November Thoughts

More November Thoughts: I wrote some of these entries with the intent to place them on my new blog. So I am catching up with myself the things I would have posted only had not realized how EASY it was to start this blog site. I thank you, Hank for setting the pace and example to do your blog.

Moving ahead and into November, I had the privilege of going to see Matt & Beth in Seattle. They actually live in Redmond which borders Seattle. They have lived there for two and a half years already and I had not taken a trip to see them. I thought it would be opportune to go and use some of my Sky mileage I saved up. Beth picked me up at the airport with the two boys, Cole, two and Ethan, two months. The baby was blessed earlier in the month and I like to be at all of those special occasions. But this time I was able to come later in the month instead and spend some quality time with all of them and I loved it. It was a peaceful, restful experience. It was rainy, a bit chilly, yet like it is a lot for Seattle weather. We stopped after the airport to see Matt at his work. He was in a meeting and came out to greet us. Cole has his mop of hair and Ethan followed suit. I was able to give Matt a haircut as well as Cole. They both looked good with trimmed hair. Matt has remodeled their house and Beth redecorated. Both Matt and Beth are very talented and have updated it that it looks like a new house inside. The bathroom has a new sink and vanity, a mirror and Matt tiled the floor as well as the shower. The kitchen was not exception and they chose granite tile for the counter top, new cabinets and flooring. Matt again installed all of it himself. They painted the walls with beautiful autumn tones and with Beth’s expertise seamstress abilities she’s made curtains and drapes and painted the walls in the each of the kids’ rooms. It was a little bit of heaven. They help the boys learn to know prayer is important morning, evening and at their meals. I noticed their scriptures handy and family night was exercised. I loved being a fly on the wall and part of the weekly church attendance. The ward was great and they all had praise and admiration for the McIntire’s. It felt good to see them doing the things that they were taught when they grew up and teaching their own children the same. Matt and I went to the Seattle temple on Tuesday. I was so pleased Matt happened to take the week of Thanksgiving off, and coincided with my visit and made it fun. We did a little shopping, Beth and I went while Matt tended the little ones and we went to Kohl’s my first day after dinner. We all went on Saturday to the Outlets that were out about twenty miles at a nearby Native American reservation. There is a lot of Native American influence there historically and was told that a casino is there somewhere as well.

I felt like I had seen the hand of God to see both Matt and Beth working together as a couple so beautifully and consistently. It made such a difference in Cole to have either Matt or Beth give him his bath, put him down with stories and talk time before he goes to bed. Something else I noticed was that they would talk about who would chose to put Cole to bed etc, and the other one did the dinner dishes. I was impressed with their diligence how they work together to make things run smoothly. Beth was able to spend time with Ethan’s needs and get him settled then do the dishes while Matt took care of Cole’s needs. I complimented Beth on this when I got home and she told me she learned that from her sister, Becky in Atlanta when she visited her before she had Ethan in September. Cole also was in basic training (potty) while I was there at the onset. Matt being home and available for emergencies worked out well and helped get Cole on his way to becoming a big boy, and was a willing participant. Good job, Cole, Matt and Beth!!

I appreciate the time I spent with Matt and Beth and the opportunity to get to know Cole (and Ethan) a little better. I wore those fluffy socks while I was there to keep my feet warm. Beth told me after I left that Cole saw her wearing socks similar to mine and he remember me and pointed to the socks and said, “Grand-Mom, Grand-Mom.” I also am pleased to keep more in touch with Beth and feel more connected with them being in Washington without family. We talk several times a week and I especially like that.

Turning the hearts. . . with heritage food!

While visiting with them, Beth asked me if we could make tamales together. She was willing to have me teach her and learn that skill. They bought the list of ingredients and we both made them after church and a nap. It went fast with the two of us. We made about four dozen, made a dozen and a half for dinner and had extras for left-overs; then froze the rest uncooked for later. The tamales were tasty, we made beef and used the corn flour, Masa Harina, with soaked husks. Matt also wanted me to teach Beth how to make my Mexican rice. She is a great student, she made some rice a second time and it was delicious. I took some of my Abuelita hot cocoa packets and shared it, Matt loved it. Beth was thrilled to learn a new skill and share it with their friends.

We enjoyed Thanksgiving together too. I taught Beth how to make a ‘turkey in a bag’. The turkey needed by the poundage to be cooked six hours. After five hours Matt checked it to unwrap it and let the turkey brown for the last hour. Well, the turkey was not only very well done, but tender, juicy, and it was falling off the bone! She said she would make it in a bag from then on. Thanks Beth, I take that as a compliment. A little FYI here, my own mother-in-law, Grandma McIntire taught that technique to me about forty five years ago-- what a nice tradition to carry on!