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Hello, hello!
We moved to Nebraska the end of June and I’m still catching up. This is the third state we’ve lived in since getting married 5 years ago. People have asked me if moving frequently means that the moving gets easier. Yes…and no.
Yes – because you learn strategies for packing and you’re quicker to get rid of things and you become adept at finding new stores to shop at and new libraries and parks to visit.
No – because you know what’s coming. You dread it a little more each time.
You know that a move means starting over with people. Being the new face at church – again. Explaining who you are and to whom you’re related (it’s a Mennonite thing) and what does your husband do for a job again? and where have I seen you before? Do you have cookbooks?
(Don’t get me wrong – I love making new friends. I just prefer subsequent meetings to the first time ’round.)
(photo above: our last Sunday in Ohio)
This move has gone well. Ryan likes his job. (He’s doing one final year of training in advanced gastroenterology – GI – and we don’t know where we’re going after Nebraska.) The children have done SO WELL. We had a few rough weeks after the novelty wore off, and Hadassah still talks about her friends in Ohio and our “old house,” but both children are extreme extroverts and love people – new faces no exception.
Heading to the third new church in as many Sundays, Hadassah asked me so sweetly, “Are you excited to go to a NEW church and make NEW friends?!?”
This was something I asked her before our move. Whenever I talked about what was going to happen I tried to portray it in a positive light and be excited about it, and apparently she got the message. =D
Two days before we moved we invited a whole passel of our dear neighbors over for Noah’s first birthday cake. It was a bittersweet goodbye. Our neighbors and our church family are the things – the people – I miss the most about Ohio.
But we are settled in Nebraska now, and our house feels like home, even if I left a bunch of stuff in boxes in the garage. There’s not much point in unpacking everything if you’re likely moving in another year. So we live minimalist, and maybe I’ll find a few things to get rid of before we move again. =D
And we have found a church that we are really enjoying. Now that we’re past the first Sunday and I’m putting names to faces, I can really get excited about going. One thing for Nebraskans – they’re very open and friendly. I enjoy the rural feel to the state and the “neighbors help neighbors” mentality.
Noah, now 13 months old, is pure delight. He’s been walking for awhile now and gets into cupboards and trash cans and toilets and registers, but he is *always* smiling and likes to cuddle and is just a joy.
Hadassah just turned 3 and this move has turned her into a young lady. I am so proud of her. She is really learning to be responsible, and sit still in church, and she looks out for Noah like a little mommy. (She also does her fair share of pushing him over and sitting on him, but we’re working on that.)
And she TALKS! Endless commentary on the day’s events – or past events. She has a phenomenal memory. The other day I asked her how she wanted me to do her hair and she told me that she wanted the same hairstyle she had when we went to the post office (several days previous). Two pigtails.
Idyllic moments like this must be captured, even if they don’t last very long:
We live within a day’s journey of the Henry Doorly Zoo, and it is worth seeing.
Hadassah Turns Three!
Ryan’s parents and sister Alyssa came to visit, so we celebrated Hadassah’s birthday a week early! Ryan’s and Hadassah’s birthdays are 8 days apart, so it was a joint celebration.
This birthday was so fun because Hadassah could understand what was coming and look forward to it. And look forward she did! She had Noah’s birthday the end of June to whet her appetite, and she regularly sang “Happy Birthday” to herself and talked about her upcoming butterfly cake.
I made the cake. It was not remotely healthy, but it was good. =D
Noah’s blonde curls and wide, dimpled grin…
Grandpa is definitely a favorite of all 4 Burkholder grandchildren.
A birthday carousel ride with Aunt Alyssa…
My 2 handsome men. <3 Ryan sporting the shirt he had made in Togo when he volunteered at a hospital there for two weeks in April.
My parents gave Noah this fence for his first birthday. He promptly climbed inside. XD
Also, the grandparents Burkholder gave both children a container of those mini M&Ms for their birthdays. They call them their “rattles” and like to walk around shaking them. I’m waiting for them to figure out what’s inside….
Since we celebrated Hadassah’s birthday a week early, the actual day passed with little fanfare, but we did have “panpakes” (Hadassah’s favorite) with candles to blow out…and another rendition of “Happy Birthday to You!”
Food Lately
Some church ladies blessed us with a bunch of fresh garden produce!
I felt like I was getting my feet back under me when I made a huge batch of granola. =D
Egg salad and fresh sourdough bread made with a good deal of rye flour. Didn’t follow recipes for either, but I have an egg salad recipe floating around somewhere….
THM XO
Some amazing tahini sauce that I made to go with Mediterranean bowls one night. I used a recipe online but can’t remember which one…sorry.
Mommy’s Meatloaf – always a hit, and great to make ahead
Filling the homemade peanut butter jar. I blend two cans of Aldi cocktail peanuts with about half a tablespoon of THM Super Sweet Blend in my Vitamix blender until it reaches a nice runny natural peanut butter consistency.
