Author Archives: Barbara Harper

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About Barbara Harper

https://barbarah.wordpress.com

Snow, ceremonies, programs and challenges

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We had a light dusting of snow yesterday morning:

snow-09

(These are Jeremy’s pictures.) They were originally forecasting 1-2 inches Monday night and another couple Tuesday morning, but I don’t know if we got a whole inch all together.

It was enough to close the schools, though! You have to remember that here in the South they don’t spend the money to invest in a lot of snowplows and such (they do have a few) when they’d only use them maybe once or twice a year, plus people who aren’t used to it don’t know how to drive in it. And they have to make the call about school closings way early in order to get the word out, and they have to consider not just the main roads but the backs ones that school buses would be lumbering over. So usually any amount of snow causes school closings. But I do have to admit this one was probably miscalled. We could have gotten by with just a delay, but we probably didn’t even need that.

But it was nice to have a day off. Jeremy put together enough snow to make a 6-8″ snowman with a baby carrot for a nose:

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Even the baby carrot is a little big for him!

And it was neat the kids could be off for Inauguration Day. It made it seem like a holiday. I wanted Jesse to see it. He wasn’t terribly interested, but I turned the TV on anyway, just about the time they were introducing the former presidents. I probably would have had the TV on most of the day if I had been in the same room with one for the day. I was sorry I missed the parade. I don’t know why, but I really like that part.

I don’t have a laptop and my PC is in another room, but I jotted down some thoughts as I watched:

  • For a nation that has gone increasingly toward the casual, I am glad we retain a bit of pomp and ceremony for occasions like this.
  • They said the wind chill was 14 degrees. I just cannot imagine being out in that cold for that long! We joked about the trumpet players’ lips freezing on their instruments.
  • I also can’t imagine being way, way at the back. I was glad to be in my own warm house with my very own bathroom.
  • I enjoyed seeing the former presidents enter.
  • I hadn’t heard about Lynn Cheney being an author — will have to look up what she’s written. I was sorry to hear about Mr. Cheney’s accident.
  • I like that the mikes picked up a lot of side comments — one of the announcers said they were picking up more than intended, But that was fun.
  • It did this Southern girl’s heart good to hear Laura Bush say, “Hey there!” I enjoyed the announcers saying that she had really blossomed during her husband’s term in office. They said she had originally told him she didn’t want to make any speeches, but now she is quite an accomplished speaker. She has always been every inch a lady. I admire her a lot.
  • At some point they showed a glimpse of the moving vans behind the White House. I thought that was a little sad. Then I thought, you know how it is on moving day, even if you have professional movers, and I can’t imagine either Mrs. Bush or Mrs. Obama calmly sitting through a ceremony while other people are moving their things!
  • I was also thinking of Michelle Obama as her girls entered. I wonder if she would rather they entered with her. I would have. It must be hard in some instances to entrust them to other people.
  • It will be fun to have relatively young children in the White House again. I enjoyed watching Michelle Obama “mother” the girls and the older girl filming her dad on her camera.
  • I know some people would object to an opening prayer on this occasion at all, but it was a blessing to me to see a lot of people praying the Lord’s prayer out loud.
  • I’m glad Rick Warren did not refrain from praying in Jesus’ name.
  • I wonder why the vice-president’s contains a phrase about mental reservations while the president’s doesn’t? Either way — better not have any left at that point!
  • I really, really enjoyed the piece played by Itzhak Perlman and Yo-Yo Ma and the two others (I wasn’t familiar with them). I have greatly liked Yo-Yo Ma ever since I first heard of or saw him years ago on Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. (Don’t laugh — that’s where I got a lot of cultural enlightenment when the boys were little.)

No really deep thoughts there — I expressed those yesterday. I didn’t analyze the speeches — others can do that better than I can. We turned the TV off after people began disbursing from the area. I had it on again for a while last night to see some of the coverage of the different balls.

