Polar Express

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas! We sure did. While we don't bring Santa into our home (images or via gifts), we still allow Sam to see him outside. We took him on the Polar Express ride near Cherokee, NC the day after Christmas. We enjoyed giving him a gift that was intangible, so to speak, and will likely continue this tradition throughout his childhood.

If you know anything about Sam, you know that he LOVES trains. He got so many train-related toys this year from everyone. In fact, even though we didn't give him anything tangible ourselves, he had plenty of gifts from all of his admirers. He greatly enjoyed riding the Great Smokey Mountain Railroad.

The trip was reminiscent of the Polar Express book and movie. We sang songs all the way to the "North Pole." Santa got on the train and gave everyone a bell. Then we watched Santa get on his sled at the "North Pole" and drank hot chocolate and ate snacks while listening to the book being read on the way home.

It was really fun - but it took over three hours to get there and we did it in one day. Needless to say, Sam was absolutely exhausted by the time we got home.

Oh, but the drive was amazing. Cherokee, NC is a Native American Reservation and was amazing to see. Some day we'll have to take a trip over there just to hang out for a while.

Happy New Year!

Sam's Big New Year

A friend of ours in Australia (a Brugada Buddy) made this for Sam yesterday. We laughed so hard last night watching it, I thought I'd share it with you too. Thanks, Ollie!

For Papa Vic

We had a big loss in our family early this morning. Bill's grandfather, Papa Vic, passed away around 1am. He had leukemia, melanoma, congestive heart failure and pneumonia on top of all of it.

We are grieving the loss of a great man. Vic had so many accomplishments in his life, not least of which was his daughter, my mother-in-law, Gerry Ann. He was greatly involved in politics and even held office in Florida and was an entrepreneur - I can't even begin to list the amazing things he accomplished. Earlier last week, he was admitted to Bert Fish Medical Center and was able to see out of his window a bridge that he oversaw the construction of years ago, despite not having an engineering degree.

Vic was a great encourager to this family. He was very proud of his daughter and grandchildren. He especially loved the very unique connection he had with Sam - both being heart patients. Last Christmas we were able to visit him and he had a billion questions about Sam's defibrillator and he had done his own research on it as well, so he also had a billion things to tell us about it (much of which we didn't know). He always wrote us emails, even though they were short, about how much he enjoyed reading what I wrote - he thought I could even be a professional writer some day. That's the love and pride of a grandfather, isn't it?

Vic, Sam and Tootsie

The most wonderful thing about all of this is that he will live on in Gerry Ann. When I spent time with him last winter, I was shocked - SHOCKED - when I heard him laugh for the first time in years (as we had been away). Gerry Ann has the exact same laugh as her father. His laughter filled the room and my heart was filled with joy in knowing that they shared something so special.


We will miss you greatly, Papa Vic. We love you. Our hearts are with Tootsie, Bill's grandmother, as she grieves the loss of her husband.

I really hope my next post isn't dedicated to anyone else. Our family can't take much more sadness this holiday season.

For Jane

Fear not, I have not quit blogging. I've just too busy to sit down and blog.

A good friend of mine passed away last night. She battled with cancer and the cancer finally won. It really saddens me to be without her in this world, but she was a believer in Jesus Christ and the real battle was won last night for her. I know she is in heaven worshiping the Lord today and she is finally cancer free. I also know she has finally be reunited with her husband, who died on January 3rd just this year. Also a friend.

She meant a great deal to our family and she loved Sam like her own grandchild. She will be sorely missed.

She was always thinking of our family, even to the point of sending Sam a Christmas gift just last week. She could read people very quickly and had a very discerning spirit. She was a great confident as well, and I was priveledged to be hers.

Bill, Sam and I will be heading back to Raleigh for only the second time since we moved away. It's a sad occasion to return, but I greatly want to be with others who loved her and will miss her as I will.

So, this post is for Jane. I love you and am a better person for knowing your love for me and my family. I already miss you.

Musings

I wrote a post earlier today that I then deleted, because I am not sure that I articulated myself well enough.

I want to understand this whole blog thing - I have my reasons for writing this blog, not the least of which is to educate on Brugada Syndrome. However, I also am including lots of personal stories and fun facts about our lives.

In the process, I think that folks who used to keep up with us via email or telephone still feel like they (you) are connected to us. I think it is a bit one-sided though.

I'm definitely not explaining myself very well.

I appreciate everyone who has left comments and has prayed for our family. Thank you. For those of you who remain silent, I appreciate your keeping up with us as well. If I haven't heard from you in a while, feel free to drop us an email or leave a comment (I won't publish) telling us what's going on with you. I guess I'm saying all of this because I've noticed a drop in communication from our old friends since we moved here and have been keeping up the blog. Maybe you feel like you know what's going on with us, but I don't know what's going on with you!

One final note: I actually only highlight what's been going on with us here - there are many more personal things happening in our lives that I choose not to make public for obvious reasons. This blog is not an effective way to know what's happening in our lives.

Chopping Block

When we first moved into this house, I greatly desired a chopping block. My father, a wood-worker, helped me figure out what kind of block I would need - he suggested an edge-grain and said that when I cut on it, it will push itself back together. If he were here in America, I feel sure he'd make one for me, but, alas, he is not. Once I started pricing them, however, I realized it was beyond my reach.

Then I had the opportunity to participate in a free blogger giveaway that my fellow blogger Nan posted on her blog (sadly, I didn't win). Her friend Melissa and her husband (also friends of my brother, Adam, from college) had recently started their own business. When I saw that Randy had made a farmer's table that was really beautiful, I thought maybe he could make me a chopping block.

I contacted them, and sure enough, he could...and did! For a fraction of the cost, but the workmanship is excellent. I told him everything I wanted/desired in a chopping block, including edge-grain, and a drawer, along with slats at the bottom. He designed it himself, with my desires in mind, and I finally picked it up yesterday in Greensboro.

