Sunday, March 29, 2009
3rd Grade
Teaching 3rd grade is harder than it sounds. Which student still doesn't yet know how to multiply by 8, who needs more cursive practice. which kids needs to review nouns and verbs yet again... The tests in May every looming. Keeping an energetic, positive tone in the classroom can be exhausting. And at times you're more like a mom than a teacher--listening to long, involved "jokes", passing out sympathy band-aids, settling disagreements... But Friday was the hardest yet. One of my students is falling into a frightening situation in her life. I can't stop thinking about her, praying for this little soul. It makes long division look like a picnic. God have mercy.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Memorable Meals
Last week Paul and Sue invited us along to a splendid dinner at the Club 33 in Disneyland--from the first bite, I knew it would be a memorable meal-- and it brought to mind other memorable meals--so here I am with a list of my 15 most marvelous, memorable meals. I wanted to do the top ten, but when I started remembering back I just had to bump up to 15. So, for the faint of heart, you can quit now. This is going to be a considerable blog. In vaguely chronological order:
#1. In 1973 Larry and I left the Anaheim bus depot on Christmas morning on our way to the huge Urbana missions conference for college students. I brought the Christmas decorations to adorn our window as we rolled along and Larry brought the feast-- crackers and cream cheese (maybe the beginning of my love affair with cream cheese!), fruit and chocolate. Christmas dinner! We shared with friends in the seats in front of us and read, talked and slept our way across the country to the inspiring days in Illinois. Actually a very lovely, yummy Christmas.
#2. Looking back on our wedding, I'm actually incredulous at the amount of hard work, patience and good cheer demonstrated by my mom. Bake goodies for 700 people--no problem. Make yards and yards of ivy garland and keep it fresh-- A-OK! Whip up cut flowers into bridesmaid bouquets--it's done! And on top of it all, she made a lasagna dinner for all of the extended family back at her house that evening. Tables of people all over the house. We talked and laughed and opened special gifts. It was a memorable meal at the end of a memorable day.
#3. I grew up on my Dad's Sunday morning french toast. While Mom got 4 kids ready for church, he'd put Tennesee Ernie Ford on the record player while he served up plates of french toast cut in neat little squares.... Larry and I had moved to Dallas by the time my Dad was diagnosed with lymph cancer. We waited anxiously for news of the surgery, treatments... When Christmas break came, we drove 30 hours straight through to arrive home late Saturday night to be back with Mom and Dad. Imagine my comfort and joy, when the next morning, Daddy managed to get into the kitchen and whip of the french toast. That's when I knew everything was going to be OK.
#4. To celebrate our anniversary the year we lived in Costa Rica Larry and braved a harrowing plane trip and landing in a cow pasture to spend a romantic weekend in a thatched hut near Playa Manuel Antonio. Imagine our surprise when we discovered the only available food was a kilometer walk down the beach! Thankfully, we had packed snacks-- tender hand made tortillas from the market, black beans, fruit and cookies. So each day we lunched lounging in the wooden chairs on our porch, on a hill overlooking the jungle, down to the aqua waters of the Pacific ocean--empty for as far as the eye could see. Paradise.
#5. It was a dark and stormy night. Jose Maria had gathered a group of us to venture out for a dinner to remember. He knew of a farm down a dark dirt road, between the pueblos of Utrera and Dos Hermanas, that served meals one night a week. We found it in the storm and tumbled in to sit at a table by the fireplace in centuries old farm house. With Jose Maria there is always lots of laughter and animated conversation, but I remember most the delicate servings of sole on my plate--grilled with olive oil and plenty of garlic & capers--tender and oh so garlicky! Sitting by the fire, at the ancient table--like a meal from another time.
#6 With our 2 boys sleeping in car seats, we loaded the car in Leon, France and made an early start into the French Alps on our way to Switzerland. After an while we needed some breakfast, so Larry pulled over into a village of gray stone houses punctuated by masses of red geraniums. On the square he found and bakery and returned to the car with a box of juice and a sizable loaf of hot fragrant bread, slathered with melting butter and big crystals of sugar. We continued into the mountains, boys still asleep and the "Best of Bach" turned up on the casette player. Passing tidy farms and mountain vistas, we enjoyed a blissful breakfast.