I also watched “The Biggest Loser.” This is my first season to watch it. I guess I am hoping it inspires me, and it is causing me to question some of my choices and say “no” a little more often. Just one thought so far: people don’t seem to be getting that Joellen isn’t motivated by yelling. She shuts down. I do, too. I don’t think she’s putting as much into it as she could, and I think her hesitation on the first “temptation” last time marked her, but I hope they find a different way to interact with her. She probably should have gone home last night, but, then again. Damien had the support and motivation to continue on his own. I think if Joellen had gone home she’d be done.

And that’s enough about that.

My blog friend Melli has started an ABC photo challenge over the next several Wednesdays. The idea is to find letters of the alphabet in the things around us — not in a letter on a sign or in something we manipulate to form the letter. She’s doing two letters at a time with today’s being A and B.

I wanted to look around outside to see if I could find something, but never did. Tese aren’t too exciting, but here they are:

This looks like an A shape to me:

A

And this turned on its side has a B shape in it:

B

The original picture:

House plaque

I’ll try to do better next time, Melli!

Thoughts on Inauguration Day

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  • For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another. Psalm 75:6-7.
  • Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. Daniel 2: 20-22.
  • I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. I Timothy 2:1-4.
  • Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. Romans 13:1-7.
  • It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes. Psalm 118:8-9.
  • Although Obama was not my choice for President, I believe ultimately God is in control of who is in office. For whatever reasons He has allowed Obama that responsibility for this season, our trust is in Him and not man. But He requires us to obey those in authority unless they ask us to violate Scripture (Acts 5:27-29), to honor them, and to pray for them.
  • Along those lines I can echo Melli’s prayer here and Albert Mohler’s here while sharing Linda’s reservations and concerns here.
  • Because we do live in a democracy, our leaders aren’t given carte blanche. We have the right, the privilege, and the responsibility to let our voice be heard in issues important to us in the years ahead.
  • I do celebrate the fact that, as a democracy, we can show the world a change of power without rioting and disarray in the country.
  • Although I differ with Obama in the areas of pro-life concerns and economics, I think he is personable and knowledgeable, and I celebrate the fact that an African-American has been elected. I still hope for the day when color truly doesn’t matter.
  • I’ve been dismayed by the attitude of the Bush-haters that I’ve seen on a few blogs and Facebook updates. My memory isn’t perfect by any means, but when Clinton was in office, for the most part I remember conservatives speaking out about his behavior and stands, but I don’t remember venomous comments against him as a person by more than just a couple of people. Then again, there weren’t blogs and Facebook then.

Repost: When afraid to surrender

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This was originally posted August 15, 2006. I am reposting it today because I needed to go over these thoughts again. I couldn’t sing “I Surrender All” last night in church — there was just a hesitancy to once again declare a relinquishment of everything, even though I have before.

Sometimes we wrestle with the thought, “If I really surrender all to God, what will He do to me?” Even if we have made that surrender before, that thought can come at odd moments. After all, Joni Eareckson Tada was paralyzed as a teen-ager and has been in a wheelchair for, I think, 30-some years. Elisabeth Elliot lost not one, but two husbands. A dear professor at BJU has had Lou Gehrig’s disease for 20 years before passing away. The apostle Paul’s ministry was certainly not all roses ands sunshine.….our minds can go on and on with other examples we know.

There have been whole books written about reasons for suffering, and we hear testimonies of God’s grace through those times. Yet that lurking fear or reluctance can still snake into our thoughts.

As I was pondering these things this morning, the thought came, “What’s the alternative, really?” Suffering will come to most of us in some form or another. We live in a fallen world and deal with its effects; we’re not in heaven yet, where there are no tears, sorrow, pain. We’re not going to stop these things from coming into our lives if we don’t surrender to God. We can’t somehow insulate ourselves or protect ourselves from any pain or trial.

But if we are the Lord’s, we can trust that He has a purpose in what He has allowed. We can trust Him for His presence, peace, grace, and help. If we’re surrendered to Him, we can face these things in a way that we can’t otherwise.

One comment that stayed with me from a forgotten article about a trial a lady faced was this: “I was glad, when this happened, that He was not a stranger to me.” It’s certainly better to face a trial with Him rather than apart from Him. Sometimes He does work through the trials of life to bring people to Himself from their position as a stranger to Him, or to bring His children back from a backslidden position, or draw His children closer. But after that, we can “glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:3-5).