With no further ado, I present my brand new chopping block, hand-crafted by Randy Lewkowicz.

Melissa also does jewelry, bags and other hand-crafted items. Just from looking around their house I could tell they are extremely talented.

Here's my chopping block in its new home - the middle of my kitchen. I can tell Bill isn't completely on board with it being in his way yet, but I'll use it to make a few pies and cut some veggies and I'm sure I can win him over.

It is almost too nice - I can tell I need to redo my kitchen now that there's something with such good workmanship in it! Pay no attention to the ancient cabinets and handles.

If you would like to see what else they have available or to contact them about something you have in mind to make, check out their website and write them an email! They are definitely great folks and I wholeheartedly recommend them for any project you've got in mind.

Cardiology Update

Just a quick update to let you know about our visit to Greensboro.

Aside from torrential rains on the way there and home, not to mention 8 hydroplanes (thank goodness for AWD), the visit was a good one. Sam's defibrillator is working as well as it can in his little body, all the numbers were good. His heartbeat obviously still looks different from a "normal" heartbeat, but it keeps his body alive and this is only a problem when it comes to the sensitivity of the device. In case you didn't know, his R and T-waves are backwards - and unless you know something about hearts, this won't make any sense to you.

Sam did great as three different doctors listened to his heart. Then Dr. Buck used leads and connected him to the "interrogator." I love that name. It's this laptop device that has a magnet connected to it and can read everything that his defibrillator has recorded for the last three months. Great invention.

We learned that one of the residents who treated Sam after his febrile seizures is going to publish a paper in a medical journal about complex febrile seizure and Brugada Syndrome, along with Dr. Buck. Of course, Sam will be anonymous, but I have asked for a copy so I can post it. It sounds like we are really getting out a lot of information about Brugada - which is one of the points of my blog, but I have also made it clear to Dr. Buck that anything we can do to help - count us in!

Also, we learned that they have still not located the genetic marker that carries Sam's particular form of Brugada. It may take them years to locate it, since it wasn't on the normal three genetic markers that only 20% of other Brugada patience have. We'll continue to wait for that.

I believe that is all. Please let me know if you have any questions. I'm exhausted and don't think I'm making sense.

Off to the Cardiologist

We're on our way to Greensboro today to see Sam's cardiologist. It's just a routine visit, but I have some very important questions to ask him, so it may be enlightening to our future.

I've had a difficult time trying to explain to Sam his condition lately. He has taken to running his fingers down his scar when we take his shirt off and saying, "uh oh, Mama, a boo boo." I've used the word "zipper" with him before, but I'm not sure how I really feel about it - it sort of implies that we're going to open him back up again. I'm going to talk to Dr. Buck about other ways to approach this or other words to call it. I've told him it's his scar and emphasized it's not a "boo boo" but instead a blessing from God. But, I also know that there is a world of heart patients who use their own phrases for this kind of thing and I want him to be able to communicate with them one day too.

I've also showed him this video that Mark O'Shea, a country singer, put together. He highlights patients at Vanderbilt Hospital when they were little and as they grow (some are still little) and then shows that he himself was a patient. I just want Sam to see that he is not alone.

Any insight is welcomed.

David and Goliath

We have a very succinct routine every night in our household:

6pm Dinner
6:50pm Bath time
7pm Brush teeth
7-7:15pm Read three books
7:15pm In bed, lights out, pray

Usually we can leave the room with no problems. Bill is almost always a part of story time, and if he's home, he always lays down in Sam's bed with him to pray and say goodnight, while I kneel beside him. Lately, Sam's been getting upset and begging one of us to tell a story before we leave. I'm not sure why, but I am usually the story teller. When it falls on Bill, he always tells a Bible story, but when it's my turn, I usually just make one up. I really love that Bill tells so many Bible stories, so I decided to tell one last night (Bill didn't get home until well after Sam was already in bed).

When I make a story up, I usually ask Sam to help finish it. It's like that new movie "Bedtime Stories" (which I cannot wait to see!) when Adam Sandler is asking his niece and nephew what happens next. (I think I may have even found a babysitter for when it comes out, but I'm not holding my breath - we may just have to wait for the DVD, as with every other movie. But, I digress)

So, when I started telling the story of David and Goliath last night, here's what came of it:

Me: A long long time ago, there was a boy named David and he had a lot of brothers. His brothers were far away one day when his father asked him to take them a meal. When David got there, he learned they were fighting the Philistines. And do you know what he found?

Sam: A giant! (he knows this story well)

Me: That's right. And David was surprised that the Israelites allowed the Philistines to insult his God, so he wanted to fight the giant. When King Saul heard that David wanted to fight Goliath, the giant, do you know what he did?

Sam: He ate raspberries!

Me: (giggling a little) Well, I don't know, I suppose he could have offered him raspberries. But, what he also did was to offer his very own armor. But do you know what? The armor was too big. So what did David do?

Sam: More raspberries?

Me: No. No raspberries.

Sam: Apples?

Me: No. No apples...He picked up five smooth stones and slung one in his sling shot and hit the giant right in between his eyes and killed him. And do you know what happened to David?

Sam: Ride the horsies!

Me: Probably. Because he became one of Saul's most trusted men after that.

Sam: Do it again. Tell the story again! Cows! Apples? Okay, Mama?

Me: Night night Sam. Now you can tell your teddy bear the same story.

Sam: (Holding up his teddy bear) Kiss now!

So, I kissed his teddy bear good night and kissed Sam good night and left the room. An hour and a half later, when Bill came home, I told Bill he needed to go say good night to Sam (because I had promised it in one of my deal-makings earlier in the evening). Bill went in and Sam, who was still awake but lying still, promptly told Bill to kiss his teddy good night.

And then he fell asleep.

You're Not Going To Believe This

I have told so many people about Sam's ability to recognize the letters of the alphabet. As much as people want to believe me, I think they don't fully. So, I decided to get it on video today.



