Spring Break, Hmmm? More Like....

It's spring break for this teacher lady.  So I have been busy spring cleaning.  Monday I spent the day on the downstairs.  Shampooed the furniture, swiffered, dusted, got my donations ready for pump house ministries, fed the Elders, whew busy day.  Tuesday I decided I was on vacation and wanted to finish reading my book in my clean downstairs.  Kyle informed me that he was taking Wednesday off to spend with me.  Oh the possibilities. 

We decided upon going to Norwalk, Ohio.  Weird right, but it has such a nostalgic Main Street we thought we might run into some good eats.  Maybe some great stores and just enjoy something out of the ordinary: Walmart and Mansfield/Ontario stores.

 It's hard to see, but the red roofed building has a dragon on its spire.  Dakota would have gotten a kick out of that.

The clock tower was beautiful on top of the courthouse building.  We were recommended by a couple of people walking down the bitter-cold streets to eat at Berry's.  You know it was alright.  Kyle got his signature Reuben and me my Mushroom Swiss, it was very good.

  A shop keeper recommended this ice cream parlor to end the day.  It was very comparable to Mifflin Dairy Bar--smooth and creamy.

On the way home, it started to snow.  Can you believe it.  Spring Break with snow!

The geese aren't too happy about it either.  Brrr.  I think it really is just winter break part 2.

Love Story

We stopped by Grandma Beninghof's Saturday to check on her.  To see how she was doing a little over a week after Grandpa's funeral.  We found her in good spirits.  She got to talking; and I don't remember how it came up, but she told us the story of how she and grandpa started dating.  (Don't they look great!, Grandma was a beauty.)

She was 13 years old when her brother Jim brought John Beninghof over after school.  She found herself with a crush on John and told herself she would marry that man someday.  We'll grandpa being 4 years older than grandpa did not pay much attention to her.  He fell in love with another girl and proposed to her for marriage just before leaving for WWII.

Grandpa recieved a "Dear John" letter telling of the other woman breaking off their engagement and marrying another.  Grandma said grandpa did not mind too much because he was too busy dating other women on base in Panama. 

Grandma said she worked at Sanitary Market on Main Street in Ashland, only a couple of blocks from the bus stop.  She said she saw John Beninghof walking home with his Army backpack slung over his shoulder right in front of the store.  Grandma was now 17 years old.  Grandma said she stopped what she was doing and ran to the telephone and called her mom, to let her know that John Beninghof was back in town.

Grandma Gilbert then called John to invite him over for dinner.  The night he was coming over, Grandpa was late for dinner.  They held dinner an hour for him and finally decided to eat.  Once they had just finished eating, grandpa showed up.  Grandma laughed about this, she said grandpa was always late and never paid close attention to details.  He thought he was supposed to come up after dinner.

She said her family sat around catching up with grandpa and listening to some of his stories from the war.  She said about 2 weeks later he called her and invited her to the movies, "the show," and she said the rest was history.

What a fun story for me to hear.  I can just picture Grandma running to the phone and calling home in her 1940s dress and red lipstick.  I hope to hear some more of these stories as we continue to visit her.

Zamboni part 2

Just for the record, Kyle knew what a Zamboni was, just knew Stromboli and Zamboni sounded about the same. :)

Here is the recipe, we change the toppings from straight sausage to a mixture of our favorite pizza toppings.  I usually use pepperoni and mushrooms and onions.  Or just the meat and cheese for my kids.  This recipe can easily be cut in half.

Cheesy Sausage Stromboli
5 c. Flour
2 Tbsp. Sugar
2 tsp. salt
2 pkgs yeast (or 2 1/2 tsps bulk)
1 1/2 c. warm water
1/2 c. warm milk (I use 2 cups water and 1/3 cup powdered milk)
2 Tbsp butter
2 lbs pork sausage
4 cups mozzarella cheese
3 eggs
1/4 tsp. basil
2 Tbsp. Parmesan Cheese

In a mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt and yeast.  Add water, milk and butter.  Beat on low until combined.  Turn onto well floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic for 6-8 minutes.  (I just used my kitchen aid the whole time.  I added flour until it wasn't sticky anymore, then let the machine knead for the 6-8 minutes)  Place in a greased bowl turning once.  Cover and let rise 1 hour.  (I skipped this part and it did just fine, mine rested about 10-15 minutes while I was working with the sausage.)  Meanwhile, in a skillet cook sausage and cool.  Stir in moz. cheese, 2 eggs and basil and set aside.  Punch dough down and divide into half.  Roll 1 portion into 15 x 10 inch rectangle, spoon in 1/2 the mixture.  Fold dough over and seal ends.  (I just tuck them inside it.)  Cut 4 diagonal slits in the top.  Repeat with the remaining dough and mixture.  Beat remaining egg and brush over loaf.  Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.  Bake at 375* for 20-30 minutes or golden brown.  I serve this with pizza sauce to dip in.

Zamboni for Dinner?

We often talk about what we are going to make for dinner on the way to work.  I told Kyle since I haven't cooked all week due to parent teacher conferences and grading lots of end of the term projects that I would make stromboli for dinner tonight.

He couldn't remember what I said so he told the guys at work that I was making zamboni for dinner.  I got a chuckle out of that.  A zamboni is a machine they use to clean the ice in a ice skating/hockey rink, if you didn't know.

Well here is the zamboni, I mean, stromboli in all its glory.  Yummo!

Tender Memories

John Arthur Beninghof passed away March 12, 2011 after being ill for a long time. Grandpa by marriage, after time, just Grandpa.  Grandpa left such a legacy behind, 15 grandchildren.  8 of which belong to my husband's family.  All these men are his grandsons.  One is on duty in the US Navy right now, but the rest are represented as pallbearers. 