We need not hold back our wills from the Lord for fear of what might happen. It’s futile to do so, really. But even aside from that, we can face whatever He sees fit to allow into our lives knowing that He will work all things together for good to them that love God (Romans 8:2) and by relying on His promises:

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness (Isaiah 41:10).
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (II Corinthians 12:8-10).

As I was going over this again, I thought sometimes the issue isn’t so much what He might do to me, but what He might ask me to give up. But, really, is anything worth holding onto if He wants us to relinquish it? When this life is over and we get to eternity, will we look back with regret over the petty things we let keep us from being fully and completely yielded?

Blue Monday: Kinkade throw

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Smiling Sally hosts a Blue Monday in which we can post about anything blue — pretty, ugly, serious or funny — and then link up to other Blue Monday participants.

Today I wanted to show this Thomas Kinkade throw blanket my mother gave me years ago.

Kinkade throw

It has Psalm 91:2 on it: “I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.”

We keep a throw blanket folded on the backs of sofas and loveseats in both the living room and family room because even with the heat on it gets a little chilly when we’re just sitting watching TV or reading. This one is in the family room. Sometimes when I use it I think about being covered by both my mother’s love and by the promises of God.

National Sanctity of Human Life Day, 2009

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Unfortunately I didn’t hear about this until late today:

[Issued January 15, 2009, The White House]

National Sanctity of Human Life Day, 2009
by the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

All human life is a gift from our Creator that is sacred, unique, and worthy of protection. On National Sanctity of Human Life Day, our country recognizes that each person, including every person waiting to be born, has a special place and purpose in this world. We also underscore our dedication to heeding this message of conscience by speaking up for the weak and voiceless among us.

The most basic duty of government is to protect the life of the innocent. My Administration has been committed to building a culture of life by vigorously promoting adoption and parental notification laws, opposing Federal funding for abortions overseas, encouraging teen abstinence, and funding crisis pregnancy programs. In 2002, I was honored to sign into law the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act, which extends legal protection to children who survive an abortion attempt. I signed legislation in 2003 to ban the cruel practice of partial‑birth abortion, and that law represents our commitment to building a culture of life in America. Also, I was proud to sign the Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 2004, which allows authorities to charge a person who causes death or injury to a child in the womb with a separate offense in addition to any charges relating to the mother.

America is a caring Nation, and our values should guide us as we harness the gifts of science. In our zeal for new treatments and cures, we must never abandon our fundamental morals. We can achieve the great breakthroughs we all seek with reverence for the gift of life.

The sanctity of life is written in the hearts of all men and women. On this day and throughout the year, we aspire to build a society in which every child is welcome in life and protected in law. We also encourage more of our fellow Americans to join our just and noble cause. History tells us that with a cause rooted in our deepest principles and appealing to the best instincts of our citizens, we will prevail.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 18, 2009, as National Sanctity of Human Life Day. I call upon all Americans to recognize this day with appropriate ceremonies and to underscore our commitment to respecting and protecting the life and dignity of every human being.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.

GEORGE W. BUSH

Things to be left behind

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From the January 15 reading of Our Daily Walk by F. B. Meyer:

“Lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus.”– Heb 12:1-2.

LEAVE BEHIND your past sins. They have been many and great, more than you can count. But if you have confessed and forsaken them, they have been put away, “as far as the east is from the west.'” Nothing could be more explicit than 1Jo 1:9. It is useless to brood over the past. God has buried it in the grave of Christ. Go and sin no more!

Leave behind your bad habits that encumber you (R.V. marg.). You know what they are, and how they cling–ill-temper, jealousy, pride, evil-speaking, and many another! You have fallen again and again, overtaken by them, tripped up, your robes stained and torn. There should be some finality in your life, a mark on the grass from which you start to run the race. The command to put off the old man is in the definite tense (Col 3:8-9). It be-speaks one sudden strong act of the will, God-nerved and God-empowered. This, then, is the hour when you must strike for liberty “Ye have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God.”

