A brand-new year is here! May it bring much joy and happiness to you with God’s many blessings.

We are excited to welcome the new year with an addition to our family. Grandchild number 13 has arrived and has won our hearts already. How much we are thankful for a safe delivery and healthy baby. Congratulations to daughter Loretta and Dustin as they welcome their first daughter to their family.

Kylie Clare was born Jan. 4 at 8:25 p.m. weighing 6 pounds, 9.8 ounces, and measuring 19 inches long. She has a head full of black hair and is so adorable. What a blessing!

Kylie joins two brothers Denzel, 2, and Byron, 1. I am sure she will keep up with her busy little brothers soon. Needless to say, Dustin and Loretta have a busy life with these three precious children.

I spent three days at the hospital with Dustin and Loretta. We went up early on the morning of Jan. 3.

I came home Sunday with my husband Joe, daughter Verena, her special friend Daniel Ray, and Denzel and Byron.

They had come up to meet little Kylie. Dustin, Loretta and baby Kylie came home on Monday.

Daughter Verena took care of Denzel and Byron while Dustin and Loretta were gone.

She had some help from Daniel Ray. He did the outside chores for Dustin. The boys do well for Verena, as she is there helping often.

Now I will let sister Emma write the rest of the column. I was happy to see she wrote a letter.

You will get a closer glimpse of her life. Being a widow is certainly a challenge.

May God bless her as we start another year. What does it hold in store for us? Only God knows!

THE LETTER

Happy New Year wishes to everyone! This letter is being written by Lovina’s sister Emma. Yay, a first for me to be writing since this column began.

This morning when I woke up I decided to take the pen in my hand and try my best. The timing may be just right since Lovina’s quality time is to be spent adoring her new granddaughter.

Today we honor the Epiphany (the visit of the wise men to worship the infant Jesus). Yesterday was Sunday, so it is like two days in a row to be resting, reading and relaxing.

On Nov. 18, Steven had his spinal fusion. The rod and screws begin at the top of his spine and end at his buttocks. He still spends a lot of time in bed. He gets around with his powerchair.

On Dec. 9, he went back to the hospital to have his tape removed. We had a handicapped van for our transportation. On the way home he was getting dizzy from sitting in his powerchair. The driver pulled along the roadside. I carried Steven from the powerchair to the front seat, which reclined. This has been the only time he has left home since his surgery.

Yesterday, daughter Elizabeth and Manuel brought sons Jacob and Steven and me sub sandwiches from a nearby restaurant.

We were just done playing a game of Life on the Farm when daughter Emma, her husband Menno, and their children Jessica, Menno Ray and Jazlyn came. They came to feed the horses and chickens and pick up our eggs.

Son Ben, Crystal, and boys are in Pennsylvania attending a funeral for a family member.

Isaiah, 8, and Wesley, 4 months, are being missed by their grandmother. I get to see them almost every day, as they live next door.

I wish that this joy of being a grandparent could be shared with dear husband Jacob. This year in August it will be four years since Jacob died.

Many of you have wondered about his death.

He was planning to have a liver transplant.

Since he had some cavities in his teeth, a cleaning was done as well.

Some infection ended up in his body, causing severe sepsis. His immune system wasn’t strong enough to fight off the infection.

Not only was he my husband, he was my best friend, so life has not been easy since. God didn’t promise us a life filled with roses, and we must go on as he guides our way. May God be with you all this coming year.

I make this party mix every year. It makes a lot for a crowd, so feel free to halve the recipe, perhaps by using only one box of cereal and not the other, and so on.

Cheesy Party Mix

Ingredients

2 1-ounce packages ranch salad dressing and seasoning mix

1 10- to 12-ounce container butter-flavor popcorn oil

3 pounds mixed nuts

1 18-ounce box toasted O’s cereal

1 18-ounce box crispy rice and crunchy corn lattice cereal

1 27-ounce box cheesy fish-shaped crackers

1 16-pound bag pretzels

1 14-ounce bag nacho cheese crispy, horn-shaped corn snack

2 8-ounce boxes mini cheese sandwich crackers

Directions

Mix ingredients in a large bowl and serve.

Readers can write to Lovina Eicher at Lovina’s Amish Kitchen, P.O. Box 234, Sturgis, MI 49091 (include a self-addressed stamped envelope for a reply); or email LovinasAmishKitchen@MennoMedia.org and your message will be passed on to her to read.