God Bless Germany!

Studying Germany was especially fun for our family, as all three of our kids have been involved in Bavarian schuhplattler for several years. Schuhplattler translates as shoe slapping. We got involved, not because we are certain we have German ancestry, although we might, but because I was looking for a physical fitness opportunity for Lizard.

Butterfly in her dirndl for a schuhplattler performance during Oktoberfest.

Historian, especially, loves all things German. Perhaps part of the reason is that one of his best pals in Pittsburgh has a German-born mother. He is interested in the culture, the language, the history and the food. We felt this was his best "feast" yet, not just because it was absolutely delicious, but also because he showed more confidence than ever in the kitchen.

Historian showed excellent knife skills in preparing the pork to become schnitzel.

The table was decorated with the colors of the German flag, a doll in a dirndl, an Oktoberfest stein, a puzzle and game from Germany as well as German-made Schleich figures.

Historian and his perfectly cooked pork shnitzel and spaetzel (homemade German noodles).

The applesauce represents the more than 130 quarts made and canned by my friend K and me in October. I was taught how to make bulk applesauce by my German-born friend Vera.

Historian also prepared a scrumptious Black Forest cake that had us all raving.

After dinner, we played Labyrinth Der Meister, a German-language game given to us by our German-born friend Heidi.

Fortunately, we never completely left Germany. Because of schuhplattler, Historian's status as a Germanophile and our love for the German friends God has put in our lives, Germany will always be close to our hearts.

Next stop, Kenya!

It's So Hard to Say Goodbye

It is so hard to say goodbye to good friends. This time, it was the M Family who left Richmond to begin work and ministry with a home school curriculum company in Missouri. They followed our friends, the H's, who left seven months earlier, to work for the same company.

I pretty much threw a temper tantrum when I found out this second set of friends were leaving. It was hard for me to believe that God would take away from us yet another kindred spirit kind of family. I had such a difficult time talking about the subject immediately after finding out the news that by my silence I ended up deeply hurting my dear friend A's feelings. Praise God, she is wonderfully forgiving and we were able to share our hearts with one another and come out even better friends than before.

I love A for her sense of humor, her deep desire to be in God's will, her honesty, her diverse abilities and knowledge, her wisdom and gentleness in parenting and her refreshing transparency.


A and I try to smile as we say our goodbyes.
I am wearing the beautiful scarf that A made for me as a goodbye present.

The M children are kind and funny and are wonderful friends to our kids. The Smith kids, too, took it hard when the M's left.

Of the kids, Evan took it the hardest,
but he did a great job sending I off with a smile on his face.

Mixed emotions on departure day.

That God used me, in a small way, to introduce these two families to the job opportunities, some 16-hours by car away, seemed tragically ironic and not at all the way I wanted this friendship story to end. He gave me a beautiful, exquisite gift by bringing these two women into my lives and then, in essence, he used our very friendship to take them away from me.

Time has passed and God has been working on me; I now know that what I thought was tragic irony really was God's loving plan to intersect three families' lives and use that for His eternal purpose.

I have also learned that God is asking me to love him first and foremost. I need to know that if God removed every single loved one from my life, I would still love him and wouldn't despair because he is always with me. We sent our friends from Virginia to Missouri. God sent his son from heaven to earth. We said goodbye to our friends expecting that their work and ministry would bring them great joy. God sent his son knowing that he would be mocked and scorned and then suffer and die a criminal's death. I threw a temper tantrum about what was happening with my friends. God, in his great love, chose to send his son so that by his death, he paid the price for our sins (including my temper tantrum). And by his resurrection, we can know that our friends in Missouri, and all our friends in Christ around the world, will be with us in eternity some day. And that, dear friends, is the perfect happy ending to every friendship story.

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.    I John 4:9-11

For the Love of Quilts

Growing up, my husband was fortunate to always have his own favorite quilt to keep him warm as he slumbered each night; as well as quilts in baskets, hanging on quilt racks and draped over couches to grab and snuggle into while doing homework, watching TV, or playing a game on a chilly Ohio night.

