What Wicker Can Do For The Soul

He kept his hands over my eyes tightly, and made me promise not to peek. Me struggling to mentally map out the porch so that I wouldn't fall.

"Now, open your eyes!" And there under the shade of the trees were two wicker chairs.

"Where on earth did these come from?"

"Up the street. A lady had them in her driveway. She said they were free."

"Did you talk to the lady?"

"Yes. There was a table too, but we couldn't carry it. She said we could have them."

"Oh my goodness! You carried these all the way home?"

"Yeah. They're old, white, and country...so I knew you'd like them!"

A tender short story written on my heart by the youngest, on our twenty-second wedding anniversary.

"There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God..."

Sitting in an old, white wicker chair, under the shade of the tall trees. Or on the porch, in the same chair, under little white lights, imitating fireflies in courtship.

Little Man learned from his father that the best surprises don't have to be new and shiny. Some of them, in all their finery come from the heart of a boy on a walk.

Warmly,
Alis

My Little Purple Book, Part 2

He can't wait to present it to me. The little flower on the front, with its' purple center and bright blue petals makes it just too cute to put away.

The front cover has the letters M-O-M written vertically, and horizontally they begin the words, Memories of Mom.

I've never shown him my little purple book, but he has witnessed the answered supplications throughout his young life. He has been protected, provided for and preserved.

And this is some of what it says,

Peanut M&M's with mom.

Mom takes me to the park and buys me a little pumpkin.

My seventh birthday party- pizza and "Inspector Gadget".

First day of school. P.S. Best teacher ever!

Me and mom go to Apple Hill for the day.

I take mom to get her a teacup, she loves it!

Mom helps me pick sunflowers out for grandma.

Thank you for believing in me so much!


My little book means more to me than anything. It takes me back to a time when a little boy fell in love with his mom. It reminds me of the instruction and training he had. Soon, his heart will belong to another. The little book is no more than 2" square, but it's enough room to stow my heart.


Warmly,
Alis

Another Dear Memory

Salutations Sweet Friends!

I was just recollecting the weekend's activities. We witnessed a whirlwind of meaningful events. Precious readers, sometimes I say to myself, "Dear Memory, please make a pretty scrapbook page of this in my mind."

Some of the blessings I can recount:

The demure look on her face when she discovered I was carrying a birthday bag with chocolate pie inside.

A living room full of girls watching Tron!

A liberal compliment from a unprejudiced four year old who thinks that I smell like granola bars... (the good kind).

Two brothers asleep on adjoining couches who fell asleep spending time together.

A dog, a boy, and snuggling by the fire, waiting for dad to come home.

One light-hearted traveler home safe and sound, toting volumes of books and satiated with stories.

Cutting paper flowers from cardstock 'til my fingers hurt.

A charmed breakfast with two at a tasty spot in town.

Receiving a bag of favorites from Whole Foods from a pillar of support in my life. My best friend.

Homemade soup from my walking partner which coated a sore throat with pure delight! Sweet Potato!

The headship of a husband, exercising the kind of love that Christ did and does for his church.

Ripe pears ready to be made into a perfect pear cake!

An overdue conversation with my sweet sister and the satisfaction of catching up with her.

Blessings to you,

Alis

Pi Day

Salutations!

She made her way over to me eager to tell somebody the news. I looked up from my clipboard as she spoke up with a bashful smile.

"My birthday is on pi day."
"What's pi day?"
"You know, 3.14, pi."
"Oh, of course. (It's been a few years since I used pi.)

"So, which birthday is it?"
"Mine."
"No, what I mean to say is, how old will you be on pi day?"
"16."

"So, what do you want to do for your birthday? Do you have something fun planned?"
"I want to go to Marie Callender's for pie." (A girl after my own heart!)
"That is a great idea!"
"My parents said it's too far."


3.1416...the symbol denoting the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. There are at least 3.14 ways that I enjoy this young lady on the work-study team. So I start...

"Lord, you know how deserving she is. I realize that we are in a financial crisis, but it's her sixteenth birthday! She's so sweet and she has helped me with the cleaning so many times... You did put her in my life!"

The next day I was clipping coupons to take to Safeway. Oh, and pie was on sale! And so I started again..."I just want her to know how special she is. I want her to experience a surprise that is designed just for her. I promise to eat eggs, and peanut butter sandwiches this week. Even, oatmeal!"

And that's when I knew that He loved her 3.14 x's infinity. The Dollar Tree supplied this frugal spender's wish for tasteful party plates and a pretty gift bag.

