So Long, Farewell

"So long, farewell, to you my friends.

Goodbye, for now, until we meet again.

It's been great, to play and sing together,

and now it's time to say goodbye.

So long, farewell, to you my friends.

Goodbye, for now, until we meet again."

-The Goodbye Song-

 

     Aloha!

 

     This Summer I'm interning for the organization Pacific House of Mission.  PHM is an organization that champions Christian outreach to military kids here on Oahu.  This ministry is very necessary to these kids' lives, which are constantly changing, as it brings both stability and a sense of home to them, no matter how long or short they are with us. 

 

 

     Tonight at our Schofield CLUB night, we had an impromptu farewell for one of our CLUB kids, Tessa.  Tessa's family has been stationed at Schofield for two years, and as we sent her off with the "Goodbye Song" from an old TV show "Outside the Box" there were tears streaming down her face.  These lyrics hit me.  They are so true to a military kids' life.  There are so many "hello's" and "goodbye's" and you never know when you might see someone again.  It's a constantly changing lifestyle.  Here at PHM we offer some stability.  We welcome the students in when they get here, give them a home and teach them this "hominess" while they are here, and then send them off with love when they leave.  This sending them off with love is essential, as it gives them strength and courage to move forward in their next new place.  It gives them the "I did well here, I can take this "hominess" and share it with more people" feeling.  And they do!  By making them feel loved here, they take it the next place, and then somebody else takes it to the next place, and then the love multiplies all over the world.  WHAT?! I'M SERIOUS! 

 

 

We sent off another famous kid, McKenzie last week.

 

 

Meeting with some CLUB kids at the movies

 

 

Game of Knock Out

 

 

Taking a surfing break

 

 

     I'm constantly amazed at how CLUB effects these kids, the leaders, and the community surrounding us.  And it's obvious that it does.  When I see these kids at CLUB, it's right there on their faces.  I see them happy, I see them start to step outside themselves more and more, I see them come back, and I see them change.  Every one of these kids is AWESOME and UNIQUE and SPECIAL.  I am thoroughly enjoying meeting them, hanging out with them, and finding out who they are.  To me, and to them, it's the best thing out there.

 

 

Thanks for reading, check in later for more!

 

Rachel Merry

 

 



The Blog, Downton, and Scones

     Welcome to my blog, "From The Heart"! My name is Rachel Merry.  Some of you may have read my last blog, "The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year". If you did, you already have an idea of what this blog will be like.  If you're new, (hi! welcome! stay!:)) here's a little bit of info.  I'm one of seven kids, and we're a military family.  We have lots of adventures, and this blog is my way to document them.  I love adventures, taking pictures, cooking and baking, playing music, and reading and writing. You'll find a lot of those things here whenever you visit.  :) I love to get feedback, so if you have any questions or comments, you can put them right in the comment box under this article! I will now get to it.  I hope you enjoy! 

     Today just happens to be Sunday, which just happens to be the day Downton Abbey is on, and I just happen to be baking scones for the occasion!  If you haven't ever seen Downton Abbey, I highly recommend you do watch it.  It's a very "tea and scones" kind of show.  I made blueberry scones, and got the recipe from the "La Petite Brioche" blog, and she got the recipe from Ina Garten.  Here'e the recipe.  

Blueberry Scones

     2 cups all-purpose flour

     1/2 cup sugar

     1 tablespoon baking powder

     1 tablespoon grated orange zest

     1 stick cold unsalted butter, grated (I have never heard of grated butter.  But I grated it and it worked, and now I know that grated butter is a real thing.)

     1 large egg, lightly beaten

     1/2 cup cold heavy cream

     1 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen (I used frozen blueberries that we picked ourselves and froze this past summer. Fresh makes a huge difference, but because they were frozen, it held the dough together really well and kept it from sticking to my hands.) 

     Extra heavy cream for brushing the tops

     Raw sugar for sprinkling the tops

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix 2 cups of flour, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 TBS. baking powder, 1 TBS. orange zest, and 1 tsp. salt.  In a separate bowl, combine the egg and 1/2 cup heavy cream and, with the mixer on low speed, slowly pour into the flour and butter mixture.  Mix until just blended.  The dough will look lumpy.  Add the blueberries to the dough, and mix on low speed until blended.

(This is after I started rolling it out.)

Dump the dough onto a well-floured surface and knead it into a ball.  Flour your hands and a rolling pin and roll the dough 3/4-inch thick.  You should see small bits of butter in the dough.  Keep moving the dough on the floured board so it doesn't stick.

(I put a piece of wax paper over the dough.  This held the dough stay together and the rolling pin doesn't stick to it either.)

Shape the dough into a square.  Cut the square into quarters then cut again into eighths, diagonally, making triangles.  

Brush the tops of the scones with heavy cream, sprinkle with sugar and bake for 20-25 minutes, until the tops are brown and the insides are fully bakes.  The scones will be firm to the touch.

I hope you enjoyed my first post! Check back soon for more.  Now, you still have time, so go make some tea and scones, grab a seat, and get ready for Downton! (On at 10:00!) Bon Appetite!

Rachel Merry