I’m Compassion. How Do You Do?

Yesterday we missed a wedding.  I’ve known the bride my whole life.

Granted, we were never close.

And we weren’t actually invited to the wedding.

But I picture it taking place in an apple grove, with some sort of ivy winding up and over a wrought iron arch.  A gorgeous Autumn ceremony.  The minister is just getting to the heartwarming stuff at the climax of his speech.

Suddenly all you can hear is

AP’M!

AP’M!

AP’M!

AP’M!

AP’M!

AP’M!

AP’M!

That’s Riley yelling “APPLE!” and waiting for someone to notice his brilliance in suggesting the name of the nearby fruit at the top of his lungs.  There he goes, scooting in between rows of guests, squealing and laughing.

Then there’s another noise, sort of quietly violent, as Riley’s mama starts losing her cookies.  Must have been a bad apple.  Someone catch that kid!  He’s getting too close to the bucket!  He’s getting too close to the bride!  He’s as curious as a cat and as fast as boiled Crisco!

I bet they wish they’d invited us.

The point is, I learned a lot in the last day or two.  I’m joking about the wedding.  Someone I know did get married, but my 1:30A.M. mind just thinks it would have been hilarious if our comical circus had showed up. 

You see, I never thought I’d be the parent with the rambunctious toddler.  MY children were going to stay perfectly in line. 

And I, not having actually thrown up in 16 years, never had much compassion for those who got stomach bugs.  It was more like, “Oh the poor thing.  Glad I didn’t get it…”

But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.  Psalm 86:15.  I posted that as my verse for the weekend, and funny thing – God’s been teaching me to have compassion – to sympathize with those who struggle or suffer.

After all, I was one of those rambunctious toddlers whose heart was good and happy and whose bum never hit the chair.

And now I was one of those poor souls hunched over the garbage can while my loving husband rubbed my back, and my parents whisked our children from the room.

Thank you, God, for your love and faithfulness – for getting me through and reminding me how much I need you.  Maybe I’ll have the chance to reach out to someone soon in compassion.

I feel like now I can say sincerely, “I know what you mean!  Let’s get through it together.”

Chocolate Snack Cake

Guess what’s sitting in a pan on our stove?  With only two pieces left? 

CHOCOLATE SNACK CAKE!

By the time I’m done writing this recipe down, all the rest of it will be gone.  We must have mice or something.  Pfff.  I looked for a snacky chocolate cake like this for a while, and thank you Betty Crocker – yours is perfect! 

I love the lack of milk and eggs.  If it’s shopping day tomorrow, you can still make this – and lick the bowl!

Ingredients

1 1/2 C. all purpose flour

1 C. sugar

1/4 C. baking cocoa

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1/3 C. vegetable oil

1 tsp. white or cider vinegar

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 C. cold water

Ice cream, whipped cream, or any topping you like (I like to sprinkle on chocolate chips and a couple tablespoons of sugar – makes it nice and crunchy)

Method

Preheat the oven to 350°F.  Grease the bottom and sides of a 9-inch round pan or an 8-inch square pan with shortening; lightly flour.

If you have a sleepy toddler who needs something to do…

(note the chocolate all the way up his arm)

…lay out all the ingredients ahead…

…and let him dump them in one at a time. 

In a medium bowl, mix the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.  In a small bowl, stir oil, vinegar, and vanilla until well mixed.  Vigorously stir oil mixture and water into flour mixture for about 1 minute or until well blended, utilising the unbridled energy of the toddler’s spasmodic stirring.

Immediately pour into the pan, and top with chocolate chips and sugar.

It won’t look like much, but the chips will sink into the cake and make little surprise pockets of chocolate.

The top will look similar to the picture below if you use 2-3 TBS of sugar.

Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Cool for 15 minutes.  Serve warm or cool with ice cream.  Or grab a handful out of the pan later while you’re making dinner.  That’s my favorite method.

Result

A spongy cake, moist and perfectly chocolatey.

A bowl for licking.

And a very happy toddler.

For a picture-free, easy-to-print version of this recipe, please click on the following link:

https://thefullvine.wordpress.com/chocolate-snack-cake/

Pitter Patter

I am so thankful for rain.  It’s been tough finding time to get outside lately, as anyone who’s had (or has) little ones can understand.  It could be the most gloriously gorgeous day of summer, but a newborn’s body doesn’t know that – and alleviating gas pains comes before basking in sunlight.

