The past weeks I’ve been working on a project that I stuck on the back burner far too long.

My mom has a fairly extensive recipe book and somehow it was just way easier to text her whenever I needed a recipe rather than copying it down myself 🥴 but I’m attempting to remedy that.

What I wasn’t expecting with this project is the amount of traveling I’m doing here:

Suddenly I’m back at our Christian Day School: middleschool age. My mom and her friend Michelle concocted these treats for a hot lunch they brought to school over Easter. Mother’s hot lunches were always amazing.

Next stop I’m on Chincoteague Island with a group of girls, experiencing this incredibleness for the first time. Thankfully they shared the recipe and it’s been something we’ve pulled out for special occasions. Once being my first family vacation with the Rohrers. I still get nervous remembering 🙈 but it turned out ok- they decided to keep me 🥰

Speaking of the Rohrer’s keeping me- we served Glazed Carrots at our wedding. We got the recipe when Mother traveled along with me to an Amish wedding and somehow she got drafted onto carrot cooking detail for supper. [*note- we knew the brides family, don’t think that random people get pulled to cook at weddings lol] Mother and an Amish lady that she’d never met before were given orders to cook the carrots until done. Mother loves tendercrisp vegetables and apparently Amish Lady did not, because they made a round or two around the Carrot cooker: Mother thinking the carrots were plenty done and turning them off; Amish Lady thinking they weren’t mushy enough and turning the stove back on 😅 In the end, our team won though. Mother brought the recipe home and we’ve feasted on tender crisp carrots ever since. (Drop them in boiling water and cook them 7 minutes max)

So many memories are hidden in these pages: recipes I drug home from the field because the food the farmers wife sent was exceptional; recipes collected from Home Ec class; from all of my aunts including dear Aunt Thelma who’s now enjoying the bounty of Heaven…. Recipes from my sister’s in-laws; food from friends around the globe- this book contains a vast and varied collection. Just like the collection of experiences of my life.

As I peruse Mother’s recipes- I’m struck by several different emotions:

1. Gratitude: the bounty of the earth is ours to enjoy because of God’s graciousness towards us. I’m so thankful. Christian Aid Ministries newsletter touched on world hunger this week ( here) The delicious food we experience daily is not something to take forgranted.

2. Nostalgia: so so many incredible meals and along with that memories. My mom has spent her life faithfully pouring her love into those around her by serving delicious meal after meal. My grandmothers did the same.

If you’re in the trenches of motherhood- here’s a little encouragement to keep doing what you’re doing. Your faithfulness does not go unnoticed even if your daughter takes years until she fully appreciates it. 🙈

So thankful for my mother’s selfless giving and the influence of so many ladies like her,

Kendra

I googled “quotes about the Smoky Mountains” Our experience could be summed up well by one quote (and we visited during off season 😅):

Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity. – John Muir

An ice and snow storm kept us out of the main pass, but the Smoky Mountains are beautiful!

Gatlinburg always shocks me a little. I’ve visited on several occasions, but this was the first time I’d stayed for more than a partial day and I was anxious to see if my initial perspective was my final call on the area.

Our motel was just a quick walk from the strip and we fought our way thru the crowds to be dazzled by the remaining “winterfest lights”

Howard’s Restaurant had the cozy mountain tavern vibe I was looking for. Delicious food in Gatlinburg’s oldest restaurant.

We found our way back to Pigeon Forge several times.

Paula Dean’s Family Kitchen superseded expectations.

The Dixie Stampede has been on my hit list for awhile. My major faux pas was not realizing that it had changed names. 🥴 A friendly clerk asked in passing what our evening plans were and I off-handedly said “Dixie Stampede!” She corrected me “you mean the Dolly Stampede” “No, the Dixie Stampede” “The Dolly Stampede” and so she and I stood there saying “Dixie” and “Dolly” until I realized that we both had the same place in mind. Oooops. I wasn’t trying to argue or push an agenda. Anyhow all that to say- I’m glad I got to experience the DOLLY stampede. Very memorable evening.

I love my souvenir from Smoky Mountain Knife Works. I have a collection of miniature things in my kitchen and I’m excited to add “the worlds smallest folding knife” to the collection-folded up it’s about the size of my finger nail.

And can you go the the Smokies without dressing up for a picture? Happy early anniversary to us 🥰

Gatlinburg/ Pigeon Forge treated us well. If you’re going-expecting a quiet mountain getaway, where the old men and coon dogs sit on the front porch of the general store and swap stories- you’ll be like me: disappointed lol

If you’re looking for lots of good food, big crowds, and plenty of unique amusement rides, rush on down.