Alright, so he's not spelling his name for the camera, but it's only because he's so excited about all the other things he can type. I swear he knows how to spell his name too.

Last week in Myrtle Beach, we all went to Brookgreen Gardens. While we were there, we ate at the Pavilion Restaurant on the grounds. I stole an oyster cracker from my Uncle Patrick while he wasn't looking and handed it to Sam, who promptly said, "wook, Mama, a hexagon." I kid you not.

We had even had a conversation about a hexagon two weeks ago. Sam said something was a hexagon, but I corrected him and said it was an octagon. Bill promptly corrected me and said six sides is a hexagon, eight is an octagon. Um, yeah, I knew that. Just testing everyone.

It was that afternoon that the whole family and I decided it wouldn't be prudent for me to home school - he will likely surpass me in intelligence by the first grade. But, hey, at least I can blog about it!

Doctor Visit

I don't normally do this, but I would like to complain for a moment about a doctor's visit I had today. No, it wasn't for Sam, it was for me. Bill took off a little early from work and stayed home with Sam so I could finally visit a specialist about a problem I've had for about two years now.

I read recently that many women won't visit doctors for even the slightest problem because the weighing station isn't discreet enough. I, personally, don't care where it is and even thought this when I read the article. How naive I was.

It was a perfectly normal doctor's visit - I had to fill out paperwork, the doctor was running 45 minutes behind and the lady at the counter needed a copy of my insurance card, etc. It all started falling apart when the nurse came out to get me.

Nurse: "Teresa Klear?"

Me (looking around): "I'm TEESA Klear."

Nurse: "No, I'm looking for Teresa Klear." (speaking louder and over my head now) "TERESA KLEAR?"

Me: "My last name is Klear, but my first name is TEESA."

Nurse: "No, TERESA." (looks down at the paper) "Oh, whoops, Teesa."

This is not an unusual start to any doctor's visit, but she did speak with a little more gusto than I am accustomed to. We then traveled back to the exam rooms and I found myself staring at the scales. She instructed me to get on. I placed my heavy winter coat and purse on the chair next to the scales and took my shoes off.

I then stepped onto the scales.

The scales were typical doctor's office scales, as seen above.

The nurse, of Asian decent, immediately flipped the bottom weight to 150 pounds.

Then she started fiddling with the top one - I suppose she was wondering why it wasn't balancing correctly. You see, I am 125 pounds. There was no way she was going to get it to work properly if she kept the lower weight on 150 pounds. I felt a little affronted at this point - I mean, did this woman actually think I weighed more than 150 pounds? I know I've gained some holiday weight, but come on.

She then figured out her mistake and moved the lower weight back to the 100 pound mark, but, with what I now know is her usual gusto, she slid the upper weight all the way to the right - to equal...yes, that's right 150 pounds. Eventually she slid it back to the 30 mark and then finally put it at 129, where it was obviously not balanced properly (the little tab was touching the bottom of the square cut-out). Then, she proudly looked me in the eyes and practically shouted, "You weigh 129 pounds. 1 - 2 - 9."

What is that about? I don't really scare if I way 129 pounds or not - honestly. But, does such a big deal have to be made about it?

She then led me into my exam room and it was there that I had to pray to God to let me treat her with kindness. Up to this point I had kept my mouth shut (with the obvious exception of correcting her about my name).

Fortunately, I didn't have to deal with her again.

As to my name being mispronounced, the doctor did it once and the lady at the check-out counter repeated the same mistake.

Should I put my confidence in an office whose entire staff is illiterate? You tell me.

To be honest with you, it wasn't an altogether unpleasant experience. The doctor was very sweet, as well as her personal nurse and I even saw someone who goes to my church there (I had never properly met her before).

But, I can now understand why some women choose to stay at home than to visit a doctor's office where her weight is announced for everyone to hear. I'm learning.

Crawford Reunion 2008

We are back from Myrtle Beach! We had a fantastic time visiting with all my relatives over Thanksgiving. It wouldn't be the Klear Life blog if I didn't include some food photos, so I'll start with those.



The day after Thanksgiving, my daddy's cousin drove with my brother to Wilmington and picked up two bushels of oysters. Our family loves to cook and we don't just cook your ordinary mundane items. If we're going to do it, we'll do it right. They cooked them up and then we spread them out on newspaper and just dug in. We ate until our eyes were bursting and then we had our second course, around 10pm...


...a low-country boil! Sausage, corn and shrimp boiled with some spices make the most amazing meal. We spread that out across the table too and, again, dug in.

On Thanksgiving Day, we ate fried turkey, smoked pork butt, and various side dishes. It was so delicious we could barely eat all the desserts we made. In fact, it took us three more days to finish off all the desserts!

Our hotel was right on the beach, so we got to have a few walks to collect sea shells and enjoy the ocean. Sam didn't want to keep any shells, he only wanted to throw them back into the ocean.

Cousin John, me, Uncle Patrick, Uncle Brian, Sam and Aunt Nancy

My parents couldn't make it, because they're in Thailand, so we really missed them. All of Daddy's surviving brothers and sister were there, plus cousins and my great aunts and uncle. It was a special time to remember why we are thankful. It was especially neat for me to see those whom we have grafted into our family, whether by adoption or by marriage.

I got to spend some time with my new nephew Crawford too. We put the boys together and took a few fun photos while Crawford's mommy and daddy were out.

I think they both enjoyed each other. The Winnie the Pooh doll that Crawford is holding has some meaning. When I was on bed rest with Sam, my Daddy's cousin Jan bought one for Sam. She sent it all the way to Hong Kong for me and told me her daughter had enjoyed a similar one when she was little. Jan passed away last year (we miss her dearly), but I bought one for Crawford to have in her honor. It appears that he loves his Pooh Bear, and I think Jan would be thrilled.

I'll post more pictures soon, I just wanted to give some of the highlights for now. I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving too.

