George and Martha

I found a funny email I wrote to a friend right before my mission that I just had to share! Except for a couple of lines that I'd written the next day and added to this, it is word for word how I wrote it that evening.


Mon, 3 May 1999

We had a visitor tonight. His name was George. And he brought his friend Martha. His visit was quite unexpected. You see, Dad and I brought home Chinese food. We ordered some regular stuff that we always get but decided to try one Taiwanese dish - Lo Mein. Sounds pretty safe, huh? Well, Mom opened it and began to scream! "I am not eating that! Paul, get it out of here!" Everyone rushed to the kitchen to see a little shrimp poking his head out of our noodles. Really, his head and eyeballs and footsies were all still there. And he was looking at us with that fishy dead sort of face. We all shrieked a little and I bravely (not really) got two forks and pulled him and his friend from our dinner.

We put them in a bowl on the table for Dad to eat. Angelyn began a discussion on our new found friend. She announced that his name was George. And his friend was Martha - his long lost love. Soon to be reunited in our father's stomach. We had a difficult time saying the dinner prayer because right before Dad chose someone to pray, Angelyn whispered "please bless George." Needless to say, I hope that Heavenly Father has a sense of humor as our dinner prayer was not very reverent.

Pretty soon, Angelyn had George peeking out of the bowl, whimpering for help. "Please don't eat me," he pleaded. It was sick, just sick. There was a romantic conversation between George and Martha and much hysterical laughing.

Then Dad tried to pull them apart at the table but Mom shooed him to the counter where we would not have to witness his molestation. Poor George. And Martha. Dad ate them with a snarl. Michael almost cried. Not really. Well, actually he was laughing so hard he fell off his chair with tears streaming off his face.

Angelyn wanted to bury his remains in the backyard and plays Taps but Mom wouldn't hear of it and promptly threw George and Martha in the trash. Let us have a moment of silence for our departed loved ones.

*****silence*****

Angelyn made a delicious cake for dessert. It was prettier than George was. And we all enjoyed it very much. Thank you, Angelyn. Burp. Excuse me.

Thought you would enjoy hearing about our guest that came for dinner. I am afraid of ever eating Lo Mein noodles, Taiwanese style again. Mom wondered if I could really eat the food over there. When Dad suggested that might keep me from going, I said no, but Michael decided that if ever I had to have an excuse of why I wouldn't go, I could say, "Well, I was going to go on a mission and then I met George."

The End

Mother's Day Celebration

I really enjoyed my Mother's Day. Daron let me sleep in a bit while he got the children ready for church. Then while I showered, he and the kids made a yummy brunch. Omelettes with goat cheese, fried pepper and zucchini, and Greek yogurt with strawberries and granola.

Daron even sat down with the kids and they handcrafted cute paper flowers in paper vases for me. I forgot to take a picture of those, but they were so sweet.

After a wonderful afternoon at church, I got to blog and call my own Mom while Daron made dinner. Spicy Honey Brushed CHicken Thighs, Rosemary Potatoes, and Spinach with Sweet Potato Salad was on the menu. Yum. During dinner, the kids and Daron each said something that they loved about me.
I am so happy to be Esther and Nathan's Mommy! I wouldn't trade my job for any other job in the world!

Mom

I find that as I get further into motherhood, I learn more about my own mom. Especially during those frantic phonecalls: "Mom, Esther just..." or "What do I do about..." And then loving, soothing words from my Mom. Wait, dare I suspect a chuckle in the background? A sort of been there, done that laugh.

But in all seriousness, I'm amazed at how I viewed my mother growing up. She was just Mom. While I loved her and we had fun together, I also saw her as simply the chauffeur, the umpire during fights, a cheerleader, sometimes the "bad guy", cook, and decision maker. How many times did I forget that she was her own person with her own struggles, achievements, and personality? Probably more than I want to remember. As I grow more wise, I also have gotten to know her better as her - not just as my Mom - but as a fellow human being traveling through this journey called life.

We had a lesson on service at church today. I just kept thinking about the amazing example of service my Mom is. I may have already shared this, but it's one of those things that has imprinted itself so deeply on me that it ought to be told again.

