Our Ebenezer

Some of you were asking me recently, what type of heart defect Natalia had when she was born. I was looking back through my blog posts and realized I had never really explained it. I also thought I'd include "our story" in this post as a way of recording it for the future.


Here is a simple explanation from the American Heart Association website for D-Transposition of the Great Arteries/Vessels. (If you are interested in learning about other congenital heart defects, their website is very helpful in putting things in layman's terms.)
*Italics are mine.


TGV--What is it?


A heart in which the two main arteries carrying blood away from the heart are reversed. (Instead of crossing, they run parallel.)


A normal blood pattern carries blood in a cycle: body-heart-lungs-heart-body.


When a d-transposition occurs, the blood pathway is impaired because the two arteries are connecting to the wrong chambers in the heart.


This means that the blood flow cycle is stuck in either:
body–heart –body (without being routed to the lungs for oxygen) or
lungs–heart–lungs (without delivering oxygen to the body)
This results in blue baby symptoms, and is rapidly fatal unless intervention occurs.

Without surgery, the only way to survive this condition temporarily is to have leakages that allow some oxygen-rich blood to cross into the oxygen-poor blood for delivery to the body. A hospital facility can also catheterize a patient until corrective surgery can be performed.


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Our story:
I was just thinking the other morning about the day I gave birth to Natalia.


I had had a normal pregnancy (4 months of 24-hour nausea, but normal). I had no health issues, no heart disease in our immediate family history, and normal ultrasound results. Natalia's condition was completely unexpected.


I remember the joy of hearing "it's a girl!", having her placed on my belly and Pete cutting the cord. Through the blur of tears I told him, "You were right! We have a girl!"


My doctor, who had been such a calm presence during the delivery, simply said to the nurses standing by to "have a closer look" at her, that he was concerned about her color. Pete was more aware of what was going on than I, and noticed that very quickly more nurses showed up and things appeared urgent. The doctor then told us that they were going to take Natalia down the hall and he'd return in a few minutes to let us know how she was doing.


We were in shock. We honestly were protected by it. Had we known the full scope of what was happening, oh my...


When the doctor returned he gently told us of her heart defect. (The man had incredible bedside manner!) He said they were doing all they could to stabilize her and he'd let us know more when he could.


As Pete began making calls to our family, church and close friends, reality began to sink in just a bit. We knew very little, yet even what we knew seemed so daunting. But from the very first moments, God's unexplainable, unsurpassable peace flooded our hearts. We sensed acutely the many prayers being uttered on our behalf. (Even on this day, as I write these words, my eyes well up with thankfulness. Thankfulness for the believers that surrounded us. People we didn't even know.)


We would get to touch her hand through the hole in the side of her transport cart before they took her to the University of Maryland Medical Center, which was an hour south of where we lived. It would be 4 days later, on my 29th birthday, that I would get to hold her for the first time. The best birthday gift I've ever received!


Natalia would spend the first 5 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Weighing 8 lbs., 8 1/2 oz., she was obviously a cardio baby at first glance to anyone who walked in those doors. Those extra pounds and being full-term certainly helped in the days ahead. Would you believe that even after her 10-hour surgery on day 6, she never dropped below 7 lbs.?!


At birth, the size of a human heart is about the dimensions of an unshelled walnut. They would switch her two main arteries to the currect position. The whole thing is just so hard for me to fathom!


The day of her surgery was agony. My parents had come down to be with us and we found a waiting "room" that was really a courtyard with lots of plants and running water. A very peaceful setting with cushioned benches. We were in such a blur though, my memory is fuzzy. I do remember being unable to make even the smallest decision, like what I wanted for lunch. My uterus was shrinking and I was doubled over for awhile. I also was pumping regularly so Natalia could continue having my milk with the extra calorie formula they were adding. I'm glad we weren't alone, and that Pete wasn't carrying everything on his shoulders.



We saw her briefly post-surgery. I remember someone warning me about all the wires, tubes, and equipment, but I'll never forget her palor. I had never seen anyone so incredibly white like that before. That rattled me more than anything else that day.


Once she gained her strength enough to feed regularly, she came home at 3 weeks of age on Tuesday, January 17th. I'm not medically knowledgeable, but a mere 2 weeks for an infant to recover from open heart surgery seems pretty miraculous to me.

Looking back, we can see God's fingerprints all over this story. For one thing, the doctor who delivered her had not seen this particular heart defect in 16 years of practice. Two weeks prior to Natalia's birth, he delivered a little boy with the exact same thing!


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Today, 5 years later, as I was traveling the highway on the way to the grocery store, I passed a medical transport truck for the Penn State Children's Hospital. (That's who we see for her yearly checkups now.) I smiled and thought, maybe they're helping a cardiac patient today. :o)


We are so aware of God's kindness and mercy when we look at our daughter.


We certainly went through the emotions that accompanies trauma, but God protected us from fear. How? I have no idea other than by the power of prayer. God's peace overwhelmed us.


Today, when I look at Natalia's scar, I am reminded of God's faithfulness to us in that dark valley. It has lengthened to about 6" as she's grown, but it has faded in color.



I am thankful for it. And, I hope Natalia learns to think of it as her "Ebenezer", as Samuel called the stone he placed at the spot of Israel's re-dedication.

A reminder of God's mercy and restoration.

What I Read in 2010--Part 2

The rating scale, once again:

* (1 star) It was okay. If not my cup of tea, maybe it's yours.
** (2 stars) Good. One to borrow from a friend or the library.
*** (3 stars) Very good. Well-written. Definately worth your time.
**** (4 stars) Excellent. On all levels. One for your personal library.
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FICTION:

21. WATER FOR ELEPHANTS by Sara Gruen ** I really liked vast portions of this book, but a few dicey scenes left a bad taste in my mouth, hence the low rating. Overall, it educated me as to what life aboard a traveling circus during the Great Depression era might have been like, and was an engaging story.

