Oh, good-bye Montana!

It has been seventeen years since my family moved here. We came with great anticipation of what our time would look like here. We had no idea what was in store. We had no idea the memories, the moments and things that would mark our time here as family. We all grew-up and changed in many ways as we have lived here. We have made great memories and have had hard moments, but overall we have seen God’s faithfulness throughout it all and now it’s time for a new season. A “new” place, rhyme and way of life. Montana, you will be missed!

It has been seventeen years of growing from a little girl to an adult and “moving” away from home, but somehow I always found my way back to Montana and my sweet family. Montana, your beauty reminds me daily of God’s intentionality for beauty and detail and His great love for us. Your love for the great outdoors and being adventures brings out the spontaneity and sense of adventure in me.  You are the home to Sweet Peaks Ice Cream which I could literally eat every day if it was healthy for me! ;) Glacier Park has always been a family favorite and a place where God has spoken so many words to our hearts. Flathead Lake, you are freezing cold, but I will miss you and watching the sun dance across your waves. The month of august always brought so much joy as huckleberry picking was a must. Huckleberry pancakes and scones! Montana Coffee Traders, your trailblazer coffee is my fav and it always reminds me to keep going forward. Your cold winters and grey skies were not my favorite or the forest fires in the summer. And neither were the politics in sports. There is always ups and downs in every season. Montana, thanks for being my home. It was good.

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A few weeks ago before my parents drove out of the drive-way with all our worldly possessions in u-haul we had a family day at glacier park. We went to Lake McDonald Lodge. A family favorite! We found a little place to ourselves along the lake and built memorials to remind us each of God’s faithfulness over the years of living in Montana. This was something that I did at the end of DTS last year and it was so significant in my life. The act is from Joshua 4 where God asked the Israelites to build stone memorials as symbol of remembrance His faithfulness to them. So we each built our little memorials and then took turns telling how we felt the Lord had been faithful to us over the years of living in Montana.

Three things stood out to me as I looked back over the seventeen years. First, the amazing people God put in my life who invested in me, loved on me, instilled confidence in me and encouraged me along the way. Just to name a few: Mr. Thiel, Mr. Johnson, Mrs. Hipple, Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Thompson. The Larson family. The Meltzer family. Sarah and Julie from Bible Study. Annie. Tyler.

Second, the opportunities that my family had to do ministry together. It was/is not just my parents job, but our whole family is apart of it. Helping my mama with hospitality. Being involved in my  dad’s community development schools. Having people over to our home always.  Going to Jamaica, Thailand, Hawaii.

Nathan & Emily are missing and we missed them dearly! 

Third, the greater understanding of God through His creation. Montana is a very beautiful state (at least the part we lived in). The beauty, majesty and splendor gave me deeper understanding of God and His intention of creating it all.

Well, good-bye Montana! Next time I come back I will just be a visitor, but a visitor with lots of fond memories and the knowledge of how to be a local! :)

It’s been good, but I am ready for this next adventure. This next season. It’s good to change locations. To change jobs. To change the rhyme of life. (I think another blog post is clicking together in my heart about “transition and moving” since I have done it at least 12 times in the last 8 years!)

One thing that I have loved about spending my last summer in Montana is checking off our family’s Montana Bucket! Check out the picture to see a few of our favorite things in Montana!

Now to discover Lynden, Washington, my family’s new home and the surrounding area and then I can’t forget my soon to be new home of my own as I move to New Zealand! Let the exploring get started!

Much love,

Daniella

Pavlova {Pronounced: pav-LOH-vuh)

Pavlova  (New Zealand & Australia Dessert) {Pronounced: pav-LOH-vuh)

As I type up this recipe many memories of my time in New Zealand start flooding back Remembering the time a Kiwi & an Aussie joined together to make this dessert for our outreach team’s thanksgiving meal (this dessert is a debate between the two countries of who invented it first). My DTS family. A season where God refreshed me and reminded me of His promises.  A beautiful country inside and out. A place of growing and being stretched in amazing ways. And I am in awe now that God is calling back there for another season. It’s has been a journey to get there (and I am not there yet). It’s letting go of plans, expectations, timing and learning how to support raise. It’s learning to be patient and to trust in God’s perfect timing. It’s learning to depend on Him completely and not look to world’s standards or expectations. It’s learning to be presence where I am right now and enjoy the people and opportunities around me. I would love to know the exact moving date, but I don’t so I am waiting and listening to whispers of God and surrendering daily to my plans because I just want to say “yes” to Him and His timing.