Leave behind your accomplished ideals. They were once far in front and above you. As you climbed they seemed almost inaccessible, and mocking voices rang out their defiance of your attempt. But by the grace of God things that once you dreamt of are now realised, and you are sitting on the peak that once seemed to laugh you to scorn. But you must leave it behind! Look up! look forward! Are there not fresh ideals calling to you? Leave behind your attainments and strike your tents. One battle is fought, but a yet stronger foe bars the way immediately in front. It is suicidal to rest on your oars; to do so will expose you to the inevitable backward drift.

The best way to leave behind is to press forward. The Spirit of God bids us “run with patience the race set before us, looking unto Jesus.” He is our Forerunner, always before us, always leading us on. His crest, like the plume of Henry of Navarre, is always in the very thick of the fight. Let the soul follow hard after Him, and it will become almost oblivious to what it leaves behind. The boy who is running for the goal, in his eagerness to win the prize, strips himself of one and another article of clothing. He will not count their worth, so long as he may win the prize. So run that ye may attain! Apprehend that for which you were apprehended! Lay hold on the outstretched crown of life!

PRAYER

Most gracious God, quicken me by Thy Holy Spirit, that I may run in the way Thou hast marked out for me. May I ever be kept looking off unto Jesus. AMEN.

What my home says about me…

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Seen at Addie’s Random Rambling:


What Your Home Says About You


You come across as very intellectual. People take your wisdom seriously.

Your hygiene is passable, but you may be hiding some dirty secrets.

You are a very domestic person. You enjoy decorating, cooking, and making things homey.

You are not a nurturing person by nature, but you can easily take care of someone you truly love.

You feel settled in your life. You have enough time to focus on little details.

You are a very self sufficient person. You can get along well without much help.

Your friends see you as insightful, encouraging, and progressive.

I don’t know about seeming intellectual (and if so I would only seem so, not really be intellectual!), but I had to smile at the “passable” hygiene. Some of the middle sentences are spot on.

Friday’s Fave Five

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Susanne at Living to Tell the Story hosts a “Friday Fave Five” in which we share our five favorite things from the past week. Click on the button to read more of the details.

I’m thankful for this meme because I’m not naturally a positive-thinking, look-for-the-good type of person. While I might originally think it was a blah week, nothing bad but nothing spectacular, when I look back for my favorite parts of it, often I find many more than five highlights.

1. Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

Those peanut butter kiss cookies converted to bar cookies, so you don’t have to do all that rolling of dough into balls, with the addition of mini chocolate chips. I saw the picture and cut the recipe from a Land O’ Lakes margarine box several days ago and just made them last night. Scrumptious. The recipe is here. (The online recipe says to use butter, but the one I cut out says margarine, which is what I used. I also used smooth rather than chunky peanut butter.)

2. Hearts in store displays and online in preparation for Valentine’s Day. You know I love pink hearts. Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays, and I love seeing the displays and ideas for it. Some I have found online recently are here (Valentine’s Day Ideas, Crafts, Decorations, and Activities) and here (tree of hearts).

3. Nights off from cooking. Jim grilled hamburgers Saturday night, we ate out due to a basketball game Monday night, my boys cooked dinner Tuesday night, and we ate at a pizza buffet for a school fund raiser Wed. night. So I have had a nice, unexpected break from dinner duty this week.

4. Good mechanics. Both my husband’s car and mine needed a little work this week — nothing major — but it reminded me that we’d had trouble finding places to take our cars when we first moved here. Tried different people and places and were less than pleased. Then a man at our church mentioned that he went to this one place, and we’ve tried it and have been going there ever since. It helps immeasurable on many levels to deal with people that are both knowledgeable and trustworthy.

5. New hymn. I’ve mentioned this twice earlier this week, but I wanted to share with the “fave five” folks, too, a new hymn titled “My Jesus Fair” written by Chris Anderson. You can find the full text of the hymn here and hear a sound clip here. The first verse and the refrain:

My Jesus, fair, was pierced by thorns,
By thorns grown from the fall.
Thus He who gave the curse was torn
To end that curse for all.

O love divine, O matchless grace-
That God should die for men!
With joyful grief I lift my praise,
Abhorring all my sin,
Adoring only Him.

