Cooking With Ethan

Ethan recently began swiping my dish towels that hang in my kitchen. Initially, I thought he was merely wanting a tail. Each and every time, they were tucked into the backside of his pants. Sometimes one in the front too. It finally occured to me, Ethan might be destined to become a chef. The towel is merely a makeshift apron.

"How's this grandma?"

"What else can we add? Gluten-free beer? Oh yeah!"

"You wanna taste?"

"Sorry, Grandma, this thing keeps flipping food out of the pan."

"Nothing better than cooking with Grandma."

Well, unless this guy's around. Ethan loves his grandpa.

Snoring

I am fascinated by snores. Mostly, because I can't figure out why people make this ruckus when sleeping. I mean seriously. When fully awake that same person doesn't make obnoxious noises when breathing.

I imagine working out at the gym. I'm on the eliptical or the treadmill. Suddenly the guy next to me begins snorting. Yes, it would be a guy. Women don't snore. Gurgles, gasps and shudders. I'd have 911 on speed dial. He's dying! He's having a heart attack! He can't breathe!

Instead, I see a man lying in his recliner, asleep in front of the television. Suddenly, it starts. The shudder, gurgle, gasp and snores. I don't dial 911. But sometimes I want to. Mostly in the middle of the night...when I can't sleep because I'm afraid he will choke to death. No, not really. I just want to sleep.

"911, what's your emergency?"
"Um, it's not really an emergency."
"Then why did you call?"
"Well, it could be an emergency. He's making these awful choking noises. If he keeps it up, I might have to put a pillow over my head. And I might quit breathing. Then it will be an emergency. When can you get here?"

But seriously, isn't it fascinating that anyone breathes like this, but only when asleep? Wheeeez, heeeee, snort, gurgle...what does snoring look like in writing? I can't express the sounds I'm hearing. I tug on the bed covers. I don't want to wake him. I'm merely trying to calm the storm. Nope. I hear the loud struggle to suck in air. I brush my hand against his arm. It quiets for a moment. I lie there waiting to hear his next breath. Nothing. Is he still breathing? What if he isn't breathing? I listen harder. All is quiet. Once again I ponder what creates these strange noises. I drift off to sleep.

I must have continued my wondering, as I begin dreaming. I'm on vacation, at a beach house with family and friends. Someone has brought along their dog. And he is snoring. I try to make him stop. But no matter what I do, the dog keeps snoring. I pet it, offer him treats, I try to play fetch. Nothing works. I try to enjoy the sun and sand, but there is a rhythmic sawing noise that interrupts my fun. I resort to kicking the dog. It wakes me up from my slumber.

I realize it was all a dream and try to go back to sleep. But now I'm awake Why can I still hear the dog snoring????

For The Love Of doG

For the love of dogs...

This is Ethan when he was a few weeks old. I just knew he was going to love dogs.

Ya see? I taught him to crawl by placing the dog a few feet away from him. He learned quick!


After a bit, I began to wonder if he was spending too much time playing with the dogs. He could crawl, chew, and drool with the best of them.


But can you tell he just loves them?

Here doggie, doggie.

One happy boy when he's spending time with his best friends.

This isn't even our dog. Belonged to the neighbors.

Again, these guys belonged to two different neighbors. Ethan wasn't afraid to take them on anytime.

See? He had them whipped into shape in no time.

And then he got his very own puppy.


Dazy and Ethan are still best friends.

Forty-Eight Is Great

Remember this?

For my birthday, I went from this total man sink (notice there is no counter space or storage space anywhere.)

To this:

I actually have somewhere I can set my makeup or hair brush. Wow!
We went out to dinner with the girls, grandma, & Ethan.

Ethan is quite the copycat.



A tall drink for toasting





Okay, too many photos to choose from.


I think Ethan was in nearly every picture.



Back at home

The girls



It really was a great birthday weekend!

Friday the 12th

Nope. Doesn't have the same ring as Friday the 13th. But Friday the 12th it is.

Ethan is coming for a visit later today. Must remember to take pictures. But more importantly, lock the cabinets and hide the ketchup.

And it seems like I am forgetting something...need to remember what that is. That's why I don't make lists. I like to pretend my calendar is empty with nothing to do.