22. ROOFTOPS OF TEHRAN by Mahbod Seraji *** If you liked THE KITE RUNNER by Khaled Hosseini, you’ll like this one. Set in Iran instead of Afghanistan, it chronicles the friendship and life of two young men during the harsh reign of the shah in the 1970’s.

23. JUST JANE by Nancy Moser *** Thoroughly delightful! If you’re an Austen fan, pick this one up to get a glimpse of the world-according-to-Jane.

24. BAREFOOT by Elin Hilderbrand ** It was good chick lit…nothing strenuous.

25. BROOKLYN by Colm Toibin ** An interesting “coming to America” post-WWII story. Not stellar in my opinion, but okay.

26. HOUSE RULES by Jodi Picoult ** I love Picoult, but this one was such a let-down. If you don’t mind an ending you can see comin’ half way through the book, pick this one up. Otherwise, stick to the ones Picoult knocks out of the park: PLAIN TRUTH, NINETEEN MINUTES, and MY SISTER’S KEEPER.

27. MERCY by Jodi Picoult ** When I picked this one off the shelf at the library, I knew it dealt with euthanasia—and I figured I’d see how Picoult handled the topic. What I didn’t count on were the scenes of adultery. It was certainly an interesting way to juxtapose her “mercy killing” couple, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea.

28. FLOWER NET by Lisa See ** I L.O.V.E.D. See’s SNOW FLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN and SHANGHAI GIRLS, but this one didn’t grip me like those did. It was shorter for one thing, but I also found it hard to identify with the main characters.

29. THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES by Sue Monk Kidd *** I really enjoyed this one. What’s surprising is that the movie was pretty pleasing too. Not all film adaptations ring true to the book.

30. HER MOTHER’S HOPE by Francine Rivers ** Good, but for some reason I kept looking at all the pages that remained (it’s a thick one!) and wondering where the author was headed. It certainly was interesting, but not one that kept me up late at night because I couldn’t put it down.

31. HER DAUGHTER’S DREAM by Francine Rivers *** This sequel totally made up for any real or subjective deficiencies of the first book! It’s not uncommon for me to be moved by a book, but this one had me actually in tears a few times. You have to read both books to truly appreciate the sequel though.

32. THE HELP by Kathryn Stockett **** This was perhaps my favorite book of the year. It’s hard to actually pick just one though. I could not put this down. I think I read it in the span of 36 hours. Not enough sleep as a result, but so worth it!

33. VEILED FREEDOM by Jeanette Windle *** This was my introduction to Ms. Windle, and what a web she can weave. I really enjoyed this glimpse into the world of expat's, humanitarian aid, and war-zone workers, and was forced to think deeply about the complexities of war recovery. This book had a lot of acronyms that made things cumbersome at times, but it was still an enjoyable read.

34. CROSSFIRE by Jeanette Windle *** Another good book, though very long! At times I'd glance at all the pages that remained and wonder if maybe she could have cut out some parts. All in all, a good suspenseful read, with characters that really grow on you, and keep you reading to the end.

35. BETRAYED by Jeanette Windle ** I wish I could give this one 2 ½ stars, because it was thrilling, as far as Christian suspense goes, but so long I felt I was plodding through parts. I don’t like plodding. Having spent time in Guatemala and other parts of Latin America, I could readily picture, smell, and identify with the main character and her experiences, so that was a treat.

36. HIDDEN PLACES by Lynn Austin *** I really liked this one. I almost want to give it 4 stars, but there are 1-2 other books by this author that hold that rank in my mind, and this wasn't quite their equal. BUT, a great faith story, well-fleshed out characters, with real struggles and failings and a happy ending.

37. UNTIL WE REACH HOME by Lynn Austin ** Not my favorite of hers, but okay. An Ellis Island, coming-to-America story.

38. A PROPER PURSUIT by Lynn Austin ** Fun, light, Christian fiction. Nothing strenuous. A bit of a surprise ending which was nice. Set during the Chicago World’s Fair.

39. WHILE WE’RE FAR APART by Lynn Austin ** Another fun, light piece of fiction—this one based in New York City, during WWII.

40. THE WITNESS by Dee Henderson *** Good Christian suspense. However, if tightly wrapped up endings annoy you, consider yourself forewarned. Henderson always keeps me guessing as to how things will end, and I like that, but hindsight reveals little loose ends. Then again, sometimes I want a book like that.

41. EVERY NOW AND THEN by Karen Kingsbury ** A nice piece of Christian chick lit.

42. UNCLE TOM'S CABIN by Harriet Beecher Stowe *** I had never read this wonderful classic, sadly. I happened to pick it up during a season of constant interruptions. So that, coupled with getting used to the way the slave's speech was written, resulted in a long drawn-out affair. But definately a good one if you've never read it!

A few re-reads:
43. REKINDLED by Tamera Alexander *** Another one that I own that I like to read again and again.

44. REVEALED by Tamera Alexander *** The continuing story of REKINDLED, just focusing on different characters.

45. BEYOND TUESDAY MORNING by Karen Kingsbury *** Second book in her 9/11 series.

46. A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS by Khaled Houseini **** One of my favorites. Now that I own a copy I read it every year or so.

47. VIENNA PRELUDE **** and 48. PRAGUE COUNTERPOINT **** by Bodie Thoene
One of my favorite series, THE ZION COVENANT. I’m slowing working my way through a few of these again. I’m excited to try the Thoenes’ new series too, THE ZION DIARIES.

And finally, 2 very worthwhile devotional books:
49. KNOWING GOD BY THE THINGS HE KEEPS by Leigh DeMoss *** Chock full of “object lessons”--I really enjoyed this one!

50. A PRAYING LIFE by Paul E. Miller **** Just excellent! The ladies in my Care Group at church have been going through this together. I find myself reading and re-reading it.

Happy Birthday Natalia!

My dear, sweet girl...you're growing up so fast.