She will look so cute with whipped cream stuck to her top lip and chocolate in between her teeth.

Warmly,
Alis

Her Children Rise Up and Call Her...

September 2003


I am teaching the youngest to read. We have flash cards with "everyday" words on them. He holds the card with the word she written on top. I hear him sounding out the letters, "s,hhh,eh."

I look at him and say, "Sh."

He thinks that I am telling him to be quiet. This time he sounds out the letters in a hushed voice. "S,hhh,eh."

Again I say, "Sh."

Around and around we go and get an unrelenting case of the giggles.

I explain that s-h together makes a sound like shoe.

Next, he realizes that we have a card with her written on the top. He puts these two cards side-by-side and with a toothy grin and childish recognition he says, "Hershey's!"

Older brother is suddenly amazed by the kid in the overalls. He feels like they could be related after all.


September 2004

Youngest is staring at me and says," To tell you the truth, I think you're better than the President's wife!"


2005

Youngest is looking at a movie preview. "That program looks entertaining, but it's probably not appropriate."

Big words from a little guy.


Mothers, are you keeping track of the meaningful phrases and prose spoken to you from a child's heart? This is a gentle reminder.

Have a blessed day,
Alis

Frogs in the Kneading Bowls! When Bread is On The Menu

Salutations!

I could handle frogs in my bed, and I could handle frogs in the hall, I could even handle frogs in the bathtub, but not in the kneading bowls! There were frogs all over the Sunday school classroom as we listened to the story of the plagues in Exodus. The Word said that there were frogs in the kneading bowls.

I am attached to my bread bowl. I love its wide rim and deep body. I love the way the stainless steel shines. I labor with that bowl! It's so satisfying to lift the towel off the top, and see bread raised and ready for the oven!

One of my favorite bread recipes is this one from Edward Espe Brown.

Focaccia-Olive Oil Bread With Fresh Rosemary
Makes two loaves.


2 c. warm water
2 tbsp. dry yeast
3 tbsp. fresh rosemary, minced
1/4 c. olive oil
1 tsp. salt
1 c. unbleached white flour
1 1/2 c. whole wheat flour
3 c. unbleached white flour
Olive oil for glazing
Coarse sea salt

Start with the water. Stir in the yeast, then the rosemary, olive oil, and salt. Stir in the one cup of white flour and the 1 1/2 c. whole wheat flour. Beat about 100 strokes.

Fold in 2 cups of white flour, 1/2 c. at a time. Turn the dough out on a floured board and knead using up to one more cup of flour to keep from sticking. Knead until smooth and elastic.

Let the dough rise for about an hour until it doubles in size. Punch down and let rise another 40 minutes.

Divide the dough in half. Shape each half as desired. Place on oiled sheet pan and brush the top with olive oil. Sprinkle with coarse sea salt.

Preheat oven to 375. Let rise about 20 minutes, and then bake about 25-30 minutes until browned.


This bread smells so good! Have you ever noticed what happens when bread is on the menu? Put out a pretty dish of butter and it disappears! At first we cut it with a serrated bread knife into evenly spaced portions, and soon we just rip it off like wolves in the woods! Bread goes with anything. Have you ever asked yourself, "What should we have with...?" and all the while you were thinking about that one thing... Bread?

When you are plagued with the doldrums, and stuck in a slump, get out your kneading bowls! Teach your children about Pharaoh. I like to sing a little ditty, "No! No! They cannot go!"

This is dedicated to my very special little people at HBC. Especially James, whom I can hear singing our ditty with great enthusiasm.

Swinging with you,
Alis

Fit Children

Good Morning Porch Pals!

Track season has started! It's time to lug the shoes, shorts, water bottles, snacks, and other equipment around in duffle bags. Martial Arts practices year-round. Often a stray belt, white cotton pants, or t-shirt finds its way to the car or laundry basket.

Boys need activity. Climbing trees, balancing on a rip-stick, riding a dirt-bike, lifting weights, these are all activities that my boys enjoy.

With all that exercise they also need fuel. I've got baked oatmeal in the oven right now just waiting for the youngest to wake up to. The aroma of apples, vanilla-flavored almond milk, and cinnamon should have him up in record speed. The oldest will need energy later today after practice. I've got delicious little power balls in the freezer. The recipe is easy and nutritious.