Oh Ethan

I was browsing old photos yesterday. It was fun to see how much Ethan has changed these past 7 years. During the reminiscing, Michael got a call. It was from none other than Ethan himself. He was upset and telling his grandpa quite the tale. Christina got on the phone and interpreted. Seems a little boy thought that it was a good idea to put his favorite Transformer into the microwave oven and press the on button. Optimus Prime wasn't in very prime condition.

Later in the evening I received a phone call. Ethan loves ketchup with his meals. When Christina stepped out of the kitchen for just a moment, Ethan decided to help her cook dinner. He emptied an entire 44 oz. bottle of his favorite condiment into the pan of taco meat.

Guess things haven't changed much.


This was back when he was 2, before he could reach the stove.



I really do think he was just trying to cook.

Just Around The Corner

My pace slows. I step carefully, but more deliberately. The daylight has given way to darkness, but I travel onward. There's a corner up ahead. I can't quite make it out. It isn't the change of direction that has me on edge. The unnerving part is my pondering of what is around that corner. When I make this turn, what will I find staring me in the face? Am I fully prepared for this part of the journey?

I think about Paul, in Acts 21:11-13. He was warned not to go to Jerusalem. It was said that if he traveled there, he would be bound and handed over to those who wanted him stopped. Ultimately, he could be sentenced to death. His friends tried to persuade him otherwise. Paul would hear nothing of it. He forged ahead, ready to die if necessary, not knowing what truly lay before him. He did know it would be unpleasant at best. In the same manner, the road was mapped out for Jesus to journey to Jerusalem, where he was crucified. Willingly he went.

Temporary

I heard this song by Carrie Underwood for the first time today-at church. It resonated within my soul.

Thunk Thursday

Today's thunk isn't a photo. This thunk goes to Colorado's lawmaker, John Kefalas from Fort Collins. He introduced legislation to require "individuals 2 years of age and older but under 18 years to wear a helmet whenever the individual uses nonmotorized wheeled transportation on a public street or premises open to the public."

So if a two-year old is scooting along on his push toy out in the cul-de-sac while playing with his parents and older siblings, if he's without a helmet he is now in violation of the law.

Wasting money on safety laws such as this, only serves to water down more important laws. Is it any wonder why many drivers don't take traffic laws seriously?

This piece of legislations does include exemptions. This new helmet law does not apply to motorized vehicles or a vehicle pulled or towed by another, such as a wagon or trailer. It's aimed at bicycles, scooter, skates, skateboards; human powered vehicles or equipment.

The other exemption? If your religious beliefs or practices would be violated by wearing a helmet. Guess my angel won't be wearing one. It might interfere with her halo.

One Year Later

One year ago today, we gathered at the airport to say good-bye to Christopher and Lauren. February 26th, 2009 was the first day of their adventure of teaching English in Seoul, S. Korea. The last time I saw them in person, they were riding the down escalator at Denver International Airport waving good-bye.


A month into teaching, here they are celebrating a birthday of one of their students.



Gosh I miss them! They've recently signed a new contract, extending their stay another year. I'm so proud of them for their dedication, hard work, commitment, sense of adventure, and their willingness to stretch themselves so they have no choice but to depend upon the Lord for strength.

They celebrated their first wedding anniversary in October.

Immersed themselves in the culture.

Tested the Korean health care system.



Eaten new foods.


Made new friends.


Invested themselves in the lives of the children.


They are running the race well.

I can't wait to see what this next year brings for Christopher & Lauren. But after that, I truly hope to spend more time with them here....love you both so much!

Enough Already

I'm tired of talking about the accident. Here is your recap/rundown to bring it to a close.

At the end of the day, Elisabeth was home from the hospital with a concussion and soft tissue damage to her back and neck.

Sarabeth and the other Elizabeth (mother-in-law) had pizza and cokes for dinner. Just the two of them.

Michael came home with 2 traffic tickets: careless driving and driving without insurance.. (what?) Yes, we found out that Christopher's car was not fully insured. Since he's out of the country, his insurance agent didn't understand that we would occasionally be driving it.

The driver who hit Elisabeth did not have a driver's license, did not have proof of insurance and received tickets accordinginly, as well as a ticket for failure to yield to oncoming traffic when turning left.