So, I am learning lessons through the recipes of pavlova….

The Recipe:

hands-on time 1hr.

total time 4hr., 30 min.

6 egg whites

⅛ tsp. cream of tartar

1 ½ cups of sugar

1 tsp. lemon sugar

½ tsp. vanilla

4 cups of fruit (kiwifruit, strawberries, berries, mango, ect)

2 Tbsp. sugar

1 ½ cups whipping cream

(Cream of tartar and lemon juice help stabilize the egg whites and contribute to volume. Cornstarch is a stabilizer, too, but it also aids in creating the soft inner texture.)

1. Allow egg whites to stand at room temperature 30 minutes (this helps create more volume). Meanwhile, line a baking sheet with parchment. Draw a 9-inch circle on the paper. Invert paper so circle is on reverse side.
2. Preheat oven to 250F. For the meringue, in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment* beat egg whites, cream of tartar, and a pinch of salt on medium speed until soft peaks form. Add the ½ cups sugar, 1 Tbsp. at a time, beating on high speed until stiff peaks form and meringue is no longer  gritty ( 18 to 20 minutes), scraping down bowl as needed. Beat in lemon juice and vanilla. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold in cornstarch.
3. Spread meringue over circle on parchment, building up edges slightly to form a shell. Bake 1 ½ hours (do not open door). Turn off oven; let dry in oven with  door closed 1 hour. Remove; cool completely on sheet on wire rack.
4. In a large bowl toss fruit with 2 Tbsp. sugar. Let stand 20 minutes.
5. Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl beat cream with an electric mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form. Place meringue shell on a large platter. Spread cream mixture into meringue shell. Spoon fruit mixture on top. Serve immediately.

*You can use a hand mixer. Note the total beating time might be a little longer and the total volume a little less than with a stand mixer.

For individuals Prepare meringue as directed. Spoon 8 mounds (about ¾ cup each) 3 inches apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Using the back of a spoon, create an indent in each. Bake 1 hour. Dry in oven; cool as above.

Secrets to Success

1. Pan Prep: Part of the tick to meringue is getting the right size and thickness so baking time will hit the mark. Trace 9-inch plate ensure success. (God is using this season I am in right now to prepare me. To teach me how to rest, set-up boundaries and to completely surrender to Him.)
2. Soft Peaks: It’s time to add the sugar when the egg whites look foamy and just being to hold their shape, forming soft, droopy peaks when you lift the beater. (God always adds good to any season and He knows just what we need to grow into who He has created us to be!)
3. Stiff Peaks: The meringue is ready when the mixture forms stiff, glossy peaks (the tips will stand straight) and all the sugar has dissolved. (As we start to get rid of all the “stuff” in our lives we start to change and become more confident in who we are.)
4. Grit Test: Rub a little meringue between your fingers. You should feel just a granule or two of sugar. If it feels gritty, beat just another minute. (The Grit Test= testing to see if your “yes” is a real “yes” and if you will follow no matter what comes up.)
5. Gentle Fold: Be careful not to deflate  the volume created by beating air into the meringue. Use a spatula to lightly fold in cornstarch. (Be gentle with yourself in times of change and transitions. It’s a season of so many different emotions and thoughts)
6. Easy Shape: Use the back of a spoon to push the meringue toward eggs to create a shallow bowl. This gives your cream and fruit a place to sit! (Be praying for your next season asking God to prepare a community for you, a church family, friends, a home and a smooth transition into the new season.)

Baking Pointers:

1. Close the door: keep the oven door closed while pavlova bakes. A sudden change in temperature can cause the meringue to crack or collapse! (Don’t try to rush. God’s timing is always better even when you can’t see it in the moment. Looking back it will all make sense!!)

2. Bake low and slow: If you notice that it’s starting to brown, lower your oven temp 15F. When it’s finished baking, the outside will be mostly dry to touch. (Slow down and enjoy the opportunities around you no matter where you are.)

3. Let it rest: When the pavlova is baked, turn off the oven and don’t open the door. The pavlova continues to dry on the outside while staying more marshmallowy inside. (Don’t let rest be pushed to the side or forgotten. It’s something God created for all of us. Read more about my thoughts of rest in this blog post.)

I seriously can’t wait to call New Zealand my home and have many opportunities to eat/bake pavlova. In the meantime, I am learning to embrace the process of getting there and surrendering to it all. I would so appreciate your prayers as I seek God for the exact of moving date!

Much love,

Daniella

Pavlova made with a dear friend!