New Blanket for a New Baby!

Great Grandma Edith Jex Clayton sent us a gift in the mail! She said, "Every baby needs a new blanket." Thanks Edith--we are excited to use this for our new froggy.

If I Only Had Three Days to See by Helen Keller

If I had three days to see by Helen Keller

Utah School for the Deaf: 1934

I have often thought it would be a blessing if each human being were stricken blind and deaf for a few days at some time during his early adult life. Darkness would make him more appreciative of sight; silence would teach him the joy of sound.

Now and then I have tested my seeing friends to discover what they see. Recently I asked a friend, who had just returned from a long walk in the woods, what she had observed. “Nothing in particular,” she replied.

How is it possible, I asked myself, to walk for an hour through the woods and see nothing worthy of note? I who cannot see find hundreds of things to feel in the delicate symmetry of a leaf. I pass my hands lovingly about the smooth skin of a silver birch, or the rough, shaggy bark of a pine. In spring I touch the branches of trees hopefully in search of a bud, the first sign of awakening Nature after her winter’s sleep. Occasionally, if I am very fortunate, I place my hand gently on a small tree and feel the happy quiver of a bird in full song.

At times my heart cries out with longing to see all these things. If I can get so much pleasure from mere touch, how much more beauty must be revealed by sight! And I have imagined what I should most like to see if I were given the use of my eyes, say, for just three days.

I should divide the period into parts. On the first day, I should want to see the people whose kindness and companionship have made my life worth living. I do not know what it is to see into the heart of a friend through that “window of the soul,” the eye. I can only “see” through my finger tips the outline of a face. I can detect laughter, sorrow, and many other obvious emotions. I know my friends from the feel of their faces.

How much easier, how much more satisfying it is for you who can see to grasp quickly the essential qualities of another person by watching the subtleties of expression, the quiver of a muscle, the flutter of a hand! But does it ever occur to you to use your sight to see into the inner nature of a friend? Do not most of you seeing people grasp casually the outward features of a face and let it go at that?

For instance, can you describe accurately the faces of five good friends? As an experiment, I have questioned husbands about the color of their wives’ eyes, and often they express embarrassed confusion and admit that they do not know.

Oh, the things that I should see if I had the power of sight for just three days!

The first day would be a busy one. I should call to me all my dear friends and look long into their faces, imprinting upon my mind the outward evidences of the beauty that is within them. I should let my eyes rest, too, on the face of a baby, so that I could catch a vision of the eager, innocent beauty which precedes the individual’s consciousness of the conflicts which life develops. I should like to see the books which have been read to me and which revealed to me the deepest channels of human life. And I should like to look into the loyal trusting eyes of my dogs, the little Scottie and the stalwart Great Dane.

In the afternoon, I should take a long walk in the woods and intoxicate my eyes on the beauties of the world of Nature. And I should pray for the glory of a colorful sunset. That night, I think I should not be able to sleep.

The next day I should arise with the dawn and see the thrilling miracle by which night is transformed into day. I should behold with awe the magnificent panorama of light with which the sun awakens the sleeping earth.

This day I should devote to a hasty glimpse of the world, past and present. I should want to see the pageant of man’s progress, and so I should go to the museums. There my eyes would see the condensed history of the earth—animals and the races of men pictured in the native environment, gigantic carcasses of dinosaurs and mastedons which roamed the earth before man appeared, with his tiny stature and powerful brain, to conquer the animal kingdom.

My next stop would be the Museum of Art. I know well through my hands the sculptured gods and goddesses of the ancient Nile-land. I have felt copies of Parthenon friezes, and I have sensed the rhythmic beauty of charging Athenian warriors. The gnarled, bearded features of Homer are dear to me, for he too, knew blindness.

So on this day, my second day, I should try to probe into the soul of man through his art. The things I knew through touch I should now see. More splendid still, the whole magnificent world of painting would be opened to me. I should be able to get only a superficial impression. Artists tell me that for a deep and true appreciation of art one must educate the eye. One must learn through experience to weigh the merits of line, of composition, of form and color. If I had eyes, how happily would I embark on so fascinating a study.

The evening of my second day I should spend at a theater or at the movies. How I should like to see the fascinating figure of Hamlet, or the gusty Falstaff amid colorful Elizabethan trappings! I cannot enjoy the beauty of rhythmic movement except in a sphere restricted to the touch of my hands. I can vision only dimly the grace of a Pavloa, although I know something of the delight of rhythm, for often I can sense beat of music as it vibrates through the floor. I can well imagine that cadenced motion must be one of the most pleasing sights in the world. I have been able to gather something of this by tracing with my fingers the lines in sculptured marble, if this static grace can be so lovely, how much more acute must be the thrill of seeing grace of motion.

