Autumn at it's glory

William Cullen Bryant,an American romantic poet, journalist, and long-time editor of the New York Evening Post.(November 3,1794-June 12, 1878) once said, "Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile.”

And he is right. Autumn comes with crispness in the air and a rainbow of colors paint the earth and sky. Brilliant golds and reds adorn the trees, and there are more sunshine than clouds. It was one cold windy Sunday when few Moms and Dads and Aunties drove to Carter Mountain Orchards for an apple-picking adventure and picnic. The cold gusty wind did not deter us from our quest of getting the yummiest apples of the season.

After the apples were picked, the picnic followed.

As women, we make sure we let our children experience all the fun and traditions that we want them to remember forever. And we have fun too, in the process.

What happened to the apples when they reached our homes - are beyond me. But this is what happened to ours, my very first apple pie!

Recipe for this pie:
Servings: 2 (9-inch) pie crusts
Prep Time: 50 min

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon fine salt
3 tablespoons granulated white sugar
1/4 cup vegetable shortening, cold
12 tablespoons butter, cold and cubed
1/4 cup to 1/2 cup ice water

Directions
In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, salt and sugar. Add the shortening and break it up with your hands as you start to coat it all up with the flour. Add the cold butter cubes and work it into the flour with your hands or a pastry cutter. Work it quickly, so the butter doesn’t get too soft, until the mixture is crumbly, like very coarse cornmeal. Add the ice water, a little at a time, until the mixture comes together forming a dough. Bring the dough together into a ball.
When it comes together stop working it otherwise the dough will get over-worked and tough. Divide the dough in half and flatten it slightly to form a disk shape. Wrap each disk in plastic and chill in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. On a floured surface roll each disk out into a 10 to 11-inch circle to make a 9-inch pie.

***To make the topping with hearts, I had to double this recipe and had a lot of extras to make the decoration an elaborate one.Use heart-shape cookie cutters to make the hearts.The brush with an egg wash (egg yolk with a tablespoon of milk)..

Getting to Know Sali Gaye Condez Deapera

SALI GAYE CONDEZ DEAPERA

Tell us a bit about your family (spouse, children, parents?): I am married to a wonderful husband named Arthur and we have a son named Arthur Louie, the apple of my eye. These are the two most precious men in my life.

Country of Birth: I was born in our Adventist Hospital in Cebu , The Miller Sanitarium & Hospital in the Philippines. I practically grew up in Cebu.

Favorite color:Pink although I find myself wearing a lot of black clothes which goes with anything

Favorite food:Rice - cannot live wihtout rice because fish, chicken and vegetables will not taste good without rice.

Favorite Bible Verse:Proverbs 8:17
"I love those who love me and those who seek me diligently will find me." This text gives me strength every day to help me realize that it is His strength that carried me through all those years and He will still carry me through.

Favorite Woman in the Bible and why:
My favorite woman in the Bible is Sarah. She must have been a very beautiful woman because even kings found her very attractive, that even her husband had to tell a lie about her (half lie- she was his half sister) and yet she never questioned him. Then she was barren for a while and because she wanted so much for Abraham to have a child, she consented that Abraham get their maid servant pregnant. This of course caused conflict but God had other plans for her life and even as an older woman, she was chosen to be the mother of nation. God blessed her.

As a woman of God what do you need from your fellow women from the church? I would like to get to know the other women in the church better.


Is there anything you want to do with other women or for other women? Get together more often


Tell us a short story of your life’s journey as a woman of God.
I was born into a faithful Seventh-day Adventist family and was educated in our Adventist School system since the elementary years. There was a time when I had to study at a private exclusive-for-girls college called St Theresa's College where I learned to sing, dance and be fashionable and be independent. But I missed the Adventist atmosphere, so I transferred to Adventist University in the Philippines to finish my Bachelor's Degree in English. And that's where I met my wonderful husband Arthur.