To quote Ben “this feels less like vacation and more like…..shopping!”

Parts of Isaiah 55: 1. Come, all you who are thirsty,come to the waters, and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! 6 Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. 8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”declares the Lord. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish,so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.12 You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you…

Blessings,

Kendra

“It’s cold in here” I took a break from my phone and announced

Ben looked at me with amusement “It’s because you’re wandering around in the ice age”

And it’s true- Deborah messaged us crowing about her newly achieved favorite daughter status “Did you know that in the 1731 Father’s great-great-great-great-great-great grandad was buried at sea on the way to America leaving a wife and 3 sons? Someone shared this app the family tree and I’ve been knee deep in genealogy ever since.” (Android users, this is not your link-but don’t despair, just search “the family tree” or FamilySearch Tree in your App Store. I had a little trouble getting my family to pop up, but Deborah says it searches obituaries, so once I added info from my grandparents who have passed, it dug up all my info)

I couldn’t let Deb be the only one who was up on family history, so I set myself up a free account and followed Fathers line back as far as it went. I sorted thru all the different stories- lots of Dukes and the random couple (that lived 0586-0650 that decided to become a monk and nun after they had their second son. Grandmonk couldn’t be excused from his service for king at the time, but Grandnun became a nun at Treves. Towards the end of their life, they had to meet to settle some affairs and she was so concerned that he would fall back in love with her, that she shaved off her hair as a deterrent. It worked- he was horrified. Hmmmm

I kept going to until I came to Quintus Sulpicius de Rome 0060 BC, Roman Empire… unreal! “Romans” Nate spit in disgust when I called Deb to compare notes. My mind is just blown to imagine my grandfather a few times removed could’ve been the soldiers marching thru Jerusalem attempting to keep peace.

So that’s what I found about my dad’s family. He’s a skeptic as to the accuracy of this.

But on my mothers side of the family… I haven’t found that her pedigree (that’s what the app calls it and it makes me feel like I’m researching dairy cows or Labrador retrievers) goes back to the Roman Empire- but it’s equally as colorful. Grandpa Sir Hugh Montgomery was over in Ireland storming around in the late 1500s and got involved in the feud between Clan Montgomery and Clan Cunningham. He chased a Cunningham that had offended him clear to Holland where he combated him with a sword. A supposedly deadly blow was deflected by Cunningham’s belt buckle, and Grandpa ended up in jail until he broke out with the help of a Scottish soldier. Grandpa Montgomery “received a reprimand from King James but was soon back in favour.” Fact or fiction 🤷🏻‍♀️

And then I put a puzzle piece together that perfectly explains my nephews: Ragnar ‘Loðbrók’ Sigurdsson Danish King of Lethra, Russia Supposedly my moms family is from this well know Viking king. When I googled him I hope that the nephews don’t try out his warfare strategies, but sometimes when I’m trying to talk to my sisters on the phone I can understand what a Viking attack sounded lol Just kidding.

So is there merit perusing these stories of ancient days? I went to Scripture to be reminded again that God encouraged telling stories from generations to generations.

Joshua 22:28 Therefore we said that it will be, when they say this to us or to our generations in time to come, that we may say, ‘Here is the replica of the altar of the Lord which our fathers made, though not for burnt offerings nor for sacrifices; but it is a witness between you and us.’

Psalms 78:4 We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.

Psalms 22: ³⁰ Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord. ³¹ They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it!

Conclusion: 2 things: 1. These verses are instructions for families to tell stories from generation to generation about how God had moved. I’m not sure that Viking or Clan Montgomery were the type of stories that fall into that category. Or even the nun/monk ancestors. Who raised their sons after she joined the convent? 🤔

2. Today matters! If the world stands and in 200 years someone is reading a paragraph on my life, my legacy is important and it’s up to me-today- to chose what it says.

My cousin Marj came to visit and summed my life up in a coffee cup and I love it. But I hope my life is more than my garden or our farm, or a blog that keeps my family on pins and needles about what I’m going to post next.

I pray that my life paragraph states a strong faith in the goodness of God.

Ephesians 3:²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his powerthat is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!

Amen.

Kendra Horst Rohrer, distant daughter of so many people; current daughter of the Everlasting King

Last week was great.

