Delaware Grammy

          Did you have a sweet Valentines Day? 

          It is a very special day to me since Certain Man and I had our first date on Valentine’s Day, 35 years ago, today. 

          Old Gertrude, who lived with us nearly 20 years never could say “Valentines.”  It was always “Belly-chimes!”  Somehow, that made me giggle instead of feeling romantic. 

          Anyway, however you want to celebrate it, “Happy Belly-Chimes Day to all!”  (And to all, Good-night!)

Just time for a quick update.  I am surprised that anyone reads this mundane site when there are such pretty pictures and attractive layouts on other sites.  I love visiting other people’s pages, and seeing how they come up with wonderful ideas.

It is a shiny Monday morning.  And it is laundry and cleaning and all that goes with that.  My heart is heavy for Connie and Cary and Matt.  It keeps me mindful of how good life is for me.  My Daniel and her Daniel shared the same birthday, only a year apart.  And most people probably wouldn’t believe it, but her Daniel was the one that was older. 

And yesterday was a stay at home all day kind of day.  I made a shrimp chowder, and a chocolate cake, and just pretty much lounged around all day.  In the evening, around 6:00, Certain Man drug a heavy table in that we had purchased from the Methodist church in Houston, DE when they were getting rid of them.  It weighs a ton, but it has the smoothest Formica top on it and is perfect for doing puzzles.  So he and Middle Daughter dumped out the 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle that I had bought him for Christmas, and they got started.  Middle Daughter loves puzzles, and Eldest Daughter and youngest Daughter helped for a while.  There was lots of conversation like this:

“Do you think you might get this done tonight?”  Eldest Daughter queries while searching for something that might fit.

“Ain’t no way,”  Says Certain Man decisively.  “I am not going to stay up that late.”

“Besides,” says Middle Daughter, “I still have to study for my test tomorrow.  I’m only going to help for awhile.”

“Ain’t no way to finish this tonight,”  repeats Certain Man.  “This is the dumbest puzzle I have ever seen.  These pieces just don’t fit.  I can’t even find all the edge pieces.  I am about to give up.”  But he kept finding pieces that fit just in time to keep him interested.

“These are really strange pieces.” Said Middle Daughter.  “I don’t think I like them much.”

And so they worked awhile, and then Youngest Daughter lost interest, and Eldest Daughter went home with her husband.  So Certain Man’s Wife pitched in and did a small section, then went and did some other things.  When the time rolled around that Youngest Daughter decided to go to bed, there was only about a fourth of the puzzle left to do.  And the two devoted puzzle-putter-togetherers no longer said anything about not getting it together yet tonight.  They (And CMW, too) knew that there was no turning back. 

So, around 11:30, the puzzle was finished.  The box boasts that it is the biggest 1,000 piece puzzle in the world (39″x19″) but I don’t suppose that is official.  It is a pretty picture, and it was a great satisfaction to get it done. 

Great family memories from a snowy Sunday.

THE PUZZLE

       So here comes Middle Daughter in the middle of a busy Saturday morning and exclaims the following:
       “Mom!  I can’t believe you!  You write all these things that you are thankful for and all these wonderful things and didn’t say a single thing about DAD.  You talk about your Mama, your brothers and sisters, son and daughter, but you never once mentioned that you are glad for the love of a good man!  That is just not right!”
        She is right.  It wasn’t right.  Because Certain Man has been the one who has lent his steadying hand and heart during these last few weeks.  He loved my Daddy as if he were his own, and he is grieving, too.  But he has never made me feel like the grief we share is unimportant or prolonged.  He loves my Mama, too, and encourages me to do all I can for her.  Her suffering is very real to him.
         He works so hard for us as a family, at his job, at this farm, in our home. 
         This week, he has spent hours and hours working on a drainage system for an especially troublesome spot in his chicken house lane.  He has access to the old blocks at Uncle Eli’s and he brings a load down here and crushes them with a sledge hammer and puts them into the low spot there.  He dug a pond behind the composter for the water to drain into, and he dug a ditch and put in drainage pipe to draw the water away from the veritable lake that was steadily growing in front of the small chicken house.  He has enjoyed seeing the success of his labor. And when they come to catch chickens next week, (Lord Willing) there will be a lot of other people happy, too!
         He has covered for me in the house when I needed to be gone with Mama and no one else was available.  This morning, he took the meat off the bones of two chickens that I cooked so I could make a big pot of Mama-style Chicken Corn Noodle Soup for the concession stand at the Basketball tournament that Youngest Daughter is in today. 
         He never complains when I sleep in on Saturday mornings and everything is behind all day.  He listens when I sob out my grief and holds me in my storms.  He tells me every single day that he loves me, and sometimes brings me flowers just because he knows the day is hard. 
         And so, Middle Daughter, (and the rest of the world, too) I am very grateful for the love of a good man.  It makes the rest of my life a whole lot easier.