Some hot, dry days, I can hear the garden gasping.

This week I was up in the middle of the night nursing Quinn, and heard such a beautiful sound: rain on the air conditioner.  Something about that metal box magnifies noises x10.  At first I thought it was hail… 

Then I realized God was watering my garden for me. 

You want to know what else I’m thankful for?  My 16 month-old, Riley, is alseep upstairs in his crib; my 3 week-old, Quinn, is asleep next to me on the couch; my feet are up, and it’s quiet. 

THANK YOU, GOD.  Thank you, first of all, for my boys, and second – for refreshment, both for me, and my garden.  We’re both saying, “aaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.”

Seedlings, Like Toddlers

This is growing time – counting on lots of sun, some rain, and some ingenious pest killing solutions in the garden.  It’s a time of learning patience, watching plants that will produce much of our summer food grow from tiny seeds into green giants.

Starting plants from seedlings requires lots of patience and some perseverance too – things I should learn.  A good grow light really helps the process along.  A simple, long flourescent light does the trick.  Suspended above the seed trays on chains, it can be raised a little at a time to encourage seedlings to grow straight and strong. 

Here’s a look at what we did in our basement this Spring:

Under a long, flourescent light, I planted sweetie tomatoes, two kinds of big tomatoes, peppers, basil, and lavender.

Had to keep filling up the bucket of soil-less mixture from my parents’ farm – I wouldn’t plant the seeds in anything else because this stuff makes things grow.

While I only got two fragile little pepper plants out of all the seeds I planted…

…I now have lavender coming out my ears!

The tomatoes did really well too; and the only thing I’ll change next year is that I’ll start them much earlier.

Cherry tomato plants inside for the night after being hardened off for a while.  They’re planted in paper cups, resting in a cut-off Pampers box.  Disposable diapers are good for something.

Big and green, itching to be planted!

The basil and lavender already smelled incredible indoors.  I could hardly resist running my fingers through the lavender seedlings, and sniffing my hands.

Sitting in the kitchen like patient toddlers, waiting to go outside.

And here they are! 

Lovely lavender:

Trusty tomatoes:

Tiny tomatoes:

Still “collared” to protect them against cutworms.  🙂  Poor little babies got started in the basement so late…  Maybe I’ll be a little more on the ball next year.

Tomatoes and basil (and in the same bed, a pepper plant which I forgot to photograph):

I’ll post pictures of the whole garden soon – from plans to tilling to bare rows to GREEN.

I love the challenge of this – being forced to wait for something good.  I guess seedlings really are like toddlers – happiest when outside, and not something you can force growth upon.  You just have to let it happen, and encourage and redirect, encourage and redirect, prune, encourage, and redirect.

Hope your garden is flourishing!  Enjoy the fruits of your labor as the summer goes on.

First Birthday, First Cakes

One of my favorite growing-up memories is the sound of an electric beater in a ceramic bowl.  On the day of my birthday party, Mommy would be downstairs during nap time, baking a cake and whipping up homemade frosting.  That classic sound and the delightful smells became part of the wonder of birthdays. 

I could hardly wait to start that tradition in our house!

Riley’s birthday parties, one for each side of the family, called for special cakes.  You only celebrate your first birthday once!  For my side of the family, I chose whoopie pie baseballs, and for Jon’s side, a double layer Elmo cake.

I had so much fun!  Here’s the process:

Whoopie Pie Baseballs

Chocolate batter?  Check.

Unbelievable creamy filling?  Check.

Not going to get my blood sugar tested the next day because I ate too much frosting?  Yep.

Empty pies waiting to be filled with creamy goodness…

And topped with it too.

Twizzler strings became the laces…

…and our happy toddler became a sugar-high mess.

But I ask you – what would a party be without pudgy little fingers smooshing cake bits around?

(For the record, the adults enjoyed their baseballs too.  They were HUGE!)

Elmo Cake

This cake brought to you by good ol’ Better Homes and Gardens.

Tools of the trade.  I love my little fold-out microwave cart work space.

This is the smell I’m talking about!  Yellow cake batter that becomes…

…yellow cake.

I need an excuse to make this buttercream frosting again.  SOON.

String Twizzlers and chocolate chips for lettering, food coloring for Elmo, and Jimmies for the side.  His nose was actually made out of orange zest, because it was the only orange substance I had on hand.

