A Little Get-Away

A few photos of our little anniversary get-away last weekend.

If you are looking for a quiet spot in the mountains of central Pennsylvania, back a long lane, with no cell-phone service or wi-fi, where you can't hear or see any people or vehicles - I recommend the Sweethearts' Country Cottage. 

Ed and I always enjoy cooking together. Brings back memories of our honeymoon cabin in Alaska where we cooked up lots of good eating.

I even wore the dress I wore on our honeymoon - not that Ed would have noticed or remembered. Some of these things we women do for our own enjoyment.

This food blog sure hasn't seen much mention of food the last two months. Ed continues the ketogetic diet, but we are now making our own food instead of the doctor-supplied meals. Being away from home made meals a challenge, we especially missed stopping for ice cream, but we managed to eat well. This night we made garlic-rosemary chicken with bacon and steamed broccoli. 

The weather in the mountains was ten degrees cooler than at home and we could enjoy our coffee on the porch. But we were super glad we had AC.

Breakfast was an omelet with kale, peppers, and onion with bacon which fueled a walk in the woods.

In the past we have always visited the cottage in the winter when it was snow-covered. This time it was fun to explore the area surrounding the cottage. There were amazing stone walls; some higher than my head. We imagined the hardy farmer and his family who stacked the thousands of stones in these walls.

Ed has been missing crunchy snacks so I figured out a way to make cinnamon-roasted pecans slightly sweetened with stevia. I admit to eating more of these than he did.

Lunch was ham salad on a bed of spinach.

Then we went back to civilization and did some shopping. We went out to eat where Ed tried to choose a keto-friendly meal of fish and broccoli. I don't think we did too badly on his diet that weekend, but we weren't rigorously weighing his food and counting carbs like we do at home and his glucose numbers were higher than normal that evening.

Ed continues to lose hair from radiation and he had me shave all that remained so he needed to find a hat to protect his tender scalp.

We ended the day with some mini-golf. Ed felt incredibly good all day, but was tired by evening. By then we were refreshed, blessed, and ready to go home and be with our children again. 

Fifteen Years

Fifteen years ago...

I married my best friend.

We might not look twenty-five any more...

But we are still best friends.

O Love That Will Not Let Me Go

I've a little embarrassed when I read about the pity party I had a few weeks ago when thinking of our anniversary.

It is still a few days until our anniversary and already it has been very special.

Last week Ed's brother and family insisted on coming to our house to stay with our six children so Ed and I could get away overnight. I think the last time we had went away overnight alone (if hospital stays don't count) was over two years ago. And that was to attend a conference.

Not only was it a treat to go away as a couple, it was super nice not to have to make babysitting arrangements - or even pack up clothes for the children - and they even brought all the meals. The list of how we have been supported and encouraged the past months is extremely long by now.

And the details fell together amazingly. I was shocked that we were able to get our favorite getaway cottage on a Friday night, only the day before. It was one of those times that we knew God had made the arrangements for us.

And Ed felt GREAT. I'm still shocked that after a month of chemo and radiation Ed felt like having a romantic night away.

We had a wonderful time and it felt like a huge gift.

I'll share photos when I get them off the camera, but for now I want to share a song whose words I can't sing without being moved. I've heard that these words were written during the author's time of personal suffering. There is so much rich meaning and depth to these words that I'm not even going to try to write a commentary but let you read them yourself.

It is so true that the life given to God becomes fuller and richer than we can ever imagine.

O Love That Will Not Let Me Go
by George Matheson

1. O Love that will not let me go,
   I rest my weary soul in thee;
   I give thee back the life I owe,
   That in thine ocean depths its flow
   May richer, fuller be.
2. O Light that foll’west all my way,
   I yield my flick’ring torch to thee;
   My heart restores its borrowed ray,
   That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
   May brighter, fairer be.
3. O Joy that seekest me through pain,
   I cannot close my heart to thee;
   I trace the rainbow through the rain,
   And feel the promise is not vain,
   That morn shall tearless be.
4. O Cross that liftest up my head,
   I dare not ask to fly from thee;
   I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
   And from the ground there blossoms red
   Life that shall endless be.
5. Listen to a men's choir sing these words. (If reading by email you may need to click over to the blog.)

Two Questions

There is two questions I've been asked in the last weeks.

The first question..."Do you mind if I ask about Ed?"

The answer? Not at all. I know that people differ in the way that they react to things like cancer. Some may not want to talk.

But Ed and I do want to talk. Maybe we need to talk. We don't mind discussing Ed's diagnosis, the prognosis, and his treatment.

To me, dragging something out in the light, looking it over, and discussing it with friends makes it less scary. Or maybe, if still scary, at least we have the comfort of knowing that others are standing with me next to scary things.

It has been an amazing experience to talk with friends who can remind us of God's goodness in the hard times. To be reminded that all of us face death sometime and heaven is going to be better than we ever imagine. No, it doesn't make it any more fun to face death at age forty. Or think of the pain of separation. But it does help us remember what is truly important in life.

