This article is a part of "The Amish Cook Column", a weekly series of featuring a story & recipe from Gloria Yoder, Amish wife & mother of six from Flat Rock, Illinois
Several of you have been asking to hear more about the children. When someone asks how they are doing my answer may vary from one day or hour to the next. Stacking it all up, and adding it together, I would certainly say that they have healed a lot from the shock of losing their daddy. There are still little tears to wipe and many Daddy stories floating around the house.
Sometimes I get a chuckle about things they come up with. Last week was one of those occasions when I was trying to figure out why our diesel isn’t charging up our batteries as fast as I thought it should. My timid first grader innocently quipped, “Widows can’t think things through as good as my Daddy could.”
I smiled and agreed. At least he believes in his daddy even when he’s not here any longer!
Julia is the oldest. At 13 years old, I much enjoy interacting with her on an adult level. She's in seventh grade and loves school. We were all delighted to have Joey Miller from Bolivia come to Illinois to teach school for us. The stability he adds is greatly valued. Wow, it was a big move for them as a couple, especially for his sweet wife who was born and raised in Bolivia. They blend in well and we much enjoy having them in our midst. Their one-year-old daughter has added sunshine to our midst with her winning smile and bright eyes. We are eager to have her start talking to see if she’ll have her mother’s native language of Platt Dutch or Pennsylvania Dutch like we talk to her.
Austin is ten and consuming food like only a growing boy can. He also enjoys school and does well in keeping up with our chores of feeding the animals and is a wildlife lover. He has come to be a very responsible baby sitter and has spent hours playing with his younger siblings.
At eight years old, Hosanna the songbird, has spent many hours singing from her perch on the couch or whatever she chooses for her stage. She thrives on working in the kitchen and experimenting with anything she gets her fingers on. Just now I heard her announce “It’s tasting time!” Elijah agreed to taste it. “Do you like it?” she wanted to know. “A little bit,” came the honest response. I’m eager to go try it for myself. I keep reminding all of us that she will not cease to bless our family as she completely heals from the trauma she has been through in her first years. Surely, we are all thankful for the miracle of adoption.
Jesse turned seven this fall. Life and zest would sum up what he adds to our family. Despite his active nature he’s also very sensitive. Like the other boys, he’s all into playing soft ball, or on cold days, dodge ball in the basement.
Elijah, who is four months younger than Jesse is pleased to be a tad taller. The two boys spend hours together. Their opposite characters seem to blend well, yet they also get lots of practice on going beyond what they feel like doing to help build strong relationships. They keep me digging for ways to let boys be boys while also teaching the value of respect and servant leadership.
Joshua is four and is at a stage where he can absorb so much. At church last Sunday he was quietly writing in my tablet when he turned to show it to me. On the top he had written ‘MOM’ then drew a picture of himself and me at the bottom. It hit me- my baby, no longer a baby. But that’s okay, I love watching him grow up.
Last week the children all helped on a project of helping make cut-out cookies with two of their cousins and Aunt Fannie. When we were done there was dough bits, sprinkles, and frosting smudges to clean up besides the dirty bowls and spatulas. But no one seemed to care. We had fun and that’s really all that mattered. Here's a recipe for you to enjoy and remember the best part is sharing with those around you. Check out these Christmas cut-out cookies here!
Leave a Reply