Regular peanut butter has a lot of junk in it, so I started making it myself and now I’m hooked. The homemade stuff tastes way better. Storebought natural peanut butter tends to be expensive, not sweetened, and/or hard as a rock. Making my own is super easy, affordable, and I can sweeten it just how I like.
I regularly make water kefir – this is flavored with grapefruit juice.
I’m on a Caesar salad kick right now. I tend to get obsessed with certain dressings for awhile, and then move on to something else.
The birthday pancakes. This is usually what I use my sourdough discard on, but I never follow a recipe so they turn out different every time. =D These were very pleasant. And I added blueberries for something special. I intend to publish a sourdough pancake recipe at some point…
If you made it to this point…
congratulations, and many thanks. You deserve a ribbon. Or some sourdough pancakes with peanut butter and maple syrup.
Want to see more?
Brianna, I am grinning ear to ear… thank you for sharing pictures of your beautiful family! Oh my goodness, so much has changed since I first met you when you were still single! May your blessings continue to multiply!! Thank you for making time to let us in on your beautiful life in this world. Much love!
Thanks for stopping by, Sharon! <3
I would gladly take a stack of sourdough pancakes with PB and maple syrup 🙂
I love the updates! When my kids were little we moved a lot too, and it was very lonely at times. Thank God for Church community!
Also, I am happy to hear your husband is. Gi Doctor. My son is very sick right now with an unknown GI problem and we had such a hard time even getting into one! Now we are seeing a GI Motility Doctor and have been referred to Mayo Clinic. I have learned there is a huge need a shortage of GI doctors! At least in our area, Michigan. God bless him!
I’m sorry to hear about your son’s issues! So many GI issues tend to be chronic and ongoing. Bless you as you care for him!
Good to “find” you again!
Welcome to Nebraska! Watch out for the Go Big Red people! Both my husband and I were born in Nebraska and moved to Iowa 45 years ago. I have been so thankful for a couple of your recipes. I canned several pints and qts of your tomato soup recipe. LOTS of yummy soup this winter. And I canned several pints of your sweet relish. Thank you so much!!!! Very appreciative of your willingness to share. First time of canning the THM way but have been following THM for several years!
I’m glad you’ve been having success with canning, Jackie, but I think it was probably someone else’s recipes. 😉 Maybe Glenda Groff?
I grew up in Nebraska and your description of the state and its people is spot on. I am glad you enjoyed the zoo. It is a must for sure. I hope the rest of your stay in Nebraska is wonderful.
I did make it to the end. Nice to read your update and see your family!
So glad to see your update. My husband and I have moved for ministry many times, one such move was just after our son turned 1. Each time we leave behind friends and church family it gets a little more heartwrenching. Praying for you and your beautiful family as you settle in and find a church home. <3
Thx for the update, we do all wonder about you and yours..I enjoyed the read while taking a break from making and canning Tomato Sauce…Had a THM German Chocolate Shake. We have moved 5 times and had 2 house for 10 of those years…my husband of 32 yrs is the mover! He is a great one to get the moving done..after I pack!
We followed our grands to Eastern Tn….
Enjoyed the update and pictures. And when I was growing up, we ate sourdough pancakes or waffles EVERY SATURDAY, usually with peanut butter and maple syrup (except it wasn’t real maple syrup…just water and sugar (!) and maple flavoring.)
Would love to hear more about the water kefir thing. It’s helpful that you label your pictures; you do a great job of that, too!
I just learned how to make water kefir from an online tutorial – a friend from church gave me the grains. It’s very similar to any other fermented drink like kombucha or milk kefir in that you can do a first and second ferment. Water kefir needs fed every few days, about 3 or 4 for me, but it can vary depending on the ambient temperature. The second ferment takes the same amount of time for me. You feed the grains with plain white sugar and (ideally filtered) water, and if they need a wake up you can add a touch of molasses to the first ferment every once in awhile. The second ferment I add some fruit juice. Water kefir gets carbonated and bubbly like kombucha but with a much less sour taste, although it can get a little vinegary if left to ferment too long.
Thank you for the update! Love seeing the children as they grow, they are both so adorable! You are in a very busy but wonderful time of life. Enjoy every minute that you can as it goes by too quickly!
xoxoxo
Thank you for sharing. That was an adorable update. You are doing a great job with your vocation.
Where’re my sourdough pancakes??!! 🙂
Come see me…I think there are a few left in the fridge, or I’ll make some fresh. 😉
Dearly love reading your updates and seeing pictures of your sweet family! (And the FOOD!)