And so, if you are wondering how Ed is doing, the answer is Very Well. Physically, emotionally, AND spiritually. He is nearly finished the fourth week of his six weeks of radiation and chemo. He is still driving to radiation every morning and then going to work. He gets tired in the afternoon and usually quits work at about 3:00 and comes home for a nap. But then he feels good enough to do something in the evening.



Like grill his awesome smoked pork loin. (Recipe found in an old issue of Cooks Illustrated.)

I expected Ed would spend most of the summer sick in bed, but we've been able to attend family reunions, church picnics, and so on. Ed does tire quickly so we haven't went camping, biking, or hiking, but as long as he can stay near his lawn chair, he enjoys staying part of activities.

(Above photos taken at Warrior's Path State Park on July 4th.)

The last few days he did start losing hair from the radiation. I don't think it looks bad, not worse than many other forty-year-old's receding hairline. But Ed is getting tired of shedding and threatens to shave the rest of his hair.

The second question is maybe the opposite of the first and definitely the most common..."I know you have other things on your mind right now, but do you mind if I ask you a question about _____________(fill in the blank with gardening, bread baking, homeschooling, etc)?"

My answer to that question is "please do." Again, I know that people vary, but I want you to ask how Ed is doing. I want you to show that you care about what we are going through right now. But then I want to talk about something normal. I want to know what is going on in your life.

In some ways cancer is now defining our life. But in many ways, life is the same as always.



I'm still a mom. (Who even with a cutie with pigtails, hasn't become Super Mom and still needs a double dose of grace most days.)

I'm still homeschooling and reading many books with my children. (We actually just began school last week with our crazy July to April school schedule!)

I still cook three meals (and many snacks) every day. In the few minutes I've been sitting here I've had two children tell me they are starving. Last week I actually baked a batch of bread which was the first in many many weeks. It took some of the joy from it since Ed isn't eating carbs, thus no bread, but my children appreciated it.

I still have interests in life. The other week I was able to meet three friends for lunch. We spent four hours talking about books, writing, and motherhood and I came away feeling refreshed deep down to my toes.



I still have a garden. On Tuesday evening, Ed actually joined the children and I in weeding. Most of our garden has been mulched with cardboard and grass clippings but the section that wasn't had a  carpet of weeds. It was the first time Ed has been in the garden since April.



Last week we had two inches of rain and the green beans, carrots, and tomatoes have never looked better.

There may come a time in this journey that all normal life will come to a screeching halt. We learned in May how quickly life can transform.

But we have also learned how God can carry us through both the normal and the tragic, the delightful and the devastating, and how grief can still be full of grace.

And even in the best of the normal days there are some things that are not so delightful, such as the infestation of Japanese Beetles on our grapes, raspberries, and green beans. So I'll end with two questions for you.

Do you have a solution against Japanese Beetles?
Do the Japanese Beetle traps actually work?

Bookmarks: Middle-Grade Historical Fiction Continued

Here is the continuation of the historical fiction list for middle grades.

Morning Girl by Michael Dorris

What was life like for the native Americans that met Columbus' ship? This historical fiction tries to fill in some details of life on a Caribbean island before the first white men arrived and tells the story of Morning Girl and her brother, Star Boy.

Water Buffalo Days: Growing Up in Vietnam by Huynh Quang Nhuong

Nhuong loves the new family water buffalo. He is gentle as a dog and brave enough to fight off wild pigs and protect the herd. True stories of country life in Vietnam before the war. Boys will love this one. I give it five stars.

The Secret Valley by Clyde Robert Bulla

The Davis family left their home in Missouri to go to California to find gold. Though they don't find gold, the family finds what they really want. Sweet illustrations and short chapters make this a good introductory book on pioneer life. I've enjoyed every Bulla book I've ever read.

Song of Sampo Lake by William Durbin

Matti and his family dream of a new home in Minnesota, but working in the mine is not the new life they imagined when they left Finland. This historical fiction shows the determination of America's immigrants. Note: Contains some superstitious beliefs.

A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park

As Tree-ear hunted through the rubbish heap for food, he longed to be a great potter like Min. Into the fictional story of the orphan and his crippled friend, Crane-man, is woven history of the famous Korean celadon pottery. One of my favorites. Check out Park's other books for more excellent reading.

Jason's Gold by Will Hobbs

Jason joins the crowds headed to the Klondike gold fields expecting to find his fortune but instead he encounters freezing cold, wild moose, and multiple set-backs. An excellent historical fiction on the Klondike Gold Rush but some of the raw details may not be enjoyed by a sensitive child.

Nory Ryan's Song by Patricia Reilly Giff

Through Nory's eyes we see the beauty and hardship of her beloved Ireland during the potato famine of 1845. This book helps you understand why so many Irish immigrated to America.  Note: references to superstitious beliefs.

Seesaw Girl by Linda Sue Park

Jade is curious to see the world outside her family's Inner Court. Will she learn to be content? A sweet story from seventeenth-century Korea and another good book by Park.