You've always been tall for your age, but you appear mature in other ways too. You love to hang out with the adults when we're in a group setting, and try to participate in our conversation. You often pretend to be a mommy or teacher. When I finish a phone conversation you like to get on the line and make similar arrangements, always planning some type of activity. I guess the apple didn't fall far from the tree. :-) I call you my event-coordinator-in-training.


You like to mother your little brother, and I am thankful for how you care for him. Your imagination is ever at work--your pretend friends Ella, Grizz, and Don sure have interesting lives. Their antics are the source of much laughter in our household.


You are a very perceptive little girl. Daddy and I have to increasingly find new ways to talk about things in code because you're very good at guessing! You are a keen observer, as I am constantly amazed when you know which road we need to travel to get to a certain location, even when we vary our route.


You LOVE going to preschool! It is so much fun watching you learn to recognize and write your letters, count in Spanish and German (in addition to knowing Polish), and hearing you talk about hibernation, amphibians, and how important it is to eat healthy snacks. :-)


You have such a wide array of interests. You like to dress up, play "house", and mimic mommy, but you also love your Thomas trains, farm set, and playing outside in the dirt. You love to listen and dance to music, make up songs and pretend you're singing in church.


We pray that you continue to learn about Jesus, that you see your need for Him, and that your determination and creative spirit will be aligned with God's good purposes. Your life is a testiment to God's mercy and kindness. He loves you so much, and so do we.


Happy 5th Birthday Sweetpea!


I never thought I'd have a daughter requesting a combine cake, but then again, the life God has blessed me with is more than I could have ever imagined.

"Is it dinnertime yet, Mom?"

What I Read In 2010--Part 1

Time for a reading summation for the year.

I wasn't keeping track of how many books I read, nor did I have any reading goals other than to read more non-fiction. When I started to tally them up, preparing this post, I was surprised! The number was nearing 50! And that, I confess, urged me to finish those on my shelf these last few weeks.


Because there are so many, I thought I'd break them down into 2 posts.
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I've rated each of the following accordingly:
* (1 star) It was okay. If not my cup of tea, maybe it's yours.
** (2 stars) Good. One to borrow from a friend or the library.
*** (3 stars) Very good. Well-written. Definately worth your time.
**** (4 stars) Excellent. On all levels. One for your personal library.
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NON-FICTION:

1. BIRTH: THE SURPRISING HISTORY OF HOW WE ARE BORN by Tina Cassidy *** Babies are miracles...every single one of them. This book made me appreciate that fact all the more and thank God I live in the 21st century.

2. SAME KIND OF DIFFERENT AS ME by Ron Hall and Denver Moore *** A great, faith-inspiring, true-life story of two men literally from two different worlds, and the woman who encouraged their friendship. It challenged my worldview, and caused me to consider my thoughts/attitudes/responses towards those who are homeless--and why I have next to no contact with them.

3. MY LIFE IN FRANCE by Julia Child *** Loved this book! Some may find this memoir of her life and her love of la belle France a bit slow-moving, but that's how you should enjoy a fine meal.

4. MANHUNT: THE 12-DAY CHASE FOR LINCOLN'S KILLER by James L. Swanson *** It took me while to get into this one, but in the end I really enjoyed it. If you like early American history, crime dramas, and true stories, this one is for you.

5. THREE CUPS OF TEA by Greg Mortenson **** Excellent! The writing style was a bit awkward in parts, but the story totally made up for it. I find learning about other cultures and geographic regions so fascinating, and so this was a real gem.

6. THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND by William Kamkwamba & Brian Mealer *** It's kind of scientific, but William's ingenuity and zeal for learning made me forget that I don't enjoy science. (I married my husband because he's good at all that stuff. LOL.)

7. THE OMNIVORE'S DILEMMA: A NATURAL HISTORY OF FOUR MEALS by Michael Pollan *** Some of this was new information, other parts I was already familiar with due to reading Salatin's book (#18) and viewing a number of documentaries. Very worthwhile and I enjoyed Pollan's humorous presentation of what could have been dry reading material.

8. HALF BROKE HORSES by Jeannette Walls **** Mind-blowing memoir. Read this one before the next title if you can.

9. THE GLASS CASTLE by Jeannette Walls **** How do you top "mind-blowing"?! I'm not sure, but she did it.

10. STILL LIFE WITH RICE by Helie Lee *** What a wonderful memoir--and with an element of faith that I had not expected!

11. THE OTHER WES MOORE by Wes Moore *** Two black men, same name, from the same inner-city streets, but by their early 30's are living polarly opposite lives. What made the difference?

12. LEFT TO TELL: DISCOVERING GOD AMIDST THE RWANDAN HOLOCAUST by Immaculee Ilibagiza *** An incredible account of how one young woman survived 91 days, hidden with 7 other women, in a pastor's tiny bathroom.

13. I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS by Maya Angelou ** What a story of resilience! She certainly had to overcome alot of pain at a young age. This memoir moved pretty slowly for me, but I'm still glad I read it.

14. I AM HUTTERITE by Mary-Ann Kirkby ** An interesting look at communal life among the Manitoban Hutterites, and one family's decision to leave. I felt this memoir did a good job of presenting the good and the bad--not always the case when someone leaves a faith community.

15. CROSSING OVER: ONE WOMAN'S ESCAPE FROM AMISH LIFE by Ruth Irene Garrett with Rick Farrant ** I learned a few more things about the Amish way of life, but I didn't agree with the choice Ms. Garrett made that precipitated leaving her community.

16. THE GREATEST GENERATION by Tom Brokaw ** Fascinating snapshots of life during the WWII era.

17. THE GREATEST GENERATION SPEAKS by Tom Brokaw ** Letters of response to the earlier book.

18. PASTURED POULTRY PROFITS by Joel Salatin *** This book got us started raising our own chickens for meat this year. An excellent resource for the WHY and the HOW. And even if you're just wondering what the fuss is all about.

