In the News!

Thanks to each of you ladies who contributed

to the local Christmas Angel Project this year.

You may enjoy reading this caption:

Recipes from our Brunch

Joni Geissinger was nice enough to share two recipes from the delicious brunch she served on December 8.

Quiche and Batter
Quiche:
½ cup diced cooked ham or 6 strips browned and crumbled bacon
1-2 Tbsp. minced onions
1 cup cheese of your choice
Batter: 1 ½ cup milk
3 eggs
½ cup bisquick
¼ tsp. salt
½ tsp. dry mustard
Mix your quiche ingredients and place on the bottom of a greased DEEP 9” pie plate.
Process batter ingredients in a blender until there are no lumps. Pour your batter on top of the quiche and do not mix. Drizzle ¼ cup melted butter over the top. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes. Serves 6.

Quiche Options (that Joni used).
- Bacon, tomato, and swiss cheese
- Spinach, red pepper, mushrooms (all fried together), and provolone cheese
- Broccoli, ham, and sharp cheddar cheese
Quanity and baking details found in the Pampered Chef Stoneware Inspirations Cookbook.


Brunch Lasagna
8 lasagna noodles, cooked
8 eggs (Joni added more)
½ cup milk
2 (16 oz.) jars of alfredo sauce
3 cups diced ham
½ cup chopped green peppers
¼ cup chopped green onions
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
¼ cup parmesan cheese

Cook eggs and milk over medium-low heat until set but moist. Add salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat. In the bottom of a greased 9x13 pan, spread ½ cup alfredo sauce. Cover with 4 noodles, trim if necessary. Put ½ of the remaining sauce over the noodles. Sprinkle half of the pepper and onions on top. Layer remaining noodles, eggs, cheddar cheese, and sauce. Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top. Bake at 375 for 45-50 minutes until heated through and bubbly. Remove and let stand for 10 minutes before serving. Serves 10-12.

Christmas Brunch

Are you ready for Christmas? We all confessed to not being ready on December 8th, but to loving this time of year. Twenty three ladies came out to enjoy a relaxing and fun brunch at LIFT. Lori shared a great visual devotional and Joni made a delicious brunch! We did a lot of chatting and then exchanged gifts to the nativity version of the “left, right game”.

Thanks to everyone who brought wrapped gifts for the Christmas Angel project. Two little kids in Juniata County will be extra happy this Christmas. Continue to think of more ways to "Give Back".

Joni Geissinger shared several recipes from the Stoneware Inspirations Cookbook that Pampered Chef carries. www.pamperedchef.biz/jonigeissinger. We will also be listing her recipe for the delicious Brunch Lasagna casserole she made.

Here is the Party Punch recipe we had:
1 quart milk
3 cups pineapple juice
3 tsp. lemon juice
1 quart orange sherbet or any other flavor (I used raspberry today)
1 quart vanilla ice cream
2 cups orange juice
Soften ice cream and sherbet. Combine all ingredients in a large punch bowl. Serve immediately. An ice ring made of equal parts of pineapple juice, orange juice, and water may be used if desired. Flavor of sherbet determines punch color. Serves 20.

Think about a Green Tree and the Ornaments on it.
By: Lori
* A tree in winter time looks dead. But, if you break a branch you can clearly see that it has life. If we are saved Christians, there is life in us too.
* Food Ornament: We are blessed to have food and know where our food is coming from.
* Clothing Ornament: We are blessed to have several pieces of clothing to choose from.
* Snowflake Ornament: Isaiah 1:18 says, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson” Jesus washes away our sins
* Dove Ornament: Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Some 700-800 years before Jesus Christ was born, he birth was prophesied, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
* Drum Ornament: This was made by Lori’s grandma. Think about our lost loved ones. 2 Timothy 1:5 says, “I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.”
* Angel Ornament: We are blessed to have angels protect us as Christians. “For he will command his angels concerning you to gaurd you in all your ways” Psalm 91:11
* Ship Ornament: Just like Jesus calmed the stormy sea (Luke 8:22-25), he guides our lives and calms the storms we face.
* Nativity Ornament: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
God gave his son Jesus knowing he would die so our sins could be washed as white as snow. Merry Christmas!

See you next month! Invite a friend now.

Christmas Brunch, December 8

**Our Gift To You**

We want to give a gift to you! Come savor a free Christmas Brunch catered by Joni Geissinger, local Pampered Chef consultant on Wednesday December 8, 9:15am - 11:00am. This is our gift to you. The room will be decorated, music will be playing, and best of all ladies will be together having a good time. Invite a friend to a Christmas Brunch. Free childcare always provided. Come as you are, you need a break!

