Daughters Elizabeth, 16, and Susan, 14, are finished with the laundry. I helped them for awhile but I thought I best be getting this column written. Meanwhile, Verena, 12, and Loretta. 9, are washing dishes and sweeping floors. Benjamin, 10, Joseph, 7, Lovina, 6, and Kevin, 4, are outside picking up branches that fell during the bad storm we had Friday evening. The storm took down a lot of trees in this area and in the nearby town. We had a lot of high winds and the rain came fast.

For 5 days after Verena had her “ post-concussive attack” she could not walk and had no feeling from her knees on down. She was a different person and needed our full-time attention. Verena is normally a sweet, quiet caring girl and during this time she was just the opposite. It was very hard on us see her like this. Verena had been in this same condition for five days after her brain concussion, then she had five good days where she could walk and was her normal self again. Then she had five bad days again . Last Thursday I took her to physical therapy and the therapist thought Verena seemed weaker, which was discouraging. Verena was also extra quiet, and slept on the way home. When we arrived back we were going to put her into a wheelchair, but she woke up and asked where she was. Then she told Joe “I can walk, I don’t need the wheelchair.” Just like that she was her normal self again and could walk. The feelings in her legs came back, too. We were so shocked at the sudden change. It is like she has 5 bad days and then 5 good days and then 5 bad days again. Tomorrow will be the 5th day again and we pray she will not have another attack. Right now more than ever we need to let God be in control. The miracle of it all is she has no memory loss except for the 10 days she couldn’t walk and wasn’t herself. Her energy seems to be back to normal and we need to remind her to not make herself too tired. The brain works in such marvelous and mysterious ways that it is difficult for even the neurologist to give us an explanation. During the 10 days when Verena couldn’t walk I got a glimpse of what some families to have to tend to with special needs children and invalids. It takes so much time and patience.

We are behind in our garden work. With all the rain it has not dried off enough to hoe and till, although we have been doing some weeding. Now it looks cloudy and rainy again. Sure hope the clothes dry on the line before it rains. We re now also enjoying the red potatoes from the garden and have been enjoying peas for awhile. Lovina and Kevin will sit out in the garden and eat the peas right from the plant. They take a small bowl out and bring in some for Verena. It seems our children like the peas raw but when I heat them up they do not like them.

Verena has two physical therapy appointments this week. Last week she had appointments every day so it looks like it will be slower this week. Church was close by so Verena had quite a bit of company yesterday afternoon which she enjoyed Holding the small babies were a treat for her.

Jacob, Emma, and family were here and we still miss dear little Marilyn so much. Her sweet little smile always warmed our hearts. In her 8 short months here on earth she was very much loved.

I want to thank all of you readers so much for your cards, encouragement, and support for us during these weeks! It was chicken butchering time up here recently, so this is a good recipe. We make homemade biscuits for this recipe, but you can use the store bought “tube kind” or make your own!

Chicken Biscuit Stew

1/4 cup margarine or butter

1/3 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

Dash pepper

3/4 cup milk

1 cup potatoes, peeled and diced

1 cup carrots, diced

1 cup peas

1-1/3 cup chicken broth

2 cups cooked chicken

1/3 cup onions

1 tube refrigerated biscuits or make your own

Melt butter andadd flour, salt, or pepper. Add milk to form a white sauce, stirring until thick. Boil potatoes, carrots, and peas and drain. Add to white sauce. Add broth, chicken and onions. Put nto a greased 9 X 13 pan and top with the biscuits. Bake at 375 for 20 - 25 minutes.

To celebrate the column’s 19th anniversary which will occur on July 17, we are offering free shipping on all orders of two or more soft cover cookbooks. To order visit amishcookonline.com/special) or call , phone orders are strongly encouraged, delivery within 7 to 10 days on phone orders. By mail, send to: Oasis Newsfeatures, PO BOX 2144, Middletown, Ohio 45042 (allow up to 4 weeks) Titles available: The Original Amish Cook Cookbook, The Best of The Amish Cook, Vol 1, The Best of The Amish Cook, Vol 2 , The Best of The Amish Cook, Vol. 3, The Amish Cook’s Family Favorites & Facts, and The Amish Cook’s Treasury.