19. THE COLOR OF WATER by James McBride ** Another interesting true-life story. What a diverse background this man has!

20. THE WARMTH OF OTHER SUNS: THE EPIC STORY OF AMERICA'S GREAT MIGRATION by Isabel Wilkerson *** Chronicling the lives of two men and one woman as they search for a better life, this book spans the early 1900's to the 1970's--an era riddled by Jim Crow laws, lynchings, and grievous injustices. A very well-written account.

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More to come tomorrow!

Merry Christmas!

Here are some snippets from our fun-filled weekend.

Yummy Greek sweet bread...Pete found the hidden nickel this morning at breakfast. :-)

Both kids REALLY got into the unwrapping part this year. Fun to watch.

The holidays just wouldn't be the same without traditional Polish Vegetable Salad.

Would you believe a 99 year-old lady knitted this outfit?! From what she charges it is obviously something that brings her joy and keeps her busy--not an enterprise.


The big ones, modeling their new umbrellas.



And finally, because our attempt at a Christmas family photo was abandoned due to a not-in-the-mood-you-can't-make-me-smile incident, you just get us.

Merry Christmas to you and yours, and may God bless you in the coming year!

Thanks to all of you for reading this blog (and for leaving comments). I enjoy every one!

Happy Birthday Adam!

Son, everytime I look at you my heart squeezes.

Your daddy and I exchange these glances every now and then, our minds sharing the same thought. We can't believe how fast the time is going. We look at you and your sister almost in disbelief--we are so SO blessed to have you. We see our lives passing before us. Maybe it's because we're nearing middle age (gasp!) and we're becoming more reflective.

There is a commercial from a few years ago, where a teenage girl is asking her dad to borrow the car, and when he hands over the keys she's suddenly a toddler, with a "they grow up so fast" type of tagline. Then a little boy of about 8 walks through the living room and the dad asks "where are you going?" The kid slings a jacket over his shoulder and says "Work." We can't remember what the commercial is for, but that kid's deadpan delivery of "work" just cracks us up! So true. :-)

You're at such a fun age. Last year at this time you were taking your first steps. Now, you run like the wind and jump off of things with wild abandon. I try to remember that little boys need to do things like this, but I'm still ending up with gray hair. You love to play horsey with Daddy and be wild and crazy. We love to hear your squeals and belly laughs.



Your vocabulary is growing by leaps and bounds. The things you say and how you express yourself are at the same time adorable and perceptive. You do not miss a thing!



You love your big sister and follow her like a shadow. The two of you share many interests right now and it's so much fun seeing you play together.





You're affectionate, mischievous, inquisitive, a blur of activity. We definitely see you share your daddy's need-for-speed as you race around the house. Babcia has told us stories and wears a knowing smile when she watches you.



You can be still...if someone will read you books, or there are trains, cars, or farm things to play with. You like to line things up in rows and you are so helpful when it's time to clean up. But holding still while we're singing in church is no fun! That's when we call you our squirmy wormy. :-)



You bring so much joy to our family, Adam! We pray you continue to grow strong and healthy, that you understand your need for a Savior even at a young age, and that you know how deeply Jesus loves you.

We love you!

Christmas Books For Children

This is something I've been researching online. (I know, it's alittle late to take full advantage this year, but anywho.)

This is the first that Natalia has really shown interest in the 2 Christmas books I have to date: THE TALE OF THREE TREES by Angela Elwell Hunt, and THE CITY THAT FORGOT ABOUT CHRISTMAS by Mary Warren.

Both of my children love, and I mean LOVE, books and I like the idea of having a special box of books to read during the holiday season.

The other day when I googled "Christian Christmas children's books" I discovered a great blog! It is a treasure-trove of solid reviews on holiday books and much, much more. I will definately go back and read through the reviews they offer on other subjects too.

Check it out here.

What are some of your favorite holiday children's titles?

NYC

This past Saturday Pete and I enjoyed an early Christmas gift--a day in NYC.




Our church was able to use the bus trip to raise money for our building fund too.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The day went something like this:

4:00am--need coffee.

5:00--hit the road.

5:30--climbed on the bus, tried to get some more shut-eye but the rationale of that earlier cup of coffee backfired. Instead, shared an ear bud with my hubby and watched the sun come up to the sounds of Enya.

8:30 Started our day in Rockefeller Plaza. Saw the famous Christmas tree and iceskating rink. Kept walking south to admire the display windows of LORD & TAYLOR. We saw some of BERGDORF GOODMAN's too, but L&T's are more our style--traditional and not too crazy. In another life I could see myself creating window displays like that.


Further south, Bryant Park had lots of craft and food vendors set up around another ice rink. We were there before many were open for business, but since the little cubicles were walled in glass we could see their wares. One lady was selling Turkish food and it smelled so good we decided it was time for breakfast. We couldn't stop ooohhhing and aaahhhing over the borek we shared (layers of phyllo dough with feta cheese and fresh parsley inside, grilled and then rolled up). Perfect for a cold morning on the go.


Grand Central Terminal was full of people dressed like Santa, (and we saw rowdy bands of them throughout the day due to a Santa convention in town) a high school chorale group performing, and plenty of subject-matter for people watchers like us. I would have liked to take some pictures of the beautiful architecture but we decided to leave our camera at home. Didn't want to take the chance of something happening to it. Kind of regretting that, but oh well.


We braved FAO Schwarz Toy Store for a few minutes. There is only so much of the retail scene that we both can tolerate. I enjoyed seeing the large stuffed animals though and Pete was fascinated by the science toys. Surpised? Found it humorous to hear numerous salespeople claiming THEIR product was the best toy in the store. The store's doormen were so dapper in their toy soldier costumes.


My brother and his fiance Sarah had recommended a burger joint inside La Parker Meridien Hotel, so we decided to head there for some lunch. As soon as we walked in the doors and saw the lavish interior we began second-guessing ourselves. A burger joint? In here?! But, sure enough--down a dark, narrow hallway there was a neon burger. That apparently is all the signage they need! The eclectic music blend pulsing through the 24' square room, the freshly made patties on grilled buns, the signature graffiti covering the walls...it was so much fun! We made it just in time too because when we left, the line was stretched out into the lobby. Oh, and we saw the Denver Nuggets boarding their bus as we were sitting in the lobby, planning our next stop.


