Blog Friends

It is funny how when you "meet" someone online, you feel like you've been friends with them for a while.  That was the case with Anne.  But, we actually met in person while we were both adopting in 2010.  Our paths crossed in Guangzhou at the Victory Hotel every morning at breakfast.  Many in the adoption community probably know her daughter, Courtney, if they've ever visited RQ.  Over the last 3 years we've kept in touch through our blogs and emails.  It seems we have a whole lot of things in common.

We both had 3 biological children before adopting 3 more children.  I had 1 daughter and 2 sons; she had 2 daughters and 1 son.  She went on to adopt 3 boys, while I adopted 3 girls.  She has a cool husband; and I have a cool husband.  You get the picture.

She and her sweet family happened to be in the area to see her son graduate from boot camp; a familiar theme in our family.  So, I "encouraged" her to swing by our house on her way out of town.  She said she only could stay an hour to stretch their legs.  Well, they ended up spending about 3 hours stretching their legs, and it was a great visit.  I felt like I was meeting famous movie stars after reading about the family for so many years!

I think the little ones hit it off fairly well.  Ivy served as "big sister" to all of them.  The boys were very sweet and just as adorable in person as in the pictures.

Even our big boys managed a few words and played some basketball.  Yes, that is a blow torch in my son's hand.  They were burning brush.  Nothing that a couple of young men can't handle.

No pictures of our husbands.  They managed to stay in the air-conditioned house for most of the visit.  Maybe, just maybe one day, we can head to the Southwest to visit in their neck of the woods.  What a contrast to our mountains in Virginia.

More Asian Food

In keeping with the theme of Asian food from my previous post, I thought I'd share a Saucy Asian Meatball recipe from The Recipe Critic that seemed to go over well with my whole clan this evening.  Rarely is everyone at the dinner table satisfied with a meal.

And since I was fixing Asian food, I thought it would be appropriate to have Asian helpers in the kitchen with me.

Yes, they enjoyed squishing all the ingredients together that made about 3 dozen garlicky meatballs.

Joy preferred watching from the sidelines.  But, she did some stirring and took about a dozen pictures of me and raw meat.  Not a great combination since my "meatless for a month" experiment.  My meat consumption generally consists of tasting the meals I cook and making sure they taste just right. 

 One of Joy's 27 shots of me in the kitchen.  It was the only one without my eyes closed.

Yes, I generally have helpers or an audience in the kitchen.

And since we were having an Asian night, Ivy made some green tea in a green pitcher.

And, yes, I let my girls use real kitchen knives.  It is the only way to learn.

And since coming home from China many years ago, this is the only white rice that we buy.  I absolutely love it with a little soy sauce and sesame oil.  It makes me happy.

I warmed up all the ingredients for the sauce, and we sat down for dinner...after Jack removed the remaining cricket legs off the table cloth from yesterday's snack.  Yuck.

Apparently, the meatballs were so good that Joy (surprise) and Ivy had seconds.  The sauce was quite tangy, but I'm sure you could tone it down with less rice vinegar.  I was supposed to garnish the meal with sesame seeds and/or green onions.  But, that would have thrown Jack for a loop and he would have picked everything off.  One step at a time.

And I Thought You Could Only Get These In China

Mike travels a bit for work.  Mostly he is in Virginia or the Northeastern United States.  Today, he came home a whole day early with some snacks especially for Jack.

Yes, you are seeing that correctly.  Sour Cream and Onion crickets and Cheddar Cheese Worm snacks; Larvets to be exact.  It made my skin crawl.  I just could not even look at them.  Jack likes to try weird things, and this is quite bizarre.

Larvae just doesn't seem too appealing to me even if it is cheese flavored.

And, of course, the girls had to get in on the action.  They were quite fascinated with it all.  The treats actually sat on the table for a few hours while the girls contemplated their next move.

And to think...just 3 years ago, Ivy cried and her hands shook when she picked up a dead stink bug with a stick, and she once refused to touch an earthworm.  Now, she is eating crickets!

::CRUNCH::CRUNCH::

When I Ate...

...as much as she eats and stayed that skinny,

my dad told me I had worms in my tummy.  She just has a love for food.  Her perfect job would be a food tester/critic and travel all around the world sampling anything and everything.  She would be a very happy gal for sure.  Instead, she has to settle for my food or pizza take-out.