When I married Steady Man, I too fell in love with quilts. One quilt somehow manages to keep one cool on a warm summer's night, while two or possibly three will keep one toasty during the coldest mid-winter sleep. And each one, if it is homemade that is, is truly one-of-a-kind. While quilt patterns are often repeated, no two quilters choose exactly the same assortment of fabrics. Variety is also achieved in sizes, borders, and the quilting itself. 

For many years, the only quilts we owned were store bought and mass-manufactured, not unique, not made with love, but they offered us comfort and warmth. My relatives on my maternal grandmother's side are from Appalachia and some of them still practice the skilled and time-honored crafts of quilting, canning and the like. I remember looking at quilts as a child when we travelled to Hazard, Kentucky and hearing the stories about the person who made them and how the fortunate possessors of such quilts came to own them. I keenly recall wistfully longing to have someone make a quilt for me, to hold that kind of place in a quilter's heart.

In our 18 years of marriage, I am delighted to write that we have had many quilts made for our family. The joy that I feel in receiving a homemade quilt has not ebbed over the years. It is always a thrill. I feel as if the quilter has given us a piece of the very best part of themselves. They are heirlooms and will be passed down through the generations, with stories to share about each one, who made it, for which family member it was made, and how it came about that we received it.

Some of the quilters (and crocheters) who have touched our lives include Amy, Jill, Maria, MaryAnn, Maurine and Ruby.

The first quilt we were ever given was made for Historian by Jill and her mom. It is a soothing shade of green with cream blocks and the sweetest bunnies created with candlewick quilting. Next to it is a "big boy quilt" Jill made for Historian during his train obsession years.

Lizard also received an adorable quilt by Jill. In recent years, Maurine made her a lizard-themed quilt. Lizard is currently obsessed with lizards.

Butterfly, too, received several baby quilts, as well as a "big girl quilt."

We have Jill, MaryAnn and Maria to thank for these beauties.

This summer marked the first time I received a quilt of my own, made just for me by my much-cherished Aunt Ruby. A most talented lady, Ruby has always been known for her masterful cooking and home-organization skills, but she had never cared to try sewing. A few months ago, at the invitation of a dear friend, Ruby took a community quilting class, and she constructed a quilt... for me. If you know my Aunt Ruby, you know that she is one of the kindest, cleverest, gentlest, most God-honoring women you will ever know. That the woman that I want to be "when I grow up" made her first quilt to be my first quilt has stitched itself permanently into my own heart. 

After making my quilt, Ruby has since made twin-size quilts for Lizard and Butterfly. They reflect each girl's personality so well, don't you think?

And Another School Year Begins

We just finished our first week of school. Like every year, I had plans for making our first day of school super fun. I would be perfectly patient. The kids would be responsive and excited to learn. We would sing and laugh and love. Ha... Ha... That didn't exactly happen. One of my children was in tears, for say a half-hour or more, over having to learn the names of the states which form the northern border of the U.S. They are, by the way, Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. I wish you could hear me as I type singing the song that helps us remember these states. Wait, no I don't.

Learning the states while singing and using a nifty pointer sounds like fun doesn't it? Not to the perfectionist child who has a hard time accepting that he or she may not get it perfectly right the first time. It's always an adjustment, starting school again. Thankfully, Wednesday's learning of the states which form our southern border found us all smiling and having fun.

Monday was also a day without power, thanks to Hurricane Irene, so that meant we couldn't have our special first-day-of-school breakfast or do our science experiment which involved cooking. Going out for breakfast really wasn't an option as Butterfly was not feeling the best that day.

Then we went to the doctor that afternoon to have one of Butterfly's tubes removed and she SCREAMED... a lot. When they did things to her and when they didn't, when they walked in carrying a bottle, when they removed tape, when they asked her a question when they did things that really do hurt. Poor thing. She was so scared. We were able to distract her a little bit, but not much. But once the thing was out, she was charming and cracking jokes. Isn't it amazing how kids can switch moods in an instant?

