Wordless Wednesday - Hello, Homesickness
My brother, approximately age 7, at my grandparents’ lake-front property. I loved sitting on that swing, wearing those life vests. I’ve been missing them this summer, too, so it’s not surprising that Homesickness has paid me a visit.
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Homesickness, my old friend
Homesickness sneaks up on me. I rarely see it coming. My Homesickness is rarely for a place. The homesickness I feel is for people, for feelings of love and comfort. When we first moved here, I spent months and months with Homesickness as my constant companion. That aching in my soul was my reminder that Homesickness hadn’t yet left me.
It’s not that way now. Now, Homesickness sneaks up on me.
I got an email from my brother this evening catching me up on what’s going on with his family. And he mentioned that my nephew had his braces removed. I didn’t even know Zachary had braces. At all. How can I not know that?
And just like that, Homesickness came to visit me, tightening my throat, welling tears in my eyes, clenching my heart.
We live so very far from my family that I haven’t actually seen my brother and his family in person in more than two years. Eliza was only two and barely speaking when she saw them last. She talked to John on the phone the other day and handed the phone to me after a moment or two, saying, “I don’t think he knows who I am.” John and I laughed about it, and yet, a little piece of my heart broke.
My grandparents and parents and brother and his family all live in the same little town in which I grew up. It’s a sweet town about 1,000 miles away from here. It’s perfectly reasonable that we haven’t made the trip there or that they haven’t made the trip here. We’ve got four grown-up schedules and two kids schedules to coordinate, and that’s rarely workable. But it’s sad.
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t want to live in the same little town as everyone else. And I love living so close to Mike’s family. But sometimes, that’s sad, too.
Mike, Chuck and Stacy all grew up together. They have this wonderful history. Stacy’s family lives close by, and Mike has that long family familiarity with all of them, too. And our kids are all creating those same bonds now, which is an amazingly wonderful thing. But sometimes, I’d like that feeling of history myself.
Mike’s students interviewed him today for beginning interviewing practice, and he said someone asked if he was on an island and could only have one DVD tv show set, what would it be. I picked “Cheers.” Everyone should have a place where everyone knows your name. I commented on Bee’s blog today that I think Southerners have a real affection for nicknames, little tokens of affection that are ties that bind. Griff’s 10, and I called him “Boo” in public today. And he responded to it. I sometimes wish there were people closer to me who had that long-standing connection with me.
My brother and his wife are having a baby. I don’t get to go shopping with Nicole. And Griff doesn’t get to tease Zachary about being a big brother. And they’re picking names without our input. Not that they’d care that they’re naming my precious niece after a character on a stupid Disney show. Not that I care. She’s going to be fabulous, of course. You know, unless she’s a he. And then, he’ll be groovy as heck.
Either way, this long-awaited child is going to grow up not knowing me, much like my children are growing up not knowing my brother. And I adore my brother. Griff and Eliza are missing out by not being able to interact with him. Griff’s so much like John… this tender, sensitive soul. Not much in a rush, gonna do things in his own way and in his own time. But oh, how wonderful are the things he does!
And I didn’t even know his son had braces. I didn’t even know.
Mike’s gonna have to scoot over further in the bed tonight. I’m pretty sure Homesickness is going to be sleeping with me tonight.
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Menu Plan Monday
I got my list all together. I made it out of the house without Eliza. Had a chai frapp (no whip) from the Starbucks and had a lovely time all by myself at the Publix. Pitiful, isn’t it?
Sunday - BBQ chicken, zucchini, corn on the cob - all done by Mike on the grill (Griff will have BBQ calzones for his lunch tomorrow with the leftover chicken, some BBQ sauce and gouda cheese, all stuffed into little crescent roll pockets)
Monday - Brinner - pancakes this week with my special pancake mix
4 c all-purpose flour
2 c whole wheat flour
2/3 c sugar (I use Splenda)
2 tbs baking powder
1 tbs baking soda
** I also add a handful of flax seed meal, a healthy shake of cinnamon, and a tiny shake of malt powder.
*** To make the pancakes, take 1 cup of the mix and add 1 egg and 3/4 c milk. Add whatever add-ins you like… chocolate chips, bananas, strawberries, more cinnamon, whatever.
