Miss Organized

The oldest sibling in the family is my sister, Kathryn. She is two and a half years older than me. I used to think I was adopted because she and I were very different from each other growing up. She did as she was asked. I did the opposite. She got good grades easily. I had to work for them. She didn’t really care to play sports that had a ball in them. I loved them. She kept her room clean and tidy. Mine was a mess. She could read all day. I wanted to play. There were times I would knock and knock on her bedroom door begging her to come play. I had come up with what I thought was the best idea for an activity we could do! She usually wanted to stay and read the day away, but when I convinced her to come, it was so much fun!

We’d make up dances, have running and biking races, or have a Miss Zurcher pageant with a talent competition and all! She loves cats and when one of our farm mama cats would have babies, we all loved to go searching for where she hid them. Once we knew, Kathryn would spend a lot of time giving them her attention and was always so heartbroken when one passed away.

She is still to this day a lover of books, education, cats, going on walks, and she is the most organized person I know. Everything has a place.

She got her bachelors in broadcasting. After a couple of years of working in the TV field, she decided to continue her education. She went to the Luther Seminary in St. Paul and got her Masters of Divinity. Lawyerboy and I loved coming to the Twin Cities to visit her during this time. She is fantastic at planning activities and always showed us great places, great food, and great times.

When Lawyerboy and I got engaged, she was full of ideas. She also wrote a beautiful message that she gave at our wedding. She is a brilliant writer and will probably be one someday.

Her love of traveling came when she was in elementary school and her teacher had been on a trip to Europe. Kathryn’s teacher told her students about her experiences and brought in pictures. That inspired Kathryn to travel to all 50 states, and not just pass through them, but explore them. She has been to Europe twice, Africa, and The Holy Land. She has traveled to many places alone and many with others. She isn’t afraid to ask strangers to take her picture. All memories must be on film! I was never interested in traveling. After hearing countless stories of traveling and seeing pictures from Kathryn’s and Micky’s adventures, I became intrigued. I love traveling and should have started sooner!

When Lawyerboy and I got the news we were moving to her area in the Twin Cities, she wrote to one of our friends and fellow teacher of mine. My teacher friend called me into her room and told me what she wrote. “I am so excited to have two of my favorite people moving closer to me.” We too were looking forward to being in the same place as her.

Unfortunately when we moved here, we didn’t get to see as much of each other as we’d anticipated. Lawyerboy studied and I worked. Her job demanded a lot of traveling from her. I was always excited for Thanksgiving at my cousin’s place because we’d all be there. Due to some life happenings, she or ourselves, haven’t always made it. It is funny how sometimes you see people who live further away, more than the ones that live in the same vicinity. Though we have had great adventures trying to get home to the farm for Christmas in a snow storm, a birthday cruise, and we were with her and our other sister, Micky, on an unforgettable two-week trip to Europe!

I have been a people observer for as long as I can remember. Through observing and listening to Kathryn, I have quietly learned many things. A few of the most important are: To love my body for what it is, to appreciate all the many places in the world and a desire to experience them, and how having a place for everything and being super organized is such a great feeling! My bedroom is no longer messy.

Sour Cream Raisin Bars 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees – Prep Time: 30 minutes – Bake Time: 30 minutes – Makes a 15 to 20 bars, depending on size

2 cups raisins

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup butter, softened

1 3/4 cups quick oatmeal

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 3/4 cups flour

3 egg yolks

1 1/2 cup sour cream

1 cup sugar

2 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch

1 teaspoon vanilla

Place raisins in a small saucepan. Add water to cover. Cook for 10 minutes. Raisins will be plump. Drain and cool.

Meanwhile, cream butter and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl. Add the quick oatmeal, baking soda, and flour and blend together. Lightly grease a 9×13 pan. Put half of the oatmeal mixture in the bottom of the pan. Set the rest in the bowl aside.

In a saucepan, add egg yolks, sour cream, sugar, and cornstarch. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thick. Add the plump raisins and vanilla. Pour over the oatmeal mixture in the pan. Sprinkle top with the remaining oatmeal mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Enjoy warm by themselves or add scoop or two of vanilla ice cream. Keep these bars covered and they stay good for a couple of days. Delicious!