So Monday was rough, but the rest of the week was wonderful, all praise to God. Butterfly has felt so much better without the tubes in her bladder. She and her siblings especially enjoyed a Tuesday play date with some of their most favorite friends and we were sent home from that outing with a most-delicious hot dinner. Restoration of our power Wednesday night allowed us to complete our science experiments Friday.

Lizard pouring vinegar and food dye into warm milk.

Butterfly stirs the vinegar and milk until lumps form (i.e. the milk curdles).

Lizard pours the curds and whey into a jar with a stocking sieve.

After ten minutes, Butterfly squeezes liquid from the curds in the stocking. I think her expression is priceless.

The curds form a plastic-like substance called casein which can be squeezed through a cookie cutter to form desired shapes. They'll take two days to dry and are not edible. We're not sure what we'll do with them then, but it was fun to observe this chemical reaction.

If you are wondering where Historian was during these experiments, he opted to finish up some independent school work during the girls' science lesson as he is now in a junior high level science. He did pop out of his study nook to extrude the maple leaf shape from the casein.

Although we didn't get to enjoy the special first-day-of-school breakfast, we did celebrate the end of the first week of school by making a cookie pizza (sent to us as a kit by our extraordinarily kind friends the H Family).

Historian made the giant cookie by himself and did a fantastic job. I, on the other hand, was in charge of making the chocolate icing and I scorched it on the stove, so canned white icing worked in a pinch.

M&Ms and marshmallows and an occasional gummy added to the festive monstrosity.

One happy fifth-grader!

Blessings and Lessons....

As Another One Bites the Dust

Guess who ended up at the doctor's office first thing this morning? Historian! Would you believe he has strep throat? He may have said something yesterday about wishing that he could drink soda all day like his sister Butterfly. Be careful what you wish for! Soda it is, if you can bear to swallow! (Historian graciously gave his permission for this life lesson to be shared. He has been so sympathetic and kind to Butterfly during his many visits to the hospital and during her first days at home. No doubt, his brewing illness brought out the grumbly side of him yesterday.)

As one of my friends pointed out, this is a good thing. We may as well get all of our recoveries going at the same time. Well, let's just hope and pray it's only two recoveries. Below, he managed a smile for us. What an awesome kid!

For Butterfly, today was a pretty good day. Butterfly had a couple of hours of pain, but we are learning how to address her pain issues. Praise God! Later, we took a "walk" to feed the cows.

Butterfly got to skype with two of her favorite friends and we received another delicious meal prepared by friends from church.

Speaking of our church family, we have been overwhelmed by the love they have shown us. Three of our friends from church came to the hospital and spent nearly the entire day with us during Butterfly's loooong surgery, praying with us, sharing stories, encouraging us, laughing and crying with us. One of the three actually took a vacation day to be with us! Two pastors from our church came that same day and their presence meant a great deal to us as well. On the home front, more friends from church provided dinners for our family the week that Steady Man, Butterfly and I were in the hospital. And the delicious meals keep coming. We are happily anticipating these edible gifts all of next week too! Many dear people, our family and friends and people we've never met, have joined our friends at church in praying for us. My mother-in-law, aunt and uncle drove many hours to spend a week each at our home assisting with our needs. My mom has been ever present, offering her help in any way she can.

For all these things, and many more, we are truly grateful!

What a Difference a Day Makes

Two nights ago was Butterfly's worst night yet, not because of the number of times she woke up, but because of the fierce nature of her pain. Steady Man and I frantically worked to figure out the cause of her pain. Our first attempt at fixing it failed. Our second attempt caused Butterfly to scream hysterically. The screaming proved to be the storm before the calm, as relief soon followed. At that point, I fell on my face in prayer. I read my Bible and I waited for the doctor-on-call to return our call. He never did which is maddening, but I believe God was calling us to trust Him alone for this one. After the hysteria, Butterfly ended up sleeping more than six hours peacefully.

The next day was virtually pain free and we enjoyed another visit from friends. We did have one scare which we thought may have sent us to the E.R., but the surgeon-on-call (this one called back) talked us through fixing the new problem. And it was easy and didn't hurt.