Tuesday - Turkey noodle soup (made with last week’s leftover turkey, broth, and fresh veggies)
Wednesday - Mid-Week Meatless Meal - Tortilla Pie (one of my favorites!!)
2 cans Ranch beans, drained
1 can black beans, drained
picante sauce or taco seasoning
tortillas
shredded cheese
chopped fresh tomatoes
* Mash each type of beans into a paste. Add seasoning to the black beans.
* Spray round pan with cooking spray.
* Layer. Put one tortilla on the bottom. Smear Ranch bean paste. Sprinkle with cheese. Top with tortilla. Repeat process with black beans. Continue until all bean mixture has been used. Top with either more cheese or enchilada sauce.
* Bake at 350 till warm, 20 minutes or so. Let set for 5-10 minutes after coming out of the oven. It cuts more smoothly, cleanly then.
* Serve with chips and dip or fruit salad or salsa. Or all.
Thursday - lemon pepper baked chicken with veggie rice
Friday - leftover tortilla pie
Saturday - We’re having Hayden and Hannah spend the weekend with us, and we’re having a Harry Potter night! I’m going to make foods from the book. We’re going to have a celebration in the Great Hall (our dining room) followed by licorice wands and butterbeer and acid pops and other classic HP treats while we gather in the Griffyndor common room (our family room) to watch the first movie together. I can hardly wait!
Sunday - Something easy with the kids for breakfast - cinnamon rolls or such - and another easy something for lunch - hot dogs - followed by loaded baked potatoes.
Filed under Recipes | Permalink | Comments (5)Tagged with: butterbeer • Harry Potter dinner • Menu Plan Monday • pancake mix • tortilla pie
The suggestion box is open
I’ve read several spiritual books this summer. They were very different from one another. One was a farce written by an atheist that was hysterical but very heretical. It prompted me to think a lot about the way I present myself to the non-Christians around me.
Another was a fictional account of the three days between Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. It’s a concept I haven’t considered before, and it, too, made me think.
We’ve begun doing a short devotional with the kids a couple of times a week, which has been really super. Mike or I read a little devotional story from a book my parents read to me from when I was a kid. And Griff is reading the passages out loud for us from his Bible. It’s been good for all of us.
I’m finishing a short devotional book, and I’m struggling through a Kay Arthur book right now. I just can’t quite seem to connect to her style or the book itself. But I really need something to be guiding my Bible study.
So I’m looking for suggestions. Throw them at me. Short studies or long ones. I don’t care. Until we actually find a church and have Bible study opportunities there, I’m on my own. So, come on. Help a girl out. Give me some ideas. I’ll even report back when I read and finish the books… prove I really did use your suggestions well.
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Wow Wednesday
A little bit of random good news around here today…
** Griff did well again today in school. Good on the stairs. Good recognizing the college kid who’s picking him up several days a week.
** My supervisor gave me my numbers today, and they were better. Woohoo! Now, they aren’t as high as I’d like them to be, but they’re getting better, and that’s what I’m going for, after all. I am now a 3.68 on a 1-5 scale. Yay, me!
** I did 1,600 spins on the Wii Fit Hula Hoop today. I kick hula tush. I even met my piddly little Wii Fit two-week goal a week early.
** We’re going to church on Sunday! Now, we have no idea where we’re going, but by gum, we’re going.
** Tonight, Project Runway is designing for drag queens. I mean, seriously, how fun is that?!
Filed under Most Everything | Permalink | Comments (2)Tagged with: church • Hula Hoop • numbers • Project Runway • Wii Fit