On the Menu: Appetizers, Punch, Breakfast Lasagna, Quiche, Fruit Salad, Muffins, and Coffee Cake. www.pamperedchef.biz/jonigeissinger


**Give A Gift**

BRING: A $5 wrapped gift for a gift exchange (optional) and your Christmas Angel gift (if you had signed up)

Invite a friend to our Christmas Brunch. See you then!

Christmas Angel Project

As you shop for the local child you chose from our Christmas Angel tree, remember to pray for the child as well. Then:
• wrap your gift,
• attach the ornament tag,
• and bring to our December 8 brunch.

If you can not bring your item, please let someone from the committee know as soon as possible since the gifts will be delivered to the organization that day.

November 17: GIVE A Meal and Meal Ideas

Strong wind and no electricity did not stop us from getting together to chat, share recipes and helpful hints, hear God’s word, and eat good food! Praise the Lord, the lights did come on just in time for our Wednesday November 17 event. We assembled seven boxes full of yummy meals to share with home-bound individuals in need.

Recipe Swap

One of the many favorites recipes:
Thanksgiving in a Pan
From Heather
1 pkg (6 oz) stuffing mix
2 ½ c cubed cooked turkey
2 c frozen cut green beans, thawed or one can (14.5 oz) of green beans
1 jar (12 oz) turkey gravy
Pepper to taste
Prepare stuffing according to package directions. Transfer to a greased 11 x 7 x 2 in. baking dish. Top with turkey, beans, gravy and pepper. Cover and bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes until heated. Serves 6.

Open the link to see all the recipes that were shared: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/62978120/LIFT-Recipe-Swap



Helpful Hints &
Money Saving Tips
Open the link to see over 20 helpful hints in the kitchen. http://www.docstoc.com/docs/62980719/Helpful-Kitchen-Tips

We had great discussions and even learned how to save hundreds of dollars at the Giant Stores in State College! Some hints included:
Food tips: 1. Rock-hard brown sugar- add a slice of soft bread to the container of brown sugar and close tightly. In a few hours the sugar will be soft again. 5. To melt crystallized honey, heat uncovered jar in the microwave on high for 30-45 seconds. May need to repeat for large jar.
Money Saving Ideas: 9. Buy in bulk and split into smaller portions and freeze. (meat, cheese, etc) 10. Coupon shopping- Weis in Mifflintown doubles coupons up to $0.50. Giant in State College will double coupons up to $1.
Cooking & Baking Tips: 11. Always heat the frying pan before adding oil or butter. This will keep things from sticking to the pan. 16. To slice meat into thin strips, as for stir-fry dishes, partially freeze it so it will slice more easily.
Clean Ups: 20. Dishwasher soap film- run a cup of white vinegar through the entire cycle in an empty dishwasher to remove all soap film. 22. Clean refrigerator- wash inside and out with a mixture of 3 tablespoons of baking soda in a quart of warm water.

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Lori encouraged us to compare our personalities to Simon Peter. She showed us Luke 5: 1-11. Peter wasn’t perfect, had a quick temper, was courageous, was low in faith, and even denied Jesus. Just like Peter, our lives are in God’s hands. There are “God-Things” in our lives. God does not make any mistakes. Sometime obedience to God does not make sense. But, Peter did not keep the good things to himself. He spread the good news of Jesus as our Savior. Peter did awesome things for Jesus, so can you.

Give A Meal and Meal Ideas

“Freely you have received, freely give.” Matthew 10:8b.

We are going to continue our year of giving back by giving a meal and meal ideas. If you can, bring your favorite crock pot dish or oven baked dish to share. Don’t worry, if you decide to come last minute, it’s ok if you can’t bring any food. I’m sure we will have plenty.

Also bring the recipe for your meal

and any other favorite recipes

or money saving ideas you can share with the group.

We always need money saving ideas!!

We will then be dividing up the extra food everyone brought in order to give nice meals to shut-ins. These individuals will be primary from those in need at the Lost Creek Mennonite Church. However, if you know of someone in need, please contact Wanda at: thelauvers@embarqmail.com.

See Christmas Angel Project post below.

