Making of a Marshmallow

One day Alan had the idea of making our own marshmallows. Since we had nothing else to do that day I said I would help. We found a recipe online and began to collect all the needed ingredients:

corn syrup

vanilla

gelatin packets

water

sugar

Our neighbors would laugh at the word "collect" since that often means we come over begging. Once we had found what we needed we began mixing it all together. First we mixed the gelatin with the water. It made these interesting crystals as it sat there.

Then we heated the sugar, corn syrup and vanilla to like 240 degrees. We had to borrow the candy timer as well....thanks Ellis family! :) (Don't worry folks, they got to taste the final product!)

We mixed all that together and put it in a greased pan to cool. Since we didn't have enough gelatin packets it turned out sticker than it should have been but they tasted good! It was almost like marshmallow fluff! Everyone who tasted them said they were denser but still very good. I do believe my nieces and nephew would have eaten the whole pan if I would have let them!

Pretty simple process actually. Hats off to your creativity Alan!

Banquet Invitation

Here in Ukarumpa we have many traditions, one of which being the Junior/Senior Banquet. Instead of doing a Prom for the teens we have created Banquet. On the day of Banquet the teens dress up in suits and fancy dresses and walk in to banquet, with the community watching (I'll show you more pictures when that happens in a few weeks)....but first, they have to be invited. I am still not quite sure why since everyone knows the 11th and 12th graders are the only ones attending, but it's tradition.

This year it was up to Jeff and Kristin Brewer to organize the delivering of the invitations. The actual day of delivery is a secret as well as the theme of Banquet. If you know, you are sworn to secrecy! Seriously, parents go ALL OUT to keep it from their teens.

One night they called us up and asked if Alan could help them with their idea. We went over to their house for dinner to discuss the details of it all. They wanted Jeff and Alan to lip-sync to the song Classic by MKTO. Have you ever heard of it? I hadn't, until that day. Apparently the teens are obsessed with it and blasted it on the Senior Retreat, which the Brewers attended, so we were sure they'd love it.

A few days before they held a meeting and invited parents, teachers, and Bible Study leaders to attend. Instructions were given. Five eras were represented: 40's, 50's, 60's 70's, 80's, and the 90's. Thanks to our well stocked costume room, we were able to give each volunteer an outfit that will shock!

 On the day of, Friday, right at break time the music came on and out came Jeff and Alan with their microphones!

Oh yes, that's my husband with the black fro! Every time they finished their part, another "era" would join the jumble of dancers. Kristen and I were the adoring fans! My job was to come out from behind the building screaming, jumping and waving my sign around. I think I did a pretty good job too, might I add!:)

I failed to get a picture of the actual Banquet invites, but trust me, they were amazing! Well done ladies who put fifty of them together.

This is just one of the many fun things that happens in Term 4!  We have fun around here.

Corelle Does Break

I grew up, like many missionary kids, using Corelle dishes. Apparently there were only a few patterns that were purchased by missionaries. :) It was said that Corelle does not break, and for the most part, it doesn't. I have dropped many of dish in the sink and onto the counter, but nothing like this. The other day...it broke. I am not talking about "pieces you can glue back together"...it shattered, as you can see in the picture.

As I was washing the dishes I pulled a plate out and began to dry it when all the sudden it slipped out of the dish towel and landed on the floor. YIKES! Alan and I were both barefoot at the time but luckily the pieces landed around us. We stood their in shock. Pieces had landed everywhere: under the refrigerator, in the corners of the kitchen, even out into the hallway close to our bathroom.

After we recovered our breath we both laughed. Corelle breaks? It sure does. We are still finding teeny-tiny pieces... usually in my feet....even after sweeping a half-dozen times.

So beware y'all, Corelle is great and can handle bonks, slips and what-nots but not a full on drop!