A quick subway ride and a beautiful walk through the swanky Upper East Side led us to the MET (Metropolitan Museum of Art), where we enjoyed a few exhibits. *If you ever go, the admission price of $20 is suggested. All you have to do is be brave and tell the cashier what you wish to pay. :o) They gave us no grief at all--not even a hint of condemnation.


By this point my comfy but dressy shoes were not working out so well for me. Apparently pounding NY pavement is different from Lancaster County pavement. I thought pavement was pavement. I was wrong. But, we were in no hurry and it was nice to sit and watch the world go by every now and then. Such a different scene from what we're used to.


Zabar's market on the Upper West Side (a few blocks straight across Central Park from the MET) was a feast for the senses. It's a specialty grocery and kitchen supply store that I remembered from the movie "You've Got Mail". There were like 12 kinds of olives, seemingly hundreds of cheeses, meats and pastries! And the samples were divine. I'm still smacking my lips over that cheese!

We could have indulged in a hotdog from Gray's Papaya, another NYC landmark north a few blocks, but it felt like we had nibbled all day. And we needed our Subway pass to cover our return downtown.

By the time we headed back to the bus, the sky was dark, there were lights decorating every possible surface it seemed, and the streets GORGED with people. I have never been in a mob of people like that! They had to shut down some streets because of the sheer volume.

With 45 mins. until departure and not wanting to stand on the street in that mob, we found a little park inbetween some office buildings, somewhat sheltered from the weather. The day had been cold, but sunny, so when evening came it was F.R.I.G.I.D.! While we sat on a bench freezing our tushies and listening to "A Prairie Home Companion" (being recorded a few blocks away--kind of surreal) four men arrived with their wheeled carts and stuffed garbage bags, and began settling down for the night. Suddenly my cold rear end wasn't worth mentioning.

I'm curious how many miles we walked that day. I'm sure we would have walked even more if my sore feet hadn't slowed our pace. We would have like to wander Central Park and the Upper East Side a bit more, and we didn't even venture downtown. Next time we'll have to work in the Ellis Island Museum, the Lower East Side Tenement Museum, and the Donut Plant.

What a wonderful day and Christmas gift--and I got to spend it with my best friend! :o)

Wordless Wednesday--Natalia's World

A Glimpse

...of last month.

I just found these random pictures from November, my memory card teeming.

Nature's decoration.

Nature walk while weekending with friends in the mountains. (I promise, the alliteration was unintentional.)

I think I played with this more than the kiddos. :o)

Lemon Cheese Braid = smiles.

Thanksgiving. Don't you love the way my niece has accessorized her new glasses? Avery and Natalia are just being their goofy selves.

First Snowfall

After a fun morning with my blogging friend, Annette, and her kiddos at the CHOO CHOO BARN in Strasburg, look what was waiting for us at home!

I just get so excited when it snows.

I do hope though that it won't affect our trip to NYC tomorrow. These flurries shouldn't last long with the slight warm-up that's been forecasted.

Tis The Season

It's such a busy time of year for everyone. Our household is no different.

I feel I've been neglecting my blog, but that's okay.

I've been trying my best to not overcommit, to plan well the outings and projects we do have, and to simply take time to enjoy being at home despite the rush of this season. I do not want frenzy and fuss to accompany me wherever I go. I want to remember the point of this holiday. And I also want to take time to make special memories with my husband, children, and those we love.

What I've been up to...

Fun things. We'll be meeting friends at the Choo Choo Barn, Pete and I are taking a day trip to NYC, and we've got 2 upcoming Christmas parties. Then we'll enter full holiday mode with 3 birthdays thrown in (4 if you count our niece). Craaaaaazy!

Christmas goodies. My family always swaps Christmas cookies each year. This year we've narrowed it down to 1 kind each instead of 2-3 each. Maybe our jeans will fit better. One can hope. Ha ha. I will be also be contributing desserts for our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners. Pumpkin Rolls and Lemon Cheese Braids. YUM.

Christmas shopping--completely online this year. I'm nearly finished! Nothing like wearing my moccasins, sipping hot chai, and finding exactly what I want without leaving the house! Shopping has never been a hobby of mine, and I avoid the mall like the plague.

Brainstorming birthday cake ideas. My son wants "Thomas, da chang chang chang" on his cake. We've got the engine already. Pipe some chocolate buttercream tracks, throw on a few trees and trains from the playroom, and voila. We're keepin' it simple. My daughter wants a combine on her cake. Yep. She's my farmer girl. She also emphasized that she wants a chocolate cake with chocolate icing. Be still my heart. That I can do. :o)
I found a miniature combine at Outback Toys in Lititz. (What a great store!) I'm thinking toasted coconut will make great amber waves of grain. I'm not making myself a birthday cake--I think we will have already filled our cake quota for the month by New Year's Eve!!!

Anticipating time with family. My youngest brother Ryan and his fiance Sarah (woot woot) are coming in January for a visit. I'm so excited! We'll also have 2 extended family dinners in January. If only Pete's brother in Belgium could be here too. Hopefully we'll see him at Easter.

Experimental breadmaking. I have a breadmachine, and use it occasionally. Lately though I've been making bread the old-fashioned-roll-up-your-sleeves way. My quest: to find a good sandwich roll recipe. Something slightly crispy on the outside, dense and moist on the inside. I think I'm getting closer after 4 attempts in the last 2 weeks. I find it hard to imagine life without allrecipes.com and other such websites. :o)

Reading. I've been re-reading some of the books from Bodie Thoene's ZION COVENANT series in anticipation of her new series ZION DAIRIES. I also picked up THE OMNIVORE'S DILEMMA by Michael Pollan, HER DAUGHTER'S HOPE by Francine Rivers, and THE WARMTH OF OTHER SUNS by Isabel Wilerson, a book about the decades-long migration of black citizens who fled the South for northern and western cities in search of a better life. (An exodus of almost 6 million people between 1915-1970.)

