BAPTISM Bean Soup

Prepared for the after-church party in honor of Silas's baptism last week - hearty and delicious!

Baptism Bean Soup
This is the method I used, I’m sure there can be many variations…
• 1 bone-in ham - baked, then finished over-night in crock-pot

• 1 small bag of ‘small white’ beans (navy beans o.k. too) soaked in water overnight (old-school, not quick-soak)

• Sliced carrots to taste

• Chopped onion to taste
After the ham was baked I took it off the bone, reserving the yummy juices, then simmered the hock for about 2 hr.

Remove hock, drain, rinse and add beans and reserved ham juices to ham broth, bring to boil then simmer until beans are almost tender.
Add sliced carrots and chopped onion and simmer until everything is tender. Add ham chunks as desired to finish. Heat through and serve.
I didn’t add any salt – the ham had enough, I did add some pepper, you can all other spices if you like. I also sometimes add cut potatoes – very good. If the soup is too thick after it cools, add water to desired consistency.
Freezes well.

And for dessert - I highly recommend 'Just A Spoonful's' fabulous 'Over The Top' Brownies - see link...Thanks again, Mary!

Silas Is Baptized!

The Sy-Guy

Arrival!

Yesterday evening at 10:36 p.m., Silas Richard Heerema made his public debut! He weighed 8.75 lb. and is 21" long with a little bit of dark, curly hair.

Charity called me about an hour after he was born with the news. She sounded great, and said he's a very sweet boy!

Their hospital does not allow children under age 12 to visit the mom and baby in the room, so Esther and Hendrik will not be able to meet their baby brother until Charity is released - Lord willing tomorrow morning! Grandpa Rick and I had decided it wouldn't be fair for us to get to meet Silas before his own brother and sister.

However, our resolve was 'dissolved' when Charity 'encouraged' us to meet Silas tonight when we took the kids to visit her in the hospital lobby.  He's a very precious little guy and it was a such a blessing to hold him.

We were happy brother and sister didn't seem to mind. They KNOW their momma and were happy just to visit with HER! Esther clung to her for the longest time and told me on the way to dinner how happy and surprised she was for the visit - she really didn't expect to see her until baby comes home. Neither Esther or Henry has cried for their parents or seemed overly-disturbed with the strange circumstances.

They've stayed with us multiple days before when Charity and Richard went on little vacations, just the two of them. We felt it best for Esther and Henry to sleep in their own beds, and Henry still gets a nebulizer treatment before bedtime, so it's just easier for them to sleep at home. Grandpa Rick is the designated sleep-over guardian - bunking on the sofa in the playroom at Esther's request. She told Grandpa she wanted him close - that when she calls for Momma and Poppa in the night they take 'too long' to get to her. I'm sure being wakened out a sound sleep doesn't have anything to do with their delay!

I'll post some pictures soon. I didn't take my camera out with me tonight - didn't think I needed too - not very prepared was I?!

Moving Forward

Charity is at the hospital this morning. She had an office appointment at 7 a.m. and called her dad - who was hanging out with the kiddoes until they awoke- around 8:15 a.m. to say she was going to the hospital for antibiotics (I.V., I'm assuming) and that she will probably be induced around noon today.

Meanwhile, we're having an extended 'Grandma Day' with Esther and Hendrik, and we'll have them with us until Momma and Poppa return home with baby 'Poncho'.

 I usually start my work day with a trip to the 'home office' (Allstar Homes, that is) to drop off our bank deposit. The banks are closed for the MLK holiday, but it gave me a chance to pass on the baby news to some of my co-workers. I picked Rick and the kids up around 9 a.m. from their house. Dogs, Bunnies and Horses safely in-arms, we came back to our place for breakfast. Now, Grandpa and his 'helpers' are out checking the property - especially looking for signs of  'rodent' activity that may have manifested over the weekend.

Since the cold weather descended upon us and since the construction work began on the back (once vacant) lot, the mousie population has exploded. Many tenants report seeing mice droppings and mice - dead and alive - in or near their storage units. This is particularly troubling when we're trying hard to sell our high-end, indoor, climate controlled (expensive) units and we open a door to show a vacant unit and there's a gigantic dead mouse on the floor just inside the door. We've put out lots of bait and other deterrants, but we're hoping the presence of an exhuberant 5 and 2 year old will run these pests out of the neighborhood for good!

Still Waiting!

After a wonderfully delicious family dinner at our new favorite Mexican restaurant last night, we were hopeful that Charity would be incited to go into labor as her way of thanking us! Just got off the phone with her, though - she slept well and nothing is 'happening', so far. Since we're working today, we're at home, and just 2 minutes away if she needs us.

We were all treated to a beautiful sight early this morning. Just to the west of our property, we could see a dozen or so hot-air balloons gliding through the brisk morning sky. From our second-story vantage point, it was pretty darned impressive!

You can see balloons AND witness the progress of the 'expansion' at the same time!

And, for good measure, some recent photos of our apartment!

No Excitement Here

I said I might have some exciting news by today, but have nothing to tell....we've been pondering a decision - which has been made - but it doesn't involve any excitement - or any news either, but we're at peace, and that's worth a lot.

And no 'baby' news either. Charity's Dr. will probably induce her Monday if her labor doesn't start over the weekend. We had a wonderful Mexican dinner together tonight at 'Andele', but I don't think it brought on any contractions - it will remain to be seen if the ice cream and cookies did the trick or not.

Thanks, everyone, for your prayers and love.