The following morning, I should again greet the dawn, anxious to discover new delights, new revelations of beauty. Today, this third day, I shall spend in the workaday world, amid the haunts of men going about the business of life. The city becomes my destination.

First, I stand at a busy corner, merely looking at the people trying by sight of them to understand something of their daily lives. I see smiles, and I am happy. I see serious determinations, and I m proud. I see suffering, and I am compassionate.

I stroll down Fifth Avenue. I throw my eyes out of focus, so that I see no particular object but only a seething kaleidoscope of color. I am certain that the colors of woman’s dresses moving in a throng must be a gorgeous spectacle of which I should never tire. But perhaps if I had sight I should be like most other women—too interested in style to give much attention to the splendor of color in the mass.

From Fifth Avenue I make a tour of the city—to the slums, to factories, to parks where children play. I take a stay-at-home trip abroad by visiting the foreign quarters. Always my eyes are open wide to all the sights of both happiness and misery so that I may probe deep and add to my understanding of how people work and live.

My third day of sight is drawing to an end. Perhaps there are many serious pursuits to which I should devote the few remaining of hours, but I am afraid that on the evening of the last day I should again run away to the theater, to a hilariously funny play, so that I might appreciate the overtones of comedy in the human spirit.

At midnight permanent night would close in on me again. Naturally in those three short days I should not have seen all I wanted to see. Only when darkness had again descended upon me should I realize how much I had left unseen.

Perhaps this short outline does not agree with the program you might set for yourself if you knew that you were about to be stricken blind. I am, however, sure that if you faced that fate you would use your eyes as never before. Everything you saw would become dear to you. Your eyes would touch and embrace every object that came within your range of vision. Then, at last, you would really see, and a new world of beauty would open itself to you.

I who am blind can give one hint to those who see: Use your eyes as if tomorrow you would be stricken blind. And the same method can be applied to the other senses. Hear the music of voices, the song of a bird, the mighty strains of an orchestra, as if you would be stricken deaf tomorrow. Touch each object as if tomorrow your tactile sense would fail. Smell the perfume of flowers, taste with relish each morsel, as if tomorrow you could never smell and taste again. Make the most of every sense; glory in all the facets of pleasure and beauty which the world reveals to you through the several means of contact which Nature provides. But of all the senses, I am sure that sight is the most delightful.

"Decadent Brownies"

Costco is selling a new sweetener that is supposed to be easier on your GI index, Agave Nectar. It is light and sweet in taste. I was interested in this brownie recipe I stumbled across which calls for the sweetener and also uses black beans to increase the protein content.

I made them up on Monday. They really do firm up and become easier to cut after leaving in the refrigerator overnight. My children came home from school and smelled them and each had a double serving with milk--never suspecting the "real ingredients" in them. That is why we do not call them by their real recipe name! They are surprisingly delicious (especially if you are not buying chocolate--see Joe's New Year's Goal in earlier posts...and if you are pregnant and constantly tired). They are not, however, low fat or necessarily "healthy." In the recipe below, I used the same amount of semisweet chocolate chips in place of the baker's chocolate and I substituted powdered cocoa for the instant coffee.

Amazing Black Bean Brownie Recipe

For those of you who have a hard time tracking down agave nectar (substitute honey 1:1 for the agave nectar. Ania's head notes encourage you to keep these brownies in the refrigerator, they will slice much better if refrigerated several hours or preferably overnight.

4 ounces unsweetened chocolate (or 4 oz. semisweet chocolate chips) 1 cup unsalted butter 2 cups soft-cooked black beans, drained well (hs: canned is fine, I used 2 cans) 1 cup walnuts, chopped 1 tablespoon vanilla extract ¼ cup (granulated) natural coffee substitute (or instant coffee, for gluten-sensitive) ( or 1/4 cup cocoa) ¼ teaspoon sea salt 4 large eggs 1½ cups light agave nectar

Preheat the oven to 325°F. Line an 11- by 18-inch (rimmed) baking pan (hs note: or jellyroll pan) with parchment paper and lightly oil with canola oil spray. Melt the chocolate and butter in a glass bowl in the microwave for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes on high. Stir with a spoon to melt the chocolate completely. Place the beans, 1/2 cup of the walnuts, the vanilla extract, and a couple of spoonfuls of the melted chocolate mixture into the bowl of a food processor. Blend about 2 minutes, or until smooth. The batter should be thick and the beans smooth. Set aside. In a large bowl, mix together the remaining 1/2 cup walnuts, remaining melted chocolate mixture, coffee substitute, and salt. Mix well and set aside. In a separate bowl, with an electric mixer beat the eggs until light and creamy, about 1 minute. Add the agave nectar and beat well. Set aside. Add the bean/chocolate mixture to the coffee/chocolate mixture. Stir until blended well. Add the egg mixture, reserving about 1/2 cup. Mix well. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Using an electric mixer, beat the remaining 1/2 cup egg mixture until light and fluffy. Drizzle over the brownie batter. Use a wooden toothpick to pull the egg mixture through the batter, creating a marbled effect. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until the brownies are set. Let cool in the pan completely before cutting into squares. (They will be soft until refrigerated.)

