Celebrating Family Milestones: Birth of Baby Brooklyn and 10 Years of Love

A new chapter began for Lovina Eicher’s family with the arrival of her granddaughter, Brooklyn Nyah, born on August 16, 2023. Weighing in at 5 pounds, 6 ounces and measuring 19 inches, Brooklyn’s birth coincided with the celebration of her parents’ ten-year wedding anniversary, Tim and Elizabeth. The family continues to embrace these significant milestones with joy and gratitude.

Reflecting on the past decade, Lovina shared her emotions surrounding her firstborn, who has moved out of the family home. She expressed her reliance on her oldest child, stating, “I had a hard time accepting this change.” Despite the challenges, she finds comfort knowing her daughter is married to a loving man, enhancing the joy in their family life. Tim and Elizabeth are blessed with four children: Abigail, Timothy, Allison, and Andrea, who continue to bring happiness to Lovina’s life.

The family recently attended their annual church picnic, hosted by neighbors Joas and Susan. The event featured a variety of dishes, including deep-fried fish, casseroles, and desserts, drawing nearly all families from their church district. Lovina noted the excitement of the children, who played games such as croquet and volleyball after the meal, with a bouncy house for the younger ones.

As summer transitions to fall, school is back in session for Lovina’s grandchildren, with August 18 marking the start of the academic year. Abigail and Kaitlyn are entering third grade, while Jennifer and Isaiah will be in second grade. Timothy (known as T.J.) is beginning first grade, and Ryan, Curtis, and Allison are excited to join kindergarten. Lovina described Abigail’s delight in discovering that her teacher shares her name, Abigail Elizabeth, while Kaitlyn will celebrate her ninth birthday on the first day of school.

The family faced sorrow recently with the unexpected passing of their horse, Midnight, who had been a reliable companion for the past eight years. Lovina recounted the shock of finding her in the field and the vet’s assessment of heatstroke as a possible cause. Midnight had been trained by Lovina’s husband, Joe, who found joy in training horses despite his current health limitations. The family looks forward to the training of Midnight’s two-year-old colt, Jett, hoping he will be as dependable as his mother.

Amid these events, Lovina and her daughters have been busy canning peaches. They processed 49 quarts from over three bushels of red haven peaches generously given by their neighbors. Lovina expressed gratitude for the gift, noting how expensive peaches can be to purchase.

This Sunday, Lovina’s son Joseph and his wife Grace will host church services for the first time. Lovina plans to bake ten loaves of wheat bread for the occasion. However, after spending several nights at the hospital with her daughter Lovina and her husband Daniel, she decided to ask neighbor ladies for assistance with the baking.

As the family embraces new beginnings while cherishing memories, Lovina is eager to visit baby Brooklyn, who is now just across the road. The bond of family continues to flourish in their close-knit community.

In conclusion, Lovina’s reflections on family milestones encapsulate a journey filled with love, loss, and the joy of new life. She invites readers to share in her experiences and look forward to what the future holds for her growing family.

For those interested in Lovina’s recipes, she shares a delightful Easy Peach Cream Pie recipe:

3 cups fresh peaches, peeled and sliced
1 (9-inch) pie crust (unbaked)
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
¼ cup flour
dash of salt
1 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla

Place the sliced peaches in the pie crust. Beat the eggs slightly in a bowl, then blend in sugar, flour, and salt. Stir in the cream and vanilla, then pour over the peaches. Bake at 375 degrees for 40 to 50 minutes, or until the center shakes slightly when moved.

Lovina’s Amish Kitchen is written by Lovina Eicher, an Old Order Amish writer, cook, and mother of eight. Her cookbooks, including *The Cherished Table*, *The Essential Amish Cookbook*, and *Amish Family Recipes*, are available at bookstores. Readers can contact Lovina at P.O. Box 234, Sturgis, MI 49091, or email [email protected], with the understanding that she does not respond to emails personally.