Family Traditions

One of the things I enjoyed the most about dating Trevan was being invited over to grandma Osborn's house for meals. I relished those invitations to Friday dinners or Sabbath lunches because Grandma was awesome at making good, old-fashioned casseroles. Growing up in Costa Rica, we NEVER did casseroles, and it was quite an experience for me the first couple times I ate at grandma's.

When Trevan and I got married, grandma Osborn gave me a recipe book with some of the family favorites, including a noodle dish that I absolutely love! I cherish that gift because every time I pull out that recipe book it makes me think of those first couple years of my relationship with Trevan, and of warm, cozy nights spent at grandma and grandpa Osborn's home.

Grandma and grandpa have been gone for a couple years now, and every so often I feel a deep sense of longing for the old days. When the Osborn's get together we always talk about grandma's food, and there is usually one of the old favorite recipes on the menu.

I am not sure if grandma really understood that every time she put food on her table, and welcomed us all into fellowship, she was creating a lasting impression on our hearts that would inspire us to do the same for our families. I cannot count how many times I have made that noodle dish and tried to replicate that wonderful feeling I had when I went to grandma's house.

One of my most sincere prayers is that God allows me to give that feeling of love and warmth to all those that share a meal with us.

By Shari Osborn
Picture: The Osborn family gathered at grandma Osborn's table. In the front you can see grandma and grandpa Osborn.

Life and Death

I’ve been working in my garden this morning cleaning up my much neglected Stella D’Oro daylilies. They were full of old dead leaves and dried out stems. As I gently removed them, much to my surprise I found new growth – new life in August! Which got me thinking about life and death. In the past year our family has experienced so much of both. On August 22 our beautiful grandson, Eden, the joy of our lives, will celebrate his first birthday. But during this year we have also lost two people we loved, my father-in-law, Jack Baier, and my sister-in-law, Rosalind Baier.

Life and Death.

When I learned that Rosalind had stage 3 ovarian cancer I purchased the book “One Month to Live”. How would your perspective change if you knew that you had only one month to live? How would you live that month? You’d probably forgive those who have hurt you, love with abandon, focus on important issues of eternal value. You would put all your energy into being the person God wants you to be. If then, why not now? The reality is that none of us are even guaranteed one month to live.

A favorite song and prayer of mine is the one by St. Francis of Assisi.

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;where there is hatred, let me sow love;where there is injury, pardon;where there is doubt, faith;where there is despair, hope;where there is darkness, light;and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;to be understood, as to understand;to be loved, as to love;for it is in giving that we receive,it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

By Laurie Baier

Photo: Laurie is picture with her grandson Eden.