        The days hold much of joy that defies description or explanation-
        The (sometimes) eight pair of cardinals at the feeder outside my sliding glass door.  Their splash of red against the gray never fails to brighten my day.
        An X-ray technician whose understanding heart was like a drink of water to a dry and thirsty soul.  Her own losses, so recent, made her quiet, and gentle and so, so careful of my grief.
        An office tech at the doctor’s office who chose not to give me a hassle, but open-heartedly and generously changed the orders without requiring another appointment.  And smiled.
        Clean, warm sheets on a bed that was cold and wet this morning.  Tucking Linda in with a prayer and a song, and seeing her settle in with a quiet contentment.
        Filing tax returns for my sons, and being able to tell them that there will be refunds for both of them.  Overcoming the obstacles that this aging computer threw my way, and completing the task before too late in the day.
        Picking up Youngest Daughter after a day of quizzing.  Listening to her happy talk, realizing that she is growing so fast, and seeing that gawky adolescent turn into a beautiful young woman.
        And the satisfying joy of relationships.  Good-natured exchanges with friends.  All the blessings that friendships bring.  I have been so blessed.
        For the love of my sisters, the love of my brothers, the love of my Mama.  I am especially glad that our Heavenly Father saw fit to spare our Mama’s life through those terribly challenging days last spring.  I thought, tonight, of how it would have been to lose both Daddy and Mama in this past year, and I fervently thanked God that He did not ask that of us.  It is hard to see our Mama’s pain, but it is comforting to have her here, weathering the storms with us, still being a Mama to us.  How very much we need her!
        And the steady joy of having a Heavenly Father who cares, who goes way beyond the ordinary to show His love for us.  He hears my complaints, He listens and counts my tears.  But He said that He INHABITS my praise.
        “And so, Lord Jesus, may you be pleased to inhabit the sacrifice of praise offered here to a God so deserving, so great, so infinitely wise and kind and loving.  May your Holy name be exalted in the earth, exalted in the lives of your people, exalted by our praise.  Lord, we lift your name on high!”

Out of my Bondage, sorrow and night, Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come.
Into Thy freedom, gladness and Light, Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of my sickness into Thy health, out of my want and into Thy wealth,
Out of my sin and into Thyself, Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of my shameful failure and loss, Jesus I come, Jesus, I come.
Into the glorious gain of Thy cross, Jesus I come to Thee.
Out of earth’s sorrows, into Thy balm, Out of life’s storms and into Thy calm.
Out of distress to jubilant psalm, Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of unrest and arrogant pride, Jesus I come, Jesus I come.
Into Thy blessed will to abide, Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of myself to dwell in Thy love, Out of despair into raptures above,
Upward for aye on wings like a dove, Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of the fear and dread of the tomb, Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come.
Into the joy and light of Thy home, Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of the depths of ruin untold, Into the peace of Thy sheltering fold.
Ever Thy glorious face to behold, Jesus I come to Thee.
                                          William T. Sleeper

The ham recipe is this: (Exactly what I got from Joye, by the way)

1 bone in ham (size is not important)
 
1 15.5oz can of pineapple chunks
 
1 2 liter rootbeer ( Mug or AW)
 
1 1/2 c brown sugar

Joye said: 
I put the ham in a large cooking pot.  Then  you dump
the rest of the ingredients into the pot and bring to
a rolling boil and turn it down to a little more then
a simmer.  Boil for 5-6 hours and take the ham out of
the juice and serve.  The  juice is good on the ham if
you like.  This ham doesn’t taste sweet and is so
good.  I hope you enjoy it.

And we really, really did!  It is so moist and it has a wonderful flavor.

The vegetables are from a very dear friend here in Delaware:

“Grandma Schultz’s Vegetables”
1 head cauliflower, cut into small pieces, put into saucepan with about an inch of water.  Bring to boil and boil three minutes.  Drain.
Scatter in the bottom of a buttered, glass 9×13 (or larger) pan.
1 head broccoli, cut into small pieces — follow above procedure.  Add to cauliflower, arranging evenly.
1 pound baby carrots — Same as above, but boil five minutes.
Add to pan, arranging evenly.
Melt 1 pound of Velveeta cheese with 1 can cream of mushroom soup.  (I add a fourth to half a cup of evaporated milk so it isn’t quite so thick. )  Stir until smooth.  Pour evenly over the vegetables.  Add a topping..  (You can top with Pepperidge farm crushed bread crumbs or with Durkee French Fried Onions. I have had it both ways, and my family actually prefers the french fried onions).  Bake for 30 minutes at 350, uncovered.

This is a very pretty dish, and my family really loves it.  Someone asked if they could use the frozen California vegetable mix, and I am sure that it would be fine.  I like it better made fresh, but there would be no reason, I am sure, why the other wouldn’t work just as well.
And I hope you all enjoy it!