Bonus:

Heat at the push of a button. It’s been really cold this week, and I am so glad I can just turn up the thermostat rather than having to haul in wood and keep a fireplace going.

Learning how to make ♥ on the computer. Smiling Sally asked her readers how to do that and one said you push “Alt” and the 3 on the keypad to the right, and voila!! I am always tickled to learn something new — especially new and easy! — on the computer!

You can find other people’s favorite parts of the week or add your own at Living to Tell the Story.

Booking Through Thursday: Sing! Sing a Song

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The weekly Booking Through Thursday question for today is:

If you’re anything like me, there are songs that you love because of their lyrics; writers you admire because their songs have depth, meaning, or just a sheer playfulness that has nothing to do with the tunes.

So, today’s question?

  • What songs … either specific songs, or songs in general by a specific group or writer … have words that you love?
  • Why?
  • And … do the tunes that go with the fantastic lyrics live up to them?

I’ve been thinking about this question for hours and figure I’d better go ahead with this post before the day is over.

I love music. Many different types of music, from musicals to Irish, Scottish, and British folk music as well as early American folk music to the “crooner” songs like “Just the Way You Look Tonight” and “I’ll Be Seeing You.” to silly songs to hymns.

But I’m blanking out on specific meaningful lyrics in songs other than hymns. They will probably be coming to mind the next week or so!

But here are a few:

One that always speaks straight to my heart is ValJean’s prayer that Marius’s life be spared, for Cosette’s sake, and his taken if need be from Les Miserables, especially this section:

God on high, hear my prayer.
In my need, you have always been there.
He is young; he’s afraid.
Let him rest, heaven blessed.
Bring him home.
Bring him home.
Bring him home.

He’s like the son I might have known
If God had granted me a son.
The summers die, one by one,
How soon they fly on and on,
And I am old and will be gone…

Yes the music does enhance this. In fact, here is Colm Wilkinson singing it from the 10th anniversary concert:

One of my favorite Irish folk songs is this one:

Believe me if all those
Endearing young charms
Which I gaze on so fondly today
Were to change by tomorrow
And fleet in my arms,
Like fairy gifts fading away
Though would’st still be adored
As this moment thou art
Let thy loveliness fade as it will
And around the dear ruin
Each wish of my heart
Would entwine itself
Verdantly still.

Hymns, though, have the richest and most heart-touching lyrics. I have one blog category designated Hymns and Spiritual Songs with about 60 entries. Here are just a few:

I just posted about this new hymn by Chris Anderson on Sunday. Here is one stanza, the rest is here:

My Jesus, fair, was pierced by thorns,
By thorns grown from the fall.
Thus He who gave the curse was torn
To end that curse for all.

From a hymn by Lucy Bennett:

O teach me what it meaneth,
That cross uplifted high,
With One, the Man of Sorrows,
Condemned to bleed and die!
O teach me what it cost Thee
To make a sinner whole;
And teach me, Savior, teach me
The value of a soul!

A couple of stanzas from one of my favorite hymns:

Jesus, I am resting, resting,
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.
Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee,
And Thy beauty fills my soul,
For by Thy transforming power,
Thou hast made me whole.

Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,
I behold Thee as Thou art,
And Thy love, so pure, so changeless,
Satisfies my heart;
Satisfies its deepest longings,
Meets, supplies its every need,
Compasseth me round with blessings:
Thine is love indeed!

And another:

The King of love my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never,
I nothing lack if I am His
And He is mine forever.

Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
But yet in love He sought me,
And on His shoulder gently laid,
And home, rejoicing, brought me.

And one more, the middle stanza of “Before the Throne of God above“:

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.

One more, from the hymn titled the same as the first line by Frances Ridley Havergal.:

I could not do without Thee
O Savior of the lost,
Whose precious blood redeemed me
At such tremendous cost.
Thy righteousness, thy pardon
Thy precious blood, must be
My only hope and comfort,
My glory and my plea.

I could not do without Thee,
I cannot stand alone,
I have no strength or goodness,
No wisdom of my own;
But Thou, beloved Savior,
Art all in all to me,
And weakness will be power
If leaning hard on Thee.

I could go on and on..and on. But I’ll stop there.