#7. One of many trips to the "campo" with the Utrera church led us out on a blustrery day to a grassy field out beyond "Moron de la Frontera." The men ignited a camp fire and Carmeli began to stir up her famous paella over the flames. But the winds kept extinguishing the fire, until finally someone remembered they knew of an abandoned "cortijo" (an old walled farm) nearby where we could take shelter and cook. We set up again in the courtyard surrounded by thick walled, whitewashed buildings. Someone covered the well to keep children from falling in and Carmeli had the rice bubbling in no time. After we had filled up on plates of paella and slabs of hearty Spanish bread, we gathered in one of the large rooms of the farm, lit only by small windows high above our heads. Baby Ani was on my lap and boys sat close by. Guitars started to strum, and we sang praise to God to the beat of the staccato clapping. A glorious day.
#8. My first tapas were one Sunday evening at Carmen's house. She invited us in on the spur of the moment and began to pull olives, cheeses, bread... from cupboards for an impromptu feast! But my most memorable tapas meals were with Jose Maria and Carmeli. One night in summer when the heat was oppressive, we had our 10 o'clock dinner up on their roof! We all pitched in to carry up tables and chairs up, while Carmeli fried the thin green peppers and sardines, she mounded up plates of potatoes and peppers marinated in olive oil and garlic, set out plates of strong cheeses, jamon serano and her famous potato tortilla. More food kept arriving until we could not longer fit it all on the folding tables. We ate and talked into the night-- When the gypsy family from the church arrived there was singing-- Manolita's grand voice above us all. I looked across the table strewn with wine bottles and the crumbs of dinner and thought, if only mom could see me now!
#9. In my early days of teaching kindergarten, I was sending the kiddos off to lunch in the cafeteria, when who should appear at my classroom door, but Jenni and Ruth! They remembered my birthday and had packed a beautiful picnic to celebrate!! We carried it down to the playground surrounded by kids playing at recess and enjoyed our lunchtime feast complete with a few packages to open. What an amazing surprise!
#10. I have a favorite photo in my room of Ani, Laurel and me on Newport Beach-- the site of my next memorable meal. It was in the middle of the marvelous "girls' day out" they planned for another birthday. Highlights included gifts to be used through the day, getting my ears pierced (finally!) and giving each other facials at our slumber party! And the meal at the beach was delightful-- all packed in coolers--including ice cream snickers for dessert that "magically" stayed frozen until lunchtime! One of my favorite days ever!
#11. Memorable meal #11 includes almost all of the family--Larry, Aaron, Ani, Brain, Laurel, Gr Stu, Gr Honey and Gr Lo. After Ani's graduation ceremony at Cal, she and Brian had made reservations at a beautiful Vietnamese restaurant. We squeezed around a large table in the middle of the bustling room. Ani and Brian had planned the menu ahead-- my favorite part of the meal were the paper thin rice wrappers that we dipped into bowls of hot water to soften and then filled from platters full of yummy ingredients-- grilled chicken, pork, slivers of carrot, bean sprouts, cilantro, peanuts and delectable sauces. Ani opened gifts. We took pictures. A delicious meal and a happy celebration!
#12. During a Christmas break Ani and I made a trip to Shanghai to see Micah and to meet Jodi. The first day on our walk through an old neighborhood to the enormous fabric/tailoring market, Micah suggested we stop at a small stall for lunch. In front were ladies cooking over two large pots. We settled around a little table behind them and Micah asked if I wanted a the rice dish or the noodle soup. I took the soup. When it arrived, i asked about the dark globs floating between the noodles. "Duck blood" he explained. I wish he had told me that before I ordered! :) It was the first of many memorable and delicious meals in China. I think he made up for it when we stopped later at a stand for hot egg custard tarts. yumm.
#13. But, by far the most memorable Chinese meal was served at Micah and Jodi's wedding!! In a red jewel box of a room with table gayly set all in red, servers filled the lazy susan in the center of the table again and again with new tempting dishes-- crab adorned with orchids, cold meats, boiled chicken, jellyfish, lobster, pigeon, mango seafood salad... As we continued the meal, Micah and Jodi marched in with friends for the western ceremony with Larry officiating. Then the chinese tea ceremony including all 4 of parents. The lively lion dancers burst into the room, followed by Micah and Jodi's duet. Of course there was wedding cake, lots of pictures and by nightfall the rain and stopped for us to gather outside for the fireworks!! A joyful, unforgettable evening.