Adoption update: It looks like we won't be hearing anything for another two weeks. I'll continue to update you as I know more.

Crawford Family Reunion!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We leave tomorrow morning for my family reunion. I am so thrilled we finally get to go, it's been six years since we went to the last one. This one is at Myrtle Beach, as I mentioned before, because that's where the first one was held in 1979.

My paternal grandmother's maiden name was Crawford, a name that has stayed in our family. My father, older brother and my nephew all carry it as their middle names. My great grandfather, Audis Crawford, was a private investigator in Mississippi and I even have a book that was published called "Crawford Law" which is all about his crazy adventures as a PI. Maybe I'll share some of them one day - I remember when I was on bedrest I read every story twice.

In preparation for the reunion, I've already baked a pumpkin cheesecake, lemon chess pie, made a peanut butter pie and several pie shells. I'm going to make an apple/pear pie before the day is finished. I am just resting for a bit before "round two."

Sam had a great morning out at the library. I thought with all the craziness we are about to put him through, I might as well allow him to enjoy something more in his routine. We even got to see Sam's friend Trathan today (pictures to come later).

It's now the end of the month, and I know there are many of you out there praying specifically for our adoption through the end of November. The next time that referrals are "supposed" to come out is the end of the month - so we should know by early next week whether or not we were in this batch. Please remember the situation and I will update you when we return. We will not have internet in South Carolina.

Here's a great recipe for Butternut Squash Bisque that I have used before and adored.

1 tablespoon oil
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/2 cup diced onion
3/4 cup diced carrots
4 cups peeled and cubed butternut squash
3 cups vegetable stock
salt and ground black pepper to taste
ground nutmeg to taste
1/2 cup heavy cream (optional)



Heat the oil and melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Cook and stir the onion in the butter and oil under tender.

Mix the carrots and squash into the pot. Pour in vegetable stock, and season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until vegetables are tender. I sometimes bake the butternut squash first - cut it in half lengthwise and put facedown on a cookie sheet. Bake at 400 for about 45 minutes, or until tender. Then add it to the blender.

In a blender or food processor, puree the soup mixture until smooth. Return to the pot, and stir in the heavy cream. Heat through, but do not boil. Serve warm with a dash of nutmeg.


And, just for good measure, here's my Tuna Dip (since Shannon asked):

1 package cream cheese, softened
1 can spring-water packed tuna fish
1 T green onions
1 t curry

Drain the tuna and mix it with the melted cream cheese. Add the onions and curry. Put a little paprika on top. Serve with triscuits or some other type of nice light cracker. Not Ritz crackers, though.

Artichoke Dip

Here's the Artichoke Dip my family makes r at every get-together.

1 can artichokes, drained and chopped
1 small can mild green chili peppers, chopped (can find in the Mexican food section)
1 cup mayonnaise (Hellman's tastes best)
1 1/2 t ground black pepper (coarsely ground is best)
1 bag small shredded Parmesan cheese (maybe around 5 or 6 ounces)

Mix the first four ingredients together and add about 2/3 of the bag of parm cheese. Place all the ingredients in a small casserole dish. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top and add a little paprika for color. Bake at 400F (200C) for about 20-25 minutes. Serve warm with Wheat Thins or Better Cheddars.

This recipe can be easily doubled.

I have used grated Parmesan cheese before, and though it's not as good, it's cheaper and still works.

More to come...

Peanut Butter Pie and Shoeboxes

It's that time of the year when Operation Christmas Child is collecting shoe boxes for needy children around the world. I just wanted to remind everyone that you can put together a shoe box with your family to help a child overseas. Just click here to find out how. There are drop-off locations all around the US and even in other countries like Australia.


Here's another recipe for you to enjoy. This one is very simple and always a favorite at any time of the year. It is especially fun for our little ones (or grown-ups) to lick the bowl.


Peanut Butter Pie - from my Great Aunt Joyce

6 ounces cream cheese
6 ounces cool whip (I have often substituted whipped cream for this when I lived in China)
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 T milk

Beat cream cheese and sugar until fluffy. Add peanut butter and milk. Then add the cool whip. Pour into a graham cracker crust and refrigerate. Serve with a sprinkle of finely chopped peanuts (I omit) and a dollop of cool whip.

(Crust: 1 cup graham cracker crumbs, 1/3 melted butter, 1/4 cup sugar - press into pie plate and refrigerate for one hour before using or bake at 375F for 8 minutes)

Let me know if you make it how it turns out. I made some for a party tonight and everyone seemed to like it. I didn't tell them that the graham crackers in the crust were from scratch too - it might have made their heads explode.

My Little Elf

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Family Recipe: Lemon Chess Pie

Here's a Lemon Chess Pie recipe that I have of my grandmother's. She died when I was two, but when I got married, my Great Aunt Joyce (her older sister) gave me her original recipe card, with my grandmother's handwriting and smudges still on it.

I just made it a couple days ago, to "practice" for our big Thanksgiving meal. We are headed to Myrtle Beach for our Crawford Family Reunion - back to the original place it was held in 1979. I'm making a few family desserts for the reunion and hoping everyone will enjoy my own rendition of our pies.

Lemon Chess Pie:

1 2/3 cup sugar
1 T flour
1 T cornmeal
Grated rind of two lemons (don't get too close to the white rind)
Blend together with a fork in a bowl.

4 unbeaten eggs
1/4 cup melted butter (half stick)
1/4 cup lemon juice (juice from both of those lemons)
1/4 cup sweet milk (sweetened condensed milk)
Beat together with the sugar mixture until smooth and creamy.
I used a fork - don't over beat it.

Bake in an unbaked deep dish or 9 inch pie at 375 for 25-40 minutes or until set (doesn't wiggle a lot in the middle). It should be a nice golden color on top.

Another option, which I did the other day, is to roll out your dough into a muffin tin and spoon about two tablespoons of the lemon mixture into each cup. Bake for a little less time - about 20 minutes - and keep your eye on it.