He worked full time while I worked part-time as an English teacher in college. I taught Speech Communication and Reading Comprehension to sophomore college nursing students for 2 years before I got a teaching job here in America. I am currently teaching language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies to students from K-2 with special needs. I am hoping to finish my Master's Degree in Special Education through distance learning program in March 2012. I turn to God in my greatest hour of need, stress, anxiety and hopelessness. I am blessed with a faithful Seventh-day Adventist husband and we have dedicated our son to God so he will also know Him deeply and make Him first, last and everything in his life.

Getting to Know Hilda Serpa

Complete Name: Hilda Serpa

My Family: I was born in Sao Paolo, Brazil. I married my wonderful husband in January 29, 1976.

We came to America 14 years ago together with our son, Ramon. Now we are living here in Richmond.I have a Cleaning Services Company which keeps me busy. I enjoy spending time with my husband and son and my very own church family.

Birth Country: Sao Paolo, Brazil

Favorite thing to do: Gardening and taking care of our lawn, watch movies at home

Favorite Color: Orange

Favorite Food: All kinds of sandwiches

Favorite Bible Verse: I love Psalms 100
"Shout to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with joy; and come before Him with singing.
Know that the Lord is God, He made us, and we belong to Him.
We are His people, the sheep he tends.
Come unto His city with songs of thanksgiving
and into His courtyards with songs of praise.
Thanks Him and praise His name.
The Lord is good. His love is forever,
and His loyalty goes on and on."

Favorite Woman in the Bible: Mary, the mother of Jesus
Mary was a very young and innocent girl. But when she was told that she was chosen to be the mother of the Messiah, she willingly took the risk of ruining her reputation. She knew she would be ridiculed, shamed and frowned upon, mocked and possibly put to death. Even Joseph was about to leave her at first. But she accepted this task given to her at her very young age. She was one of the bravest young woman in the Bible times.

As a woman of God, what would you like to do with the other women in church?
I would really like to get to know the women on the church better. We see each other at church, greet each other, but it would be better if we meet more often,a s women, sharing each other's stories, concerns and burdens so we can encourage each other. It does not have to be very special and elaborate: perhaps just meeting somewhere for pizza or in a garden or just having a cup of tea. I would really like that!

Short Story of your journey as a Christian.
I was born into a Catholic family. As a young girl, I took piano lessons with a teacher who is a Seventh-day Adventist. Once a week, she holds bible studies or a branch Sabbath school at her home. My sister and I would attending those meetings and we enjoyed it a lot. Later she invited us to attend Sabbath School at her church and after a few years, I accepted Jesus. There, I met Gerson, in the youth class. He was a born Adventist.

A favorite Recipe: COCADA -traditional Brazilian dessert

Traditional Cocada

1 lb grated coconut
1 lb sugar
1 cup water

Dissolve sugar in water and boil the mixture until it spins a thread (I use a candy thermometer; 232 to 234° F). Remove syrup from heat and add the grated coconut. Stir well until it becomes sugary. Pour onto a buttered platter (a marble pizza stone is great for that purpose) and let cool, then cut into squares (about two inches).

Cocadas with Condensed Milk

1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 equal measures of sugar (use the empty can to measure the sugar)
1 lb freshly grated coconut (or frozen grated coconut, which you can find in Latino markets; it tastes very much like fresh coconut)
1 can evaporated milk

Mix all ingredients together. Cook in low heat stirring constantly until you can see the bottom of the pan. Cook for another 2 minutes or so. Pour onto a greased marble pizza stone. Let cool and cut into two-inch squares (yields about 20 cocadas)

Getting to know Jinnyfer Laporre

FAMILY: I have a very quiet husband who is very understanding and respectful. We have two precious gifts from God - our two wonderful boys: Brent and Devon. I am not the only pianist in our home. My husband Rey Booz also plays the piano and spends his time training our older son Brent to be a good pianist so he could be a great help in God's ministry through music.

COUNTRY OF BIRTH: I originally came from the Philippines. I arrived here in May 9, 2005. My husband was the one who got a job offer to relocate here from our country. The boys and me came with him and after passing the NCLEX, I am now also working at MCV Medical Center in Acute Hemodialysis Unit.

