medium heat until mixture thickens. Whisk constantly. Pour into bowl and push saran wrap down directly onto pudding to prevent a "skin" from developing on top. Cool.


5 Minute Popcorn
1 Tbsp. Oil
1/2 cup Popcorn kernels
Place in large pot. Cover with tight-fitting lid. Cook on medium high. Shake occasionally. Once kernels start to pop, shake constantly until popping stops.
For Kettle Corn: add 2-3 Tbsp. sugar and 1/2 Tbsp salt to popped popcorn. Cook on low, stirring constantly until sugar melts (about 1 minute).



WHAT DOES HUNGER LOOK LIKE?
* 35.5 million people (including 12.6 million children) experience hunger or the risk of hunger in the US.
* 4% of U.S. households experience hunger. Some families skip meals, eat too little, or go a whole day without food.
* 1 out of every 8 households in the United States has reduced the quality of its diet to utilize money elsewhere (rent, clothing, day care).
* 6.9 % of U.S. households are at risk of hunger.
THE GOOD NEWS: There is enough food. The world produces 2,750 calories per person per day. But, the US spends more on its military than the next 45highest spending countries combined. Check out the
Federal Budget for 2009:
62% Military spending
5% Education
4% Health
3% Housing & Community Development
2% International Aid

FOODS GROWN LOCALLY!! There are local farms and markets in Port Royal, Mifflintown, Newport, Lewistown, and Dalmatia, to name a few. Here are links to a guide to find local farms and markets:

http://www.localharvest.org/ and http://agmap.psu/

Check out the following photos:
Credit: TIME series of photos on What the World Eats based on the book “Hungry Planet” by Peter Menzel . Click to enlarge photo.





United States: The Revis family of North Carolina
Food expenditure for one week: $341.98
Favorite foods: spaghetti, potatoes, sesame chicken

Italy: The Manzo family of Sicily
Food expenditure for one week: 214.36 Euros or $260.11
Favorite foods: fish, pasta with ragu, hot dogs, frozen fish sticks




Mexico: The Casales family of Cuernavaca
Food expenditure for one week: 1,862.78 Mexican Pesos or $189.09
Favorite foods: pizza, crab, pasta, chicken




Egypt: The Ahmed family of Cairo
Food expenditure for one week: 387.85 Egyptian Pounds or $68.53
Family recipe: Okra and mutton

Ecuador: The Ayme family of Tingo
Food expenditure for one week: $31.55
Family recipe: Potato soup with cabbage







Bhutan: The Namgay family of Shingkhey Village
Food expenditure for one week: 224.93 ngultrum or $5.03
Family recipe: Mushroom, cheese and pork

Chad: The Aboubakar family of Breidjing Camp
Food expenditure for one week: 685 CFA Francs or $1.23
Favorite foods: soup with fresh sheep meat

This Week's Event

We look forward to welcoming Jenn Esbenshade, wife and mother of two, as our speaker and demonstrator this Wednesday. Come experience some ways to simplify your eating and make your own "commerical" products at home (example, yogurt and soft cheese). Jenn will present some practical ways to connect your eating with your faith.

Hope to see you there!

September 16 Salad Bar Social

Welcome back to another wonderful LIFT year ladies!

Thanks Amy and Judy for the lovely fall decorations all over.

Good fellowship and support as usual.

YUMMY salad bar fixin's. Thanks for all who brought items to share.

A fun game with lots of laughs. We had to figure out what the name was on the back of our shirts. Some where Oprah, Minnie Mouse, Mother Teresa, and Michelle Obama.

Great child care as usual. We couldn't do it without all our trusted childcare staff. A mini bio of each helper is displayed at the registration table.

See you next month ladies!! Bring a friend and come to be blessed and refreshed.

DEVOTIONAL TIME

DEVOTIONAL TIME FOR LIFT GROUP THIS 2009-2010 YEAR

THE REMARKABLE WOMEN OF THE BIBLE

AUTHOR: ELIZABETH GEORGE

COME LEARN ABOUT DIFFERENT WOMEN IN THE BIBLE***
THEIR LOVE FOR GOD AND LESSONS THAT WE AS WOMEN TODAY CAN LEARN FROM!!!

2009-2010 Schedule of Events

September 16 - Welcome Back Salad Bar Social
We begin our year with a salad bar and time of talking and games. Bring a salad topping or dressing to share.

October 21 - Hands-On Ways to Simply Your Eating
Experience some ways to simplify your eating and make your own "commercial" products at home. We'll try our hands at making yogurt, soft cheese, and/or butter. Our demonstrator, Jenn Esbenshade, a mother from New Holland, will present some practical ways to connect your eating with your faith.

November 18 - Snowman Craft
Back by request, local crafter Betty Scholl will help us create a sitting snowman. Small cost.

December 9 - Christmas Brunch
Our annual Christmas brunch is sure to be a big hit again this year. Please bring your favorite holiday food to share. And if you want, bring a $5.00 gift to use in a fun gift exchange.

January 20 - Movie Time
Grab a bowl of popcorn and pull up a seat. We will watch a movie from the Love Comes Softly series that is based on Janette Oke's books.

February 17 - Thrive In Marriage
Marriage takes work to maintain. Our speaker, Marriage Counselor Dr. Jerry O'Connell of Shepherd's Fold Counseling Ministry, will share how to not only maintain but to thrive in our marriages.

March 17 - Spring Wreath Craft
Will will welcome the new season by decorating a spring wreath. Judy and Gretchen have some good ideas up their sleeves. small cost.

April 21 - Think Green!
Come hear ideas of how to save money and the environment. We invite you to bring your money saving ideas and great household tips to aid in our discussion.

May 10 - Container Gardening & Picnic at the Park
Greenhouse owner, Maggie Shafferman of Port Royal will help us create a container garden. After the meeting we will head to the park beside the Juniata County Library for a year-end picnic. We plan to eat at 12:00pm. In case of rain, we will have our picnic at the church. Bring your own lunch. Drink will be provided.