Does anyone have a good pancake recipe?

One of the challenges and adventures of living in Croatia is the change in food. In general I love the food here. There are things that I can only get when I'm here in Eastern Europe ie. Ajvar(a red pepper spread that is amazing!), powdered sugar with vanilla flavor, Krem Schnita, Milka chocolate, Gouda cheese at an affordable price, fruit tea, fresh bread every morning....I could go on. But the challenge is that some of the convenience foods and staples I'm used to cooking with back in the states are not available here. Or if they are available they are expensive. For example, there is no maple syrup, pancake mixes, vanilla flavoring, baking powder, turkey and beef lunch meats etc. Things you can find but are very expensive are peanut butter, any Mexican food (I almost broke down and paid $6 for 4 tortillas the other day but I just couldn't do it. I grew up in Othello, WA...I will learn to make them!), & Chinese food items. We basically need to learn to cook more like Croatians which means everything from scratch and trips to the market daily. I like that lifestyle in theory but it is proving to be time consuming. Also I left my cookbooks at home. =) So...if anyone has recipes to share that would be great! Our kids love pancakes in the morning. I found a recipe online but I don't like it very much. I've been making syrup with maple flavoring I brought over. They seem to like it though it isn't Mrs. Butterworths.



P.S. We figured out the secret to the outside market. I posted the picture below. Now when we go by ourselves the little ladies ask us where the babies are. They love the kids and are a little more patient with our lack of language skills.

Something encouraging

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you

present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1

"May it not be a comfort to those of us who feel we have not the mental

or spiritual power that others have, to notice that the living sacrifice mentioned in Rom. 12:1

is our "bodies"? Of course, that includes the mental power, but does it not also

include the loving, sympathizing glance, the kind, encouraging word, the ready errand for another, the work of our hands, opportunities for all of which come oftener in

the day than for the mental power we are often tempted to envy? May we be enabled to offer willingly that which we have." ~Anonomous

This verse and quote were in an amazing devotional I brought with me called "Daily Strength for Daily needs". (It was first published in 1884 but still hold gems of truth and wisdom that always encourage me. I got my hands on a 1928 copy! I love it!) Anyway, this quote was especially encouraging to me as I've never been an intellectual no matter how hard I've tried. This fact is true on a normal day back home but here in Rijeka where the culture is new and the language is gibberish to my ears and brain it is painfully true. I'm basically functioning at the grade level of a Croatian preschooler in language/communication skills. (who am I kidding? Preschoolers know more words than me.) It's humbling and frustrating. Several times I've wondered how the Lord can use me here when I cannot speak the language beyond pleasantries. Then the Lord reminds me that we've come offering our lives to Him as a living sacrifice, desiring to be used to share His love and forgiveness to those who would not hear it otherwise. All I have to offer is my willingness and a desire to serve Him in the furthering of His Kingdom. I feel like I'm holding my breathe in anticipation to see how He will work through our weakness and need to bring glory & fame to His name here in Rijeka.

Linking Arms

Part of what God used to draw us to Croatia is the Croatian couple we are working with here in Rijeka. Our transition to this country has gone very smoothly, thanks in part to our new friends, Hrvoje (Herv-o-yah) and Petra. Life is so much easier here when you have locals who speak the language and know how to get around; although they too are new to Rijeka as they have just moved here from Zagreb.

Let me share one example of how incredibly helpful Hrvoje and Petra have been ...

Since our arrival we have been buying ground beef from our local butcher to use in some of our favorite dishes like lasagna and spaghetti. No problem right? Well at least until last night, when Petra informed us that what we thought was ground beef was actually all the left over parts from various animals that the butcher grinds up ... yum, yum! Living overseas is such an adventure! Who knows what I'll be having for lunch today. I don't think I'll even bother asking my new Croatian friends. Sometimes it is better to just not ask and enjoy!

In all seriousness, we are having so much fun being here and building a great friendship with Hrvoje and Petra. We could not imagine being here without them. Together we make a great team and we look forward to all God will do in and through our friendship!

More miraculous provision!

