Great Grandparents

 Our kids are fortunate to have grandparents and great grandparents who love them and enjoy them.  Great Grandma Weber lives within walking and/or golf cart distance of us, and we get to see her regularly. 

One quiet evening, she popped in to return a vase.  I happened to be nursing Henry at the time.  She didn't hear me call out to her, so she went outside to the kids who were on the swing set.  Imagine my surprise when I saw her up on the first level of the play house!  I grabbed my camera, but at her nimble 87 years of age, she was down before I could get hard-and-fast proof.

We saw my Grandpa Gingerich while we were in northern Indiana this summer.  It was great to see Henry in his arms for the first time.

Henry also got to meet my Grandma Bontrager in Indiana.  She's a natural with babies. 

She wanted us to stop by her house before we left so she could give Henry his sock monkey and the other kids some treats for the trip. 

Grandma has sewn oodles of sock monkeys, and they are all over her house--in plants and hanging on stair railings.  She has given one to each of her great grandchildren, and now is making them to sell.  She has made all sizes, with the exception of George the giant one, which Aunt Julia bought for her.

I really can't find the words to say how grateful I am for my grandparents and their godly influence on their family's lives.  I have so many good memories of them, and it's sad to me that my kids can never know them the way that I do.  I can only hope to leave a similar legacy for my children and grandchildren.    

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope your day is lovely!My parents are here from Indiana, and we're having a great time so far. They brought along their dog as a surprise for the children. The kids refer to them as "Sparky Grandpa and Grandma," so it was fitting.This morning, some friends hosted a Turkey Trot 5K, and we had fun running the beautiful streets of Atmore. Jason and I made it a whole family event, and took the jogging stroller along. My Dad, who started running on Labor Day, ran too! It was his first race. I am so proud of him.
These lovely oranges awaited us at the finish line, along with a delicious breakfast buffet inside. My favorite was the Nassau grits. No pictures, so you won't have to worry about wiping drool off your screen.
On to the next item on the list:
And then the big feast will come this evening. (Rub hands together in suspended glee.) I'm off to make the gingerbread dressing while this guy is sleeping!

200th post

In my recent blog silence, so much happened in our lives it's hard to know what to write about, or even if I should. The most notable thing that happened was the passing of Jason's grandfather. He lived just a few stone's throws from us, and we would often take stroller walks to MawMaw and PawPaw's house. He was always glad to see his great grandchildren, even though gradually he couldn't hold them anymore, then couldn't put his arm around them, and finally was too weak to even hold out his hand for a five. He seemed to perk up when his grands and great-grands were around, and in fact Jason and Owen were two of the last people he recognized, or was able to mention that he recognized. I will never forget the phone call early Saturday morning. We had seen him the night before, but still we wished for one more goodbye.

In a pathetic twist of plot, The Virus hit. I should say walloped. The morning of the visitation, cousin Juli had stopped by to visit, and as we were talking, Owen threw up all over me and the carpet in the basement. Juli, about to graduate from nursing school, took it all in stride like a hero! Of course we were hosting out-of-state guests, my parents included, and I felt terrible about exposing them. There was little we could do but keep to ourselves, disinfect surfaces, change shirts and wash hands frequently. Helen got it about 12-14 hours later. I heard a little whimper during the middle of the night, checked on her, and discovered her lying in her crib, covered in cold puke. Around the same time my kids were getting sick, it was hitting other extended family members in various manners and intensities. My father in law, though he had a meditation to deliver, even considered staying home from his own dad's funeral, he felt so awful! Jason got hit during the funeral, and had to force himself to fulfill his pallbearer duties at the gravesite. Following the funeral, others began to get sick, and like us, most local family members were hosting out-of-state family. So the gift went on. Lots of us holed up in our homes for quite a while, but some poor, poor people had to endure cross-country travel while they were ill. There are all sorts of pathetically hilarious events associated with this particular GI bug that I don't have the freedom to mention, and no fewer than 34 family members got the bug. (The number may still be rising, who knows?) Fortunately, Jack did not get sick, and the worst it got for me was some slight nausea and a few skipped meals. Recounting the tale makes me feel a touch ill, sort of like getting itchy when you hear of someone getting lice. And I just rubbed my ear in a scratching sort of way. I wonder how you are feeling just reading this?!
The Nests.

Just at the end of Grandpa's burial service, it began to rain. When we arrived home, what we saw in the sky was absolutely amazing. Not one full rainbow, but four! If you look very closely, you can see that the one on the bottom is a triple. My parents and I were outside. My jaw was on the ground. Poor Jason was too sick to get out of the bed. It was such a timely gift from God, a sign of peace over Grandpa's life and his family, arching over the land he once farmed.



Grandpa was a big part of our lives, and we miss him. We had a near front-row seat to the final stages of life, and it was saddening but strengthening to watch those before us face death with courage and dignity. We love you, Grandpa, and we'll miss seeing you on your golf cart. Owen thinks maybe you are running in heaven, and he wants to run with you too.

All he wanted was a little IHOP

Grandpa W. turned 84 yesterday! For his birthday, he wanted to go to IHOP. He had seen the commercials, and their relentless tantalization worked. Score one for slick advertising! Those ads work on me too. I love pancake restaurants.

