Before We Forget

Hello,

We're actually having blue skies and sunshine for a few days, it's been so nice! That's unheard of here in Seattle in January. I was even able to get out and do a little yard work the other day. 

Before Christmas becomes a distant memory, I wanted to share this different take on the song Mary Did You Know? If you haven't heard it, I'll try to include the link Here.

This made me think of all the kids and adults with special needs who struggle with these very issues. The Lord knows them, He sees them, and He loves them.

Beth and I were coming home from the grocery store the other day and had this conversation. Out of the blue she says:

B: Next time I make my sliders.

(We sometimes have sliders and chips for dinner. She comes upstairs and uses our bread, mayo, meat, etc. we make them together and then she takes her dinner back down to her place. I'm guessing that's what she's talking about.)

Me: The next time we have them you can make them yourself downstairs?

B: Mmm-hmm

Me: Oh, you have all the stuff to make them? The meat, and mayo and everything? That's great!

B: Yeah.

Me: That's excellent Beth. Sure, you can definitely make them downstairs then.

B: I forgot!

Me: You forgot what?

B: To buy the stuff.

Me: Oh, so you DON'T have the stuff to make them?

B: Yeah.

Me: Oh okay, we'll have to remember to put them on your list for next time.

B: Okay.

That's how most of our conversations go. She knows what she wants to say but doesn't always know the right words. Sometimes it takes us a while to figure it out. I'm grateful the Lord knows her heart though, and her every thought.

What else? Oh, Beth came upstairs recently very frustrated. I saw her go into the kitchen, she got a cup and headed back downstairs. I asked her if anything was wrong and she said something about a drip. Come to find out our bathtub drain was leaking and it was coming out in her room, right above where she sits to watch TV and write!

The plumber came out on Tuesday and was able to fix it in less than two hours. She was at All Aboard so I sent her a photo of the work he was doing. You can see the hole in the ceiling.

We've covered it temporarily and now we've got to get someone out to put up some new drywall. In the meantime we've moved her desk back into place and she's back to writing and watching TV from her regular spot.

After church today we went to Applebee's for lunch, then she and I went to Walmart. She was looking on-line for some gel pens and I guess she found them at Walmart. She searched through the many pens for the exact ones she saw on-line and then I heard her say, "There they are!" There were 6 in a package, so she bought two.

A few months ago Diana suggested we get the Family Album app since they're on the East coast, and now they're easily able to share pictures of Adelaide and Oliver with us. Three year old Adelaide just started taking ballet lessons, and six month old Oliver took one of his first rides in a swing:

We were just there a couple weeks ago but I miss them so much already!

Well, as we swing into next week, I hope each day is on point for you. :) Have a great week!

Ravioli Night

 Hi,

We've been home for a week now, our colds are gone and we're back into our routines. I don't know about you but when I get sick that's about all I can think about. It sort of consumes me and it's hard to function. I'm so glad to feel better again.

Our youngest daughter Diana married into a large Italian family and one of their Christmas traditions is Ravioli Night. A few days before Christmas they all get together - there were about 50 this year - and they make ravioli from scratch.

Someone makes all the dough ahead of time, then they pull out the ravioli machines and get to work. Everyone has a job, from the oldest to the youngest. Everyone is talking, there's laughter, and some even broke out into song more than once.

This little guy kept watch over the festivities

Diana and Adelaide

Peter and his Nana. Over Nana's shoulder is the 'roller' station. They use a rolling pin to sort of flatten, and cut the ravioli into individual pieces.

Once the dough is at the right thickness, it goes to the table with the molds. The molds are filled with cheese (also made ahead of time), then covered with more dough before being sent to the roller.

Nana and Grandpop - Peter's grandparents

The Patriarch and Matriarch of the family 

Sharaya and Ally filled all of the ravioli molds. For three hours people brought them the dough, they added the cheese and another layer of dough, then it went to the roller. From there they were sent to the racks in the garage.

Every job had enough helpers so I took pictures and hung out with Adelaide when she got done helping. But I was able to sit down and fill about 5 molds.

Beth helped take the leftover dough from the molds back to the table with the ravioli machines but I didn't get any pictures of her. 

I asked one of Peter's aunts how long this tradition has been going on and she said she remembers being a preschooler and helping at her grandparents house (Nana and Grandpops parents) and she is 70 now! They keep track of how many they make and this year it was over 1000! That's happened only a few times over the years. 

This is just one of three trays, or boxes actually. They cover them with baking powder (baking soda? we can't remember and it's too late to ask Diana or Peter - they're three hours ahead of us) and let them sit for a day or two. 

When the cheese is gone, they take all the leftover dough and shape it into noodles. Nothing is wasted!

When it's ready they distribute them to the families. On Christmas day our family all went to Peter's parents and we had fresh ravioli for dinner. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of it but trust me it was delicious!

I've never been a part of something like this. It was quite a process, and to have that much family all working together toward one goal was amazing to see. (Thank you Sharaya for some of your pictures!)