Top Twenty

I'm always on the lookout for new recipes.

I don't know about you but I get into major menu ruts. Whenever I can, I ask others what they've been making lately OR I steal a peak at their refrigerator menu slip. Real stealthy.

Here are 20 of our favorite dinnertime meals. Maybe they'll generate some ideas.

And then, you can add a few of YOUR favorites to my comment box...pretty please. :-)

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in no particular order...

1. Baked Potatoes with Fixin's (sour cream/ranch dressing, diced ham, shredded cheese) & Salad
2. Potato Corn Chowder with Crusty Bread *I posted a recipe for this 10/16/09 but have since changed it. Maybe a future repost.

3. Taco Soup with Cheese, Sour Cream, and Whole Grain Tortilla Chips

4. Beef Barley Soup (recipe) with Crusty Homemade Bread

5. Roast Beef with Mushrooms (recipe) with Mashed Potatoes or Rice *I also really like SHORT STOP's Roast recipe. You can find it here. I don't have lemon pepper seasoning (not sure why) so I leave this out and just add a tsp. or so of lemon juice to the broth later on. And I don't always do the mirepoix (aka carrots, onion and celery mix) if I'm making another vegetable side. Don't be impressed with my French--I googled it.

6. Homemade Meatballs (sandwiches or with pasta) and Salad *I recently started making my own meatballs. Hmmm...maybe that'll be an upcoming post.

7. Slow-Roasted Barbecued Pork (sandwiches or with potatoes)

8. Homemade Stromboli with Spaghetti Sauce for dippin'

9. Moroccan Chicken with White Rice, Cucumber Salad

10. Creamy Chicken Marsala with Mushrooms (recipe), Pasta & Salad

11. Bourbon Chicken (recipe) with Honey-Glazed Carrots (recipe) and White Rice

12. Mediterranean Baked Chicken Wings, Fresh Veggies and Chunky Blue Cheese Dressing

13. Meatloaf, Garlic Scalloped Potatoes (recipe) and Corn

14. Hungarian Goulash & Bowtie Pasta, Cucumber Salad (recipe)

15. Almond-Crusted Tilapia (recipe) with Veggies and White Rice

16. Baked Enchiladas (Chicken or Beef)

17. Baked Chicken & Wild Rice with Craisins and Almonds (recipe)

18. Chicken Tetrazzini with Baked Apples and Carrots (recipe)

19. Chili (recipe) with Corn Bread

20. Smoked Sausage with Sauteed Veggies and Orzo (recipe)

Suggestions?

Got milk...defrosting on your counter?

Yep. You heard me right. We're alittle wierd in this household.

Pete has his raw milk. And the rest of us drink pasteurized, homogenized, hormone-free milk from a local dairy store (but because it's 30 minutes away we buy it in bulk and free it). Oh, and did I mention it's in plastic 1/2 gallon sleeves?

Now. My quandary.

STORAGE.

Preferably glass, 1 gallon capacity, wide-mouth, screw-on lid (or something that can be used/cleaned repeatedly), and somewhat easy to pour from.

Anyone know where I might find something like this or does it not exist?

Wordless Wednesday

No Joke

Unless he's cutting teeth, my boy is serious about his food.

And that is a huge blessing, even if clean-up afterwards is also no joking matter.

Crockpot Granola

I recently posted my own CRUNCHY QUIZ just for kicks.


How fitting that I recently gave this recipe a try. It has quickly become a household favorite, so I thought I'd share it. It comes courtesy of my friend Stephanie Yoder--I'm not sure if it's her own creation or something passed along.


It is super easy, healthy, AND requires no bending over a hot oven door to stir, only to spill it everywhere! Or am I the only one that does that?


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

4 c. old-fashioned oats
3/4 c. slivered almonds
3/4 c. chopped pecans
1/2 c. coconut
1/2 c. oat bran (or wheat germ, ground flax seed...)
*dried fruit (optional)

Sauce:
1/2 c. oil
1/2 c. honey
1/8 c. pure maple syrup
1/4 c. light brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. salt

1. Measure dry ingredients (except fruit) into crockpot.
2. Bring sauce to a boil, stirring, then pour over dry ingredients and mix to evenly coat.
3. Vent lid with a chopstick and cook on HIGH for 1 1/2 hours, stirring every 20 minutes.
4. Spread onto wax paper to cool completely before storing.

*Dried fruit should be added after cooled.

**THE ONLY CHANGE I MADE: stir more frequently during the last 20 minutes, just so none of it blackens.

Makes about 9-10 cups.

The Things They Say...