Don't have a great crust recipe? Here's my favorite from a cookbook called "Apple Pie Perfect," the very best pie cookbook I've ever found:

Butter Crust
1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
1 T sugar
1/2 t salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/4 inch pieces
1 large egg yolk
About 3 T cold water

Combine the flour, sugar and salt in a large mixing bowl and mix well. Scatter the butter pieces over the dry ingredients and cut them in, using a pastry blender or two knives, until the butter is broken into very fine pieces.
Place the egg yolk in a 1-cup measuring cup and add just enough of the water to equal 1/4 cup liquid. Using a fork, blend the water and the yolk.
Sprinkle about half the liquid over the flour, mixing it in with a fork. Lift the mixture up from the button of the bowl and press down on the downstroke. Add the remaining liquid a little at a time until the dough coheres. You may need 1 to 2 teaspoons more.
Makes enough pastry for one 9-inch deep dish pie shell.

Another Snowfall?

I guess this is the last time I'll title a post with the word "snow." We've had our fourth snowfall of the season and it's not even Thanksgiving yet. Back in New York, we would expect our FIRST snowfall around Thanksgiving. This is getting ridiculous.

The roads were terrible today too. I can't tell you how many cars I saw coming towards us, but their wheels were facing a different direction. They plowed our road by 8:45, and it was still very bad.

Sam and I had to go over to the pediatrician's office for a Synagis shot today. The kiddos who get this shot have to get it within 30 days of the last one, so we absolutely had to get over to the pedi's office for it.

Once we left the pedi's office, I actually sat in my car for a long time thinking about how to get home. The road wasn't plowed and the snow was pretty compacted. I am very comfortable driving in snow, but some of the folks out here don't seem to be. I was stuck behind one line of cars that had an older man driving 5 miles per hour with his hazards on at the head of it. That's dangerous in and of itself.

We made it home, by the grace of God.

I want to post a few more recipes, especially with Thanksgiving coming up. But, I'm not sure what everyone is interested in making. Here are some choices for you:

Peanut Butter Pie
Lemon Chess Pie
Butternut Squash Bisque
Pumpkin Cheesecake
Tuna fish Dip
Artichoke Dip

Any favorites? What are you guys making for the holidays?

Another Snow Day

The weather has been quite cold here the last several days. Today's high was 27 and the low was 19. We already have an inch and a half of snow on the ground and it's still snowing.

Sam has been feeling so much better and I am trying to incorporate play dates into his routine again. On Sunday, we had some friends over who have two little girls (one only six days younger than Sam). He had a blast with them and even learned how to crawl into the bathtub by himself and play with his bath toys (we found him and Madi in there after some silence).

Yesterday we got to see Elijah for lunch. Elijah can say Sam's name now, and lots of other words. It was fun to be able to hang out with them after a week's long break.

This morning we went to the library for story time. There were only a few people who braved the roads to get there, but we had a great time. There is this little boy named Bobby who Sam has fallen in love with. He had Thomas the Tank Engine snow boots on, for goodness' sake. Who wouldn't love him? And his little sister is adorable too. Sam played with both of them for a long time today.

In other news, Sam's been coloring like a mad man. He started drawing hippos on Sunday.


Here he is with his masterpiece of the day. These Magnadoodles are incredible. Sometimes I have to snatch it from him before he erases it himself, so I can get a picture of what he's drawn. Just today he drew a crocodile with a chin - he described the whole thing to me as he was making it and erased it so quickly I couldn't get the camera. To be honest with you, it looked like a crocodile. I'm not sure how much that hippo looks like a hippo (he told us that is what it was), but the crocodile was dead on.
Sam was so happy to see another snow day. I haven't let him run out and play in the snow yet. First of all, he doesn't have boots or a snow suit. Second of all, I'm paranoid he's going to get sick. I know he needs to have his fun in the snow, but I need to be ready to let it happen first. If and when I find a snow suit and boots, it will be the first step in preparing my heart to let him play in it.

Here's a pic of our backyard this morning. What a beautiful place we live in.

Graham Crackers and Odd Spaces

Have you ever actually watched a child learn something? I have been watching Sam closely this week, since we've been home together every day. He has been learning so much - he can recognize every letter of the alphabet, except T and V (he calls them I and Y). He's starting to put complete sentences together and enunciating words with more clarity.

I could tell that he was starting to feel better yesterday morning as he was moving a heavy wooden stool around the house. He rolled a ball under the couch, carried the stool to the couch and stood up to look behind it to find his ball.

Then I looked away for a minute. You realize a minute is all it takes, right?

This is the scene I ran to. He actually moved the stool to the side of the couch to help him get this ball. Then he fell in between the couch and the wall.

I couldn't stop laughing. I think he was a little upset at first, but with all my giggling, he soon came around. Obviously, he couldn't get out without help. I sure hope he learned some kind of lesson, but I'm not sure what it would be.

Here's a conversation I had with Sam yesterday, while he was coloring (for the four hundredth time in the day):

Me: Wow, is that a tree? It looks so much like a tree.

Sam: No, it's grass.

Me: Oh. Grass. And now you're drawing the sun? Wow.

Sam: No, Mama. It's a circle.

Well, duh. I feel so dumb sometimes.

On to the Graham Crackers, which some of you have patiently waited for.


This is from the Fannie Farmer Baking Book, with a few adjustments on my end.

4 T (1/2 stick) butter, softened
1 egg
6 T sugar
2 T honey
2 T molasses


1/2 t baking soda
2 t water

3/4 t salt
1 1/2 C graham flour (I used whole wheat)
3/4 C all-purpose flour


Preheat the oven to 350 F.

Combine the butter, egg and sugar in a bowl and beat until smooth and creamy.
Stir in the honey and molasses and blend.
Dissolve the baking soda in the water and add to the butter mixture.
Add the salt, graham flour, and all-purpose flour to the mixture and blend thoroughly. The dough should hold together and be manageable. If it is too "tacky" add a little more graham flour.