Is it time for a report????
We came home to a wondrous smelling house, indeed.  And Certain Man carved the ham while I fried the sunday taters and the girls got the rest of the things on the table.  I had made what we call “Grandma Schultz’s Vegetables” to go with the fried potatoes and ham, and we also had an orange cottage cheese salad and deviled eggs.    The ham was everything that I had hoped.  So moist and it tasted good.  It seemed like the family really enjoyed it, and even Eldest Daughter caught some smidgens when she stopped here to pick up her mock ham that was baking in my oven.(Since my oven was not in use on this Sunday, she decided to bring something here to bake since her time bake is not working.)  (And no, her mock ham wasn’t the wondrous smell. Unfortunately, Certain Man’s Wife made a mistake when she had set the oven for her and had the oven to go off at 1:30 instead of 12:30.  Since the oven is programed by the stop time and how long the stuff is supposed to bake, it had barely started when we walked through the door from church.  We had to turn up the oven and pray that everything would get done in a timely fashion.  It did!!!)  When all was said and done, there was no room left for the apple pie that I had made last night.  Maybe by mid-afternoon someone will decide that it is time for dessert and it will still get eaten.  Right now, I’m too full (and too sleepy) to even write straight.  I think I will go take a nap.
         Thanks, Mamajoye for the recipe.  I love to try recipes if someone else will try them first, and then tell me how it turned out.  Pouring Mug root bear over ham with pineapple and brown sugar is something my fur brain would never have thought of in a million years.  But it really did turn out fine.  Thanks again~  Mary Ann

       Thank you all for praying for Lynn.  I just talked to Jessica, and SHE CAME HOME TODAY!!!  I can scarcely believe it, but I am so glad.  She even walked into her house on her own.  Jessica said that she did it slowly, but she did it.  How very thankful I am!
       My sweet Mama is in South Carolina with my sister-in-love, Frieda, for the birthday of great-grand baby, Juliana.  They left on Thursday, and plan to be home on Sunday night.  It sounds like Mama is having a pretty good time.  She says that it doesn’t take away the sadness, but at least it is a diversion of sorts. She and Daddy had never been down to Shana’s house, so there are no memories there of him.  The thing that is hard for her is coming back to the empty house.  It almost seems like the thought of coming home to the empty house makes it hard for her to go away.  And dreading it almost keeps her from being able to enjoy being away when we do stuff around here.  To be honest, I think that it is pretty normal to feel that way. 
        Doug and Shana live in a mountainous region.  Mama loves that kind of scenery.  Their house has a really nice view out the back, with a high deck over a ground level basement in the back.  When we were there, they had bird feeders and trees and grass to make the view so restful.  It has a wonderful wraparound porch that is screened in, and the setting is so pretty.  I hope that there is some healing there for the ragged edges of her soul.  Sometimes a change of scenery can do wonders.
       The weekend is here, and there is so much to plan for and do.  I have been wanting to try a recipe that I got from Joye Miller for ham that is cooked in root beer and pineapple.  Youngest Son says it is absolutely delightful.  Eldest Daughter thinks it sounds disgusting.  So, she won’t have to have any.  She and Beloved Son in Law have another dinner invitation for Sunday dinner, so I am going to make it then.  I will have to let you all know how it turns out.  Anyone want to come for lunch on Sunday???
        And now, Youngest Daughter just called and needs a ride home from the basketball game.  So, I’m off!!!  (“You’re off, alright,” says Eldest Daughter.)

Please pray for my friend, Lynn.
Courageous, beautiful, serene.
Smiley, joyful, realistic.
So different from me,
but we have the same Heavenly Father.
And both of our earthly Daddies
are recently home to Heaven.
So much alike, too.
We both love words and laughter and friends.
We both love our homes and our families.
I love Lem and Jess.
She loves Jess and Lem.
She prays for her daughter and my son.
I pray for my son and her daughter.

Today, Dear Friend, you face an incomprehensible challenge.
And my prayers can scarcely think of anything else
besides an operating room at Johns Hopkins,
And what is happening there.

Lord Jesus, in your Holy Name I pray
For an incredible anointing of power and healing.
Guide the hands and thoughts of those who are operating or assisting.
Hold Lynn’s family in the calm of your grace.
May your eye that sees the sparrows keep watchful care of Lynn.
May the evidence of YOU be so inescapable
That no one, NO ONE can ever say
that it was anything but you!

UPDATE!!!!
LYNN CAME OUT OF SURGERY
AT TWO O’CLOCK.
THE BRAIN TUMOR WAS BENIGN!!!
THE DOCTORS SAY
THEY GOT IT ALL!!!
HER FAMILY SAW HER.
SHE KNEW THEM AND WAS MOVING AND TALKING.
JESSICA SAID THAT SHE SEEMED REALLY, REALLY GOOD!

THIS IS A GOOD TIME
TO THANK GOD
FOR ALL HIS MERCIES TO US.

Happy Birthday, Beloved Son in law!

       I’m so glad for the Papa and Mama whose guidance and example and home and genetic contributions have made you who you are.  (Thanks, James and Karen!)
       I’m so glad for the love between you and Christina that brought you to our family.  It has been such a special gift.  We are so imperfect, often fail, and often don’t understand like we should (so unobservant!) but you have accepted us and shown respect even when we didn’t deserve it.  Thank you!
       Thanks for a wonderful evening.  It was a grand Birthday party, Christina!  It is nice to come to your house.