When my older brother started a paper route, he met a sweet old couple - the Brizas. She often sent him home with cupcakes and other goodies for his family. How we loved those treats. When my brother went to college, I took over the route and we continued to get to know the Brizas. When I went to college, my Mom took over the route and so the friendship continued. While I was on my mission, Mr. Briza became ill. When he died, my Mom helped with the funeral arrangements as they had no children and not much for close relatives. As Mrs. Briza aged, it was difficult for her to drive and so Mom began taking her to the grocery store and to run other errands. Quickly, she became a surrogate grandmother. Feisty Mrs. Briza was the one who insisted that's what she be! I am still amazed at how much time Mom spent taking her around town and helping at her house.

Mrs. Briza became ill shortly after I was first married. In fact, my wedding day was the last day I saw her. We all mourned her greatly when she passed away. Appointed as Mrs. Briza's executor of her will, Mom took care of funeral arrangments, emptying her house, helping get it ready to sell, and doing work with her attorney to finalize her wishes. It took a few years of work for everything to be finished.

A family friendship became something even deeper because of the service that Mom gave to the Brizas. I am humbled by Mom's example of service. And this wasn't a one time thing. There are others that she has been serving for years and spends much time with their needs. Not to mention the many trips to see us kids and grandchildren, care packages sent our way, hours on the phone listening to her children and giving needed advice.

Whereas when I was a teenager, I didn't always want to be like my Mom - now I do! I hope to grow up to be like her!

I love you, Mom. Happy Mother's Day!

Out to Lunch

Nathan just pooped on the toilet and was very proud of himself. But at first, he just sat there. Then he sighed and explained, "My poopies is having lunch."

Gross!

Clever Girl

We were discussing rhymes at dinner. Esther told us that "drink" and "think" rhyme. Then she started to scratch her head while drinking from her cup. Excitedly, she told us she had just made a rhyme with her body!

Boys Are Easier!

I wasn't feeling well on Wednesday morning but as the kids were getting dressed, Nathan announced that he was finished with Pullups. He wanted to wear underwear and there wasn't any talking him out of it. Besides, I feared that if I did, his potty training progress might be hindered down the road.

So he wore underwear all day without one accident!

The last few days he's had a few, a couple pretty yuck, but they've all been at home. He even kept his Pullup dry all last night! This has been much easier than with Esther! Is a boy thing or is it a second kid thing? The hard part is remembering to tell Esther what a good example she's being to her little brother, rather than reminding her how difficult it was to train her!

Every time I tell Nathan what a big boy he's getting to be, he says, "I is a big boy, Mommy!"

Passover

As many of you know, Daron is of Jewish blood. His parents converted to Christianity before he was born. As such, they celebrate Hanukkah and Passover to help the children and grandchildren remember their heritage. Passover, especially, has become a marvelous tradition as we incorporate Jesus Christ into it - filling in the blanks, so to speak. There are many symbols of Christ throughout the Seder and we lovingly recall the Last Supper, the Passover meal, that Jesus spent with his disciples. I love this holiday.

When we lived in Virginia, we used to drive up to Maryland to celebrate it with Daron's sister. She would invite many of her friends and we and her roommates would cook up a storm to feed everyone. It was always a wonderful experience and filled with warmth and the Spirit. This year, I decided it was high time to do a special meal for some friends. We'll have our family one later on, but this one I wanted just adults so we could take our time and not be distracted by little ones!

Thanks to Tracy and Brette, who came early to help out, and for the husbands who prepared dishes, it all went smoothly and everything turned out well!

The meal was delicious. Matzo ball soup (the matzos were cooked to perfection thanks to Tracy and Sister Glick), roasted lamb shanks cooked in foil, baby red potatoes with olive oil and rosemary, al dente green beans, haroseth, a fantastic Mediterranean salad, and a Tuscan Citrus Sponge Cake with fruit.


I should have taken it from the other side as this side had a big fat chunk on it, but you still get the idea of the tenderness that this shank had.

Everything was so yum.
I've made this before, but somehow Seth got it light as a feather. It was so spongy and delicious!
Tracy and Eddie
Brette and Seth
Joel and Jeanne