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This article is a part of "The Amish Cook Column", a weekly series of featuring a story & recipe from Gloria Yoder, Amish widow & mother of six from Flat Rock, Illinois
It's a common day with ordinary food, ordinary people, and ordinary situations. Ordinary for me is talking with little people, setting food on the table, giving hugs, wiping wet kisses, and channeling hearts from sunrise to sunset.
Isn't it amazing- we all have our own set of “ordinary?” I always tell the children when they feel shy about meeting new people,"Those are ordinary people just like us, we just didn't get to talk with them yet!"
Then too, the “ordinary” people in our lives don't give them a title of less than ideal. Why the people in my life who are the most precious to me are those I consider a part of my ordinary life!
Looking back, the years spent with Daniel I realize that common days at home were some of the best.
Take this, an 82 year-old gentleman from Michigan whose wife passed this summer stopped by our house this week. What do you think his advice was? First take a moment with me to imagine the sadness he's facing since losing his spouse after 60 years of marriage. His life has changed drastically, and his house is quiet and empty as he misses his sweet wife. Without him verbalizing it, I could tell he misses her every moment of every day.
Raising his work-weathered hand, he said, "We can choose to make every day the best day of our life."
As he rose to leave, he repeated, "You can make this day the best day of your life."
Long after that horse and open wagon with him and his son and family had gone out the driveway I kept pondering. All excuses of hard or unfair situations shriveled as I realized today is my opportunity to allow God to use this day as He pleased.
Perhaps ordinary is okay after all, even if it does not look like I thought it would with Daniel fathering his rapidly growing children. Ordinary, when chosen by God, is perfect and complete. When the details of our normal days are orchestrated by Him, the end result will bring joy and peace.
I am the first to confess that there are days and I cannot feel that closeness with the One who gave this new set of ordinary. These are the times I simply claim his grace to carry me through.
Ever since I was a young girl I had this mini sticky note where I penned the words, "In the tears of His saints God sees a rainbow."
Today I look at it. It's an ordinary day at home, but that's okay; it's where I've been placed, so it's where I'll be and in each tear God sees a rainbow.
What does ordinary spell to you as an individual? Pain, frustration, despair, broken dreams, or perhaps joy and happiness? Regardless what you’ll check off, God knows. Tell Him about it. He'll listen to it all, and if you choose to give it to Him, He'll take it from you and replace it with His perfect gift. Recently when one of the boys were going through hard times, I explained in a very simple way that every time we give something to God He places it in His keepsake box and re-wraps it into something better than we ever imagined and gives it back to us. Since that, we put things in God’s ‘keepsake box’ and trust that in His time He’ll heal, restore, and re-wrap.
Okay, now take a moment to grab a box of ordinary graham or saltine crackers and end up with this most delicious candy!
Full Recipe
Old-Fashioned Butterscotch Christmas Candy
Ingredients
- Saltines or graham crackers
- 1 cup butter (use only ½ cup for crunchier candy)
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 ½ cups chocolate chips
Instructions
- Put a single layer of saltine or graham crackers side by side (with 4 sides touching one another) on a 10 by 15-inch rimmed cookie sheet, lined with parchment paper.
- Bring butter and brown sugar to a rolling boil. Boil for three minutes.
- Spread mixture on top of crackers.
- Preheat oven to 400 degree.
- Bake crackers with sauce, for 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and immediately sprinkle with 1 1 /2 cups chocolate chips. Let set three minutes and then spread melted chips over with a butter knife.
- Cool and break into sized pieces of your choice.
Johanna t Santore
I had a fall on Labor Day, injuring my already knee waiting a replacement and injuring my foot and ankle also. I already was dealing with back pain that was now worse. At 70, have been slow to heal and still spend most time in bed, only place I am comfortable. Only leave home with my son's help for a doctor appt. Last time I was finally able to get down my stairs with help and had to scoot up 13 stairs on my bottom.
Today was the first time I could go up with help but that is progress. Spend a lot of time feeling sorry for myself and crying. Gloria made me feel better today, will make it my best day
Thank you Gloria. God bless.
Kevin Williams
Hang in there, Johanna, I am so sorry for your injuries. It sounds awful. I wish you a steady recovery, you got this!
brendalynne1
i am so curious why Rachels preferences are not considered by you. Or are they the dominant ideas in the kitchen and you are tagging into the process ????
Kevin Williams
This post is about the Amish Cook column, so really it's Gloria's preferences that matter with this recipe.
brendalynne1
oopd/sorry i was referring to your old electric skillet and other cooking preference.
Phyllis Brunson
Kevin. Gloria is so encouraging, each and every week. I pray that God will richly bless her for all the help she gives us. Thank you Kevin for having Gloria on this page.
Katja Falla
OH MY GOSH!!! SO SINFULLY ADDICTIVELY DELICIOUS 😋. It's hard NOT to eat too much!! My other half said "This is a Keeper!". I safes it to my phone AND wrote it out!! Making these again! And again!!
Kevin Williams
Thanks for telling me, Katja and I agree with you 100 percent, totally addictive!