Elisabeth found out today that our insurance company has totaled her car. No surprise there. They are giving her a check for more than she paid for the car. Hopefully, after her loan is paid off, she'll be able to find a new car.

Elisabeth is doing better. Still has a concussion and a bit foggy, but is getting therapy on her neck and back. Thanks to our amazing chiropractor, she's starting to feel much better.

It's snowing, and I'm posting this exactly one week almost to the hour of when El had the accident and it looks about the same outside. Cold and dreary.

One last thing. Elisabeth had her birthday on Tuesday. Happy Birthday Elisabeth!!!

Comedy or Tragedy-Part 2

I don't like waiting, but I had no other choice. I peeled potatoes, put chicken in the oven, and prayed. I was pretty sure Hilary would be ok, or surely she would have said something on the phone to her dad.

The phone rings again. Michael's voice sounds eerily strange, as if something has changed. "Well, it wasn't Hilary in the accident. It was Elisabeth. Apparently, Brian (her friend) got here before I did. He took her to the hospital....so you may want to go over there." He didn't have anymore information than that. I hung up the phone and immediately tried calling my mother-in-law.

"Hey, just checking to see if you were finished with your appointment or what was going on?" I tried to sound calm. She answered that she was already finished and driving back. What???? You are driving? Why would you answer the phone while driving? It's not wise at my age, but at 82 it most certainly is NOT a good idea to multitask when operating a motor vehicle. That isn't what I told her, but I quickly got off the phone. What-to-do, what-to-do.

I decided to phone Brian to see how Elisabeth was doing. I wanted to know that my mother-in-law had made it safely home before I ran out. But I didn't have Brian's number. My phone rings. It is Hilary. "Mom, what is going on? Brian just called me because he didn't have your number. He's on his way to the hospital to see Elisabeth." Things are not making sense to me.

"Hilary, I thought Brian was with Elisabeth."

"No, they took her by ambulance."

"Okay, give me Brian's phone number."

Sheesh! How did this get so complicated? I called Brian. He was at the hospital, but they wouldn't allow him back yet because they were checking her vitals. He said when he got to the scene of the accident, the paramedics had Elisabeth on a stretcher and were loading her into the ambulance. He said she was crying, but talking, so he thought she was ok but was in a lot of pain.

Alright, that did it. I couldn't wait any longer. I needed to see Elisabeth. I call Michael back. "Did you know Elisabeth went by ambulance? Was her car towed yet? Are you on your way to the hospital?"

It was then that Michael explained his situation. As he'd neared the accident, he was looking for Hilary's car. But he didn't see it. Instead He saw a crunched blue car. It was then that he realized it was Elisabeth's car. It dawned on him that it was Elisabeth who'd phoned him, not Hilary. Mistaken identity. While taking in the scope of the situation, he missed seeing the truck parked in the middle of the street up ahead. He swerved, but clipped the corner of the truck. The same truck that had hit Elisabeth. The same driver that had made a left turn, slamming into the side of Elisabeth's car as she went through the intersection. The truck that pushed her car into a pole, smashing in the back of it. Michael had to wait longer at the site of the accident so the police officer could write him a ticket. That cinched it for me. I couldn't take any more drama. I needed to know if Elisabeth was okay.

Since it was snowing and I had no idea how long I'd be at the hospital, I decided against taking my car. It does not do well on slick roads. The last thing I wanted to do was rush down the hospital and get into an accident. (My dad warned me of this sort of thing a long time ago, as he'd seen it happen too many times when he worked for the highway patrol-just the thing that Michael had just experienced.) I grabbed the keys for the suburban as it has 4-wheel drive. I was torn. I was concerned about my mother-in-law getting home safely, but felt I needed to get to the hospital. My decision was made for me when I tried to start the car. Nothing. The battery was completely dead. Guess I would be staying put for a little longer.

This is Elisabeth's beloved car before the accident:


This is her car after:

Comedy or Tragedy-Part 1

It was almost a comedy of errors, except the laughter was absent.

Yesterday the time had come for me to attack the accumulated dirt and dust that has settled so comfortably in my home recently. Michael had a 3-4 hour meeting. With him out of the house, I could run the vacuum to my heart's content without stopping because he needed to take a phone call. I got busy.

