Soft-ball Stage

The “soft-ball stage” is a critical point in candy making (usually between 234°F and 240°F) where sugar syrup forms a soft, pliable, and flattening ball when dropped into cold water, making it perfect for fudges and caramels.

These words spark sheer terror in my heart: soft-ball stage. This terror arises out of some childhood trauma that I experienced. I remember the day as if it were yesterday. We lived in a mobile home (we called it a trailer house) and I was probably 12 years old and decided that some chocolate fudge sounded dreamy! Food has always been a high priority in my life. I was a little pudgy and some fudgy sounded like a great addition to my day. My mom was outside but I had seen her make fudge before. I did get her permission to make some. I was doing great until I read to cook it to the soft-ball stage?!? What does that mean? I hollered out the window at mom and she said put a drop of the syrup in some cold water and see if it forms a ball. What I heard her way was add some cold water! Now that did not help my fudge one bit. It was kind of a nice chocolate syrup, a little runny but tasty so not a total loss.

Only a few degrees separate hard ball from soft ball.” — Science and Cooking: Physics as a Foundation of Culinary Art

Several years later I married my Farmer and he loves his mother’s “Moist Devil’s Food Cake” and the frosting that she made “Chocolate Fudge Frosting”. I should have known from the title of fudge that there were difficulties ahead. The Farmer and I have been married almost 54 years and every single year on Valentine’s Day and also in March on the Farmer’s birthday I attempt to make this special treat for him. I wake up that morning in dread not knowing how this will turn out. I make a really good chocolate frosting that does not say anything about a soft-ball stage in it but this recipe is the one the Farmer really likes, so here we go. It’s time to face my fears. And as my daughter loves to remind me, “I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me.” Phil. 4:13. Some days the frosting is great and spreads well other days it crystalizes and is in blobs too hard to spread, and sometimes it is runny. It is unpredictable for sure. The Farmer does like it any way that it turns out.

“My cooking is magnificent; even the smoke alarm is cheering me.” – Unknown

I have researched the soft-ball stage in my quest to succeed and have found these guidelines: stir over low heat until the sugar dissolves. Then turn up the heat and boil rapidly. Put thermometer in the saucepan and DO NOT STIR as the sugar could crystalize! REALLY, now they tell me. The only thing you do is turn the heat down. I sure wish I would have known that 60 years ago!

“Many people have eaten in this kitchen & have gone on to lead normal, healthy lives.” – Unknown

“Today’s menu has two choices TAKE IT or LEAVE IT.” – Unknown

It is good to realize that we are never too old to learn. I remember at 20 years of age I thought I knew all there was to know about the Lord. I mean I’d been reading the Bible since I learned to read. Fourteen years should be enough to know-it-all. Now 60 years later I realize that I will not live long enough to fully know my Lord and Savior. I see scriptures every day that I’ve read for 60 years and I see new truths in them. God’s amazing Word is alive and active. I’ve learned to read it out loud so the atmosphere around me can hear it and be impacted by it. I’m so thankful that we have all eternity to learn more about Jesus. It will take at least that long to discover the riches of His love and mercy.

Maybe I need to stop stirring and let His promises just sink in and do their mighty work in my heart. The Lord has been showing me in some many ways these last few weeks that my heart needs a softening. In some areas it has crystalized a little and it is time to soften the soil of my heart and prepare it for the new seeds the Lord wants to sow in my heart. The Lord wants me to live with more compassion, more forgiveness, and a deeper connection to Him and those around me. Proverbs 4:23 “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Psalms 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”

The soft-ball stage is when the syrup forms into a soft, flexible ball. Now the syrup can be used in your recipe. A soft flexible heart can be used in this world we live in much better than one that has crystalized.

Recipes:

Moist Devil’s Food Cake-Mabel’s recipe

2 C. sugar ½ c. milk

½ c. shortening 2 whole eggs

½ c. cocoa 1 ¼ tsp. soda

1 c. boiling water 1 teas. vanilla

2 c. sifted flour ¼ teas. salt

Stir dry ingredients together. Put shortening, sugar, cocoa in boiling water.