Makes 45 (2-inch) brownies.

Reprinted with permission from Baking With Agave Nectar: Over 100 Recipes Using Nature's Ultimate Sweetener by Ania Catalano. (Ten Speed Press 2008)

101 Cookbooks http://www.101cookbooks.com/

Potty Training a Princess

For some time now I have been thinking of going back to potty training our youngest. She began spontaneously last year at the worst times (three days before leaving with Joe to Costa Rica, etc.). Yesterday, I just did not put a diaper on her in the morning after putting her on the toilet. She did not like this but she also did not have an accident. This morning, I showed her where the Big Girl Panties were and how soft they were. She has had some on all morning and not had an accident yet (it is almost 2:00 p.m.). She came up to me and looked me in the face and said, "Mommy--am I really a princess?" Yes!

Funny Things Children Say

This morning I asked daughter number two (9 yrs. old) where daughter number one (11 almost 12 yrs. old) was since I was almost time to leave for early morning choir (7:35 a.m.) and she had not shown up for breakfast. "Sad to say but she is still getting dressed. Apparently, this world is a world of options and H (daughter number one) just can't make up her mind!" I laughed. What an interesting way of saying "she's still getting dressed!" "What? What's so funny?" Daughter number two asks. Good Morning Wednesday.

Susie and the Snowball

Susie got up early and was "playing" in her room so I slept in. I came downstairs to see her night-gowned little figure outside the window on the front lawn. She was wearing a nightgown and pink boots. She was by the rear of the AllPro Cleaning Truck. I run to the door and call to her. "Mom,... I've got this." Susie looks down into her hands. "A ball." "Yes, Susie, that is a snowball." "Yes, and it needs to stay outside (and you need to come inside and get dressed!)" "Okay, I'll leave it right here so it can find it's friends!" she says as she gently puts it on the front doormat and comes inside and closes the door. "My hands are cold!" Susie says looking down. Audible gasp, "Ooh, they're melting! What am I gonna do!? (Said very dramatic). Maybe I could wipe them." She heads down the hall to the kitchen for a towel. Later** I notice a blue balloon wrapping by the front door. Yesterday, I noticed that one of the children took the frozen water balloon out of the freezer and placed it outside by the doorstep. Susie must have found it and unwrapped it. Can you tell I haven't spent enough time outside with her this Winter? She was murmuring about getting her coat on and making a snowman.

A Valentines without Chocolate (Valentines Weekend)

This weekend, we celebrated Valentines. This year, we had lower expectations and played things by ear. (So Joe and I went and bought a present for me at Shopko together on Saturday night. We have not done that before--usually it is a surprise). We were supposed to be "camping out" at my parents old A-style cabin on Saturday night but as the night fell, I got more and more nauseated. My children were understanding as we put aside the things we were going to take and ate heart shaped pizza, made chocolate chip cookies (thanks Papa Murphys' Valentine Special dinner for$9.99) and Joe's requested BBQ Chicken pizza. Joe read aloud to me and the children watched The Princess Bride instead. The Valentine Bird left dazzling Sweethearts for the children and little figurines for each child. It was odd not having chocolates today (but probably saved me some weight). Joe brought out a Symphony bar he has saved since Christmas and we shared it and read a new book together. Sunday morning we woke the children to a special big breakfast. We ate bacon, whole wheat pancakes with cream and berries (blue and raspberry), Smuckers flavored syrups, scrambled eggs, and white grape juice. I love having late church! Joe had no meeting this morning and it was so nice to have him home helping get the Nursery Treat Bucket ready, four children dressed, and out the door on time! After church, the children and I worked on Valentines for family and went to Family Dinner. We dropped Hannah and Rebekah off to Jane's house for a birthday sleep over and visited Mom and Dad Campbells' with Valentine presents.