#14. On our summer sojourn through Europe with Jac and Jackie, we enjoyed a few really memorable meals-- our elegant anniversary "date" in Bern, the wine bar in Venice, a beautiful seafood risotto in Florence... But if I had to choose the most memorable meal of the trip, it would be our picnic in the Alps above Grindewald. It started at the Migros market gathering supplies. Thanks to Jac's trusty corkscrew we were prepared! After our funicular ride up the mountain, we stopped under the eaves of a wooden outbuilding and spread out our feast-- a braided loaf of bread (best of the trip), cold cuts, cheeses, nectarines & apricots, a plum tart and the "petit suiss" I had searched for and finally located!! We feasted on the misty mountain side and then began our trek down the long path--taking pictures and singing until we landed in Grindewald for coffee and pastries.
#15. We are blessed to have had some superb meals at the homes of friends along the years. But this last summer Tim and Jill extended us the special kindness of inviting us to dinner every Tuesday evening while we were in the middle of our kitchen renovation. After a diet of frozen dinners and sandwiches, you can imagine how delectable Tim's "osso bucco" would be-- so tender, it fell off the bone. He even let me man the torch when he served the "crem brulee." Sweet Jill sat at the computer through everyone of our Charlotte videos after dinner and as an extra surprise gave me a ruffled apron with "Rhonda's Kitchen" stitched on the front!! We won't forget their generous kindness.
I noticed as I made this list and perhaps you noticed too, that most of these memorable meals were not about the food at all, but about the people we shared them with. The blessing of dear friends, wonderful family, and also good food! I am so very thankful for the delicious memories.
#1. In 1973 Larry and I left the Anaheim bus depot on Christmas morning on our way to the huge Urbana missions conference for college students. I brought the Christmas decorations to adorn our window as we rolled along and Larry brought the feast-- crackers and cream cheese (maybe the beginning of my love affair with cream cheese!), fruit and chocolate. Christmas dinner! We shared with friends in the seats in front of us and read, talked and slept our way across the country to the inspiring days in Illinois. Actually a very lovely, yummy Christmas.
#2. Looking back on our wedding, I'm actually incredulous at the amount of hard work, patience and good cheer demonstrated by my mom. Bake goodies for 700 people--no problem. Make yards and yards of ivy garland and keep it fresh-- A-OK! Whip up cut flowers into bridesmaid bouquets--it's done! And on top of it all, she made a lasagna dinner for all of the extended family back at her house that evening. Tables of people all over the house. We talked and laughed and opened special gifts. It was a memorable meal at the end of a memorable day.
#3. I grew up on my Dad's Sunday morning french toast. While Mom got 4 kids ready for church, he'd put Tennesee Ernie Ford on the record player while he served up plates of french toast cut in neat little squares.... Larry and I had moved to Dallas by the time my Dad was diagnosed with lymph cancer. We waited anxiously for news of the surgery, treatments... When Christmas break came, we drove 30 hours straight through to arrive home late Saturday night to be back with Mom and Dad. Imagine my comfort and joy, when the next morning, Daddy managed to get into the kitchen and whip of the french toast. That's when I knew everything was going to be OK.
#4. To celebrate our anniversary the year we lived in Costa Rica Larry and braved a harrowing plane trip and landing in a cow pasture to spend a romantic weekend in a thatched hut near Playa Manuel Antonio. Imagine our surprise when we discovered the only available food was a kilometer walk down the beach! Thankfully, we had packed snacks-- tender hand made tortillas from the market, black beans, fruit and cookies. So each day we lunched lounging in the wooden chairs on our porch, on a hill overlooking the jungle, down to the aqua waters of the Pacific ocean--empty for as far as the eye could see. Paradise.
