My Aunt Carolyn...

My dear Aunt Carolyn passed away on Nov. 3, 2012.  We traveled to Iowa to attend her visitation and funeral and to see family.  Carolyn had planned it all out and it was perfect - a celebration of love and life and family.  She leaves behind three beloved children and their spouses, 5 grandchildren and their spouses and 3 great grandchildren along with her 3 'little' brothers and their families.  She was SO proud of her family.  She loved them all with a fervent heart.

Carolyn's beloved children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren

Laura, Marvin, Jonathan, Jackson, Jennifer, Julie, Mama, Daddy, Brad

Charles III, Steve, Charles and Ilene

Carolyn's children - Paul, Charlotte and Jane

her 'little' brothers - Charles, Mitch and Jack

She had requested that the following poem be read at her funeral.  I thought it was intensely beautiful and quite fitting.  Its beauty makes me cry.

"To Those I Love"

by

Isla Paschal Richardson

If I should ever leave you whom I love

To go along the Silent Way… grieve not.

Nor speak of me with tears, but laugh and talk

Of me as if I were beside you there.

(I’d come…I’d come, could I but find a way!

But would not tears and grief be barriers?)

And when you hear a song or see a bird

I loved, please do not let the thought of me

be sad…  For I am loving you just as

I always have…

  You were so good to me!

There are so many things I wanted still

To do…so many things to say to you…

Remember that I did not fear…It was

Just leaving you that was so hard to face.

We cannot see Beyond…But this I know:

I loved you so…‘twas heaven here with you!

Joyful, elegant, talented, vibrant... these are words that come immediately to mind when I think about my Aunt Carolyn.  I can hear her tinkling laugh, a common sound if you were around her for any length of time.  Her joyful spirit bubbled out of her.  You just couldn't feel down in her presence.

One of my favorite memories of her, I think because it so personified her, happened at our family reunion in Charlotte, NC back in June of 2005.  We were taking a tour of downtown Charlotte and cousin Ernie wanted to be sure and point out the 'singing building' that played actual musical notes if you pressed on the panels.  We all got a kick out of it and tried it out, but Aunt Carolyn was so happy about that building... she actually played a song on it by walking up and down the sidewalk making the different musical notes play!  Can't you just see her joyful spirit bubbling out in this photo?  It makes me smile every time I look at it.  :)

Of course, she used music to bring joy to people all her life.  She spent her lifetime teaching music to elementary students in Iowa and was recognized as the "Iowa State Teacher of the Year, Honoree" in 1985.  She taught piano and played the organ for her church (and others) for years.  She even made a CD of her own recorded piano music - I cherish my copy.

Carolyn went into the hospital back on June 26, suffering from heart and kidney failure.  She was planning to attend our annual family reunion and Daddy's retirement from ATSU just a few days later.  It broke all of our hearts that she couldn't be with us, knowing how very, very much she wanted to be.  After she passed away, her daughter, Charlotte, sent Daddy the following picture, which meant so much.  It shows Carolyn watching the live stream of the retirement festivities on a computer in her hospital room.  She was determined to not miss it completely.  :)

A few years ago I put together a video honoring all the remarkable women in my family.  Clearly, Carolyn was one of them and she figures prominently in that video.  I have watched it several times again since she passed away.

And here is a video of Carolyn from our reunion 2 summers ago.  She is telling a story and playing the hymn 'Wonderful Words of Life'.

I'll leave you with these final things... a plaque that hung on her kitchen wall.  I took this photo when we were up there in late August because I wanted to remember it always.  It makes me smile and think of her.  (Plus, I agree with her on the sentiment!)

And photos from over the years with her siblings.  She has now gone to join Marjorie and their parents, and I can imagine that has been a lovely reunion.  You can see that there is a legacy of love and laughter in our family...   :)

And just to show how far back that legacy of laughter goes, here is a photo of some of my GREAT aunts and uncles... the generation before Daddy and his siblings.  I sure do see the similarities.   :)

"Thank you, Lord, for my family and for the memories of my dear Aunt Carolyn."

Chicken Jambalaya

Next time I want to try this recipe using shrimp.  This time around I just used what I had in the house, which meant chicken only.

Chicken Jambalaya

water for sauteing veggies

3 stalks celery, diced

3 carrots, peeled and sliced penny-style

1/2 large yellow onion, chopped

1 green bell pepper, chopped

1 (14.5 oz.) can diced tomatoes (no salt added)

5 chicken bouillon cubes  (adds too much sodium, so beware... could use low sodium broth instead of the bouillon cubes and water)

5 cups water

1 cup brown Minute Rice (uncooked)

3/4 tsp. dried thyme

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. onion powder

1/2 tsp. Tony Chachere's Creole seasoning

1/4 tsp. black pepper

1 bay leaf

3 cups cooked, cubed chicken  (I used Rotisserie chicken meat)

Saute celery, carrots, onion and green pepper in stockpot on medium low heat in water.  Use just enough water to keep the veggies from sticking to the bottom of the skillet.  Add water as needed until you have the veggies cooked to desired tenderness.  (I like crisp tender at this point)

Stir in tomatoes, rice, bouillon, water, and all seasonings.  Bring all to a boil.  Reduce heat, cover and simmer for about 10 minutes or until rice is tender.  Stir in chicken and cook until heated through.  Discard bay leaf and serve.    (you can use long grain rice instead and just increase the cooking time as needed)

Nutritional Info

• Servings Per Recipe: 6
• Amount Per Serving
• Calories: 184.7

• Total Fat: 1.8 g
• Cholesterol: 33.8 mg
• Sodium: 1,344.5 mg
• Total Carbs: 24.0 g
• Dietary Fiber: 3.9 g
• Protein: 19.1 g

Bonfire, again!