Christmas Angel Project

Consider if you're able to contribute to the Christmas Angel Project.
Pick an ornament off the tree, purchase, and wrap the item(s) listed.
Here is a listing of what is needed for the children we are assisting within Juniata County:


10 Year Old Boy:
-Pants, Sweat Shirt, Shirt, Sweater, Coat, PJ's, Socks, Underwear, and Toy/Game or/Book
1 Year Old Girl:
-Pants, Sweat Shirt, Shirt, Sweater, Coat, PJ's, Socks, Diapers, and Toy/Game or/Book

Then attach your ornament to your package and bring to the December 8 LIFT Brunch. - On Behalf of the kids: Thanks!

October 20 Scarecrow Craft

Two different choices and many successful crafts!! Beautiful job ladies. Thanks to Betty Scholl's instructions the day went perfectly and each lady went home with a scarecrow they should be proud of. We loved hearing the laughter and good time everyone had. See you next month!

October 20 Devotional

Picture This…

WE represent the ping-pong BALL.
SIN represents the RICE.
Sins are our worries, cares and anything we think, say, or do that displeases God. Remember that hurt can also turn into bitterness and sin.
Our sins slowly COVER us. Like the rice covers the ball.
But the good news…
God doesn’t want us to carry around our cares and burdens. He gives us these truths in scripture:

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

JESUS represents the WATER.
Jesus helps us rise above our cares and burdens just like when the water is poured over the rice, the ball rises to the top of the jar!!!

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

Thank you Lori for sharing this visual devotional, God is good even when life is not.

32nd Annual Ladies' Retreat

You're invited to the

32nd Annual Ladies' Retreat

at Lost Creek Mennonite Church

Friday, October 22, 2010

7:00pm

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"Watch and Wait for the Lord"

Micah 7:7
Speaker: Beth Gibbs

Special Music and Refreshments Afterwards

October 20 Craft

GIVE THANKS FOR FALL!

Here are the two crafts that you can choose from for our October 20 Craft event! Aren't they great? Betty Scholl will be back again to led us in the craft. The craft on the left will be a scarecrow painted onto a window screen with a black backing. You can paint the frame a color of your choice. Or, you may choose the wooden scarecrow on the right that will look great with your outdoor decorations. Betty will walk us through the steps.

Cost: $12.00 (for one)

Bring(if you have them): Hot Glue Gun and Glue, Hair Dryer, Paint Brushes. Don't be afraid to come in old clothing the paint is permanent.

If you have not signed up, please let Wanda Lauver (463-9092) know as soon as possible which craft you would like to do. Remember to bring a friend. Betty will bring extra supplies, but we want to make sure we have enough for everyone.

Flip Flops, Friends, Fudge, and FUN!!

We had a blast today ladies. It was so exciting seeing so many new faces! I don't know about you, but I ate too much fudge But I did enjoy getting to know other Christian women. What a blessing to spend time with all of you. I look forward to seeing you agian next month. Pictures of October's craft will be coming soon. Here are some pics from today.

Flip Flops, Friends, and Fudge

Invite your friends, slip on your flip flops and join us as we begin a new year this Wednesday, September 15. Don’t worry if you don’t have flip flops, we like when you come as you are. The fellowship hall has been decorated and we’re excited to welcome you to a new year.

Every lady will go home with a flip-flop!! Get to know some other ladies and look forward to the support and encouragement you’ll get. Childcare for preschool age children is always free.

Don’t forget to bring a salty snack to share, and most importantly - your friend!

2010-2011 Schedule of Events

Theme: GIVING BACK

September 15: GIVE A WELCOME!! Flip Flops, Friends, and Fudge – Invite your friends, slip on your flip flops and join us as we begin a new year. Bring: A friend and a salty snack to share.

October 20: GIVE THANKS FOR FALL! Scarecrow Craft – Our favorite crafter Betty Scholl will come to lead us in making a fall craft – a free standing wooden scarecrow. Bring: Money (approx. $15) to cover the craft cost.

November 17: GIVE A MEAL AND MEAL IDEAS! We will be dividing up the food we bring to give to shut-ins and we will sample some of the food as well. Bring: A favorite crock pot dish or oven baked dish along with the recipe. Also bring other favorite recipes plus your favorite time and money saving ideas.

December 8 (note date): GIVE A GIFT! Local Pampered Chef consultant Joni Geissinger will prepare a Christmas brunch for us to enjoy. Bring: A $5 gift to share in a gift exchange.

January 19: GIVE COMFORT! We will be knotting comforts for the Lost Creek Sewing Circle. The comforts will be sent to Mennonite Central Committee, a world-wide relief agency. Bring: A pair of sharp scissors.

February 16: GIVE A CARD! We will have four hand stamped cards demonstrated for us to “make and take.”

