Our idea of how things are or should be is often different from the reality that exists. I think we see this as parents when we think we have our kids figured out and then they pleasantly surprise us or not so pleasantly surprise us. My son is a bit of an enigma, he has a unique way and personality; just when I think I have him pegged he surprises me. The other day we were talking about pumpkins and he informs that a pumpkin is a fruit because it has seeds, which is what I would have expected him to say for they learn such things in second grade. But then he went into a long explanation of how fruits and vegetables are classified – he rapidly began talking about roots and fruits that grow from vines and trees and somewhere in there he said something about the coconut. He rattled it all off so quickly that it was hard for me not to laugh, I felt I was listening to my brother (the physician) explaining pulmonary function. Like with my brother, I was concentrating hard trying to follow all that Anthony was saying.
Although Anthony’s fruit vs. vegetable statements may be the beginning of what leads Anthony down a road to the study of agriculture, most likely he will find himself somewhere else in life. Although my brother knew he wanted to be a doctor somewhere around age five, most of the time the road takes us through many different turns and directions that mold us into the people we become and the careers and passions we choose. I did not find out I wanted to teach until I was a senior in college and I didn’t discover my passion for theology until I was 36.
I like to imagine where life may take my children, but in the end I am glad it is not mine to pick and not even theirs – but God’s. They will take what they find along the way and it will become a part of them. Sometimes bad things happen and sometimes they get into things that can hurt them but sometimes what hurts the most has a great chance of being what ultimately heals the most. Whatever it may be – veggies or Lego engineering – I love that silly boy and I know that God does too and that is all I really need to know, that is what makes it all OK.
1 (15 oz.) can shoe peg corn, drained
1 (15 oz.) can sm. English peas, drained
1 (15 oz.) can French style green beans, drained
1 cup cooked carrots
4 ounces water chestnuts, canned
1 cup chopped onion, sauteed
1/4 cup butter
1 cup celery, diced
1 c. grated cheese
10 3/4 ounces cream of mushroom soup
1 c. sour cream
1 cup cracker crumbs
1 tablespoon butter
Slivered almonds
-Saute onion and celery in 1/4 cup butter.
-Add vegetables and cheese to cream of mushroom soup and sour cream.
-Spread in baking dish. cover with cracker crumbs, dot with butter and add Slivered almonds
-Bake at 300 F. until bubbly and golden brown on top.