FAVORITE THINGS TO DO: Piano-playing, Reading, Playing tennis and badminton

FAVORITE COLOR: Purple

FAVORITE FOOD: Filipino food (Pansit, lumpia, etcetera)

FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE: Matthew 19:26 "Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (New International Version)

FAVORITE WOMAN IN THE BIBLE: Dorcas - very resourceful and kind.
Her name was Tabitha, in Hebrew, or Dorcas, in Greek. Both words mean "gazelle". She lived in Joppa, A seaport 35 miles NW of Jerusalem on the Mediterranean Sea:the only natural harbor in Israel between Egypt and Ptolemais. She was a true disciple of Jesus, always doing good for others. She helped the poor, the widows and sews clothes for them; always on the alert on who needs help and attention. She was very resourceful and kindhearted. And like a gazelle, she was always quick to answer the call for help.

She got ill one day and everyone thought she was going to die. Peter prays at Dorcas’ bedside and calls to her to get up. She is revived and becomes living testimony of presence of God. She is the only woman in the Bible who was named a disciple of Christ. There are a lot of woman known as Jesus' followers, but she was considered a disciple because she was a disciple in every meaning of the word.

AS A WOMAN OF GOD, what do you need from your fellow women from the church?
We should just really be supportive of each other and try to understand each other's weaknesses. We have different personalities and talents but we have only one goal in life - to go to heaven and live there with God.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO DO WITH OTHER WOMEN OR FOR OTHER WOMEN?
I am always busy with my two kids and family while working full time and study. I am presently taking a Masters Degree in Nursing. But I am always willing to help as long as I can.

SHORT STORY & JOURNEY OF MY CHRISTIAN LIFE: I have the greatest privilege of being born to an Adventist family. Although my father was never ordained as a minister, he is a very good preacher. My parents have always encouraged me to be a living witness for the Lord and to play an active part in God's work. They tried to send me to music school to be a pianist just so I can be useful in all church activities. So, now, here I am - willing to be used by God in His ministry whether in the music department or in any aspect of our church life.

September

I love September!
The air is still warm but the evenings are cooler. And just when you have enough of the summer heat and humidity, the cool, crisp evenings of September can be real panacea for the soul.

September also brings a lot of exciting activities. Children are back to school and moms can have moments to do things for themselves – just for themselves – for a change. In Germany, there’s a lovely first-day-of-school tradition called a “Schultüte” or School Cone. Parents prepare a giant cardboard cone and fill it with back-to-school supplies, candies, and other small goodies. This gift, makes the first day of school extra special. The tradition dates back to the early 1800′s in German and children from German heritage, even here in the USA practice this.

In Texas where we used to live, we always have “block parties” to celebrate the kids’ back to school event. We all bring out some portable tables and chairs and set them outside on our street and we bring lost of food and drinks and spend it getting to know the neighbors and setting up play dates for the younger siblings.

September is the beginning of apple picking season and weekends are spent looking for the best deals and the best places to go apple picking and picking up pumpkins to decorate our homes. Carter Mountain Orchards seem to be the most popular in our area and families and friends can come together for an excursion or a picnic.

Pretty soon, our front steps will be decorated with pumpkins, dried corn stalks and colorful mums. Warm tones like chocolate browns, rich red and golden yellows will replace the cool summer blues and greens. And I will really look forward to the cool evenings this fall.

Our church has scheduled a Back to School Pizza and Ice Cream Party and a Movie Night this coming Saturday, September 10. Because of the uncertainty of the weather, we are holding it at the Richmond Academy Gym. Please support this occasion. This is not just for the kids. It is for everyone to enjoy. Just bring your favorite ice cream or ice cream topping and let’s have fun and enjoy a family movie.