Last night, we prayed very specifically for Butterfly's sleep, as night time has been the hardest since surgery. And she slept. And slept. And slept. Lovely, peaceful slumber. Eleven hours with only one stirring at 7 a.m. to ask if it was O.K. to sleep in. You betcha sweetheart. Sleep. You deserve it. 

Today has been another good day with only a few minor complaints. We've been told by the experts (parents) to expect intense bladder spasms for weeks, so we are wondering if these good days are numbered or if God has determined to be especially gracious to Butterfly.

We enjoyed another visit, this time from the M family.

And we went on an outing... to Ben Franklin Crafts! We "needed" googly eyes and feathers.

Praising God for a fantastic day!

First Visitor At Home

Because Butterfly was feeling well and had gotten off the couch and into her wheelchair, we invited her friend and neighbor, A, to come over for a short visit. Those 30 minutes were the happiest of Butterfly's day. I think this social girl is going to improve all the more quickly with some well-timed visits from friends.

Thank you for coming A!

Five Smiths Eating Ice Cream

 A Friendship So Sweet....

We received an exceptionally sweet treat via the big brown truck today; six pints of the creamiest, richest ice cream we've ever enjoyed. This ice cream is not only some of the best we've ever had, but it evokes lovely childhood memories for me. Graeter's Ice Cream is made in Cincinnati, Ohio, my hometown and is sold mainly in Graeter's Ice Cream parlors in and around Cincinnati. Many Kroger Supermarkets also sell select Graeter's flavors, as Kroger is also from Cincinnati. You can learn more about Graeter's here.

My friends, Alice and Karen, who sent the ice cream (packed in dry ice) are two I've known and loved since high school. We met working at Kafe Kilimanjaro at Kings Island. We got into incredible amounts of mischief together, walked with each other through some of life's greatest joys and deepest sorrows.

Both ladies are wonderfully creative, beautiful, kind and compassionate. Thank you Karen and Alice! Butterfly, and all of us, were delighted!

Thankful for My Friend

Today we said goodbye to very dear friends of ours here in Richmond. They are moving to a wonderful opportunity in Missouri. We love every member of this sweet family, but I want to tell you today about D. I can't explain why, but the first time I heard this friend's name (before I even met her), I felt certain I would like her and that I would want to be her friend. And that happened. The friendship was gradual. We led a spelling club together, shared meals together and discussed books. We watched one another's kids, carpooled and laughed. Later we shared some of our deepest struggles and God's loving response to our hurts. This friend I love for many reasons. She is truly gentle, kind and encouraging to everyone she meets. These are qualities I wish to have more of in my own life. She parents wisely, she entrusts her children with God's riches and the return has been abundant. She is willing to see Jesus in the fullness of his love and compassion and she seeks to love others as He loves us. She is ridiculously smart and humble. She is strong and joyfully lets her husband lead. She is full of faith and she is real. I love you D (and your precious family too)!

We Love Chick-Fil-A!

Today we went to Chick-Fil-A for its Dress Like a Cow promotional event. If you dress like a cow, you get a free meal! That's a no-brainer for us. We like free food (especially Chick-Fil-A) and we enjoy making fools of ourselves (when it's harmless), so away we went. We met some of our favorite friends there (more about them later) and feasted. We saw a lot of cow costumes, including one worn by a grown man (who was not an employee of Chick-Fil-A) in a full cow costume, complete with udders. It was udderly awesome. We all applauded when he walked into the store. Why, I wonder, does a grown man own a full cow costume? No matter. It was moovelous and we appreciate him for it.

You may wonder why Historian isn't with us. He is in Canada fishing with his Papa M. We miss him so much, but we won't stop having fun while he's gone. It makes the time go faster. Yesterday, for example, we went roller skating, swimming and bowling which even the most energetic family has to agree is a lot. In some ways the day still dragged because I am carrying a burden/joy (it really is both), maybe two of those actually, but that will be for another post.