Passover 2014

     

 To Jessica and Istvan, Josh and Annie, and Jason

Passover is always a special time here at the Machamer house. We have wonderful memories of previous Passovers along with beautiful bonding. We sure missed you last night. Can you tell by the look on our faces.

Josh and Annie Passove 2013

 Last year, Josh and Annie's first date was to come to our house for Passover. It was a very special night and we fell in love with Annie along with Joshua. It was a magical night with good food, and a beautiful seder led  by husband, and lots of laughter.

Joy and Tim 2012 Passover/Rehearsal dinner

IN 2012,  my daughter Joy and her husband Tim had their rehearsal dinner at a beautiful restaurant in Mount Dora. The room that they gave us was enclosed and surrounded by french doors all the way around and was elevated above the restaurant giving it the feeling of an upper room. The passover seder was presented before the rehearsal dinner by  my husband. He did such a beautiful job.

In 2011 my son Jason was the only one with us for Passover and it was our first time doing it ourselves. We did not realize how many glasses of wine you have to drink throughout the seder.I am a lightweight as far as alcohol and can't drink more than 1/4 cup of wine before feeling buzzed. So, needless to say by the end of the dinner and seder which is quite lengthy, I was laughing hysterically at anything. My son, Jason, had never seen me like this and to him it was quite funny.

So this year, we had Joy and Tim over for Passover.We couldn’t find the booklet that we use to guide us through the seder part of the meal.. So, without the booklet we were kind of left to our interpretation of the meal. It got quite comical at times as everybody threw in their idea of why a certain item was on the table. Tim offered to go get his Ipad out of the car and look up instructions, but Ernest said no. I have to say it was more interesting this way. According to my husband the chicken and gravy were superb. I don't get that compliment very often from him.

So for the dinner we had:
chocolate dipped  matza bread (I'm loving the chocolate version, cause the plain version is you know, plaaaaaaaaaaaain) Jess you would have loved this!


roasted chicken
baked potatoes
carrots
seder part: wine, wine, and some wine, haroset, boiled egg, salt water and lettuce, parsley. We didn't have the horseradish..because I thought we had some but didn't.


 Here is the recipe I used for the chicken

4 garlic cloves finely grated
1 T salt
1/2 T olive oil
1 T paprika
1/2 T smoked paprika
1 6 lb whole chicken
2 T homemade chutney 

Preheat oven to 350

Mix garlic, salt, oil and both paprikas in a small bowl. Mix to blend well. Using your hands, smear paste all over outside of chicken, rubbing to coat the skin.As an  afterthought I added chutney also with my hands on top of the seasoning...it was not very cooperative getting in on the bird..i ended up having to slap the chicken silly with the chutney in order for the chutney to stay on. (I know you're laughing Ree)   I placed a peeled onion inside the cavity, because i was out of apples. Chill, uncovered for at least 4 hours to let flavors ripen. Place the bird  in a roaster with a little bit of broth and cover with lid. By mistake I put the breast side up and oh my goodness when it was done it was so tender.... Bake in oven according to poundage. The chutney made the skin crisp up real nice.

A message to my kids on Mothers Day!

Oh my precious babies, Joy, Joshua, Jason, Jessica and Jeremy

How I love you so much each and every one of you. Looking back over the years, motherhood  has been truly a blessing. I never thought I would love motherhood but I can honestly say from the very depths of me that I am truly grateful that God guided my life in that direction, for it has been one of the greatest privileges to be your mom. I could not have asked for better kids. I loved being a mother to you...rocking and holding you for hours on end and soothing your cries. I loved all the laughter and silliness we have shared. I loved being able to share our Savior with you and homeschooling you. Those were very precious years.

Joy Nicole

 At the onset of motherhood, holding you in my arms,my firstborn, Joy, I fell in love with you and fiercely loved and protected you to the best of my ability. You were so much fun to play with and dress up in all kinds of girly clothes.You were, and are such a joy in my life.

Joshua Adam

18 months later Joshua entered this world rather quietly. A teeny tiny boy, with big blue eyes. You slept all the time in the first few months. Joy was thrilled to have a baby brother and her maternal instincts kicked in even at a year and half old. Now, you had another protector to watch over you besides your Dad and I. You were a quiet baby and would look at me with such adoring eyes that would make any mothers heart melt.

Jason Steven

2 years later Jason joined our family one October. You were always smiling. You melted the hearts of any woman that picked you up, including mine. Josh loved having a younger brother to play with and the 3 of you would get into more mischief. Oh the pranks you played on young babysitters.

Jessica Hope

Another 2 and half years later, Jessica was born. She was greatly anticipated seeing as I had miscarried between Jason and her. Now, Joy had a little sister to play and watch over. You silently watched the others get into more trouble and learned how to not get into trouble. Your bothers and sister could not understand why you never got spanked and to this day still taunt you about it.

Jeremy Cordell  12/19/1992-12/23/1992

And lastly came Jeremy, only here for 5 days.  Your Dad, held little Jeremy in his arms as he slipped out of this world and into Jesus's arms. What a profound impact you made on our lives. We will never forget you Jeremy.

I am vastly aware of my shortcomings and can only thank God that He honored my humble prayers that in my shortcomings He would fill in those gaps where it was impossible for me to do.

Below are some of the songs I recorded in the mid 80's. I sang goodnight kiss to Joy and Josh almost every night  in the rocking chair hour. The recordings are old, so clarity is not the best. The masterpiece song takes a few seconds to start..so hang in there.