Jan. 24! First of all, happy birthday wishes to sister Liz, who turns 54 today, and also to daughter Susan, who shares the same birthday. She turns 27 today.

It’s unbelievable that our secondborn is that old already. A lot has happened in her young life, but with God’s help, she was able to go on and accept his plan for her. It hasn’t been an easy road, but with God’s help, it’s so much easier to handle.

My husband, Joe, also had a birthday on Dec. 22 and he also turned 54.

Daughter Lovina and I made lunch for the 50-plus workers who work where Joe does at the metal shop. After lunch, Joe gave us a tour of where he works and what he does. He works with my brother Albert. Joe has been there two years now. It was interesting to see what he does every day.

Last Saturday our whole family, sister Verena, and sister Emma’s family all gathered at Emma’s house for a delicious brunch. This was a late Christmas gathering.

Emma and I take turns hosting it each year since our move to Michigan 19 years ago in March. We were a small group back then but now are a total of 39.

The tables were set for 36 in their attached garage and the babies were in high chairs, with the youngest of all, Jazlyn (daughter of niece Emma and Menno), who is 12 weeks old, in her bouncer.

On the menu was fried eggs, potatoes, scrambled eggs, biscuits, sausage gravy, bacon, sausage patties, cheese, homemade bread, butter, strawberry jam, hot peppers, orange juice, apple juice, chocolate milk, coffee and doughnuts. Everyone helped bring something for brunch and / or snacks.

After dishes were washed, we played bingo. Emma had a table with nice gifts for the winners.

Then we exchanged gifts. We first made everyone guess to see if they knew who had their name. I didn’t have any idea who had my name. It was son-in-law Dustin.

He gave me a board that you can put puzzles together on. It has drawers on the side to put the pieces in. I always wanted one like this, since I like to put puzzles together and so does the family. With more grandchildren, though, the puzzles tend to get messed up or lost. Now I can easily put it away until we want to work on it again.

Everyone enjoyed snacks and pizza before going home. It was an enjoyable day, but our loved ones were missed. This was the first time Emma hosted our Christmas gathering without her dear husband there.

Once again God has called some family members home. On Jan. 11, Joe’s cousin Barbara’s husband Johnny died after losing his battle to cancer. He was 55 and left his wife and family to mourn. We were unable to attend, but our thoughts and prayers were with Barbara. They live in Ohio.

Then on Jan. 20, Joe’s uncle Roman from Berne, Ind., passed away. Joe and I attended the funeral.

When we arrived at the funeral, we found out that Joe’s aunt had unexpectedly died out in Berne that morning. Nancy was 72.

She had been to the viewing of her brother-in-law Roman (his wife Flossie is her sister) the day before and went to the motel for the night with her brother and wife (Uncle Johnny and Susie). Nancy was never married but lived on the same property as Johnny’s.

Lord willing, our plans are to attend Nancy’s funeral in Dundee, Ohio, on Saturday. It is almost five hours from here.

Our sympathy goes to Aunt Flossie and her family and to Nancy’s many relatives.

Our children all remember who Nancy was. When she came overnight here one time, she kept them entertained. I remember Joseph was just a young boy and I had told him he had to fix his bed, as I had washed sheets that day. It was bedtime and Aunt Nancy was here. She told Joseph she’d help him. He was so glad he didn’t have to fix the sheets himself.

The next morning Nancy was out playing basketball with the children. There was never a dull moment when she was around.

May they all rest in peace and may God help their families through this difficult trial in life. We know the feeling well of losing close loved ones. God bless.

I will share the Taco Salad recipe used at daughter Susan and Ervin’s wedding.

Taco Salad

1 pound hamburger

1 package taco seasoning

1 cup chopped onion

1 head lettuce, shredded

1 8-ounce package shredded cheese

1 cup diced tomatoes

1 15-16-ounce can kidney beans, drained

1 16-ounce bottle Thousand Island dressing

1/4 cup sugar

1 9.75-ounce bag Nacho Cheese Doritos, crushed

Brown the hamburger with chopped onions and 1/3 of the taco seasoning. Drain the hamburger mixture.

In a bowl, mix lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, beans and hamburger mixture. In a separate bowl, mix the Thousand Island dressing, sugar and the rest of the taco seasoning.

Just before serving, mix the dressing with the lettuce mixture then top with the crushed chips.

Lovina Eicher is an Old Order Amish writer, cook, wife and mother of eight who lives in southeastern Michigan. Her newest cookbook, “Amish Family Recipes,” is available wherever books are sold. Readers can write to Eicher at P.O. Box 234, Sturgis, MI 49091 (include a self-addressed stamped envelope for a reply), or email LovinasAmishKitchen@MennoMedia.org and your message will be passed on to her to read. She does not personally respond to emails.