A Bunburying Day

Susie and I have been at it again. How tricky it is being three. She delights us by the things she says. She delighted me with her "schemas" (or early drawings showing a circle head and feet, eyes, and hair--not just "scribbles.") That is, until she drew schemas all over the counters (in black crayon) and a play table--I blame Elmo and the Elmo's World movies she got for her birthday. She is very sweet to "baby" and kisses and hugs and talks to her (my pregnant belly) often. She has also begun to tantrum (when hungry and tired). Susie has had some very late nights (or early mornings) where we have both struggled to sleep. Last night, unfortunately, was another one of those. This morning I noticed the remains of a fine rash all over her body...Roseolla? Normally, I would go back to bed after getting the big children off but she awoke early and the All Pro service man came just as I was headed (hopefully) back to sleep. Unpredicted snow flakes fell softly. I muddled along, so tired. In The Importance of Being Ernest by Oscar Wilde, Jack Worthing, the plays protagonist and upstanding citizen, pretends to have a black sheep brother "Ernest" in the city who is often getting in scrapes and causing Jack to rush off and rescue him. In fact, Ernest is Jack--in the city. Jacks close friend, Algernon, suspects Jacks double ways and has his own Mr. Bunbury, an imaginary chronic invalid to whom he rushes off to visit at his deathbed. Bunbury becomes the catch all to the plays double life deeds. Today, I was Bunburying too. I thought of all I needed to do and instead spent the morning and early afternoon reading about abuse among the Amish (random, I know). Then I picked up Nicholas Sparks novel, A Walk to Remember. The sun was out, children coming home from school, and I read on and cried. (The movie is updated and in some ways because I saw it first, I prefer it to the book. It is still a sweet story). Children got home and spread out their Valentine party loot. The sun is setting and I have bunburried the day away...oh, well. It was nice to come "home" to my children and inform them that Mr. Bunburry was very "sick" and now his heart is better, perhaps.

Valentine Fun Ideas (Cheap and Easy)

This year, most of us are feeling the financial pinch and also wondering what to do for Valentines weekend. My children get out of school Friday (Teacher Comp Day) through Monday (President's Day) and so it will be a long weekend. Some Valentine Ideas: For that someone special in your life: Purchase, recycle, reuse a pretty apothecary-type jar with a ribbon around it. On the front you might label: Happiness Notes. For example: *Joseph's Happiness Notes These notes are guaranteed to uplift, encourage, and please you. To be drawn at the rate of one per week (or day).

1. Good for an evening of undivided attention playing a computer game (Age of Mythology, Fiesta, etc.).
2. Good for one special moonlight walk together.
3. Good for a dessert of your choice (cookies, chewy brownies, )
4. Good for one extra long back rub.
5. Good for a Redbox movie of your choice.
6. Good for a quiet evening reading the book of your choice.
7. Good for a romantic evening together.
8. Good for a special big kiss.
9. Good for a pedicure: foot soak, rub, and massage with lotion.
10. Good for one extra special dinner request.

And the list goes on and on with the things that Joe really likes. The children also like the Valentines Bird which leaves love notes, small presents or sweets for them. We like to decorate sugar cookies and chocolate heart cookies. Another idea is a *Valentine Tree. (This is especially fun for the ones in your life whose love language is appreciation.) Go out into the yard and select a branch from a tree. Cut it. You may spray paint it white (in a well ventilated area). "Plant it" in a flower pot with marbles or stones, etc. Let children decorate it with Valentine hearts and love notes. [This same tree can be used for any holiday with added decorations such as shamrocks, colored eggs, etc.] * From a book I purchased secondhand called, "A Family Raised on Rainbows" by Beverly Nye. **From Gary Chapman, The Five Love Languages.

Happy Groundhog's Day!

Joe and I have a tradition today. It started a couple of years ago rather informally. We meet for dinner and a movie upstairs. Dinner is grape juice, shrimp with cocktail sauce, rice, and a vegetable egg roll with sweet and sour sauce. The movie is Groundhog Day (with Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell) of course! We set the children up for dinner downstairs and a "G" movie under Hannah's supervision. They had turkey hot dogs, corn, and Broccoli Au Gratin Rice. The yearly movie viewing is a good reminder to me of the transformation that one person can undergo when they forget themselves and go to work making the situation in which they have been placed or "stuck in" a better place. Winter by this point in the season usually seems too long and gray (being a non-skier and non-sledder, very pregnant). Bekah has begun to despair, "Will Spring ever come?" That little hog, Punxsutawny Phil, always seems to "predict" six more weeks of Winter. Has he ever predicted Spring right now--practically tomorrow?! I don't think so. I love one of the closing lines when Phil (Bill Murray) asks Rita (Andie MacDowell) ", Is there anything I can do for you today?" So...is there anything that I can do for you today?