Natalia's going to have some competition in the SILLY SAYINGS department I think. Adam is adding new words every day it seems, and while we still hear some incoherent babble, we're understanding more! He's turning into quite the character!



~~~~~~~~~~~~



Recently, Natalia has made similar remarks as we've been crossing over the Susquehanna River bridge or driving along a high ridge that looks down and out over a large area of farmland. "Mama! I can see the whole world from up here! LOOK--there's Belgium! And over there is California!"

(Belgium is where Uncle Tek lives, and California is where Uncle Ryan and Aunt Sarah live.)





A few weeks ago while we had a patch of warmer weather, we grilled up some hamburgers. As we were at the table eating, Adam pointed to the jar of mayonaise and said, "DA-DEES MAN-NAZE?" (For those of you not familiar with Pete's love of mayo, let's just say he considers it a food group. He couldn't have been more proud of his son in that moment. LOL.)





Other things Adam is pointing out to us and saying:

FWOWER (flower)

DACK DOOR (tractor)

BUS

CAW (car)

HEE HAW (what a donkey says)

GACK (what a duck says)

HONEY (he called Natalia this the other day bc I call Pete, "Honey")

DAH-YAH (Natalia)

IT HORT (something hurts)

I YEE YOO (I see/hear you!)

EE-YI-EE-YI-OO (when he's "reading" a book, or to mimick us spelling something we're trying to talk about in disguise)

PWEEZE (please)

DA-DOO MAMA/DADDY/DAH-YAH (Thank you, Mama, Daddy, Natalia)

DOOZ ME (Excuse me)

IT YOO! (when pointing to a picture of himself)



And his favorite sentences:

HORSEY, BARN, NIGH NIGH (The horse is in the barn, going night-night.)

I HON-GWEE! (I'm hungry!)

Bourbon Chicken

I found this recipe online somewhere months ago, and have been anxious to try it, but Jim Beam bourbon whiskey is not something I usually have on hand. :-P



I found a small (8 oz.) bottle of it for $5, a good size considering that the recipe calls for a few tablespoons, and I didn't want to make a return trip if we really liked the dish and I'd make it often.



We really liked this dish and I will be making it quite often!!!



IT COULDN'T BE EASIER!!! It is an excellent way to use up all of the legs and thighs I have in my freezer. Those cuts are always the last ones remaining, despite our family enjoying the dark meat as much as the white. I just don't have many different ways to prepare bone-in chicken.



Let me know if you give it a try!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


4 chicken quarters (4 legs and 4 thighs)
4 Tbsp. olive oil
1/2 c. light soy sauce
4 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
4 Tbsp. bourbon whiskey
4 Tbsp. light brown sugar
1/2 tsp. dried minced onion, (or 1/8 c. raw onion, diced fine)
1/4 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. minced garlic


Mix all of the marinade ingredients in a 9 x 13 baking dish, then put in the chicken and turn to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight. Turn the chicken occasionally to marinate on all sides.


Preheat oven to 350, then bake the chicken, uncovered, in the marinade for 1 hour, turning every 1/2 hour. (The chicken we raise is more muscular, so I baked it 1-1/2 hours.)


Makes 4 servings.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Juicy and delicious! A perfect balance of sweetness and spice.
We like this with rice and honey-glazed carrots.

Book Reviews

I recently finished Kathryn Stockett's THE HELP, a title I've long been wanting to read. Finally a copy was available from my local library.

What an wonderful web she weaves! I have nothing but praise for Stockett's maiden voyage into the world of literature.

THE HELP is a piece of historical fiction, set in Jackson, Mississippi during the 1960's. The chapters offer alternating glimpses into the daily realities and minds of 3 women, two of them middle-aged, black maids, the other a 20-something, college-educated, white woman.

I found it extremely well-written, and though the dialect used for the maids is a bit tricky to navigate at first, it fits the characters so well. Without being black herself, Stockett sure does a magnificent job of climbing inside their heads, and her handling of such a sensitive subject and tumultuous period in our nation's history is wonderfully balanced. It's infuriating and endearing, suspenseful and funny.

For days afterward, I kept thinking of all of the black maids, lovin' on those white children, basically raising them. And the children, returning that love, until they grew old enough to adopt the prejudices and hatred of their white society. I was encouraged by the "exceptions" in this book, because I know they must have existed, even in the deep South.

I couldn't put it down! I think I may just buy a copy to re-read!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The other book I finished recently is Maya Angelou's autobiographical, I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS.

This one was a much slower read, but still interesting. The abuse she suffered at a such a young age, and the constant moving back and forth between her "disinterested in parenting" parents and grandmother was heartbreaking. But what a strong woman she becomes, despite the challenges life continues to throw her way.

Her writing is beautifully poetic, and though I expected as much from her, it didn't lessen the thrill her handling of the English language provided.

A book to be enjoyed, slowly, morsel by morsel.

Wooly Bears

There is a nip in the air. I love it!

Aside from all the other things I love about autumn, there are these WOOLY BEARS to snuggle with.

Awwww...see?! They DO love each other! They DON'T always fight like alleycats!

Homemade Condensed Cream Soup

I've been seeking to minimize the amount of processed foods in my pantry and use as many natural ingredients as possible in my cooking.

I've now cut out creamed canned soups thanks to this entry in the Lancaster Mennonite High School's recipe book I inherited from my grandmother.

It doesn't take much time at all, uses ingredients I always have on hand, and my family thinks the recipes taste so much better!

The following recipe makes the equivalent to 1 (10 oz.) can of creamed soup.

3 Tbsp. butter
3 Tbsp. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 c. milk, stock, or 1/2 c. of each

Melt butter in saucepan. Stir in flour and salt. Cook until bubbly, then whisk in milk/stock and cook until thick and smooth--stirring often.

Variations:
MUSHROOM--Saute 1/4 c. chopped mushrooms and 1 Tbsp. finely chopped onion in the butter before adding the flour and remaining ingredients.

CHICKEN--Add 1/4 tsp. poultry seasoning or sage and cooked chicken (if possible). Be sure to use broth w/the milk.

CELERY--Saute 1/2 c. chopped celery and 1 Tbsp. finely chopped onion in the butter before adding the flour.

BROCCOLI--Saute 1 Tbsp. finely chopped onion in the butter before adding flour and remaining ingredients. Then stir in 1/2 c. chopped, cooked broccoli.

CHEESE--Add 1/2 c. grated sharp cheddar cheese and 1/4 tsp. dry mustard.

*Recipe courtesy of Elaine W. Good, Class of 1962