Liberally dust two cookie sheets with flour.


Split the dough in half or do 1/3 and 2/3 and roll out on each cookie sheet - I used my fingers to press it down. It should be about 1/8 inch thick - remember, the soda will make it rise a little.


If you want them to be as thick as I have in my picture, don't split the dough at all, but you will have a more chewy cracker.



Score the dough with a pizza cutter or knife, but not all the way through, into squares. Depending on the size you make you could have 20-40 per cookie sheet.


Prick each square a few times with the tines of a fork.
Bake for 15 minutes.
Remove from the oven. Gently lift out with a spatula and slide onto cooling racks. Once they are cooled, they'll be ready to eat - but Sam and I like ours warm.

Fasting and Praying

Have you taken a look at the poll on the left? There are so many people really praying and even fasting for our future family and present circumstances. Praise God!

For those of you who are fasting and praying during the month of November, I'm curious about something. How many of you have felt led to pray A LOT more over the last two days? I sure have. It is just like the end of last month - God led me to pray a lot more about our situation. I am talking about CONSTANT prayer. That's when He assigned the other families their babies. I wonder what's going on right now?

Since there are so many of you out there also praying specifically for this adoption - who all is being led to pray more? Please leave a comment about it, if you feel led. I won't publish it, if you ask me not to.

Next up: Graham cracker recipe. My post is almost finished...

Sam and a Rainy Day

UPDATE:
I just got an email about Melia. She and her mommy should be back on the mountain by now. The surgery went well and she's supposed to take it easy over the next few days. Thanks for praying. Keep it up!



My poor little boy is still running a low-grade fever. Very low, but still - it's obvious he's fighting something off. On top of that, it's been raining all morning.

At first, I decided to just turn on the television and let him watch TV today. He's been with just me for the last four days and I know he's missing his friends. They're all sick too, unfortunately.

But, a little into the morning, we decided to make some graham crackers. He always likes rolling out the dough and jabbing his fingers into it. I let him poke holes in it too, with his little plastic fork.

I think he did a great job.

After that, we decided to make corn tortilla chips. I used to make them when we lived in China, because we couldn't purchase them. My friend, Casey, gave ma bag full of avocados the other day and I really wanted to make some guacamole - but what good is guacamole without chips? And we couldn't go out, because Sam is sick AND it's raining...that's what led me to make them at home. For my friends who are still living in China - these are a little complex and take a long time to make, but they are definitely worth it. Make a little fresh salsa to go with them and you'll be on your way to having a Mexican meal.

He wanted to roll out all the dough at once (not the way to make tortillas). He's looking a little bit better though, isn't he? Those rosey cheeks are trying to make their way back.

We're continuing to pray for Melia today. I heard she made it into the operating room for her several-hour surgery. I'll let you know if I hear more.

Enjoy your rainy day!

Pray for Melia

A friend of Sam's is going in for a heart cath today in Charlotte. Please pray for Melia (who came over for a play date that I posted on once):

• that the procedure would go without incident
• that she would heal quickly from it
• that they would have safety on their way home
• that her mommy and daddy and brothers would find peace today

Thanks

My Favorite Yeast Rolls Recipe

For Kellie and Shannon:

Yeast Rolls a la Teesa

1 cup warm water
1/4 cup sugar
3 teaspoons yeast

Mix and let stand 5 minutes. It should be bubbly, if it's not, throw it out and try again.

3 1/4 cup flour (sometimes I use 1 1/2 cups whole wheat and the rest white flour)
1 t salt

Mix together. Create a well in the center and add yeast mixture plus:

2 T melted butter
1 beaten egg

Mix all the ingredients together and knead for about 10 minutes on a lightly floured surface. Or, if you're using an upright mixer, use the kneader for about 5 minutes. Either way, make sure the dough looks like it's got a smooth consistency.

Place in a greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap or a towel for about and hour or two (until doubled). Make sure it's in a warm place (the oven, NOT on, is a great choice).

Punch it down and let it rest for about five minutes. Then shape into little balls - I grab pieces from the top and fold them underneath to create a perfect roll shape. Place them on a greased cookie sheet or muffin tins (should make about 15-18 pieces, depending on how large you make them).

Brush tops with melted butter, cover with a light towel and let rise about 30-40 minutes or until doubled. Oftentimes, I will not brush the butter on them, but cook them without it. Then the next day when I want to reheat them, I brush butter on them and put them in a warm oven for a short amount of time.

Bake at 375F for 12-15 minutes.


For those of you who are praying for my little boy, thank you. He has not maintained a high fever over the last few days, only a low-grade. He's got a runny nose, a small cough and his hair is crazy (indicative in my family of sickness or tiredness - odd, I know).

Thanks again.

My Sick Baby

Yummy...yeast rolls. I made these with whole wheat, as usual, but they are most tasty with all white flour. Try them hot from the oven with some homemade honey butter and you'll be in heaven! Want the recipe? Just ask...since there has been some sentiment of "fear" over my bread recipes lately (Carey, you're not the only one!), I didn't want to spend any time typing it out if no one is going to use it. But, let me say this - I have never found a roll like the ones I used to eat at Golden Corral (back when I used to eat there over 10 years ago). These rolls are so similar (especially when made with all white flour). They are certainly worth the effort.

On another note, Sam is coming down with a cold. The highest his fever has gotten is 101.2F, but it hasn't been consistent at all. Still, when it got that high, I started having flashbacks and began to worry that we were only half a degree away from a potential arrhythmia.

My poor baby. Can you remember getting wrapped up like this when you were little and sick? He's eating great and drinking really well too. We're just trying to keep him away from other kiddos and continuing to give him vitamin C. He only just started having symptoms this afternoon - a runny nose and funny-sounding cough. Sam is peacefully sleeping right now, so here's to hoping we all have a good night's rest...