Mix all ingredients together and bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes.

Test with toothpick until it comes out clean.

Chocolate Fudge Frosting

2 cups sugar ½ cup cocoa

½ cup oleo ¼ cup milk

1 tsp. vanilla

Mix all ingredients except the vanilla. Bring to a full boil and boil one minute

Or until the soft-ball forms in cold water. Add vanilla and beat until creamy

Happy New Year! 2026 is Here!

Is There Room in Your Heart?

Conrad and I have had a good year this 2025. We are thankful every day for good health and for each other. Graduations filled up our May. Our sweet Anna graduated from KU and is teaching high school art in Great Bend. Willow graduated from Flower Mound High and is going to Boston University in a few weeks. Asa graduated from Rawlins County High and is now at KSU in computer science. We now have two grandsons at KSU with another planning to join them next fall.

A new knee was in store for grandpa in May. He tried physical therapy and decided to go ahead with a new knee. He has done very well with his new knee and was very faithful to do all of the physical therapy carefully. This did put a crimp in Pam’s plans this summer. Travel was curtailed for a bit and Pam had to mow and trim this whole place. Wouldn’t you know this would be the year it would rain and the grass would keep growing until frost! I love green grass and rain so no real complaints from this girl.

We were unable to go on a SOWER mission this year due to the knee replacement. This mission was missed very much by both of us. We are hopeful to return to this ministry soon. We miss our friends and the couples we have worked with.

I-70 has been a well-traveled road for us this fall. With two grandsons in Manhattan and four grandchildren in Olathe, we have seen a lot of this road. We also made it to St. Paul, Minnesota to watch Josh play football there with UNW. Our grandchildren are growing up quickly now and the realization has hit that they are on their own pursuits all over the USA right now and it will be more so in the future. I wonder if we will make it to Boston University?

Conrad and I are enjoying retirement. We are not retired we are refired! We’ve been really enjoying our church and we have had many opportunities to teach Bible studies in the last few years. We rejoice in our Savior and His goodness to us.

Will we make room for God to write His story in our lives?

God bless you all dear friends! HAPPY 2026 Conrad and Pam Popp

Tin Man

I shall take the heart. For brains do not make one happy, and happiness is the best thing in the world.
Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz

As for you, my galvanized friend, you want a heart. You don’t know how lucky you are not to have one. Hearts will never be practical until they can be made unbreakable.
The Wizard of Oz

Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Proverbs 23:26 My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways.

Psalms 73:26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Psalms 51:10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Our wonderful Lord and Father says to give Him our hearts and let our eyes delight in His ways. The Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz stepped on a beetle and cried because he hated to hurt any creature. Hearts make us care about others and put others before ourselves. Hearts full of compassion and kindness are what truly make the world go round.

As we have seen in our world today, with all of the news and troubling times we live in, we desperately need more hearts full of compassion. From other sources we are learning of some hearts full of compassion that are reaching out in these times of uncertainty with love and random acts of kindness. Hearts that are surrendered to God to serve others and show love and support to people of all races and colors. All lives matter to God. All creation matters to God. All hearts matter to God!

Here in Iowa we have been able to do some manual labor with our hands to try to show the love in our hearts for Christian camps and other non-profit organizations. There are four SOWER couples here. The women are painting some rooms in a cute bunk house and painting floors and cleaning. They are hoping to be able to reopen in July following the COVID-19 precautions. We just heard that the state of Iowa is now fully open, 100%. The men have been cutting down dead trees, moving bunkbeds, removing old furnaces, and servicing the facilities vehicles.

This first week went by so quickly as we got acquainted with the great staff here and with each other. As we visited we began to understand each others hearts and passions. We all love the Lord and want to give our best to the Master. Game night was a fun time and our hostess Vickie has a bonfire every Thursday night. We seem to find time to relax and refresh.

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched- they must be felt with the heart.
Helen Keller