There were no complaints.

Happy Birthday, Riley, and many, many more!

I Stand At the Door

I am deeply convicted this morning about my attitude toward my son.  Jon and I get up very early (he teaches 9th grade Social Studies, so it’s up with the birds for us).  One of the first things I usually do is plot out a to-do list for the day.  I actually get excited, thinking of all the things I can accomplish when I set my mind to it.

And then I remember Riley.  The tag-along.  Gee, where can I put him while I…?  How can I keep Riley entertained when I’m…?  Sure, some tasks MUST get done on a given day.  But do I really have to transplant tomatoes today?  Do we really need scones for breakfast tomorrow or can we eat toast so that my son gets a piece of my time?

I’m very sad that it’s still such a struggle to give up my will and my agenda for my own baby.  When Baby #2 appears in a couple months, I’ll have much less choice in the matter.  Will I be a grumbling mess at that point, or will I have learned to share (a skill I need to be able to teach by example)?

There’s a great picture in the Bible (Revelation 3:20) of Jesus standing at someone’s front door, patiently knocking.  He’s not boorish.  He won’t bang down the door or break a window and pounce in with a ninja-roll.  He waits and knocks.  It’s up to me to let him in to my heart, into my whole life, every single moment, if I’m going to experience his love.

It was a very convicting picture when I realized that applied to Riley as well.  “Behold, I toddle up to the door, and slap it hard.”  That’s how the Riley translation would read!  Then he’ll sit there, watching for me, two middle fingers in his mouth, clutching Bunny with the other hand. 

My choices:

1. Greet him at the door with a chipper “Hey, there!  Why don’t you read this book?  Or go play with your toys?  Mommy’s busy right now.”  I did show him some attention, after all.

2. Fling the door open wide with a sincere “Come on in!  I’m glad you’re here!  After I wipe the egg off my hands, would you like to read that book together?  Then we can stir and sample this batter.  We’ll be taste-testers!  (hug)  I love you…” 

I can welcome him in to every part of my day.  Babies are smart.  They pick up on tone, temperament, emotional undertones.  He’ll know if I’m irritated that he’s “taking me away from what I really wanted to do.”

Jesus said “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.” (Rev. 3:20)  And he also said, “Whatever you do to one of the least of these, you do to me.” (Matthew 25:40)  If I leave my son on the doorstep in favor of some meaningless task, I’m leaving the King out there too. 

Welcome one, welcome both.  And the meaningless task becomes an opportunity to get close, learn each other’s smiles, and form a deep and lasting relationship.  That goes for the son and the King.

An Ill Wind That Blows Some Good

Last Thurdsay I stated how thankful I was to look good in comparison to rotten vegetables. 

*sigh*  Yes, I was in a desperate state of mind.

Today I am thankful for humbling circumstances.  When I’m not in a desperate state of mind, a reminder is a good thing: Don’t take yourself too seriously!

Here’s the skinny:

Riley and I went grocery shopping.  It was a grey day, raw and wet.  I wore the blue fleece cape my mother made for me during my last pregnancy.  It has a hood and gorgeous silver buttons with raised Celtic designs.  Warm and stylish with room to grow!

Upon our exit from the market, we approached the crosswalk.  I fumbled with Riley’s hood while the sky did a lot of spitting and I kept one eye on the traffic. 

A nice man in a huge pickup truck stopped to let us cross.  (Did we look that pathetic?  Usually no one stops for you around here.)  I gave a quick wave and began to cross.  The wind, in a fit of humor, picked up one of my empty fabric grocery bags, and blew it out of the cart. 

So I bent over to retrieve it in classic pregnant fashion: ankles bowed out, demi-plié (which, in French, means “falling down half-way”), awkward sideways lean, and a grunt.

At that moment, the wind really got tricky and blew my cape right up over my head.

So the man in the huge pickup truck got quite a show: The patient toddler, watching his crazy momma do walrus ballet for flying bags, while tangled up blind in her cape, arms flailing.

*sigh*  At least I wasn’t in a desperate state of mind.  I didn’t cry.  I laughed and said to my son, as our circus rolled off into the parking lot, “It may take us an hour…but we’ll get there.”

Hope you don’t take yourself too seriously.  There’s an ill wind around, blowing bags and capes and pride all over the place.  It may find you.  🙂  Have a great day!