I am realizing that I have too many posts entitled 'Bonfire'.   :)  I guess that comes with having a son who likes to have a lot of parties!  He had billed this one as his 'last party of the year', but I am wondering if that will actually hold.  Either way is fine with me.  These are terrific kids and I am just glad that we have a place where they can gather to enjoy each others company.  They even let me sneak in and take a few pictures, if I am quick!   :)

Ironically, the weather for this bonfire was not nearly as cold and miserable as the last one.  In fact, it turned out to be a pretty pleasant time around the fire.  Although, about half way through the evening they all came traipsing in to eat and never went back outside.  :)  

Here are some photos from the evening.  They tell the story best, I think.  :)

Ben, Tyler and Jonathan

They were the first to tackle the snack table while the older kids were still outside at the fire!   :)

Megan and Melina warming up with soup.

hungry kids!

Jonathan S. and Adrian

Aviel, Tenea, Megan and Melina

Nils, Joey, Mia, Jillian, Sebastian and Mason

Gigi, Naseem, Jackson and Katie

the whole crew!!

downstairs playing pool... except for Mia the pogo stick champ!   :)

Tenea, Megan, Melina and Jackson

Naseem and Katie

Jonathan S. Gigi and Adrian

the younger boys playing a late night game of 'Night at the Museum' outside

Cannellini Beans with Kale

How I served it...

Man, this stuff is quick and tasty.  It is a breeze to whip up for a quick lunch or dinner.  The only problem is that my fellas aren't nearly as enthused as I am.  I keep thinking 'baby steps'.  :)  They have come a long way with me over the course of this last year and I have hope that there is still more ground for them to cover.  For the most part, they have transitioned well with my change in cooking methods and the loss of some of their favorite foods (like chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes and cream gravy!).

So, for now, this delectable dish is just for me, but I'll keep trying!!   :)

Cannellini Beans with Kale
2 Tbsp. olive oil  (see note below about this....)
1 large onion, chopped
1 Tbsp. minced garlic  (or 1 tsp. garlic powder)
1 can Bush's Cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
4 cups Kale, cleaned, drained and chopped
1/2  Knorr Vegetable Bouillon cube  (or 1 cup vegetable broth instead of the bouillon and water)
1 cup water
1/2 tsp. black pepper

Saute onion in olive oil on low heat until caramelized.  (Note - I am now learning to saute using just water... no oil.  Here is a link that tells more about this method.)  Add garlic after onions are done and saute 1 minute.  Turn heat up to medium high and add remaining ingredients.  Cover and cook until kale is wilted and beans are heated through, stirring as needed.

I served this alongside my Honey Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Uncle Ben's Chicken and Wild Rice.  Actually, not just alongside, but all mixed together!!  Even better!!   :)

How I actually ate it!   :)

Nutritional Info

• Servings Per Recipe: 3
• Amount Per Serving
• Calories: 182.0

• Total Fat: 1.1 g
• Cholesterol: 0.0 mg
• Sodium: 635.2 mg
• Total Carbs: 37.6 g
• Dietary Fiber: 11.4 g
• Protein: 12.5 g

Celebrating Jonathan!

We celebrated Jonathan for an entire weekend!  :)  His birthday fell on a Friday this year and he was able to have his 'friend' party on his actual birthday, much to his liking.  He chose to have a combination birthday/costume party since it was so close to Halloween.  He had been working on a costume for a couple of weeks and got it finished the night before the party.  It was pretty cool, if I do say so myself.  You can't see from the photo, but there was some real engineering that went into the legs (inside) and the arms (for motion ability).  Plus, the head was lined for comfort with EVA foam.  :)  The fellas all looked great in their costumes and, except for Jonathan, were able to keep them on for most of the party.  :)

Jonathan in his Minecraft costume that he made.

Jonathan, Bennett, Luca, Tyler

Jonathan had asked Grandpa if he would drive the team of Haflingers for his party.  The weather was again lovely and the boys had a good ride in the wagon, going all over our place.  

in the wagon

Jackson, Adrian, Jonathan, Luca, Bennett, Tyler and Grandpa

They spent time on the trampoline, played pool in the basement, ate cake and candy, opened presents and just enjoyed hanging out together.  It was a great group of fellas and I think everyone had a good time.  Success!  

Jackson and Adrian also made Minecraft heads... :)

Then, the next night we celebrated Jonathan again with the 'family' birthday party.  Jonathan asked Grandma for not one, but TWO of her famous chocolate buttermilk sheet cakes - one for the friend party and another for the family party.  She obliged and we were ALL grateful!   :)

My boy is growing up before my eyes...

Julie and Anna

Grandma and Grandpa

Jackson and Marvin

Laura and Jonathan

Jonathan holding up the 2012 MO State Fair belt buckle - an annual birthday gift from Grandpa.  The fellas have been collecting these belt buckles since 2005 and they are cherished mementos.

Inevitably, someone will start talking about previous years buckles and one of the fellas at the table will stand up to show off that version.  You can pretty well count on it!   :)  ha!

Minecraft seemed to be a theme this year...  :)

It was an honor to celebrate my dear youngest son... how quickly the years are flying by.  I just want to grab hold and remember it all...