Summer Treats

Summertime for our family is when we indulge in certain fruits and vegetables: corn on the cob, watermelon, peaches, cherries, and berries of all sorts! I never buy these foods when they are out of season, because of the price and that most of them are imported in the winter. But come summer, we support our local farmers and taste the goodness of the California sunshine! And, they really are a treat when we allow ourselves to enjoy them only a few months out of the year!

We are blessed to live near Brentwood, a small town that is still off the beaten path and offers many fruits and vegetables for us to pick. We went on Memorial Day weekend to pick sweet cherries. They were round, ripe, and ready for us to take them home!

We are also blessed to have friends who grow berries in their backyard (it doesn't get more local or organic than that!) The Oppermans have not only an abundance of raspberries, boysenberries, and blackberries, but also beautiful flowers and vegetables to share with their friends. Every year, they invite the children and me to help pick (and eat) their bountiful harvest! The fence is covered with red and black gems, so many that when you think you're done with one area and turn to another, you would swear that berries had sprouted during the time your back was turned! We braved the small thorns and filled our containers, then I went home and made a berry cobbler. For whatever reason God decided to make berries, I'm glad He did!

And our other favorite summer fruit is yellow peaches, also available in Brentwood. Yesterday, I picked enough for eating and freezing (peel, pit, and slice peaches, put 4 cups in a freezer bag with 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and 1/4 cup of sugar). Then our family enjoys peach cobbler all winter long! (I've included the recipe for all who are interested)                                                                                    

Picking fruit always reminds me that God takes care of us, birds and people alike. He nourishes us with food that is not only nutritious, but colorful, delicious, and a joy to eat!

If you're interested in finding u-pick farms, pumpkin patches, corn mazes, or Christmas tree farms in your area, go to the Pick Your Own website. It also has a calendar showing when crops are in season, and tips on picking and canning. 

PEACH COBBLER

Ingredients:

1/2 cup sugar

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

4 cups peaches, peeled, pitted and sliced

1 teaspoon lemon juice

3 tablespoons shortening or canola oil (I prefer oil)

1 cup flour

1 tablespoon sugar

1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup milk (you can also substitute soy or almond milk)

For the peaches:

Mix 1/2 cup sugar, cornstarch and cinnamon in a 2 quart saucepan. Stir in peaches and lemon juice. Cook until boiling. Boil and stir for 1 minute. (If you are using your frozen prepared peaches, just thaw peaches, then mix in saucepan with 1/4 cup sugar, cornstarch and cinnamon. Cook and boil likewise.)

Pour peaches into an ungreased 2 quart casserole dish.

For the topping:

Mix flour, 1 tablespoon sugar, baking powder and salt together in bowl. Cut in shortening with pastry blender, or mix in oil. Stir in milk. Drop dough onto peach mixture by spoonfuls.

Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes at 400 degrees F (preheated).

In a Waiting Room

No, the title is not a metaphor for something deep and spiritual (but Justin Dillon Stevens does have a great song titled 'Waiting Room'). Yesterday morning, I spent three and a half hours in a Kaiser waiting room. I had brought a book and my writing to keep me busy, but I discovered that a waiting room can be as interesting as an airport terminal.


People were coming to the lab for various reasons. I observed mothers and their teenage sons, sitting side by side, looking similar yet different. Some chatted, others were silent, drawn into the world of a texting and portable games. There were parents who brought in little ones for blood draw. One mom was so nervous for her daughter, one would have thought that it was her, not the girl, who was having a needle stuck into her arm. The most interesting were the elderly couples that came in. A few seemed indifferent to each other, but most were sweet, one spouse helping the other from appointment to appointment. Phrases like 'In sickness and in health' and 'Grow old with me' crossed my mind.


It was a mere three hours in a building in Livermore, California, but I couldn't help but admire the variety of personalities that God had created. Each person has a story, each person is precious to Him. It astounds me!

Passing on Your Narrative

Building on the book list in my last post, can I emphasize enough how important it is to read to your children? By reading to your children, you are building the foundation for their spoken and written language, their higher thinking skills, and their creative minds. But there is another important reason to read to your children: you are passing on your 'narrative'.

The idea of narrative goes back thousands of years, back to the time when people sat around the fire and told stories about their day or their past, including folktales. The morals and beliefs of one generation passed onto the next, and in this simple way, a culture endured. 