Enjoy!

Sorta' Crunchy

Ever take one of those online quizzes to determine your "crunchy"-ness?
You know, hybrid-drivin', granola-makin', cloth diaperin', veggie gardenin'...okay, you get the idea.

I am not a huge fan of online quizzes...most of them are quite silly and pointless in my opinion. However, I was curious where I would fall on the crunchy scale.

I was kind of disappointed. I thought I'd be more crunchy. I wasn't even middle-of-the-road!
I thought surely raising chickens would be worth something...nope! Nada, zip, zilch.

Fine! I'll make my own crunchy quiz.

Join in if you'd like and post your score in the comment section.
(***This quiz is for fun--not condemnation! Different strokes for different folks, right?)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. CHILDBIRTH:
4 points--homebirth, unassisted
3 points--homebirth w/midwife
2 points--hospital birth, no pain med.'s
1 point--hospital birth

2. DIAPERING:
3--cloth diapers, wash own
2--cloth diapers, diaper service
1--disposables

3. FEEDING:
4--breastfeed
3--breastfeed, pump
2--pump and formula
1--formula

4. FOOD:
3--buy only organic/grow own, health food store, vegetarian
2--buy some organic, grow some, limited processed foods
1--buy some natural, whole grain foods, local

5. VEHICLE:
4--bicycle or walk
3--hybrid
2--compact car/station wagon
1--minivan/SUV/truck

6. AU NATURALE:
4--herbal remedies, little-to-no makeup, chemical-free hair/skin products
3--some herbal remedies, some chemical free hair/skin products
2--herbal remedies
1--vitamins

7. HOUSEHOLD:
3--green cleansers, make own
2--green cleansers, buy
1--some green

8. THE 3 R's:
5--compact florescent bulbs, consignment shop, recycle glass/cans/paper, market bags, compost
4--compact florescent bulbs, consignment shop, recycle glass/cans/paper, market bags
3--compact florescent bulbs, consignment shop, recycle glass/cans/paper
2--compact florescent bulbs, consignment shop
1--donate clothing, household items

9. COOKING:
3--soak grains, raw milk, meals from scratch
2--some homemade bread, natural ingredients, most meals from scratch
1--some meals from scratch

10. SCHOOLING:
4--homeschool/co-op
3--desire/plan to homeschool in the future
2--private (religious based) school
1--public school

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay, tally them up:
25--33 Totally nutty
16--24 Can't deny the crunch
10--15 Kinda' crispy
0--9 Instant oatmeal

Goodbye Holes, Divots, and Scuffmarks!

We had just signed all the paperwork making it ours. As I walked into the kitchen of our new place 3 years ago, my eye immediately zeroed in on the grapefruit-sized, paper-bag-brown spot in the middle of the floor. The previous owner had disguised it well under a small rug during showing. Her chocolate lab apparently didn't lose sleep over such silly things as holes in flooring.



Even though the vinyl linoleum was on the thin side, throughout moving day as I was unpacking the kitchen, I found myself sidestepped the hole--my peripheral vision and the slight unevenness of the floor enough to make me feel off-balance. I've since then added to my list of things that make me feel off-kilter, but that's a whole other post and not what you signed on to read today, is it?



I've made patches to no avail. I've tried everything on the scuffmarks. The divots were beyond my control. And then I just had to make my peace with it. It was going to look ugly until we had the funds to replace it.

3 years later...


BEFORE:




Is there something wrong with me? I'm alittle giddy because of a piece of linoleum.
AFTER:




It is obvious that the kitchen walls have not been painted since the house was built 12 years ago. Now I just need to find a nice, light, neutral color to offset the white trim, backsplash, and shutters.

Retreat

Time with other women. WONDERFUL.

Uninterrupted conversation, gales of laughter, delicious food, shared tears...family. PRICELESS.

It was a first.

The first that I've been part of anyway. With my mom's oldest sister and her adult children spread across the U.S., and many of my cousins and I being in the young family season of life, it is downright rare that we are together without children.

A few weren't able to make our getaway...and we sorely felt their absence. In the end there were 8 of us, ranging in age from early 20's to upper 50's. Sisters, in-laws, cousins, mothers, daughters.


It's been a year of joys, challenges, celebrations, and loss since my grandfather passed away last October. This retreat was oh, so timely for all of us. It surely did wonders for my heart and soul.

I hope we can make it an annual thing.

Lastly, I only took one picture! I can't believe it...ONE! Guess I was too busy flappin' my gums and gigglin'.

Bugger!

The view out the back window is usually so nice...

Lately, however, the view has been obstructed.

If you look real close, you can see some of the 13 "obstructions" that were perched on the right window alone!

It seems whenever I catch one that has managed to sneak indoors, I let another one in as I fling the previous intruder out! I don't want to squish them. I'm sure they're called stink bugs for a reason.

Anyone know why they are suddenly showing up in hordes?

School Time!

I have had a VERY excited little girl in my household this week.

Tuesday was the first day of Pre-school!

Natalia is enrolled in a program offered at Pete's old school and after I visited last fall I was thrilled to have found a great program that fit our budget. There is a supervising teacher, around 12 student teachers (juniors and seniors), and around 12 pre-schoolers. It runs 3 days a week for 2 hours each morning, yet is early enough that we still have a nice amount of down-time together before lunch. (I was a bit nervous about getting out of the door with 2 kiddos by 7:45, but it hasn't been bad! Ask me in mid-January though and I may say differently.)

Mrs. B has been doing this for over 20 years, her program is one finely-tuned machine, and I love how she is giving her student teachers a real taste for what it takes to be an educator. Her love for what she does just oozes out of her, and I love her sense of humor.

Natalia's first words to me after I picked her up after her first day were, "I just LOVE pre-school and Mrs. B!" (I just knew she would.)

Cheap Labor

Got a "honey do" list that's a mile long?

I know some people whose rates are dirt cheap!

Doughnuts

We headed into Lancaster's Central Market a few weekends ago in search of some loose leaf tea, to sit a spell by the fountain in Steinman's Park, and to top off the morning with something sweet from the Fractured Prune Donut Shoppe.

Natalia, confirming that the doughnut place is indeed on our itinerary.

Flavors we tried:

Black Forest: raspberry glaze, mini choco chips, coconut

Morning Buzz: mocha glaze, chocolate cookie crumbs

Lemonade: lemon glaze, granulated sugar

OC Sand: honey glaze, cinnamon sugar

Adam thoroughly enjoyed his doughnuts...in about 1 minute flat.

CAUTION: they're so yummy your eyes may roll back in your head.

Then we burned off the extra calories hiking back to the car. :-)

Well, some of them.