March 16: GIVE A LIFE! We will be throwing a baby shower for Crossroads Pregnancy Center, a local crisis pregnancy center. Sheila Werner from Crossroads will join us to receive our gifts and to share about their ministry. Bring: Any slightly used children’s clothing (0-2T sizes only) and items for Crossroads’ layette kit list (more details to come). Please bring gifts unwrapped.

April 20: GIVE TIME! We plan to travel to Abundant Blessings Thrift Shop at 9:30am to volunteer in the shop for an hour. Normal childcare will be available.

May 18: GIVE FLOWERS! Come add some new plants to your garden as we participate in a perennial swap. Local greenhouse owner, Maggie Shafferman, will give us valuable information about growing and maintaining our perennials. Any plants leftover will be donated to Abundant Blessings. After our regular meeting, we will have an end of the year picnic at the park beside the Juniata County Library. Bring: Bagged, boxed, or potted perennials from your garden, plus your own picnic lunch.

Watch the blog for more information and photos of events.

Container Garden & Picnic, Wed. May 19

April Showers bring May flowers! Hopefully the May showers will stay away so we can create our own beautiful flower containers at our final LIFT event. Who's house won't look brighter with a lovely flower container garden gracing the entry?

Maggie Shafferman, owner of Hunters Run Greenhouse (above), will help us create a container garden. She will have everything we need, but you may want to bring garden gloves. You may also bring your own pot(s) to save a little money. The suggested cost will be $18.00, but will depend on what flowers you choose to put into your container(s).

After making our container gardens, we will all head to the park beside the Juniata Co. Library. Bring your own lunch. Drinks will be provided. Childcare is ALSO provided at the park, so us ladies can visit some more!!

**In case of rain, we will have our picnic at the church.

You're welcome to come just for the container garden or just for the park. Either way, we hope to see you for our final LIFT event.

“But I trust in you, O LORD? I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me. Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.” Psalm 31:14-16

Lori opened our meeting with prayer time and devotions. She continued our discussion on women of the Bible by highlighting Mary and Martha. Mary sat at the feet of Jesus and listened to what he had to say while Martha busied herself with the tasks of the day. “Instead of stewing the pot of food, she stewed in the living room” by complaining that Mary was not helping. Can we relate to Mary or Martha?
Mary /Martha
Resting /Restless
Worshipping /Worrying
Peace /Panic
Sitting /Stewing
Listening /Lashing Out
Commended By Jesus /Confronted By Jesus
Jesus wants our time to be focused on him and he will take care of our needs.

Good discussion, Good ideas!! Thanks to everyone for sharing their money saving ideas! This was one of my favorite LIFT events this year. Things that were mentioned included:
* Cleaning with Vinegar. Someone used vinegar and baking soda to clean their toilet. A half bottle of windex was filled with vinegar. (and you can use newspapers to wipe down your windows!), and vinegar and hair conditioner can be mixed to create fabric softener.
* Place a brick in your toilet water tank to save water.
* Whisk is a good and cheap laundry detergent. You can even make your own (see recipe below). * Another lady never uses her dryer. In the summer she dries clothing on the washline, in the winter she puts them on hangers and hangs them on the bar of her unused shower rod.
* Someone showed an example of turning an old favorite t-shirt into a tote bag. The sleeves, collar, and bottom hem were cut off and the bottom was stitched closed. Quick and easy!

More Ideas we liked:

• Use reusable shopping bags as gift wrap
• Turn unwanted school papers into scrap paper for crafts and printing e-mails, etc
• In the summer, minimize the use of your stove and oven by moving a toaster oven and slow cooker to the porch.
• Use cloth napkins
• Have a timer in the bathroom to keep showers five or ten minutes long. Put a timer on your hot water heater for about 4 hours a day.
• Make or buy hooded towels for each child. Kids use less towels and hang them up quicker, saving laundry time.
• Shop at Thrift Stores. We all love Abundant Blessings (two people even won gift certificates!!)
• Use a solar flashlight

Websites we talked about:
www.freecycle.org
www.mennocreationcare.org
www.flylady.net


Here's the laundry detergent recipe:
1 55 oz. box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
1/2 cup Mule Team Borax
2 Cups Oxygen Cleaner-She recommends Sun ($5 @ Dollar General or Family Dollar)
1/2 cup Simple Green--I used Seventh Generation Multipurpose cleaner--later in the thread she said
the any multi purpose cleaner will do...what this means is a liquid in a spray bottle (a household cleaner)
1/2 cup Calgon Water Softening Powder (if you can only find liquid, that's fine, but add in a box of baking soda to the batch)

Empty all into a bucket and mix together with your hands. Use 1 heaping
scoop (like in the oxygen cleaner) for diapers, 2 scoops for regular
laundry.

