I started this "line", "series", or whatever
you want to call it with words on how much my mother taught me on cooking, preparing food,
and so on. Well, today the story will continue on with the next person who influenced my
life in delightful little ways. It is a "story" in a way made rich with
presentation and making miracles with low supplies... miracles sometimes in shapes of
bears, smiley faces, and gingerbread men.
My oldest sister, Donna, was 14 when my parents divorced. She was a very strong
Christian and left her teenage life of one place to another world. Instead of focusing on
her own mixed emotions, fears, and challenges she poured herself into helping our mother
by caring for her younger sisters. Each Wednesday night we walked to a church not
far down the road and on the way home she would have us rehearse the songs we learned and
reminded us to work on our memory verses. As soon as we arrived home... she would set us
about washing our hands, setting the table, and any other little "chores"
wecould keep busy at while she worked on dinner. A lot of those dinners were tomato
soup from a can and grilled cheese sandwiches. I remember her making it out as though this
was a grand meal and I still recall her words on the many children starving in the
world with nothing to eat. How precious those simple dinners became in my memories when I
watched one of my sons (at 14) preparing this same meal. (Just a "snack" for
him:)).
We moved to another home and as mom started school full time while working a full time
job... Donna stepped into action, too. She worked as a waitress while going to high school
and took care of us after school. Keeping anyone happily fed can be a challenge but it is
a BIG one when you have two little girls of 10 and 7 to contend with! She was filling a
gap where "mama" had once been the only one to fill and the task wasn't always
easy. Regardless, she learned to cook because she had to... I remember whining
of "pancakes AGAIN" and my sister sang out in a silly voice from the
kitchen... "YES, but THESE pancakes aren't just ANY pancakes... they are special and
they will only turn out if we are all happy". We had no idea what she was
talking about so we pretended to be only "slightly" interested until she alerted
us they were ready. We flew into the kitchen and awaiting us on the table with funny
folded napkins on each side of the plate were teddy bears! Not perfectly formed teddy
bears, maybe, but teddy bears none-the-less!
From that moment on... we were with her anytime pancakes were made... watching as
she created new and different shapes. She had to explain to my little sister that it
wasn't "hurting" the little bears, dolls, squiggly gingerbread men, and so on to
eat them! She told her that they only felt sad if they weren't eaten since that is
what they were made for:). We eventually graduated to other silly and edible
experiences like grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, "happy" hamburgers
(with sunshine yellow mustard made into smiley faces on the meat:)), and many more.
The years took her on to Nursing School at Georgia Baptist College where she graduated as
an R.N., through a marriage to a guy in seminary, off to distant lands as missionaries,
and finally settled down in the United States again.
I was going through that horrible teenage rebellion every parent fears and she worked
it out that I could come stay with her and her husband for a visit. While in her perfectly
cozy home... I was cherished, guided, taught, and loved. She was generous with the many
stamps required to mail out my many letters, patient with my many questions on God's Word
and Way verses the World and she gave me the sheer beauty of domestic routine. Her
little home was kept clean and was a welcoming refuge for all who entered. She was
learning to cook and I was in the kitchen with her... learning and talking while making up
simple dishes. I left after my visit was up but the tender care she provided me
remains deeply a part of me to this day. The lessons on daily living weren't
"preached" but lived. Two years and a move across states later, I went to
visit her again. This visit was just as special as the first and I learned a great deal
about Christian home making.
Dinner time was where she taught the art of a schedule. She had her dinner planned and
prepared by a certain time each night. She showed me how she had created her menu of meals
and shopping list and made it look like the easiest thing in the world. I realized that
this was "only for some" once I started my own family:).
Her Kitchen...
Her kitchen was the coziest place in the house. She had Christian quotes and Bible
verses on magnets all neatly placed on the refrigerator, Scripture and pretty poems cross
stitched in frames, and many other "country home" type decorations. Every was in
order and every item in that kitchen had a place. Her kitchen had a special plate used for
special guests. I think it was red and you could sign it with a special pen or something
like that. There were just "homey & hospitable" touches all around and they
showed "her" in the way they all went together. One special dinner we did
together... step by step. She took the time to show me how to make fried chicken that
managed to taste as delicious as it appeared... a tossed salad... Buttered bread and a
dessert that was so good and so easy I still prepare it to this day! Here are the
recipes (or put together pieces of what I can remember!) for these wonderful
"dishes"... On Fried Chicken: I don't remember much more than her coating it
with some flour she had added salt and pepper to and then frying it in a skillet with some
hot oil. I have learned since then to start it and keep it on high or medium high heat
until it is browned and then turn down and cook each side until thoroughly cooked. If you
want crispier chicken don't cover and for softer "crust" cover it after you've
turned it down on lower heat. The salad was just torn pieces of lettuce, quartered and cut
tomatoes, and some good dressing! As simple as it sounds... it was so tasty and made the
meal complete.
The Dessert: I don't know the name! I usually call it the first name that comes to mind
when I'm making it so the kids now follow along with me. We have come up with these over
the years: "Pistachio Dessert", "Creamy Fluff", "Pistachio
Clouds", and more:). 1 Tub of Cool Whip 2 boxes of pistachio pudding powder Mix
this all up and chill. Variations: Mix up one of the packages of pudding with 2 cups
of milk and whip it up with the cool whip mixture.
Many years and many things have gone by since these precious moments were created...
things neither of us would have ever imagined those years ago as we worked together to
prepare that food and clean the kitchen while we laughed until we cried. God has seen us
through storms and times we have had to fight our ways through --- sometimes together and
sometimes apart from each other. Maybe He blessed us with those sweet and cherished
hours of comfort in a relationship that started out as sisters and then temporarily served
as mother and daughter to give a better foundation to the friends we are now. Maybe
He gave us the gift of sweet fellowship with --- just for that time --- no clocks, no
schedules, no places to be or things to do because He knew similar moments would be
forever few and far between. I don't know... what I do know is that my heart holds
it close... this memory... where it is safe from the raging winds of the world. I do know
that every time I prepare pancakes for my family and those who join us... every time we
fix the famous tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwich... and every time I laugh until I
cry... I think of my sister and the times we shared at her kitchen table. I know
that a little in supply can nudge us to be creative like having a lot doesn't require and
that miracles are sometimes disguised in shapes of teddy bears, smiley faces, and squiggly
gingerbread men.
...Sweet Homemakers, Have a "Kid Day" where you fix funny foods, silly
soups, or cut out shapes of anything. Experiment with food color just to bring smiles to
the table - smiles for pink milk or purple pudding... green butter or orange ice cream!
Fix breakfast for dinner or make favorite goodies for lunch! Search out ideas but
don't neglect reaching inside yourself to see what JESUS gives you to try! He so loved and
loves the little children... He instructs us to even give them a glass of water ("And
whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold
water to drink, truly I say to you he shall not lose his reward." Matt. 10:42) so how
wonderful to give them other darling little treats for no other reason than that we love
them? A teenage girl found ways to use food in order to brighten the world of her sisters
if only for a few moments... perhaps we can do the same with our dear children? Oh... and
the next time they say "THAT AGAIN?" ... you could always tell them: "YES,
but THESE pancakes aren't just ANY pancakes... they are special and they will only turn
out if we are all happy".
Love, Sandy
Sandy Willoughby © 2001
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