September 24, we will be visiting Carter Mountain as a church family. It will be an apple picking event but we will also have a lunch picnic on the grounds. I firmly believe that as women for Christ, we can be a great influence, an encourager of sorts to our church as a whole. Our responsibilities as women in the church does not end in planned brunches or going-out-for-dinner appointments. We have a role in making our children look up to us as role models for active participation in church activities. So pack your picnic basket and bring picnic food to share with everyone. It will be a great occasion.

I love this quotation from “The Education of Women” by Daniel Defoe:
“For I cannot think that God Almighty ever made women so delicate, so glorious creatures and furnished them with such charms, so agreeable and so delightful to mankind with souls capable of the same accomplishments with men: and all, to be only Stewards of our houses, Cooks and Slaves.”

Yes, God created us to be of service to others.

International Lady Chefs' Summer Tea Party

It started as a very warm and humid morning.The weather bureau predicted thunderstorms that afternoon, so I had a sick feeling that perhaps nobody will show up except Shari and me. I have ardently prayed that more women from the church would come to enjoy this special bond of friendship, a sort of a women's club for sisters of Christ. And I was not ready to be disappointed.
Few minutes before 4pm, the women arrived and the fun began.

Marie arrived with an intricately-carved watermelon teapot which served as a great centerpiece. Then Sarah showed her exquisite mini cupcakes and we all exclaimed our "Ahhs" and "Ohhhs". More yummy goodies came. The white tablecloth was a perfect back drop for all the colorful aprons that were draped around it plus the display of homemade, gourmet hors d'oeuvres, appetizers and desserts.

Shari's collection of 4 kinds of freshly-brewed tea was just wonderful! And to think that she said, she does not like tea! I still could not decide whether it was the raspberry or the peach tea that caught my fancy! The orange-pineapple was just as yummylicious and the chai tea was just as energizing. Linda's tofu spread was the favorite of the afternoon and a copy of her recipe was in order. Anna's varied selection of Russian pastries was simply tempting and scrumptious. And there were a lot more: stuffed tomatoes,lemon bars, black bean quesadillas plus Hilda's "coconutty" dessert flavored with pineapple. All I can say, is that: to those, who did not make it, you missed a lot of the fun and camaraderie.

Then the game began. Each lady was asked to pick a household gadget that reminded them of an experience about their lives as girls, wives, and women. We were richly blessed with the shared stories and we knew that this friendship will thrive for as long as we make it.

Ruth Bell Graham once said that "The center of power is not to be found in summit meetings or in peace conferences. It is not in Peking or Washington or in the United Nations, but rather where a child of God prays in the power of the Spirit for God's will to be done in her life, in her home, and in the world about her." The stories shared were testimonies of God's love for us, women.

We then had to pick up a piece of a puzzle to search for our matching piece our "prayer sisters" and it was quite a revelation! We wanted to have a very special friend for the year, someone who does not have to be a secret, someone we can pray with, pray for, share our joys, our passion and our concerns. And what a fun revelation it was for all.

This has been a wonderful experience for the ladies, and we certainly hope, that you will join us in our next scheduled activities. We want you to be part of our ministry. We want you to join our fun, the laughter and the friendship. A Canadian writer once said, "A good laugh is as good as prayer sometimes."
Proverbs 31: 25 NIV says, "She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come."

Thanks to Shari for hosting this beautiful memorable occasion.
And thanks to Luke for reminding us, why we enjoy being mothers and women for Christ!

A Mother's Thank You Letter to a Blankie

It’s only 4:45 in the early morning. I just got back from the Newport News Williamsburg International airport after sending off Katie for California. This was her college graduation present of choice: a trip to Southern California to reunite with her High School friends. She has been home for over two weeks now, and she had been busy. She introduced us to her love for organic food and tempted me to let go of my love for fried foods and indoctrinated me to her freshly-made gourmet smoothies for breakfast. She completely unpacked all her stuff from her student apartment and re-arranged her room. Now, it looks like she intends to stay for a while again, although she was certain of being accepted on a job interview last week.

Now, I really missed her and went to her room to look around. There I saw important things that are still very dear to her heart.