Since it didn't work for anyone to go to IHOP with him on his actual birthday, his granddaughter Lynette planned an in-house pancake event. She, Janice and I whisked together a scrumptious brunch of pancakes, sausage and fresh fruit.

It was a very fun time, and Grandpa and Grandma got to enjoy a few of their great grands too. We took 6 of our 8 kids along; Jack and Allison stayed at their Grandma's house for morning naps. The kids paraded in and presented him with hand-made construction paper cards. It only added to the excitement of his birthday, since he had already had ten phone calls for birthday wishes, and it was only 9 am.
Before brunch and sticky syrup mouths: Ava, Helen and Brian are in front. Owen, PawPaw and Blake in back.
PawPaw's pancakes, complete with pineapple topping and that magical swoosh of Redi-Whip. Ava was the driving force behind the birthday candle.
PawPaw pretended he couldn't blow out his candle, and Blake could hardly stand it! Grandpa's TV tray held all the essentials--food, drink, phone, TV remote, list of people who had called with birthday greetings and special napkin holder made from a dish soap bottle--Grandpa's sister makes all sorts of recycled crafts. This one even had "Happy Birthday" embossed on it.
These kids did so well, I couldn't believe it. We borrowed my mother in law's little table and chairs, and I think that was one of the keys--that and light breakfasts. Owen holds the eating record with 2 1/2 pancakes. I think he out-ate every single person, adults included.
Helen, MawMaw and Aunt Net's cute piggy-toes and sandal. Hey, it was upper 70s! Not that I'm bragging or rubbing that in anyone's face.

And finally, my pancake recipe, originally from Miserly Moms, tweaked by me:

2 eggs
2 1/2 c. buttermilk or sour milk
4 t. melted butter or vegetable oil
2 1/2 c. flour (1 c. w/w flour, 2 c. all-purpose, 1/2 c. oatmeal, my tweak)
2 t. sugar
1 t. baking soda
3 t. baking powder
1 t. salt

Beat together until smooth. Spoon onto hot, greased griddle. Flip over when bubbles appear.

Coupla tips: I don't beat the fire out of the batter. I mix it with a spatula until I don't see any more flour. And then, it turns out better if you let it rest for a few minutes at this point. That way, you don't get super-thick pancakes at the beginning and super-runny ones at the end. And, I never had any luck with pancakes until I bought a nonstick electric griddle. And even with the "nonstick," it does better with a few teaspoons of oil before each new batch of pancakes. I drop blueberries and chocolate chips into each pancake, rather than stirring them into the batter. That way, the batter isn't dedicated to any one flavor. My exception is pecans. Those are best mixed in. And sometimes, I mash up a banana and mix that in. One time I mixed in pumpkin, but those were a little weird. Then, I freeze leftover pancakes and heat them a few at a time in the microwave for a fast breakfast on other mornings. The End.

Jack and the Great Grandparents

On our trip to Indiana over Thanksgiving, Jack got to meet his northern great grands.
Here he is on Thanksgiving Day with Great Grandma B, my paternal grandmother. We had a small feast at my Uncle Sheldon's house that day, and the sun was as gorgeous as my grandma. She has always been busy making things, from noodles to sock monkeys. She has a very generous heart, and loves to give creative gifts. One Christmas, each of us grandchildren got a box of our favorite cereal suited up in a towel "jacket" and washcloth "tie." Mine was Peanut Butter Crunch in a peach towel!

Great Grandma G took her turn holding the baby too. She is another fine lady, one whom I am finding I am a lot alike. She learned to sew by watching. Her mother didn't let her sew, but gave her housework instead. One day, her mother went to town, and grandma took the opportunity to sew herself a dress. After that, her mother let her do the sewing, and she never stopped. She is still sewing for other people, and one of her most recent projects was making two comforters out of memorabilia t-shirts.
Jack sure loved his great grandparents! My Grandpa G always gives lots of hugs. He sure knows how to relax and have a good time, too! I remember Grandpa G's had the best bikes at their house, one of which I could ride with no hands. I even have the scars to prove it.
And here's Jack with Grandma B again. She presented him with an Amish outfit that Grandpa B wore as a baby. We had quite a time figuring out how to fasten the barn-door pants! This is a treasured picture. Jack Herman was named after his grandpa Herman, whom we won't see again until we get to heaven. Alas, the outfit's suspenders went missing!

Supper Guests

A while back, The Family decided that for PawPaw and MawMaw's anniversary, instead of a bunch of unneeded gifts, we would take turns hosting them for a meal. Each family was assigned a week on the calendar. It was such a hit with everyone, that we are on Round 2.


This time, we had homemade pasta and meatballs, salad, corn and sourdough bread, and for dessert, homemade chocolate pudding layered with peanut butter pie crumbs and Cool Whip, in individual dessert dishes. (I am a sucker for individual desserts. They are so cute.) I enjoyed the chance to use nicer table service; for instance, I put the salad dressing in a fancy-schmancy glass pitcher. And see, I even used vintage CLOTH napkins! I used to use cloth napkins all the time when we were first married. Life with kids changes more than a few things.
Our children love their great grandparents, can you tell?! Almost every time I make bread or muffins, Owen says we need to take some to MawMaw. By the way, this was the last time Helen could wear that cute little shirt. I could barely get the button over her tummy closed!