Dancing

I came across a video today that I want to share with you. Not because I know anybody in it, but because it somehow moved me.



After watching the video - no scratch that - WHILE watching the video I started thinking about this man starring in it. How can one person have such charisma that he affects hundreds of people around the world enough to dance with him? I read about his story on his website, and I realize that his trip was paid for by Stride Gum, but I also think there's something more to this guy. He's got something that's contagious - heck, I even felt like dancing with him.

Then I started thinking, how can I affect so many people but in an even more positive way? Is the joy I have in Christ being shared through my charisma (defined: "the ability to develop or inspire in others a...commitment to a particular point of view") every day? Is yours?

And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.

2 Samuel 6:14

Let's dance like David, but with our words and actions as Christians!

The Best Parts of Fall

I love Fall. It is my favorite season. I was somewhat saddened when we lived in China during the Autumn months, because the geography didn't lend itself to beautiful bright colors. The trees mainly consisted of pine. I have great memories of raking leaves and burying myself or my brother in them (or even the random friend).

So, I decided to make some Fall memories for Sam this week. I grabbed our rake and went out to our Sugar Maples, whose leaves have almost finished falling and...



I created this. He doesn't look happy in this photo, but mark my words, he was thrilled. He loves running and jumping into the leaves, as any boy should.

I am also a huge fan of the hydrangea flower. To be honest, it is my favorite. When it first blooms, I love to gather as many as I can and put them into a small vase. It thrills me to no end to have a vase full of pink or blue blossoms. I was so excited to learn that we've got our very own hydrangea plant at our new house.




I love the way the flower dries up, the brown shades seem so crisp and "Fall-ish" to me. You can imagine how tickled I was this morning when I got a close-up view of our now brown hydrangeas.

We've been experimenting with food this week. Last night we had grilled marinated steak with an amazing mushroom, sun-dried tomato, and roasted red pepper topping. Don't worry, it was buy-one-get-one-free at our local market. For dessert, I made "fried" ice cream. I've never had "fried" ice cream before, so I wasn't exactly sure how it was supposed to look.


I think it looks pretty tasty, if you ask me. Crushed cornflakes mixed with cinnamon and sugar coat the vanilla ice cream, along with a drizzle of honey on top of a cinnamon-sugar sprinkled fried tortilla. Okay, not the most low-cal dessert I could have chosen, but dessert's not supposed to be low-cal.

I have no regrets

Any requests on the recipe-front? We've been making homemade graham crackers this week and have almost finished working the kinks out of the recipe. They're really delicious!

Thanks to everyone who has committed to praying for our little girl. I appreciate all the emails and comments. I'm looking forward to hearing how God has touched your life during the month of November as we all join together in intense prayer!

Big Request

As many of you out there know, we are in the process of adopting a little girl from China. We don't know who she is or where she is from, but we have been in love with her for many years. Her name will be Carolina.

I would like to ask you guys a big favor. We appear to be very close to receiving our referral, though we do not know for sure.

I want to ask my Christian brothers and sisters - will you please join me and my family for the month of November (and beyond, if needed) in fasting from something you love in order to pray for this situation?

Every time that "item" is brought to your mind, please pray for:

1. Carolina
2. The officials making decisions
3. For our referral to come this month
4. Our future as parents to her
5. Sam's future as a brother to her
6. Our adoption grant
7. Anything else God brings to your mind

You don't have to tell me what you're fasting from, but just that you've committed to praying for us for this month - I will post a poll on the left for anonymity. Hopefully God will bring this subject to you many times a day every day.

Fasting is a very personal experience. I am not taking my request lightly, and I would like it if you would pray about it first as well.

"Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you." (Matthew 6:16-18)

He does answer prayers, please pray with us! Also, one of my profs at seminary once taught me in the Old Testament the priests used to cleanse themselves before coming to the presence of God Almighty, and we ought to also consider this as we pray.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

"…The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." (James 5:16)

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." (Ephesians 6:18)

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express." (Romans 8:26)

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Last Day At Tweetsie

This weekend is the last weekend Tweetsie Railroad is open this year. It has been a joy to watch Sam enjoy trains due to his exposure to Tweetsie. Anyone who knows him personally knows he is wild about trains.

I started our day by taking Sam down to the mechanic for a routine inspection (not for Sam, but for my car). For some strange reason when I bought my car earlier this year from Carmax, they put my property tax county as Caldwell. I've never lived in Caldwell County, so I am unsure of why this happened. But, it meant that I need an emissions check, on top of the safety check required here in Watauga County. So, I packed us up and went down to the tag office and presented them with my dilemma. The man there was equally confused and changed it with no problems.

Then we headed back to the mechanic and finally to Tweetsie.

It was bittersweet to spend our last day of the season there. Everything was perfectly decorated for Halloween and I got a lot of cute shots of Sam in front of pumpkins and bails of hay.

Bye bye Tweetsie!

He dressed up in his conductor's hat and 'kerchief and we rode Tweetsie one final time.

On the trip, we saw the cowboys and Indians have their normal fight. Gunfire prevailed and Sam kept my hands firmly on his ears. I love this little drama they do - it's so poorly done, but that's part of the charm.

The boats were frozen, so we couldn't ride them, but the airplanes were still working. He's such a big boy on these airplanes - doesn't even try to stand up. I'm still nervous about it though and I've talked with the technician several times. Apparently there's a red button that will stop the train in one second flat.

Let's not forget the merry-go-round. One of Sam's favorite things to do.

So, with sadness in our hearts, we bid Tweetsie farewell for the season. We'll dream of you fondly...

In the meantime, we'll eat yummy chili to keep us warm.