She tells me that this formula will be very comparable to Allen's.

Cost - Washing Soda 2.99 Use Full Box 2.99
Borax 2.99 Use 1/2 cup .30
Simple Green 2.89 Use 1/2 cup .50
Calgon 4.99 1 cap liquid .31 (I couldn't find powder)
Oxygen Clnr 5.00 Use 2 cups 1.25
Total Investment 18.86 5.25 (Used in batch)

Think Green! Wedneday, April 21

There will even be doorprizes to give out during our discussion of ways we save money and the enviroment. (Prizes include: 2 Abundant Blessings gift certificates, Energy saving light bulbs, CCD recycling bag, water bottles, and more!)

Bring your money saving ideas and great household tips to aid in our discussion. It's bound to be another fun time!

LIFT goes from 9:30am - 11:00am. Remember, there is even free childcare by our awesome trusted staff! See you then.

Details about our last LIFT event (Container Gardening & Picnic on May 19) will be announced.

With easy step by step instructions these spring wreaths soared together with globs of hot glue, clipping wire cutters, and great fellowship. What a blessing to be together on such a lovely spring-like day. Even with our daily challenges and busy schedules, it's good to find time together. God is good, all the time!

Spring Wreath Craft

Wednesday, March 17, 9:30am-11:00am



Chase the winter cold away by creating a Large Spring Wreath.

Costomize your wreath the way you want. There will be several style of birdhouses to choose from and you can paint it the colors you want. Cost $12.00.

If possible, please bring: glue gun and glue sticks, wire cutters, and small paint brush.

Thriving in Marriage
Speaker: Dr. Jerry O’Connell

A Few Notes:
* Adam and Eve both put the blame on someone else. We need to not blame our spouse for our circumstances.
* There are so many books on marriage, but the Bible is the only one you need.
* Seek the highest good for one another. This is agape love. Jesus demonstrated this love by dying on the cross.
* Men communicate with their head and heart. Women communicate with their head, heart, spirit, and emotions. It’s important to know that difference.
* Pray for your husband. If you have children, pray with them for their dad.
* Respect your husband. Never say, “I’ll respect him when he earns it.” And never tell your husband, “I told you so.”
* Be patient. When men get married, they get a job they didn’t get trained for.
* A man will spend his time where he feels his success is. Make him feel like a success at home.

Thrive in Marriage!

This Wednesday, February 17, 9:30am - 11:00am

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

Dr. Jerry O'Connell began his ministry as the counselor-in-residence at Niemonds in the fall of 2007 after beginning the Shepherd's Fold Counseling MInistry in 2006. He has a Bachelors in Pastoral Studies and was a pastor for over 30 years. He has a Masters in Counseling and a PhD in Christian Counseling. He is a member of the National Christian Counselors Association, the National Board of Christian Clinical Therapists and the American Association of Christian Counselors.

He has been married to Kathy since 1972 and they have three children and two grandchildren.

Shepherd's Fold is a non-profit ministry, funded by churches and individuals so that Christian Counseling can be made available to all, despite their ability to pay.

Information from: http://www.niemonds.org/pb/wp_a6759e33/wp_a6759e33.html

Movie Morning

We watched Love Finds A Home

The love saga winds to a close as Belinda (Sarah Jones) takes on a new responsibility while accepting guidance from the place she least expected it. Female doctors are a rarity in the Old West, but Belinda has carved out an impressive niche for herself in a small, tight-knit Missouri community. Her best friend, Annie (Haylie Diff), is about to give birth, and Belinda has agreed to monitor her as she carries the baby to term. But for a woman who has always put science first, Annie's folksy mother-in-law, Mary (Patty Duke), isn't always the easiest person to deal with. Experienced nursemaid Mary would rather rely on homeopathic treatments that taking the advice of doctors, and before long the two women are hopelessly at odds over how to handle the pregnancy. Back at home, things aren't any easier--Belinda is having trouble getting pregnant, and it's beginning to have a negative affect on her relationship with her husband (Jordan Bridges). Perhaps if Belinda can finally open up and realize that the solution to her problems isn't always what she thought it would be, she can find a healthy balance between her career and her home life.

Movie Time, Wednesday 1-20

I smell Popcorn and a good movie. We will be watching a movie from the Loves Comes Softly series that is based on Janette Oke's books. Hope to see you there!