#5. It was a dark and stormy night. Jose Maria had gathered a group of us to venture out for a dinner to remember. He knew of a farm down a dark dirt road, between the pueblos of Utrera and Dos Hermanas, that served meals one night a week. We found it in the storm and tumbled in to sit at a table by the fireplace in centuries old farm house. With Jose Maria there is always lots of laughter and animated conversation, but I remember most the delicate servings of sole on my plate--grilled with olive oil and plenty of garlic & capers--tender and oh so garlicky! Sitting by the fire, at the ancient table--like a meal from another time.
#6 With our 2 boys sleeping in car seats, we loaded the car in Leon, France and made an early start into the French Alps on our way to Switzerland. After an while we needed some breakfast, so Larry pulled over into a village of gray stone houses punctuated by masses of red geraniums. On the square he found and bakery and returned to the car with a box of juice and a sizable loaf of hot fragrant bread, slathered with melting butter and big crystals of sugar. We continued into the mountains, boys still asleep and the "Best of Bach" turned up on the casette player. Passing tidy farms and mountain vistas, we enjoyed a blissful breakfast.
#7. One of many trips to the "campo" with the Utrera church led us out on a blustrery day to a grassy field out beyond "Moron de la Frontera." The men ignited a camp fire and Carmeli began to stir up her famous paella over the flames. But the winds kept extinguishing the fire, until finally someone remembered they knew of an abandoned "cortijo" (an old walled farm) nearby where we could take shelter and cook. We set up again in the courtyard surrounded by thick walled, whitewashed buildings. Someone covered the well to keep children from falling in and Carmeli had the rice bubbling in no time. After we had filled up on plates of paella and slabs of hearty Spanish bread, we gathered in one of the large rooms of the farm, lit only by small windows high above our heads. Baby Ani was on my lap and boys sat close by. Guitars started to strum, and we sang praise to God to the beat of the staccato clapping. A glorious day.
#8. My first tapas were one Sunday evening at Carmen's house. She invited us in on the spur of the moment and began to pull olives, cheeses, bread... from cupboards for an impromptu feast! But my most memorable tapas meals were with Jose Maria and Carmeli. One night in summer when the heat was oppressive, we had our 10 o'clock dinner up on their roof! We all pitched in to carry up tables and chairs up, while Carmeli fried the thin green peppers and sardines, she mounded up plates of potatoes and peppers marinated in olive oil and garlic, set out plates of strong cheeses, jamon serano and her famous potato tortilla. More food kept arriving until we could not longer fit it all on the folding tables. We ate and talked into the night-- When the gypsy family from the church arrived there was singing-- Manolita's grand voice above us all. I looked across the table strewn with wine bottles and the crumbs of dinner and thought, if only mom could see me now!
#9. In my early days of teaching kindergarten, I was sending the kiddos off to lunch in the cafeteria, when who should appear at my classroom door, but Jenni and Ruth! They remembered my birthday and had packed a beautiful picnic to celebrate!! We carried it down to the playground surrounded by kids playing at recess and enjoyed our lunchtime feast complete with a few packages to open. What an amazing surprise!
#10. I have a favorite photo in my room of Ani, Laurel and me on Newport Beach-- the site of my next memorable meal. It was in the middle of the marvelous "girls' day out" they planned for another birthday. Highlights included gifts to be used through the day, getting my ears pierced (finally!) and giving each other facials at our slumber party! And the meal at the beach was delightful-- all packed in coolers--including ice cream snickers for dessert that "magically" stayed frozen until lunchtime! One of my favorite days ever!
#11. Memorable meal #11 includes almost all of the family--Larry, Aaron, Ani, Brain, Laurel, Gr Stu, Gr Honey and Gr Lo. After Ani's graduation ceremony at Cal, she and Brian had made reservations at a beautiful Vietnamese restaurant. We squeezed around a large table in the middle of the bustling room. Ani and Brian had planned the menu ahead-- my favorite part of the meal were the paper thin rice wrappers that we dipped into bowls of hot water to soften and then filled from platters full of yummy ingredients-- grilled chicken, pork, slivers of carrot, bean sprouts, cilantro, peanuts and delectable sauces. Ani opened gifts. We took pictures. A delicious meal and a happy celebration!