With 2 day before our stint team was schedule to leave the U.S. two of them still needed to see God provide a total of $17,000. Many of you joined with us to ask God to move this mountain into the sea ... and He did just that! Our whole team is here and fully funded for the work God has called us to this year. One thing God has reminded us of through this whole process is that He is faithful to His call!

Waiting at the bus stop for the rest of our team to arrive from the states!
The whole gang! We had dinner at Hrvoje & Petra's home to celebrate the arrival of the rest of our team.

So grateful for a place to play!

One of the most amazing provisions from the Lord for our family has been the discovery of a park less than a block away from our apartment. We had heard there weren't many parks in Rijeka where kids could play but miraculously we live basically right next to one.

Day of Culture

One of the perks of homeschooling Caden and Tori for Kindergarten and Preschool has been getting to do a day of cultural study each week. We teach the kids some Croatian words and try to do something to learn about the culture we are now living in. On Saturday we went up to Trsat(Ter-SOT) where the castle is. One of the ways we prepared the kids to move to Croatia was by telling them how great is was going to be to live in a city with a castle on the hill. They loved it! (OK I know it doesn't look like they are loving it in this picture but the little Italian man who took the picture didn't speak any English and didn't tell them to smile. They really did have fun.)

Getting out of the apartment

Our apartment is wonderful but with these 3 it is necessary to get out and explore a little. This is a Irish Bar/cafe Kevin found with the boys one night. And just so you won't be too concerned about us taking the kids to a bar...all the cafes here are also bars. This one was playing some fun American music so maybe it wasn't so Irish. =)

We ran into Hrvoje and Mia on the Korzo after the cafe. Hrvoje is our brave Croatian friend who is going to lead a team of Americans this year. He's already doing a great job! He and Kevin have become good friends already.

Here's a picture of Hrvoje and Petra with their kids that I took in December when I came to visit Rijeka. We are excited to serve the Lord with them!

After all that exploring the kids get to enjoy a bubble bath.

Meeting new friends

Zoran, Graham, John, Kevin and kids

Last week John brought some of his friends over for dinner. Zoran is a former Croatian student who has been a great friend for our stint teams here in Rijeka. He's the guy everyone calls when they have a problem or crisis. Zoran is always quick to help and rescue when necessary. He also loves our kids and has offered to come be our nanny. I may just take him up on it! =) He is currently working as a computer programer in the city. We hope to get a lot more time with him this year.

Graham is a graduate of Georgia Tech and has been living in Sarajevo the last 2 years working with college students. Last year when John was having Visa problems he went to stay with Graham and the team there in Sarajevo for 3 months. Graham is going back to spend another year in Bosnia with a team of other graduates.

A quick break from settling in

Opatija

About 30 minutes away by bus is this amazing town now being referred to as the Istria Riviera(comparable to the French Riviera). We had been hearing about it so we thought we would take a break and get out of the city for the day. Of course relaxing day trips are always more interesting and less relaxing when you have 3 small kids with jet lag . . . but it was still great to get away and see the seaside.

There was actually no beach. Just cement decks where people would lay out mostly clothed. We would show you more pictures but this is Europe and while most people do wear swimsuits occasionally.... Even Grandma's wear bikini's here!

The water was pretty rough for swimming but the kids thought it was great fun to watch the water crash against the deck.

That's Rijeka in the background

Real life shot

I just poured them water but they all want my Schweppes Bitter Lemon drink!

The posed picture. The food here is amazing!

Overall it was nice to take a break from the city. The bus ride out may have been the highlight for me. As soon as people saw us getting on the crowded bus with the kids they would clear out seats for us and insist we take there seats. They love the kids! And they were so kind even when they knew we couldn't speak to them. I don't think I realized how many fears I've had coming into this trip. Fears of the unknown, of offending people and making them angry etc. I feel like God is giving me a glimpse into His heart for the Croatian people. Our trip this weekend definitely made my heart even more endeared to the people of this country. (Opatija was beautiful but honestly, I was getting a head cold that day and just wanted to be in bed. Sad but true. But the trip was worth it just to experience the kindness and generosity of the people)