The days I have been waiting on are coming into reality. Ah, the wonder of spring days! There is nothing quite like those first days of sunshine, warm enough to warm your body and your heart. Somehow to me it just feels like God’s love gently shining down on me. It won’t take care of all things in life but it helps me connect to the love of God who makes all things well despite the difficult dimensions.
The children are loving it. On Saturday, Hosanna was yelling in the backyard. At first, I thought she had spotted a snake, so I ran outside to see if I could help. On the way there, I learned that her insistent cries were really shrieks of delight — she had spied the first flowers blooming. She wanted Mom to come see them NOW!
Every day, the children ask to go barefoot. Some days their wish is granted, other times they simply need to wait till it has again warmed up a tad. As a little girl, my mother recalls how they were allowed to run barefoot around the house thrice on May 1. The temperatures will vary on your location, and then, of course, whether you have green grass to run on or if you happen to live in the city. Having grown up in the country, I’ve always been a country girl at heart, and I enjoyed animals, the smell of fresh hay, and the like. On the other hand, with having friends who live in the city, I have come to appreciate city life in a new way. We need people willing to do either one, right?
I can hardly wait to get my hands back in the garden. With it drying off it makes me want to get it tilled and stick in some seed potatoes and onions in. Most of my seeds are sitting here, waiting for the appointed planting time. We are starting over with our strawberry patch this year (you wouldn’t have wanted to see the old patch a year ago). I like trying new things, so Julia and I were debating whether we want to try something new or stick with our old faithful Honey-oyes. Peas, sweet corn, and watermelon rank at the top of the children’s favorites. When I compare the price and time of buying, planting, and tending to something like peas I couldn’t justify it, but then when I see those bare feet padding into the house with a delighted shout, “Mom! They’re ready!” I can’t say no.
And you know, as the children grow older, I also have more hands on deck to pull weeds, water, and fertilize. It’s amazing how much zest everyone can have to help plant, how little is left when the sun is beating, and the weeds grow as daytime temps reach triple digits. That’s the way we learn, right? I have yet to find a great harvest of blessings of any sort, without some toil, tears, or sweat.
Ranking at the top of the children’s priority list for this spring and summer is camping. I enjoy camping, though I can’t say it doesn’t take some ‘homework’ on my end. Camping is one of those things that were at the core of our family times with daddy; he was the instigator and motivator. I won’t deny it, camping without him is not easy. If God sees best to use things in life that hurt, that is okay, because He really is God. His plan is still what we would choose all over again.
I don’t think I’ll ever forget that first summer I went camping with the children after Daniel passed. We hitched up our horse to our open wagon and piled it high with camping and swimming gear. It was one of those things that truly felt like more than I could do, but then I also couldn’t not do it. That evening was one of those times I could feel the angels around us. I looked at the little ones, ages one through ten, sitting on their little camp chairs, the fire casting dancing shadows on their faces, it was precious. I knew there will be more blessings as a family, if we keep on keeping on.
The children are now old enough to help plan, prepare, clean up afterward (not a favorite!). The latest brain storm is sleeping in the blind back in the chestnut grove. Sounds like fun, we’ll see, maybe at least some of us would fit up in there.
Thirteen years ago when Julia was a baby, the three of us went camping for two nights at a state park. I’ll never forget the leisure times we spent together. Among the food I had prepared for the event, were grilled pineapple burgers. Perhaps I’ll make them again for the children in our next cookout, tho up front I know there will be at least one lass who will request to eat her pineapple separate from her burger. Tell you what, eat it your way — do what strikes your own fancy. If you opt out on the pineapples, I won’t feel bad, it takes all kinds of people to make the world go around, you know.
Grilled Pineapple Burgers
2 pounds ground beef
3 tablespoons Italian salad dressing
1 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. black pepper
8 pineapple rings
8 slices bacon, uncooked
3/4 cup barbecue sauce
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
Mix first four ingredients. Shape into 8 patties. Press a pineapple slice onto each patty. Wrap each patty with a bacon slice. Secure with a toothpick by inserting it like you would a needle in fabric. Mix the last 4 ingredients. Place the burgers in a dish. Pour all the sauce over burgers. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Grill burgers over medium heat, basting with the barbecue sauce it was marinating in.
Gloria Yoder is an Amish house-wife in rural Illinois. She is the third writer of The Amish Cook column since its inception in 1991. Yoder can be reached by writing: The Amish Cook, P.O. Box 157, Middletown, Ohio 45042.