Lots of things happening in my spirit and in my thoughts.  But, not a whole lot to share with you, unfortunately.  Life sure takes us to strange places with its twists and turns.  It is amazing how our thoughts, plans, prayers, and ideas can change in just a year.  If God brings our family to your mind, prayers would be appreciated.

Memorial Weekend

Seth had a long weekend, and he chose to come home for a visit.  I have to say that Seth usually adds a bit of intensity to the family when he is home even for a short time.

It first started with some chokeholds.

Seth pulled Eva's tooth and gave her a fake black eye after sucking the tears off her face a bit too hard.  I found out (after the fact) that he took Jack to a parking lot to let him drive our car.  Jack is 14.  Yep.  That's Seth for you.  He managed some time in the yard to play soccer with the kids.  That was nice.  And somewhat calm.  And peaceful.

We miss watching him play soccer.  It's hard to believe he is a "man".  Well, in the world's eye he is, but he is still just my boy, Seth.

A Month In The Life Of A Vegan

I recently had a conversation with a friend that I've known since the early 1990's.  We both home school, and our kids play soccer on opposing teams.  About 2 years ago, Catherine (named changed) was diagnose with breast cancer after a routine mammogram and subsequent biopsy.  She was 50 years old.

When I heard the news, it was a shock to me.  It scared me.  It upset me.  I worried for her 5 children and husband.  I didn't know what to say.  I didn't want to intrude.  I didn't want to ignore.  It was too personal for me (just an acquaintance) to even acknowledge to her that I heard of her diagnosis.  So, the only thing I did was make an appointment for myself for a mammogram.  Breast cancer, in someone I knew, made it so much more real.

Finally, I talked with Catherine just a couple of months ago.  I told her how her diagnosis had made me make my own mammogram appointment.  Her response was not one I had expected...at all.  "Honey, I would have told you to never, ever have a mammogram."  Honestly, that completely shocked me.  I had expected the usual, "Thanks for your prayers", etc..

She went on to tell me that based on her own research, that she chose to go vegan instead of the traditional cancer treatment.  I can imagine that must have been a tough decision for her to make, but she seemed quite bold and confident in her choice.  Catherine said that she had been reading The China Study, by T. Colin Campbell.  This book helped her make her own decision about her treatment plan.  It was definitely a bold move on her part.  I'm not sure if I could have been so brave.

 The China Study's premise is that our diet determines most of our health and sickness.  I've read almost all of the book and have to say that if all Mr. Campbell says is true, then it is definitely an eye-opener.  I can't possibly go into detail about all of it, but it is a good and easy read.  I do encourage you to read it.  It is untypical of the mainstream medical field.  My friend, Catherine, has been a vegan since her diagnosis 2 years ago.  She credits God and her diet to her health.  After she refused traditional treatment, her doctors told her she could die.  Her response?  "Hallelujah!"  She told me she did not want to put herself or her family through radiation, surgery, or chemotherapy.    After being on the vegan diet for some time, she told me she has never felt better in her entire life.  She runs everyday and has lost about 20 unnecessary pounds.

Curious, I decided to become a vegan for a month.  I never gave my diet much thought.  I ate healthy, but I also ate meat and cheeses and dairy.  To be honest, I could never imagine how someone could be vegan.  It was so opposite of the way I was brought up.  I thought I would be miserable after a month.  But, I wasn't.  I lost a bit of weight, and never felt hungry.  I ate a whole lot of fruits, vegetables, beans, and juices.  I love raw vegetables and legumes, so I know that made a big difference in my ability to make it through the month.  I've also noticed other little changes in my body that make me feel much better.

I'm not sure if this diet will make a difference in my future health, but I know it won't hurt me.  As for my friend, Catherine?  She told me that she had an ultrasound, and the doctors could not find her cancer at all.  She gives God all the glory.

I am not advocating Catherine's choices.  But, for her and her family, it was the right decision.  I know that I do not ever want to have to make that choice.  As for continuing my vegan diet?  I like the way I feel.  And, I do know that my calories will not be gotten from mostly animal proteins as they have been in the past.  But, I wouldn't mind a little Gouda now and then.