Fast forward to present day, and we have generations that are isolated and disconnected. Older generations call the younger ones 'rebellious' and 'disrespectful', while the younger generations argue that the older ones 'just don't get it' and blame them for 'messing things up anyway'. There are many factors that can cause this rift, but one is that narrative is no longer passed from generation to generation. What has taken the place of stories around the fire? Movies, television, and video games. Pop culture, not parents and grandparents, passes on its beliefs to the new generation.  Dana Gioia, poet, critic, and former chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, said on Volume 70 of the Mars Hill Audio Journal (an audio magazine focusing on contemporary culture and Christian conviction), "There is a human hunger for narrative... In fact, psychologists have demonstrated that when someone is telling you a story, you listen differently than from how you would a discursive argument. Unfortunately, that need for narrative is being satisfied at the lowest levels by video games, by action movies, by television, and other electronic media." That is why I worried when 'adult' movies like American Pie or The Ring became a hit among junior highers. They were filling their need for narrative with media that glorifies sex, drugs, rebellion, and exhilaration.

Jesus taught in parables for a reason. Stories stick. They don't lecture. They invite the listener to live another's life, and learn from it. You, as the parent, can choose which stories stick with your children. In our family, we read books aloud, before naptime and bedtime, and also at the dinner table. The dinner table book is always a chapter book picked by my husband; right now we are reading The Hobbit. We also listen to books and stories on CD in the car, instead of the radio. And of course, we have our children read on their own, by themselves or aloud to us. Lastly, we like to tell stories in our family, stories about myself or my husband we when were younger. Some stories have morals, and some are just fun memories. Our kids ask for those again and again. 

How can you pass on your narrative? Start with your infants. Check out books at the library (some may need previewing). Read and discuss books. Tell stories about your childhood. Ask grandparents to tell stories about their childhood. And above all, read Bible stories, either from the Bible or a good illustrated version (I recommend The Jesus Storybook Bible). I also highly, HIGLY recommend three books by David and Karen Mains, titled Tales of the Kingdom, Tales of the Resistance, and Tales of the Restoration. Another good resource is Honey for a Child's Heart, by Gladys Hunt. The book discusses the importance of reading with your children, how to pick great books, and includes book lists for all ages.

If you would like to see my recommended book lists, click on the following links:

Book List for Girls

Book List for Boys

Growing a Lady

I decided it was time to start a book list for girls, because I practically grew up next door to Laura Ingalls and Josephine Alcott. Though as a child I read my share of 'candy' books (books with little or no substance), the stories that always stuck in my mind were ones in which the characters had virtue, grace, and a gentle strength. In this day of 'Gossip Girl' and who-knows-what-else is-out-there, I'm trying my best to steer my daughter towards books of worth. I'll still let her pick out an occasional 'Tinker Bell' or 'My Little Pony' book, but I want her to grow on a balanced diet of good reading.

Like my book list for boys, this list will slowly grow as I read books with my daughter. Check for updates, and share suggestions too!

And if you'd like to see the recommended book list for boys, go to Growing a Man.

A Good Start for Your Beginning Readers

Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same, by Grace Lin

I like all of Grace Lin's books, not only because she is a Chinese-American author writing about her childhood and culture, but because her gouache illustrations are whimsical and colorful and she is a young wife who lost her husband to cancer. Most of her books fall into the picture book category, but she is expanding her repertoire, and Ling & Ting is her first chapter book for young readers. It is about twin girls and how they may look alike, but are very different in some aspects. Great for sisters! 

Tales of Amanda Pig, by Jean Van Leeuwen

Simple and sweet, I can never get enough of Amanda Pig and her brother Oliver. There is a whole series that is worth reading. The earlier books focus on her relation with her brother, and as Amanda grows and starts to go to school, the focus is shifted to her friendship with Lollipop.

Fancy Nancy, by Jane O'Connor

I'm not always a fan of the trendy and commercial, but I have to say, the Fancy Nancy series are fun and delightful because the books incorporate great vocabulary and a girl who is creative, confident, yet humble. The illustrations are a plus too. Yes, the publishers are taking advantage of her popularity with dolls and 'easy readers', but so far, they haven't watered down the original concept too much. Hopefully, that won't change.

Sleeping Ugly, by Jane Yolen

This book is a hilarious look at inner versus outer beauty. Jane Yolen is one of my favorite children's book authors!

Poppleton, by Cynthia Rylant
The Poppleton series is about a pig named Poppleton, his next door llama named Cherry Sue, and his neighborhood friends. The stories are funny and sweet, and the illustrations by Mark Teague are rich and colorful.

Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie, by Peter Roop
Based on a true story about how a girl kept a lighthouse light going during a great storm.

Great for Read-alouds or More Advanced Readers

Betsy and Tacy, by Maud Hart Lovelace

This book is only the first in a series that follows Betsy and Tacy all through childhood and into adulthood. They are based on the author's life (she's Betsy) growing up in Minnesota and learning lessons on friendship, family, and life.