Here is Pablo, from the famous Build-a-Bear Company. He sometimes becomes Pablita when Katie decided to dress her up with frills and laces. Now he is standing forlorn among her favorite books and movies.

Here is the dream catcher I bought her at a county fair in Texas, when she was still obsessed with everything America Indian.

This morning, I felt a need to feel her presence, so I decided to lie down on her bed to catch more winks of sleep before daylight. But sleep was far from reach. Then, suddenly, I felt a bulky lump from underneath her pillow. I turned on the light for closer inspection and then I saw it – Boobie (her blankie), her lifetime companion since she was a baby. Did she forget it? I knew she cannot sleep without it. Or is today, the day she says goodbye to her Boobie, a sign of total independence?

As I looked at its tattered hems, I cannot help but shed tears. I saw a few safety pins on some corner, a testament that she tried to fix some corners to prevent them from being totally frayed and worn out. It is no longer pristine white and the pictures of tiny bears wearing sky blue dresses are beyond recognition. It is now almost khaki-colored plain fabric with lots of stains and tear: signs that it had been well-used for comfort when she was sick, hurting or frustrated. Then memories of the past came flooding to my touched psyche and heart.

During her first trip to the Philippines when she was two years old, Boobie was her constant companion in the plane during the almost 30 hours flight. Boobie was in the stroller, in the car, to the beach and even in the hammock. Katie hugged and talked to Boobie when she saw my brothers butcher a goat to celebrate our homecoming. She simply could not sleep without it. A year later after needing a Myringotomy (ear tube insertion) at barely three years of age, Boobie took full center stage as she proudly displayed it to the nurses and doctors at the Surgery center.

Then, I remembered the day I dropped her off for her first day in Pre-School. She was full of excitement but extremely worried that nobody will take care of her Boobie while at school. I promised I would, and every time I come to pick her up, her Boobie would be waiting for her in the car and she would immediately grab it, rub her cheeks with it and then she would suck one corner and with her eyes close, she'd take a nap. All is well with the world with Boobie. This blankie has always been under her pillow through the years. She took it with her when we sent her off to Germany for full immersion of German Language and Culture when she was 13. She took it again to Zweibrucken as an exchange student for the Yorktown-Zweibrucken Exchange Program during her Junior year in high School. Boobie explored Switzerland, Austria, Paris and other European tourist spots. Boobie has cruised all around the Caribbean and Mexico.

When we unloaded all of Katie's belongings at her appointed Gladding Residence Center in VCU as a freshman, Boobie was the first to be unloaded. And it had been transported to two other off-campus apartments she has resided. I am pretty certain, Boobie had been her constant companion and confidante during exciting, frustrating as well as her triumphant moments as a student. I am sure it had been her refuge when her heart was broken. Boobie was there during all these times when I couldn’t or those nights when she preferred solitude. If I could, I would preserve this old, stained and “stinky” memorabilia and place it on a shadow box together with her diploma – because it certainly deserved its place there.

So to you, my dearest Boobie:
Thank you so much…
~for comforting my little girl all throughout these years when she was scared of the dark in her tiny room;

~for being her constant loyal companion, when she most needed a friend;

~for not being judgmental when she was not her own true self and when her attitude was not acceptable to my standards;

~for drying her tears when she was broken-hearted;

~and for simply being there for her in all the good and the bad times.

For the next two weeks while she is away, I will celebrate your existence. I promised not get so attached, knowing you will be needed again when she is back. I promised not to wash you, (tempted as I am) because your smell will be the first thing she will notice when she gets back. Today let us both celebrate her choice for independence away from both of us. And if perchance, she decides not to keep you, any longer, DO NOT WORRY! I will keep you for myself – forever.

by Raylene Ann Rodrigo-Baumgart

Post Script:
To all of you ladies, moms, sisters, aunts and grandmas - this blog has a special place where you can post all your longings, your thoughts and experiences. Please share with us your innermost feelings and experiences as moms, sisters, aunts and friends. If you do not want to write it, talk to us and we will help you. As sisters for Christ, it is great to share each other's burdens and happy thoughts.