dvi silkes

Every chair in the room was filled, and more people were inching their way through the doorway. On Thursday’s food distribution at the Salvation Army, we handed out bags of food to a record 86 registered clients, many of whom were visiting for the first time. The total number of people the food will help is a staggering 217.

Though a small amount of food is donated each Thursday from local shops, the few wizened vegetables and at-expiry-date goods we receive are never enough to meet the need. This week, however, we were very grateful to have a freshly stocked pantry of dry goods to supplement the donation from the shops.

Earlier this week, three of us went on a fantastically huge shopping trip to the largest grocery store in town, and piled six carts to overflowing with food. From staples like rice, buckwheat, sugar, and oil, to goodies like tea, coffee, and cookies, we managed to buy enough food to keep the pantry going a little while longer. Also, a donation from family enabled us to buy enough milk and butter to give everyone one of each over the past two weeks.

We are extremely grateful for donations from our Canadian church, family, friends, and even strangers that helped make this possible! The need here is great, but your generosity, kindness, and your prayers are making a difference in people’s lives. Thank you!

We had a wonderful Easter weekend; peaceful, joyful, filled with friendship and laughter, full of remembrance and thankfulness.The day began next to the Baltic Sea, with our songs accompanied by the sound of softly rolling waves. Modestas spoke about the joy we have because of Christ’s resurrection, and we lingered in the sun as it broke through the morning fog.

Most of us gathered at Modestas and Ramune’s house for a lunch that included meat and cheese, fish, herring mayonnaise salad, and dark bread. The kids (big and little) enjoyed playing a traditional egg-cracking game, and the sun stayed out long enough for a few people to take a stroll in the village.

When we had just arrived home, our neighbour’s son, Richardas, came by and asked if we would come over for a late lunch! All of this, after Valerija had already had Richardas deliver an adorable little gift bag of goodies to us on Friday. It was a lovely surprise, and even though we were already full, we managed to squeeze in a few more Lithuanian specialties like hot cabbage, white bean and garlic bread salad, pea salad, pork sausage, and more hard-boiled eggs. Valerija had also invited another friend, and we had a fun afternoon talking about Easter traditions, church, the heating system, and probably a few complicated Lithuanian bits that slipped by us.

It was a fantastic weekend, and with all the sunshine, it looks like the start of spring has finally arrived. We have so many things to be thankful for: friends, sunshine, plenty of food, and the true joy of Easter. Christ is risen. He is risen indeed!

My Texan cousin and her husband have a unique flair for sending us goodie packages that make our eyes go wide with excitement one minute, and run with tears of laughter the next. The box they sent us at Christmas this year was certainly no exception, and we have been enjoying every bit of it; from A&W Jelly Beans to the Frosty-the-Snowman-boxer-shorts!

Included in this fantastic box of surprises was a ‘little’ something that they sent us once before: an enormous box of Ghirardelli white baking chocolate. We had used up most of the last box having an amazing fondue with some friends, and this time I wanted to try something different. I’ve discovered that this brand of chocolate (OK, white chocolate isn’t technically chocolate, but it tastes just as good!) melts beautifully, and is surprisingly forgiving of my culinary ineptitude. So, over a double boiler of online recipes and imagination, I stirred in a bag of yummy dried cranberries that came from Nathan’s parents, then added a package of cute foil candy cups that a friend gave to us, tossed in a few ingredients from the store, and came up with three wonderfully sweet treats that we can share!

Individual white chocolate cups with cranberries or toasted almonds go great with a cup of tea:

White chocolate and cranberry ‘bark’ is seriously addicting, and the steamed pudding technique of baking on the stovetop works pretty well with Blondies (brownies with white chocolate instead of cocoa).

We would love to invite you over for tea and white chocolate goodies, but (*lick*) I don’t think they will be around much longer!