Get to know Gloria’s children

At the supper table I asked the children what I should write about them. I got an instant response from a quick-witted eight-year-old. "Tell 'em my sister kicked me during prayer!" Yep, we are real people with real deals we get to work with every day!!

When someone suggested that I tell you a bit about each of the children, I didn't have a reason not to. Why not talk about the people that bring me much delight, try me to my limits, and by being their own selves, bring more decisions to be made than I sometimes know what to do with?!

Ya, I love being a mama. In fact, as I write I'm enjoying hot cocoa from my large pink mug with a bear and the word, "Mama." Yes, a mama bear — sometimes the challenge comes in to not act like one! The day I got married it never crossed my mind what motherhood may entail, but nope, I wouldn't go back.

I want you to meet my oldest daughter, Julia Rose, who is 14. Before Daniel passed, there was no one in her life like her daddy. He was her absolute hero. I felt beyond crushed to see him gone from her life in this way, yet I've been beyond grateful for the foundation God has granted her by having a daddy for 10 years. Her struggle with Lyme disease has been a journey for the last year, but with treatment we trust things will move in the right direction. I set up a table in our kitchen where she is sewing a dress for herself. We love working together whenever we have a chance. We are both super excited to have her home from school next year and be able to help others and hopefully spend many hours together cooking, baking, scrapbooking, and hopefully do more sewing.

Austin Daniel is the oldest son — he is 11. His willingness to help around the house has blessed me a lot, yet I also sense a keen need for him to be out and about and get to do more masculine projects. He has an interest in motors and mechanic-type projects. He has a couple old lawn mowers the neighbors dropped off for him to tinker on and hopefully get running. I love watching him interact with his younger siblings. Joshua has especially developed a strong liking for him and finds a sense of security in him.

Tonight as I tucked Hosanna Rayne (age nine) to bed she quipped, "Mom, you are a 36-year-old grandma — and you are a short grandma, too!" Carefully she had been arranging and rearranging her favorite doll next to her, ensuring that she has a comfy spot to sleep and that the light doesn't glare in her eyes and she's warmly covered. "Tomorrow will be Bonnie's birthday and you'll need to be sure to give her a gift," she went on. "Bonnie has been crying with an earache. I hope she'll be better for her birthday party tomorrow — you are invited to her party, you can help me make the cake for her." Hosanna and her imagination make quite the interesting combination. Today she sewed a stack of clothes for Bonnie with a piece of fabric I gave her. She cuts (without patterns) and sews and tries it on her baby til it suits her taste.

If you stop by and happen to see a youngster in socks and a short-sleeve shirt running over the snowy floorboards of our screened-in deck, chasing out a bird, you'll never need to second guess who it was. Blonde-haired Jesse Jordan adds a rich splash of life and ambition wherever he goes.

Elijah Courage will be caught up with Jesse in age on Valentine's Day when he turns eight years old. He's making plans for his birthday supper and is trying to guess what I'll be getting for his birthday. He thrives on quality time and being allowed to take time to think things through before expressing himself. Tonight as we were talking about Daddy memories he was pleased with lots of memories I helped him write down that first year. Though a lot memories are hazy to him, he loves talking about his daddy.

Last but certainly not least is five-year-old Joshua David. He is learning to read and write the alphabet. His favorite part of kindergarten work so far is numbers. He's intrigued with how they work together. Recently he came to me with the question, "Is 10 hundred, plus 200, take away 200, 10 hundred?" You can almost see the wheels in his brain spinning as he digests new concepts. This winter he experienced quite the deal when he was holding our toy poodle, Gumdrop, when she somehow flipped out of his hands and landed on her head and lay limp on the floor. Though we assured him that it is okay, it's not been easy for him to process that Gumdrop is no longer here. Despite his sadness and all he's dealt with in regards to food allergies and struggle with not feeling well, he does add lots of sunshine to our home. He likes keeping up with the big boys as much as possible.

Okay, why not join our family as we scoop snow and make a big batch of snow cream for all to enjoy.

Snow Cream

2 cups milk or cream

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup sugar

1 T. instant vanilla pudding

1/4 teas vanilla

1/4 teas maple flavoring

1 egg* (opt)

In a mixing bowl, whip together the milk or cream, brown sugar, sugar, instant vanilla pudding, vanilla, and maple flavoring until well combined. Gradually fold in fresh, fluffy snow until the mixture reaches a soft serve ice cream consistency. Serve immediately and enjoy!

*Optional richer version: Beat the egg and add it to the milk in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then immediately remove from heat. Allow the mixture to cool completely before whisking in the remaining ingredients (sugars, pudding, flavorings). Then fold in snow until desired consistency and serve.