#12. During a Christmas break Ani and I made a trip to Shanghai to see Micah and to meet Jodi. The first day on our walk through an old neighborhood to the enormous fabric/tailoring market, Micah suggested we stop at a small stall for lunch. In front were ladies cooking over two large pots. We settled around a little table behind them and Micah asked if I wanted a the rice dish or the noodle soup. I took the soup. When it arrived, i asked about the dark globs floating between the noodles. "Duck blood" he explained. I wish he had told me that before I ordered! :) It was the first of many memorable and delicious meals in China. I think he made up for it when we stopped later at a stand for hot egg custard tarts. yumm.
#13. But, by far the most memorable Chinese meal was served at Micah and Jodi's wedding!! In a red jewel box of a room with table gayly set all in red, servers filled the lazy susan in the center of the table again and again with new tempting dishes-- crab adorned with orchids, cold meats, boiled chicken, jellyfish, lobster, pigeon, mango seafood salad... As we continued the meal, Micah and Jodi marched in with friends for the western ceremony with Larry officiating. Then the chinese tea ceremony including all 4 of parents. The lively lion dancers burst into the room, followed by Micah and Jodi's duet. Of course there was wedding cake, lots of pictures and by nightfall the rain and stopped for us to gather outside for the fireworks!! A joyful, unforgettable evening.
#14. On our summer sojourn through Europe with Jac and Jackie, we enjoyed a few really memorable meals-- our elegant anniversary "date" in Bern, the wine bar in Venice, a beautiful seafood risotto in Florence... But if I had to choose the most memorable meal of the trip, it would be our picnic in the Alps above Grindewald. It started at the Migros market gathering supplies. Thanks to Jac's trusty corkscrew we were prepared! After our funicular ride up the mountain, we stopped under the eaves of a wooden outbuilding and spread out our feast-- a braided loaf of bread (best of the trip), cold cuts, cheeses, nectarines & apricots, a plum tart and the "petit suiss" I had searched for and finally located!! We feasted on the misty mountain side and then began our trek down the long path--taking pictures and singing until we landed in Grindewald for coffee and pastries.
#15. We are blessed to have had some superb meals at the homes of friends along the years. But this last summer Tim and Jill extended us the special kindness of inviting us to dinner every Tuesday evening while we were in the middle of our kitchen renovation. After a diet of frozen dinners and sandwiches, you can imagine how delectable Tim's "osso bucco" would be-- so tender, it fell off the bone. He even let me man the torch when he served the "crem brulee." Sweet Jill sat at the computer through everyone of our Charlotte videos after dinner and as an extra surprise gave me a ruffled apron with "Rhonda's Kitchen" stitched on the front!! We won't forget their generous kindness.
I noticed as I made this list and perhaps you noticed too, that most of these memorable meals were not about the food at all, but about the people we shared them with. The blessing of dear friends, wonderful family, and also good food! I am so very thankful for the delicious memories.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Lynwood
Last month Lulu, my mom and I spent a sunny Sunday afternoon up and down the streets of Lynwood. We lived there from the time I was 3 til 19. I'd been there before with other companions, but it was more fun seeing it all with mom and Luanne-- so many common memories flooded back and we laughed and had a few serious moments as we toured our old neighborhood, schools, shops, friends streets. A highlight for me was finding our old Lynwood church just about to have their Sunday afternoon service. We slipped inside and sat in the back room as the hispanic service was starting up. So wonderful to see people who love God still worshipping there. We walked around the building, peeking in and stopping to take a photo of Luanne and me on the back steps-- site of past Sunday school group shots! A lovely day together.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Lent
I saw Mary Ann come in to school on Wednesday with ash on her forehead. I had been thinking about Lent ahead but not with a thought for what I could do. So her simple reminder moved me to find my own offering of Lent. Maybe it sounds silly, but I am not reading books, or checking my computer (normally the first conscious act of each morning!) until I have read my Bible and prayed. So many mornings I intend to read & pray, but it gets brushed aside in the rush of getting to school. So for these days I am being faithful, in the way my Lord is eternally faithful to all of us. And I've received a blessing already. I read "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope" Romans 15:4. God's word giving hope. Just what I need. Thank you Lord. And thank you for the Passion of our Lord which is what we are anticipating in these days. Amen.
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