Almond Butter Balls

1c. almond butter
1c. almonds, finely chopped
1c. dried cherries
dash of cinnamon
pinch of salt
dash of cayenne pepper
1/4c. unsweetened cocoa powder
2tbs. honey or agave

Mix all ingredients until blended. Roll spoon-size portions into balls. Freeze.
Store in freezer. I like to store three balls in a snack-size bag, and store all the snack-size bags in a larger zip-lock. The recipe will make about 2 1/2 dz.

Our whole family loves these!

I'm so glad that I can be involved in keeping my boys full of strength and stamina. It brings me joy to see them healthy and feeling great!

Little changes like skipping soda, staying away from fast foods, and making sure that something is available for them to snack on that is healthy is so important.


Full of vigor,
Alis

Dear Memory

Salutations Sweet Friends!

I was just recollecting the weekend's activities. We witnessed a whirlwind of meaningful events. Precious readers, sometimes I say to myself, "Dear Memory, please make a pretty scrapbook page of this in my mind." Life is an interrupted series of days isn't it. It is penetrated with joy and trespassed with pain. It is slow and purposeful and intensely speedy. I don't want to forget a single frame, but would rather store them in my head with pretty corners and lovely backgrounds.

So, please remember...

boys laughing so hard they couldn't speak, boys rolling on the floor with joyful giddiness,

Tiny fingers sifting through a first birthday cake, stained with pink frosting
and beaming, grinning parents,

red roses at a funeral home in honor of a friend,

little man pausing to send messages over the net in the middle of a sleep-over, just to say hello,

a congregation full of get well-wishers and
contented hugs from cheerful children hearing the story of baby Moses in a basket,

man-child covering the set-up and prep at church that the man couldn't do,

a late run for chicken and frozen yogurt with my true love,

a merry maiden in a bright yellow coat, smiling...

Thank you God for a weekend of memories.

What is in your scrapbook?

Warmly,
Alis

Marked By Expectation

photo by Jon Sullivan

Good Morning Porch Pals!

Last night I came across one of the most endearing little notes ever written by my youngest child. He had written to the UPS delivery driver regarding his school book order. He was going to start first grade. Printed on the outside of a large wide-margined piece of newsprint he wrote, "Opn It Up." On the reverse side he penned, "Too the yoops man. I won too hav mi scul bcs!" He taped this special message to a pole in the front yard. Then he waited, watched, and rested.

What a heart full of hope! He was expecting results. He believed the school books were coming.

What are you expecting? What are you waiting for? A weekend, or a day off? Test results, an interview outcome, a financial need to be met? A child to regain his independence? It's as simple as writing it out on that worn yellow paper.

"Open It Up." And, "To the UPS Man- I want to have my school books!"

"Dear God..." And, "I ..."

The next thing is to wait, watch, and rest.

Believing With You,

Alis



When "Kid-Friendly" is on the Menu

Good Morning Friends! (Including Little Ones!)

Wake up, sleepy heads! It's time to rise and shine and give God the glory!
I was so blessed last night to discover a love note written many years ago to me from my oldest. It was carefully tucked inside the book that I was reading at the time, Apples of Gold. Such a treasure! Here's what it said,

Great Forever

During hard times I hope she'll look at this letter,

when in the seek of better.

My mom is great, my mom is awesome,

her berry-blue eyes, they are orchids in blossom.

She works so hard,

when in grief, I wish for her to daze at this card.

I could never take her for granted, no not never,

not for worse or for better. It would be too difficult,

considering she'll be great

forever!

Oh My Stars! The tears, friends, that wash a mother's cheek when she receives the blessings of admiration from her children.

I wanted to share the recipe with you for Peachy-Berry Breakfast Cobbler.

Torn from an old Raley's Supermarket advertisement, it has warmed our home and children many times over the years! A bowl of oatmeal, or a healthy muffin makes it a meal.

2 (15 oz.) cans juice-packed peaches, drained

1c. frozen raspberries

1/4c. fruit preserves (we like raspberry)

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. almond extract (don't skip)

dash nutmeg

1c. low-fat granola with almonds

Combine peaches, raspberries, preserves, cinnamon, almond extract and nutmeg in a square 8" pan, sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.

Bake at 325 for 20 minutes. Sprinkle granola over the top and stir. Bake for an additional five minutes.

Have you ever noticed what happens when you make a kid-friendly meal? Your children write love notes, and their smiles are like a post-it, stuck to your heart forever.

"What makes you think your children are secure in your love?"

from Apples of Gold. Something for us to think on today.

Praising Him from the porch,

Alis

Thank you God for the children in my family!