When the Sirens Wailed by Noel Streatfeild

Three children are sent out of London along with thousands of other children to escape the bombing during World War 2. They face the uncertainties with pluck and creativity as they try to reunite their family again. Realistic details stem from the author's own memories as a volunteer worker in war-time London.

What are your favorite books for the time traveler? I'd love to add more to my list of favorites. You can find more of my book lists on the book page.

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Bookmarks: Middle-Grade Historical Fiction

At the beginning of May (which now feels like a year ago) I started sharing some middle-grade books that I had preread for my children. I never shared the last list and since unfinished projects bother me, I'm going to share it today.

Historical fiction is my favorite genre for my children to read because it is such an effortless way to learn about history. This is certainly not an complete list, just ones I've read in recent years that I considered high literary quality and excellent content. Choose a book or two for your child's summer reading.

Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool

Maine is a long way from Kansas and Jack is floundering both from the loss of his mother and his new home at a boy's boarding school. Then he meets Early, the strangest boy he ever met and the two boys embark on a quest to find a great black bear. Even with some unrealistic plot twists, I enjoyed this book set immediately after World War 2.

Early Thunder by Jean Fritz

Salem is in the middle of the conflict between the Patriots and the British and Daniel has a choice to make. By the end of the year he has decided which side he will join. My husband actually read this one and said it was excellent historical fiction from 1775.

In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson by Bette Bao Lord

Shirley arrives from China excited about her new home in Brooklyn. She loves America but wishes for a friend. Based on the author's childhood in 1947.

Sing Down the Moon by Scott O'Dell

Bright Morning celebrates the arrival of spring and the promise of an abundant harvest in the Canyon de Chelly. But when the soldiers destroy their homes and force the Navahos to march to Fort Sumner, will Bright Morning and Tall Boy find hope to rebuild? Beautiful written, tragic (but hopeful) story based on true events.

Listening for Lions by Gloria Whelan

The 1919 influenza takes Rachel Sheridan's missionary parents and leave her at the mercy of cruel neighbors. Will she be able to tell the truth and return to her beloved Africa? A fun fiction story about a missionary family in Kenya written from a secular perspective.

The Belonging Place by Jean Little

Elspet has already lost her parents, now her uncle wants to move from Scotland to the wilds of Upper Canada. Will she ever find a real home and a place to belong?

I Survived the Bombing of Pearl Harbor, 1941 by Lauren Tarshis

Danny had just moved to Hawaii where his mother served as a nurse. He longs to return to his home in New York until the day that the Japanese attack the island. Short chapters and large print make this a great first historical fiction book for young readers. This book is part of the excellent “I Survived” series.

The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt

Holling is the only one in his seventh grade class in Long Island who doesn't either go to Hebrew school or Catholic school so in his spare Wednesday afternoon his teacher assigns him to read Shakespeare. A peek into life in 1968, including the Vietnam War, Yankee games, King assassination, and school life.

This list is getting long. I'll share the rest next week.

My other middle-grade lists are realistic fiction and fantasy.

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The Sands of Time Are Sinking

All our plans are held loosely as we don't know how Ed will feel from day to day. He still gets tired but we are so grateful that even with radiation and chemo, he continues to feel well. We had a wonderful weekend and were able to enjoy a family reunion on Saturday and a full Sunday of activities. We spent the Fourth splashing in the Juniata River with friends at a nearly empty state park in the Pennsylvania mountains.

I'm not sure why I'm surprised that Ed is feeling so well when so many of you have told us you are praying. His blood count numbers have been excellent and, besides some dizziness and skin irritation on his scalp, he has no side effects at this time.

On Sunday evening we enjoyed a hymn sing at church. There were so many meaningful hymns shared I can hardly choose just one to share.

It may seem depressing to sing a song about death, but to me this song is joyful because its focus is the glory of God. The words are from a very long poem written by Anne Cousin, but most hymnals only list four or five stanzas.

The Sands of Time Are Sinking
(Also known as Immanuel's Land)

By Anne Ross Cousin

The sands of time are sinking,
The dawn of heaven breaks;
The summer morn I've sighed for,
The fair, sweet morn awakes;
Dark, dark hath been the midnight,
But dayspring is at hand,
But glory, glory dwelleth
In Immanuel's land.

O Christ! He is the fountain,
The deep, sweet well of love!
The streams on earth I've tasted
More deep I'll drink above;
There to an ocean fulness
His mercy doth expand,
And glory, glory dwelleth
In Immanuel's land.

O, I am my Beloved's,
And my Beloved's mine!
He brings a poor vile sinner
Into His "house of wine,"
I stand upon His merit,
I know no other stand,
Not e'en where glory dwelleth
In Immanuel's land.

The bride eyes not her garment,
But her dear Bridegroom's face;
I will not gaze at glory,
But on my King of grace.
Not at the crown He giveth,
But on His pierced hand,
The Lamb is all the glory
Of Immanuel's land.

And here is a chance to listen to this beautiful hymn. (If reading by email, you may need to click over to the website to listen.)