Little House on the Prairie, by Laura Ingalls Wilder

A favorite for any girl, but especially those who identify with the spunky Laura. The author's descriptions of frontier life transport the reader back in time, and her narrative makes you feel like part of the family. Both boys and girls enjoy reading the books, but I think girls are the ones who really fall in love with them.

The Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis

Another series that boys and girls alike will enjoy. Every book in the series has a girl protagonist, who has her own lessons to learn, even if she doesn't wield a sword. Again, if you don't want your children to read about battles and fighting, this series is not for you. But the Biblical truth woven into every chapter is worth it!

Pollyanna, by Eleanor H. Porter

Most people know the Disney movie Pollyanna, but they have never read or heard of the book! Though the movie is good, the book is even better. One of my pet peeves is the misuse of the name 'Pollyanna' to mean a person who is naive and sees the world through rose-colored glasses. The character in the book is anything but that! She is a person of wisdom and strength who changes a town through her 'game' of finding blessings in every circumstance. There's also a sequel, Pollyanna Grows Up.

Caddie Woodlawn, by Carol Ryrie Brink

Carol Ryrie Brink remembers sitting and listening to her grandmother tell stories of growing up on the Wisconsin frontier in the 1860s. That grandmother's name was Caddie Woodlawn. Each chapter is a glimpse into the life of Caddie and her family on the frontier, and how the girl may often act 'improper' and 'unladylike', but when it really matters, she does what is right, despite what others may say.

The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster

Language, math, learning, and curiosity come alive in this fun book that I have loved for years. If your child ever says, "I'm bored!", then this is the book to read.

Charlotte's Web, by E. B. White

The classic tale of a deep and wonderful friendship between a pig and a spider. I don't normally like spiders, and even I can't help but want to become a person more like Charlotte!

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, by Barbara Robinson

My all-time favorite Christmas read, this story is funny and poignant and gives the reader a new perspective on the Christmas story.

Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner, by A. A. Milne

Always sweet, the original Winnie-the-Pooh stories are a must-read if you know only the Disney character. It's great as a read-aloud, but the illustrations and way that Milne lays out the text also add to the quiet humor of the stories.

Sarah, Plain and Tall, by Patricia MacLachlan
Simply and beautifully told, this is the story of a family in search of a new mother. The sequel Skylark is also worth reading.

Babe, the Gallant Pig, by Dick King-Smith
Sweet story about a polite and chivalrous young pig who wants to be a sheep-dog (I mean, sheep-pig!)

By the Great Horn Spoon!, by Sid Fleischman
This book's central character may be a humble butler, but he is honorable, respectful, loyal, level-headed, and brave, what every father and husband should be. The story is also a fun lesson in the California Gold Rush!

The Whipping Boy, by Sid Fleischman
A fun, short story about friendship and seeing life from someone else's perspective.

The Princess and the Goblin, by George MacDonald
The Princess and Curdie
If you love fairytales and are not familiar with George MacDonald, you're missing out! George MacDonald was a great influence on J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S.Lewis and wrote collections of short stories and "children's" books that hold many hidden gems of wisdom. Boys and girls alike will enjoy The Princess and the Goblin and its sequel.

Five Little Peppers and How They Grew, by Margaret Sidney
This book began as a series more than 100 years ago! The poor Pepper family sticks together through thick and thin and remind each other that they are blessed, despite their hardships.

For Junior High/Highschoolers

Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott

A wonderful story (based on the author's life) about four sisters, each learning her own lessons as she becomes a woman. The focus is on Josephine (who is the author herself) and her struggle to find her place in the family and in the world. 

The Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens

This story is classic, and I would have put it in the read-aloud section if all children could handle the older writing style. And like many stories that people 'think' they know, the original is worth reading because of the depth, insight, and Christian message that is often left out of the movies and retellings.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond, by Elizabeth George Speare

When I finished this book, I was so impressed by how the author handled the different personalities and religious views without pointing fingers at anyone (except one, who is an unloving, negligent mother and cantankerous wife). A great book to discuss loving one's neighbor and not being judgmental.

Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry
I remember seeing this book in the library when I was young, but I never read it. If only I had known what I was missing! Based on historical facts, the book tells of how the country of Denmark helped save their Jewish residents during German occupation. It is a heavy subject matter (as any book having to do with WW2 would be), but a very uplifting and amazing story.