Seeing my ambition, my mother-in-law declared she would drive herself to her afternoon appointment. She hasn't driven in 6 weeks. I could tell by the look in her eyes, she was not to reckoned with. She insisted on driving back to her apartment first. I had to let her go. I watched out the window as she drove away. No time to fret; fast and furiously I forged ahead, facing the dirt demons.

My uninterrupted 3 hours of work was nearly complete. As if on cue, Michael walked in the door. We briefly discussed how comfortable we were with his mom driving. Tiny snowflakes had just begun to fly, but the roads were still dry. It was decided that we would trust her judgment, believing she would call if necessary.

The phone rang. She was just leaving the apartment when she realized it was snowing. She thought she could make it to the appointment. I offered to come get her, but she wanted to try. She assured me she would phone from the office if the roads looked bad when it was time to drive home. I figured I should go ahead and get dinner started in case I needed to pick her up later. The phone rings again.

I can't quite make out what Michael is saying, but before he hangs up he says, "I'll be there in a minute." Making his way through the kitchen he tells me Hilary's been in an accident. "What? Is she okay? Was she driving home? Where was she?" I have lots of questions, as I thought Hilary was staying after school for the basketball game. "Do you want me to come with you?"

"No. You stay here in case my mom needs you to pick her up." Out the door he went. I dialed Hilary's cell phone. As it was ringing, Michael walked back in the door. He'd grabbed the wrong car keys. No answer. "Did she call the police this time?" I asked, assuming that was why Hilary wasn't taking my call. "Yes." He muttered something else that sounded like this being her 3rd accident and what will this do to our insurance. I'm guessing this is what he said, as I couldn't really make it out. But I'm praying even before he shuts the door.

Thunk Thursday

Thunk to me, for not getting a better photo. But it is very awkward taking a picture while in a nail salon, especially when the proprietor wants to know what you are doing. So instead, while his back is turned, I whip out my not-so-good-at-taking-pictures, old school phone. And this is what I get:

Marble/Hand Pain Designs...........$10-15.00

I don't know about you, but I'm not interested in painful hand designs. Are they drawings of marbles or do they use marbles to make them?

Finding Love In Unusual Places

Last week I shared my "Food Speaks Love" photo. Today my daughter, Christina, sent me this one:


If we open our minds and our hearts, reminders of love are all around us.
I was sifting through my jewelry box today and found a lovely white gold heart with purple stones in it. Michael gave it to me 2 years ago. I put it on, remembering how special I felt when I opened the box.

This afternoon, he noticed me wearing it. Gently, he took it in his hand, lifting it from against my skin. He peered at it closely. He too was reflecting on a tender moment. Still admiring its beauty he queried:

"Where'd you get this?"

What Day Is It?

As little kids do, when I was little, I believed the tallest person must be the oldest. In my family, it was mostly true too. This came to mind when I looked at this photo. (And if I remember, I think I'm wearing heels, as per usual.)

Now I have to show you the photo I cropped my mom, dad, and myself from:


See? I'm the youngest. (My brother isn't in this photo, he's truly the oldest since he is taller than dad.)

Hahahaha.

Ok, this post isn't about all of this nonsense. I pulled this picture because I wanted to wish my dad a very Happy Birthday. Happy 71st Dad!

Thank-you for being the wonderful, caring, praying dad that you are. Thank-you for the love & energy you give to mom, your kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids. Allowing grandkids to live in your house takes a special kind of grandpa. And I know you and mom have not only invested time & money to your family, but you've invested yourselves.

For your birthday, I'm sending you a blessing; blessings of renewed vision & strength to continue in God's plan. From Psalm 71, since this is your 71st:

" O God, You have taught me from my youth;
And to this day I declare Your wondrous works.
Now also when I am old and grayheaded,
O God, do not forsake me,
Until I declare Your strength to this generation,
Your power to everyone who is to come." (Psalm 71:18-19)

And from Proverbs 14, since you were born on the 14th:

"In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence,
And His children will have a place of refuge.
The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,
To turn one away from the snares of death.

Happy Birthday Dad, and enjoy your dinner with the rest of the family.

I love you!

Food Speaks Love