Does your family have any long-standing traditions? Have you ever made pasta from scratch? (You may have more information on the process than I do!) If so, please tell us your story!

A Whirlwind Trip

Hi everyone,

How was your Christmas? Your New Year celebration? Chuck and I have been so congested we didn't celebrate New Years this year. The first time that I can remember. 

But we're feeling better now and I feel like I can finally take a deep breath. What a whirlwind few weeks we've had.

We flew out on the 17th, took a red-eye into Newark, NJ and went right to the hotel to sleep. A few hours later Chuck went back to the airport to pick up Sharaya and Ally (Sharaya didn't find out her days off until the last minute and we had already bought our tickets) and that started ten days of celebrating three birthdays and an Italian Christmas!

Adelaide turned three this year and she helped make and decorate her own cake. That was the first big thing we did after arriving.

They got about 5 inches of snow just a few days before we arrived, then got an inch or so after we got there. It was cold and sometimes icy but we were willing to brave the elements to spend time together. 

We spent one day at an outdoor market. Got some coffee and hot chocolate to carry around with us then enjoyed all the shops. 

The sign outside this art gallery read, "More than just Thomas Kincade" and they were right. She was so excited to see all the Disney art! Rooms and rooms of art, scenes from Paris, London, art from Monet and van Gogh. We could have spent a lot more time in here. 

A lot of our time was spent playing games, hanging out, we went out to eat a couple of times, and we got to snuggle with Adelaide and Oliver. We couldn't get enough of those two.

Diana and Peter's birthdays are just a few days apart and are close to Christmas so just before we left we celebrated them together. I want to say, Peter is such a good man and treats our daughter well. We're so grateful for him.

There's so much more but I'll share that next time. We caught colds a few days before we flew home and we're not not 100% yet. 

I hope you're all doing well. I head back to work on Monday and I plan to read your posts soon. Happy New Year!

Christmas Preparations

I'm sorry I haven't been posting, or commenting on your posts. We leave soon for Pennsylvania and we've been packing and getting ready. I do hope you all are well.

Last Sunday was the Christmas Concert at church. The Lord has blessed us with phenomenal talent and this production is always packed. This year included the choir and orchestra, drama, narration, and a live nativity. It was really powerful and reminded us of the great sacrifice Christ made in coming to earth.

We had our office staff Christmas Party today. There's a raffle for gifts that each department brings, we play games and sing Christmas songs. It's always so fun and the food is amazing.

This was just the appetizer table

Lunch was ham, scalloped potatoes and veggies

I may not be on here for a while as we finish preparations for our trip. I cannot wait to see everyone, especially those little grandkids. Adelaide turned 3 today and recently wrote her first word by herself: Nana. 💕

From our family to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 

The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

We pray you experience the deep, personal love Christ has for you, as we celebrate His birth. 

Parent Fail

Hello,

We're in the middle of an 'Atmospheric River.' A constant flow of rain coming all the way from the middle of the Pacific. The forecaster said it started almost near Japan. So we're expecting heavy rain for quite a few days which usually leads to river flooding, down trees and power outages. Thankfully we're not in a flood zone and even though we're surrounded by huge evergreen trees, we've never had one fall. Only by God's grace.

December 2022

Beth and I were sitting at the table last week waiting for her bus. We waited and waited but it never came.

Come to find out her eligibility had expired. Every few years we get a large packet in the mail of paperwork to fill out but I guess this year they just sent a small postcard reminder. 

Our fault, we somehow just missed it.

So she's at the table, ready and waiting and I had to tell her she couldn't go. Karaoke day. (I thought about driving her myself but at that time of morning it would have taken an hour or more to get there and I would have had to take the day off work.) I apologized and told her what happened. She just sat there. I apologized again and asked her if I could give her a hug. She nodded. After a couple minutes she picked up her backpack and jacket went back downstairs. I felt horrible!

Plus, she's needed a new phone case so we looked at new cases on-line and she found one of her favorite designs! Chuck ordered it and told her it would be delivered the next day. That was the day her bus never came.

I came home from work and saw the package on the porch. When I brought it to her she was so excited! She opened it and pulled out the new protective covers for my phone and that was it. I asked her if there was anything else in there and she said no. It hadn't come! 😭 She just put the package on the table and went downstairs. She was so sad! Twice in one day! I felt so bad!

We did get an email explaining why the package was late, but I'm not sure it helped.

Well, it's been a week now and we've worked out a plan with DART. We need to get the paperwork done (including a letter from her doctor verifying she is unable to use regular public transportation) by the end of the year and they will continue to pick her up until then. Whew! 

And, her phone case arrived the next day.

All is well again.

Last night she and I made some chocolate chip cookies. She helps with the brown sugar, eggs and mixing. Then she puts some cookies on the tray. 

She's never mastered using an oven, or the stove either. She doesn't like turning the gas burners on but will stir something that is already cooking. She does like to cook, but only with help.

That's about all for now. I hope you have a great week!