Third Trimester

The third trimester is my least favorite. I never understood the women who say, "I love being pregnant," because I never feel like myself when I'm pregnant. This body that is tired, nauseous, slow, heavy, and aching is not mine! As the baby grows, my frustration grows with it. I find that I cannot do the things that I am used to doing. And the third trimester is always the worst. Simple housework leaves me sore. Chasing after a toddler is exhausting. I fall into bed at night and groan as I try to find a comfortable position that accommodates my growing belly.


Now serve me up some "fresh clear well-seasoned perspective". (Have you seen Pixar's Ratatouille? I highly recommend it.)


There are people who live in pain every second. There are people who cannot run, or even walk, or lift something as light as a spoon. There are people who cannot sleep at night, no matter how exhausted they feel. There are people who have no due date to look forward to. And my dear friend, who first lost her ability to tell time or remember recent conversations, is now unable to write, due to Alzheimer's. She and her husband have a difficult road to travel, but they do it with faith and love.


So I'll quit my whining now, because at least my third trimester is my last trimester.

The Beautiful

The beautiful is always worth working towards.

One of my most memorable moments from our recent trip to Washington was sitting on the back deck of our friend's house with my husband, the kids all settled into various trundle beds and guest rooms after a busy day of helping set-up for the wedding, watching the clouds roll in (and praying that it doesn't rain on the wedding!) and laughing at the fat baby swallow enjoying the room service its parents provided. I was jotting down a few thoughts while my husband sketched me. Enjoying the beauty of the farm, the mountains, and our friends' warm hospitality was effortless. But my husband shared a good thought: we enjoy it now because of someone else's work before. The house was built, the farm was maintained, the home decorated in such an inviting manner... none of which happened by itself. And the end result is beautiful. Through that beauty, we felt God's grace and love, and we were touched by the hand of God.

God gave us beauty; God IS beauty. I want to write, make music, paint, cook, teach my children, love my husband, have probing conversations, all for the end goal of 'the beautiful'. It takes work, but I want people to effortlessly enjoy the beauty I add to the world. Then maybe they too will be touched by the hand of God.

Road Trip

We just got home from a week in Washington state. Such a wonderful trip, though we didn't see the usual popular sights, unless you count--


-shooting stars at 1am while driving hour 14 on South Interstate 5
-a pair of swallows darting here and there and stopping momentarily just to pop grub into their baby's mouth
-a bald eagle soaring over the mountains
-Mt. Shasta cloaked in white snow and veiled in dark and fog
-a rare sighting  of the elusive Fairy Tomato
-friends we've known for years and friends we feel like we've known for years

And to top it off, our friends were married on Sunday, right on the family farm, in between periods of drizzling rain. A whole community had come together to build, cook, decorate, donate... anything they could do to help. It was a grand party in the heavenly fashion, my favorite.

Love

The past two days, we've been enjoying the wonderful company of a friend from France. She is an elementary school teacher, and such a natural with the children. The kids had a mini language lesson as she taught them French songs, read them French stories, and practiced phrases with them like 'Bonjour', 'Merci', and 'Bonne nuit'. We (meaning the adults here) also talked about how the French tend to overuse their verbs 'aimer' (to love) and 'adorer' (to adore/worship), much like American speakers use 'love' and 'hate' for nearly everything. Our French friend shared with us how she has been intentional about how she uses 'adorer', because it is the verb often reserved for God in the Bible. We told her about a phrase we've taught our kids ever since they could speak, "Love people, not things." Which got me thinking about...

In the Greek, there are four words for love: phileo, eros, storge, and agape. (Excuse me if I'm wrong, for I am no expert in Greek; I only know these from sermons and Wikipedia.) To give a quick definition of each, phileo is brotherly love or friendship, eros is passionate love or deep affection, storge (rarely used) is natural familial love, and agape is deep sacrificial love. If the Greek were talking about 'loving' an object or activity, I'm not sure what word they would use.

Now, how would life be different if we also had four words for love in English? What would Hollywood movies look like? What would our relationships be like if we were truly honest about how we felt towards each other? There are times when we say 'I love you' out of obligation, but what do we really feel? I've been learning these past two years what agape love is, as my affection for a family member was pushed to its limit. What was once storge and phileo is now agape, but I didn't know that until my relationship with that person got rough. If we take a good look at many of our relationships, we may be surprised to find that we don't have agape love for those people. And if we take a really good look at our relationship with God, we may discover that we are like Peter when Jesus asked him, "Do you agape me?" Peter could only reply, "I phileo you, Lord."

I apologize if you feel overwhelmed and depressed; this was not my intention! But start by training yourself to reserve 'love' for people, not things. Teach your children to do the same (and in a few weeks, they'll be the ones reminding you!) It truly does change your mindset if you are intentional with 'love'.