Grandpa was a WWII veteran, a fact that he was proud of.  He was not in the heat of the battle, but he served his country nonetheless.  The most tender moment for me was when the American Legion Vets came in an saluted Grandpa in his casket.  He was honored in death by fellow soldiers.  Wow, I will never look at them the same. 

Another tender moment for me was when those same vets handed Grandma the folded flag in behalf of the President of the United States.  He was being honored over 60 years after he served his country.

We listened to the 21 gun salute and the playing of TAPS.  I have heard TAPS on movies before, but never live at a funeral.  The final ring of that music brought such a closure to Grandpa's life.  He is home.  He is no longer ill, he is at peace.

Then we moved on to the funeral dinner in which my sisters from church planned and took over for me.  I always prefer to be on the serving side and not the receiving side, but each are important in their own right.  I am always amazing by the love and generosity that is displayed through good works and food. 

The food was amazing the family was so pleased by how much the sisters helped a person they never met.  The sisters worked out of the love they have for our family and Kyle's mother.  They mourned with us as we mourn and they do it by bring enough food to feed an army.  How fitting that was after the service we experienced.  It wasn't until the military and the good people of our church did their serving that our family was touched by the spirit.

Grandpa was a cantankerous old soul.  He loved telling fictitious stories and hunting and fishing.  He love tormenting his grand kids and great-grand kids.  We always laughed because he whined "Doris" when ever he needed the slightous thing.  But when it came down to it he was proud of his families' accomplishments.  He was proud of all his grandchildren that served in the military; 5 of the 15.  He got Dakota a special edition Boy Scout pocket knife when he made Eagle rank.  Oh, how he will treasure that knife as he gets older.

It has been an emotional week; exhausting, but the truth of the matter is, Grandpa and Grandma are responsible for the love of my life.  What a legacy he leaves behind.  I am proud to be a part of that legacy.  The love and energy of the family today was overwhelming.

Goodbye, Grandpa!  God be with you 'til we meet again.

Character Word: Perserverance

At our school we have a character word of the month.  This month it is perserverance.  It is amazing how a word can get you to thinking.  I am a ponderer.

There are a lot of things worth perservering for...there are a lot of things I have perservered for.

Sometimes I sell myself short...I get distracted from the moment and let emotion take over, but after the whirlwinds are done blowing I find myself still standing...you know perservering.

It has been that way at work, maybe just the weather, but the whirlwinds are dying down and I remember why I want to be a teacher...

1. the lightbulb affect-when the student finally gets something that you have been working on...I had a girl bring me the book she was reading and show me a vocabulary word that we had just learned...look Mrs. Crawford I know what this one means with a huge smile.

2.  to make a difference-we found about about a child abuse situation today, sometimes we are the only stable people in our student's life.

3.  to share my love of learning - we learned about personificiation this week (giving non-human things human characteristics)  We acted out things we say, such as the smoked "creeped" around the corner.  The kids were giggling and raising their hands to act out the one they thought of.

These are the moments that make the bad days melt away.  It is amazing how much I learn from 12-year olds each week.  A lot of them have to perservere through so much more than I do on a daily basis. 

I love teaching, even if I mention my bad days, the good ones always out weigh the bad.

Are You Prepared?

Are you prepared?  You know for a natural disaster?  or Just simply the electric not being on for a long period of time? We worked on our 72 hour kits tonight for Family Home Evening.  We have had our 72 hour kits for several years, so we were just checking expiration dates and changing the clothes for our growing children.

I never really heard of a 72 hour kit before being a member of my church.  Never really gave it much of a thought.  But do you know how many times straight line winds, ice storms, or tornado like weather have put out my electric for days?  Several over the last 12 years of being at our house.  These kits have food that we can cook over a camp fire and just add water to.  We have water filters that can filter any water we come across into drinkable.  It would filter our own urine if needs be, but lets hope we are never that desperate.

Kota waving to the camera while he was repacking his pack.  He did not have to change out his clothing, but Kayla did.  She would have been squeezed like a lemon to fit in those clothes that would have fit her 3 years ago.  I'll bet she would be glad to have those clothes changed out if we ever need to take our packs and go due to an evacuation of the area.

Kyle posing for the camera.  He is the work horse of the group.  His pack is holding all of his and Kayla's stuff right now.  He let a scout borrow her pack for something, wonder who still has it?
We are living up to the scout motto: Be Prepared.  Now we just need to start living up to the slogan: Do a Good Turn Daily, and we will have it made!

On My Honor

Tonight was Troop 555's Court of Honor.  A Court of Honor is where the Boy Scouts earn the merit badges and awards that they have been working on.  Dakota earned the last couple of merit badges to earn an Eagle Palm award.  Boys who earn their Eagle Scout award do not have to be done with scouting they can continue earning merit badges until they turn 18.

 Dakota also earned his On My Honor Award.  This is a Boy Scout Award that he earns through the Church.  He has to meet a list of criteria over a two year period.  Each denomination has their own version of this award. 

 Troop 555 is lucky to have some dedicated leaders who give up every Wednesday Night, a week of vacation at Scout Camp and several weekends a year for camp outs, fundraisers and service projects.  Teaching young men how to be good in their community is the pay off.  These are our future leaders in the church, fathers, husbands....They will all turn out great!

Congratulation boys for committing to the Scout Oath, and remembering to live life on that oath.

 On my honor, I will do my best, to do my duty, to God and my country, to obey the scout law, and to help other people at all times, to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.