Love all the pictures and the update! I grew up in Omaha, NE (have been to the Henry Dorley Zoo many times) and have relatives just south of Kearney. Praying that you have a wonderful year in Nebraska and I look forward to recipes for the things you my mentioned. I’m going to try the homemade peanut butter.😊
Thank you for updating us, Briana. I can’t believe you’ve been married 5 years already! Your children are adorable and I applaud your flexibility in moving and starting over multiple times. That’s hard on the mama, but God is sovereign and is preparing the way before you. Blessings on you, sweet girl.
Thank you, Peggy! God has been so kind to us. I can’t believe it’s been 5 years either….
It’s so good to hear how you and your family are doing!! Praying that you are able to find a home church for the short time you’ll be in Nebraska and that you’ll have patience and peace as you wait for Him to reveal your next location!
Thank you, Jody! We’ve been going to a very friendly Mennonite church about an hour away, and we have some local churches that we attend for Wednesday evenings or when Ryan has to go in to the hospital Sunday mornings for procedures. =)
We moved a lot in our 30 years of marriage mostly to be near grandparents. But when the kids were in the teens they wanted us to settle so we’ve been in KC for 10 years now. Feels so strange to stay somewhere for so long. I agree our church family became our family. The Omaha zoo is huge and fun. Your kids are so cute. Love the expressions and happiness over their birthdays. 😊
What a wonderful and exciting post! So many changes and you have taken them in stride. Your children look so happy and healthy! I love seeingvtheir updates. I’d love to know how to do sour dough…if you ever decide to use a recipe!
I love reading your updates and seeing picture’s of your life. What a blessing you are to your husband and children. As a longtime Grandmother, I know how fast little ones grow up. I’m glad you’re enjoying this phase of life-it’ really does fly by. I am confident Nebraskans will love you as much as others have and one day your heavenly reunion will be filled with sweet friends from all over!!
Enjoyed that immensely Briana! Thanks for the update. It was special to see pictures of your darling growing family! God bless you all as you adjust to Nebraska life…
Your sourdough bread piqued my interest…this summer I had fun experimenting with a new recipe I got when we visited our German/Russian friends in Manitoba. She gave it to me in German so we had fun with Google Translate and my rusty German skills. It’s called World Champion Bread and it was the best I’d made yet! It has rye flour in it as well. Let me know if you ever want the recipe.
Love, Aunt Joanne
Oh yes! I would love the recipe! Sounds like quite a journey to get to it. I’ll email you. 😉
Briana I love both your cookbooks and am from Ohio but moved to Virginia 2 years ago. My husband and I travel to Sojourner ‘s lodge each year in Dundee, Ohio where I first discovered your books. I enjoy seeing your family updates as I wasn’t able to have children of my own. Thank you for sharing your life ❤️
Thank you so much for this lovely update Briana! Your children sure have grown and are just so cute! So interesting to hear about your moves and settling in to your new towns! And of course, I enjoy seeing pics of your yummy food dishes! Wishing you continued happy days with your beautiful family! Take care! ☺️
I always enjoy reading your posts and seeing how our precious Father is blessing your family!
Thank you for the update. I love following you and your beautiful family. I’ve followed you for years and enjoy your recipes and family stories and personal favorites you do every now and then on music or books or products. The photos are fun to see. The kids are so cute! Looking forward to what your new surroundings bring and also looking forward to what comes next. Thank you for sharing and being an inspiration for all! God bless.
Thank you for sharing. I love your bravery. I know personally how difficult it can be to be the new face, especially in church. I was thinking of you and my first try with one of your ice cream recipes several years ago. Now I am going to try a hand at peanut butter. Yummy. Blessings and prayers.
We are also in Nebraska! Moved here two years ago from TN! We truly love it here. We are 2 hours northwest of Omaha and love the Zoo! Welcome to a wonderful state!! Looks like you are settling in well! Love reading your updates!
First: We lived just outside of Des Moines, IA and visited the Henry Doorly Zoo often. My four kids (and I!!!) loved the arctic, the tapers and the waterfall. Oh, and the tropical rain storm every 15 mins! Do they still do that? It’s been @ 20 years, haha.
Second: Our #2 daughter is Alyssa.😊
Such fun to see you and your darlings.
How neat! I haven’t experienced a tropical rainstorm, but maybe we just haven’t hit it at the right time. =)
Yay! You are getting closer to me (West Des Moines, Iowa!)! So excited for you and your move 🙂 LOVE the Henry Doorly Zoo-we have taken the kids there many times when they were little! Sending you well wishes and best for the future!
Aw, thanks, Tina! The zoo is just incredible.
Brianna, I so enjoyed this update! The children are just precious! Especially LOVED the pictures. Keep the updates coming!
I really love reading your blog. Sweet pics & sweet comments. 💕
Thank you so much for the lovely update. It seems like only yesterday when I first found you when searching for THM recipes (it was before you wrote your first cookbook).
That goes back awhile! 10 years this November! How time flies…
So lovely to follow your growing family.
My grand daughter says pam pakes
The Lord is good
Love seeing pictures of your growing family — so sweet!