More BTT entries for today can be found here.

Boyz cooking

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(Updated with pictures!)

My oldest son, Jeremy, is anticipating moving out on his own some time, so for Christmas he asked for the book How To Cook Everything by Mark Bittman. Then as my husband was shopping for video games for the youngest for Christmas, he saw a Personal Trainer: Cooking Game for the Nintendo DS and took advantage of the Toys R Us sales to get this one for Jeremy. Jason liked it so well he bought one of his own. Then, Jeremy had received a gift card for Wal-Mart for Christmas and looked around but didn’t see anything he wanted. I suggested that, just as he had asked for some basic tools for Christmas and birthdays the previous year in anticipation of being out on his own, maybe he could use the gift card for some basic kitchen tools or appliances. So he bought a food processor because he’s been reading about one in his new cookbook.

One day for lunch he made homemade potato soup and roast beef sandwiches. Monday of this week he made homemade bread using the dough-mixing capability of his food processor. It was good!

Jeremy's bread

The DS game is pretty neat. It narrates the instructions out loud, and because you have your hands busy, when you get ready for the next step, you just say, “Continue.” It does tend to interpret any loud noise as the instruction to continue, though. If you don’t understand a step or want a term defined, you can say, “More information.”

DS cooking game

Jason unexpectedly got the night off work tonight, so he suggested he and Jeremy collaborate on making dinner. A night of someone else making dinner is fine by me! They’re using the DS game for a recipe, and it smells good so far.

Jason cooking

Jeremy helping with dinner

It’s been fun to see their approach. Jeremy is analytical and by-the-book, at least when he’s new to something. Jason tends to be more experience-oriented. One time when I was out of town helping my mom after surgery, Jason had some friends over — he must’ve been about 10 — and Jim let them make mini pizzas using English muffin halves and pizza sauce and whatever toppings they wanted. They had some pretty unique combinations, but they had a high old time.

Jason also started working at Subway several weeks ago and brought home all kinds of neat ideas for sandwiches that I’d never thought about or tried. For a while there at lunch or after church Sunday nights we were all asking him to make sandwiches for us. 🙂

I had always thought it would be a good idea to have them be responsible for a meal once a week or so as they were growing up so they’d know some basics about cooking, but in their high school and college years, they were so busy, there just never seemed to be time. But I am glad they have the desire to experiment now. It will be good to know they won’t have to subsist on fast food if it is a while before they marry or if their wives are sick or away. It’s been a blessing to me that Jim is able to cook a few things in those instances, and I wanted the boys to have at least some skill in the kitchen.

I’ve even learned a few things. With Jeremy’s by-the-book approach and going out and buying the exact ingredients called for, I’ve found it does make a difference. I tend to just use vegetable oil if I don’t have extra-virgin olive oil or minced onion if I don’t have green onion. But sometimes those extra little touches do make a great deal of difference. It’s good to learn how to improvise, too, but I am going to start paying attention to the particulars.

Of course, with any beginning cook, there are mishaps…things I thought they knew or just didn’t think to tell them. Like keeping a eye on the toaster oven and making sure no food touches the heating element…because it can (and did) start a fire (thankfully very small and easy to put out)…and not to touch your eyes after chopping peppers. But we all have our stories…I won’t mention the time years ago I set a bag of popcorn on a burner on the stove when I thought I had a different burner turned on. The boys thought having a fire truck come to the house was great fun…

Finished product:

Finished product!

Update: I wrote most of this last night and didn’t get back to update, but dinner turned out well! I don’t remember the name of the dish — it was from Spain and was kind of a stew with chicken, ham, onions and bell peppers. Different, but good! I took pictures but my Picasa, where I download them, is having trouble this morning and I am waiting til one of my computer experts gets up before I attempt to do anything with it. Hopefully I’ll be able to upload them later! Jeremy suggested closing down Picasa and then opening it again, then rebooting the computer if that didn’t work, before following Pica’s instructions. The first stepped worked, thankfully!! It was scary opening the program to find icons in place of the photos! I have most of them backed up on an external hard drive but wasn’t sure when I last backed them up — this reminds me to do that again!!