Chili (From Iva Crawford, my great grandmother - I assume I get my abilities to cook from her)

1 Tablespoon Butter

1 Lb Ground Meat

1 Number 2 Can Crushed Tomatoes (large can)

1 Number 2 Can Tomato Soup (also a large can; I don't prefer the taste of tomato soup, so I use one small can tomato paste and 1 cup water)

1/2 Teaspoon Paprika

1/4 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper

1/2 Bay Leaf

1 1/2 Teaspoon Chili Powder

1 Can Kidney Beans

1 Teaspoon Salt

1 Clove Garlic; Crushed (I omit this because I'm allergic to garlic)

Melt butter over medium heat. Add onions and meat. Cook, stirring constantly until brown.Add tomato soup, tomato, paprika, cayenne, bay leaf, and chili powder. Simmer 1 hour. Or put it in the crock pot in the morning and the tastes will mellow and be even more delicious that evening.

Snow Day!

We've had some really great dialogue about the English muffins over the last few days. I'd love to hear how some of yours turn out and what changes you've made. There are so many variations.



We got some snow a couple days ago. It has been so cold here, but the weather is warming up today. I wanted to add some snow day photos. We didn't actually go out to play in the snow, though we did go to the library for story time. It was just too cold and windy to get out there!

Look! It's snowing!

Sam enjoyed watching the snow from inside though. When he first woke up he was uninterested, but once he had a good breakfast of warm English muffins and homemade raspberry jam (yes, from our own raspberry bushes), he really got into it.

"Look Mama!! A snow day!!"

Bill is having our wood burning stove cleaned on November 5th, so we haven't actually started a fire in it yet. But, man are we itching to. So far, we've used our electric baseboard heaters upstairs and the monitor heater downstairs. The monitor heater is a new item to us but most houses here have one (at least the ones we looked at for purchase). It is a very efficient way to heat the house using gas.

I haven't been posting as often as I usually do because I hurt my neck a week ago today. I had a muscle spasm that led to a pinched nerve, I believe. A friend of a friend came to visit me on Tuesday to give me a gift and she happened to be a doctor. I had her look at it and give me some advice about it. So far, her advice is working very well and I almost have full range-of-motion back. Thank goodness - I was getting tired of being so careful. Eventually I'll be able to exercise again too - can't wait for that day.

Getting back to cooking for a moment, are there any recipes you especially want me to share? Any questions about cooking I can answer? Feel free to ask...and I'll include a recipe for my great grandmother's homemade chili in the next post. Perfect for a cold winter's night!

For now, here's another sweet treat that we love around here. It happens to be my friend JoJo's fave - and as his wife said recently, you will gain a pound just reading it!

Chocolate Revel Bars

1 cup butter or margarine
2 cups packed brown sugar
1 t baking soda
2 eggs
2 t vanilla
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
3 cups quick cooking rolled oats
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 14 oz can (1 1/4 cups) sweetened condensed milk or low fat sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
2 t vanilla

1. Set aside 2 T of butter or margarine. In a large mixing bowl, beat the remaining butter or margarine with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add the brown sugar and baking soda. Beat till combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in eggs and 2 t vanilla till combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in the remaining flour. Stir in the rolled oats.

2. For filling, in a medium saucepan combine the reserved 2 T butter or margarine, chocolate pieces, and sweetened condensed milk. Cook over low heat till chocolate melts, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Stir in the walnuts or pecans and 2 t vanilla.

3. Press two thirds (about 3 1/3 cup) of the rolled oats mixture into the bottom of an ungreased 15x10x1 inch baking pan. Spread the filling evenly over the oat mixture. Dot remaining rolled oats mixture on filling (smoosh little bits with your fingers and lay them over it - leaving some gaps or drop the dough from a spoon).

4. Baking in a 350 degree oven about 25 minutes or till the top is lightly browned (chocolate filling will still look moist). Cool on a wire rack. Cute into bars. Makes 60 bars. Peanut Butter-Chocolate Revel Bars: Prepare as above, except substitute 1/2 cup peanut butter for the 2 T butter or margarine when making the chocolate filling and substitute peanuts for the walnuts or pecans. Whole Wheat Chocolate Revel Bars: Prepare as above, except reduce the all purpose flour to 1 1/2 cups and add 1 cup whole wheat flour.

Step By Step Guide: English Muffins

We had a wonderful day in our warm, toasty home painting, playing with friends and cooking bread. Sam was very interested in what Elijah was drawing.

Just to expand a little on my English muffin recipe, I thought I'd add some photos of us making it today. It was the perfect day to stay inside and cook bread. The whole house filled with the smell of yummy bread and it warmed our home just as it was starting dust with snow outside.

First, I want to encourage those of you who don't think you can do this. Yes you can! This is a very simple recipe, as bread recipes go, and requires very little effort on your part. If you have a mixer with a kneading attachment, it will make it even easier. If not, the only real effort you will expend is muscle energy.

As mentioned in my previous post, this recipe has yeast in it, to help the bread rise. If you use the right temperature of water (between 105 and 120F), the yeast should activate and look like the above photo.

I mixed the milk, salt, oil and flour then slowly added the yeast mixture. I used my KitchenAid kneading attachment and slowly mixed everything together.

Then I added the three cups of whole wheat flour and kneaded for about five more minutes. I transfered the dough to a greased Pyrex dish and covered it with plastic wrap, then placed it in my warm oven. You don't need to warm the oven, but it helps it rise a little faster.

About an hour later, I pulled it out and found it had risen perfectly.

It was the perfect situation for little hands to be involved. I try to include Sam every time I bake bread and punching down the dough is one of his favorite past times.

Then we rolled it out - another joy of Sam's. He is such a great helper.

Finally, we cut out little circles and placed them on a couple cookie sheets with some cornmeal sprinkled on them. I covered them with kitchen towels and set them aside for another half hour.

Once they were about an inch tall, I put them on my warmed cast iron skillet. I love my skillet and use it at least one time every day - it is so versatile.

The end result: perfectly browned whole wheat English muffins - made with fresh goat's milk for that extra nutrition. We ate them with smoked beef brisket, butternut squash bisque and fresh Swiss chard from the local Farmer's Market.