Baby Gid, Julia, Em and I hopped in a car and sailed south.

Gideon was a trooper who rode more contentedly than some of the rest of us (I won’t mention any names)

And 12 hours later, we rolled into Atmore, Alabama.

Nate had a Thrift Store Conference, so he was out of town for most of our stay. I’m guessing he was a little relieved to miss his sister in laws taking over the house.

Immediately upon arrival, Alexander took over the entertaining. Here he’s offering me a motorcycle ride to Pensacola. I could ride “right here” in front of him and he promised to drive slow lol how could I refuse?

Gideon and Maria became fast friends and had their aunts swooning at their adorable little conversations.

Even though the Sunny South didn’t charm us with its warmth this round, we did adventure a little. Em’s birthday treasure hunt led us to the Gator Boardwalk in Spanish Fort.

It was too cold to see any gators, but we found a treasure box, and we spotted some pretty cute kids.

We found more treasure at the Hiding Tree at Blakey Historic State Park

The History was pretty interesting. They fought one of the last major battles of the Civil War here hours after General Lee had surrendered in Appomattox. Supposedly Confederate Soldiers hid in this tree after the Fort fell.

The hanging tree was another somber scene from yesteryear.

Exploring the swampland was a definite highlight.

And here’s a pic of all of us to prove the trip actually happened.

For years, I’ve admired a local family and their ability to win at the long distance game. The Oren Heatwole family lives in a number of different states, but they manage to get together for a week every year as a sewing retreat. They’ve figured out how to thrive.

Having family out of town is tough. There’s no way to sugar coat this reality. But I’ve thought about the Heatwole’s and am inspired by their example. Maybe once a year, my sisters and I need to prioritize a getaway.

But atleast for this year, there was no sewing involved-just lots of baby snuggles. But what a treat that was.

“Our roots say we’re sisters, our hearts say we’re friends.” And for this fact, I’m grateful.

Kendra

Bonus Pic:

Every year at the School Fundraiser, a local man donates coupons for his famous Chicago style deep dish pizza. It was such a treat to get in on the feast that Deb and Nate had purchased.

I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about hope this Christmas. The following is a version of a quick write up I did for our church’s blog:

I slid out of the shelter of our warm car into the dark night. The cold air hit me in the face. I paused for a brief second and took in the stars in the clear night sky. “Wow!” I thought “when was the last time Ben and I went somewhere on a Sunday night? I’m actually alive again!” And then I hurried to keep up with my husband heading toward the CCA School Gym for their Chorale Program.

The year of 2022 for me has been some incredible highs and some pretty significant lows. Obviously getting married and enjoying settling into a new role has been a high.

My health took a turn in May and I’ve struggled ever since. Finally in November we discovered a misdiagnosis and after a routine gallbladder removal surgery, I feel my old self returning.

I am so excited and thankful!

But as I’m rebounding, I’m looking at the Kendra from a month or two ago and I’m realizing the difference in the despair/hopelessness I was combatting versus now. It sounds dramatic to say I was at a place of “no hope” but we weren’t getting answers and I was thoroughly discouraged.

Hope surges through me- maybe I won’t be stuck in those holding patterns of no energy, pain, and uncertainty, forever. Thank you, Jesus!

So many friends have come beside us during this time and prayed fervently and God has answered those prayers. This season of HOPE is extra meaningful to me.

Hope according to Oxford means “a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.”

And scripture is full of exhortations to hope:

Psalms 42:11 ~Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

Romans 5: 3-4~ Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Romans 12:12 ~ Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Hebrews 11:1 ~ Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

While I’m guessing your list of highs and lows in ‘22 will look differently from mine, I’m sure there are reasons for joy and reasons to long for hope. Whatever your low is, don’t despair. You are not alone. Our loving Heavenly Father wants to walk through it with you and offer you HOPE!

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining

It is the night of the dear Saviour’s birth

Long lay the world in sin and error pining

Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth

A THRILL OF HOPE THE WEARY WORLD REJOICES

FOR YONDER BREAKS A NEW AND GLORIOUS MORN

Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!

O night divine, O night when Christ was born

O night, O Holy Night, O night divine!

O night, O Holy Night, O night divine!

Romans 15:13 ~ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Praising Him,

Kendra

Bonus Pics:

My Dollar Tree decor reminds me to hope every time I walk through the door. Also it was 0° this morning. We’re hoping for a warmer new year 😂

Merry Christmas from our home to yours! Thanks for tagging along and being interested in our lives ❤️