Chicken Salad with Pineapple

For Orthodox Christmas, the Admirals Basketball boys did all the dinner cooking. They did a great job and it was fun watching a kitchen full of teenage boys chopping, stirring and browsing over recipes.

Chicken Salad with Pineapple was one of the dished they made. I was surprised at how tasty it was, especially with the combination of pineapple and potatoes. This recipe has made it into my recipe box and I wanted to share it with you.

Chicken Salad with Pineapple

3 chicken breasts, cooked and chopped

3 potatoes, boiled with skins on, remove skins and then chop

20 oz. can of pineapple chunks, drained

15 oz. sweet corn, drained

1 red pepper, chopped

lots of fresh chopped Parsley

mayonnaise (Moldovans like lots of mayo in their salads)

salt/pepper

*Ingredients are chopped into small pieces, even the pineapple chunks.

Mix all ingredients together and enjoy!

Circumcision

Circumcision: a surgical removal of the foreskin (prepuce) on a human's penis.

I chose to circumcise my first son based on what I thought was a traditional medical practice. Considered common sense for a parent to have their son circumcised, I didn't question the procedure and had my first son circumcised based on the 'look like daddy' belief.

As I entered the world of parenting, I began to realize circumcision isn't as widely a practice as I thought. I also became aware that many cultures do not circumcision their baby boys. Thus, when it came time to deliver my second son, I knew I had to research the procedure myself.

I researched three areas: Biblical background, American history, and the medical benefits. Here are very brief facts that stood out to me.

Biblical Background:

The Hebrew words used for circumcision are 'naval' (to clip) and 'muwl' (to blunt). The Hebrews were to make a small clip of the overhanging foreskin. They were not to remove the whole foreskin as we do today. If they did, the child would have more than likely bled to death.

Around 140 AD, Rabbis introduced the practice of removing the whole foreskin. Jews were trying to disguise their circumcision as it was causing them to be unable to participate in social events.

American History:

John H. Kellogg

Circumcision was not a medical tradition in American society until about the 1900's. The medical practice was introduced in the late 1800's as a way to discourage masturbation.

"In cases of masturbation we must, I believe, break the habit by inducing such a condition of the parts as will cause too much local suffering to allow of the practice being continued. For this purpose, if the prepuce is long, we may circumcise the male patient with present and probably with future advantage; the operation, too, should not be performed under chloroform, so that the pain experienced may be associated with the habit we wish to eradicate."
-Athol A. W. Johnson, On An Injurious Habit Occasionally Met with in Infancy and Early Childhood, The Lancet, vol. 1 (7 April 1860): pp. 344-345.

"A remedy [for masturbation] which is almost always successful in small boys is circumcision. The
operation should be performed by a surgeon without administering an anesthetic, as the pain attending the operation will have a salutary effect upon the mind, especially if it be connected with the idea of punishment."
-John Harvey Kellogg [creator of the corn flake], Treatment for Self-Abuse and Its Effects, Plain Facts for Old and Young, Burlington, Iowa: P. Segner & Co. 1888, p. 295.

When Mr. Johnson quoted circumcision be used to curtail masturbation only .001% of Americans were circumcised. In 1888, when Mr. Kellogg was quoted, 15% of American males were circumcised. By the 1930's over half of the American male population had undergone this medical procedure.

Medical Benefits:
The original medical benefits of circumcision are far fetched.

"Local indications for circumcision: Hygienic, phimosis, paraphimosis, redundancy (where the prepuce more than covers the glans), adhesions, papillomata, eczema (acute and chronic), oedema, chancre, chancroid, cicatrices, inflammatory thickening, elephantiasis, naevus, epithelioma, gangrene, tuberculosis, preputial calculi, hip-joint disease, hernia. Systemic indications: Onanism [masturbation], seminal emissions, enuresis, dysuria, retention, general nervousness, impotence, convulsions, hystero-epilepsy." Editor, Medical Record, Circumscisus, Medical Record, vol. 49 (1896): p. 430.

"The prepuce is an important factor in the production of phthisis [tuberculosis]. This can be proven by the immunity of the Jewish race from tubercular affections." S. G. A. Brown, A Plea for Circumcision, Medical World, vol. 15 (1897): pp. 124-125.

The Center for Disease Control uses the word 'may' before several benefits to circumcision.

It is challenging for me to believe that the foreskin needs to be removed due to health benefits. God designed the body in a 'fearfully and wonderfully' way.

I wanted to write this post to briefly educate about circumcision. I feel that many Americans don't really know the facts about circumcision or why it is practiced in our society. I didn't. Maybe this will be a springboard to do your own research.

A few links I found helpful about circumcision:
http://www.drmomma.org
http://www.cirp.org/library/history/peron2/

Artur's Statement

A few Sundays ago we got to attend the baptism of one of the Admiral boys. It was a special event as any baptism should be.

Before his teammates, his mother and those in the church he has been attending, Artur made a public statement of living his life for Christ. There is a profound beauty to see a life changed by the love of God.

"Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it."
                                                                                                                    - Matthew 10:39

Rice Porridge

With the visit of my sister in law and her fiancé, I thought I would share with them some Moldovan foods. This morning we had a breakfast dish called rice porridge. It is a dish that varies depending where you are in the world, even served as a dessert. So, I thought I would share this basic version found in Moldova with you as well.

Rice Porridge

1/2 c. rice

3 1/2 c. milk

4 tbsp. butter

1 tbsp. vanilla sugar

optional: raisins, salt

Step 1: Melt butter and add in rice.

Step 2: Stir in milk and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and cook for 20 minutes.

Step 3: Turn off heat and stir in vanilla sugar and raisins. Let porridge set for 5 minutes.

PS- Don't forget your bread with lots a delicious butter atop!

Welcoming Baby Evan

"What was I thinking?!" was the question that ran through my head as I gripped the bed railing and muttered a few words and then called on Jesus. Yes, I got to that point in my labor where I questioned my sanity for going through labor again.

When I gave birth to my firstborn, I had a textbook labor. I still can tell you the hour my contractions started, when we timed them and when we chose to head to the hospital. But my second born decided to switch things up. I've heard siblings are different, so I guess their entrance into this world can be too!

I woke up on my due date thinking that this baby wouldn't be born today. I was feeling pretty good. The night before I had irregular contractions but they faded as I went to bed. After breakfast I took a walk to the pharmacy to pick up a needed item. I had to stop a few times as I started my irregular contractions again. Mike and I decided that I was fine and he should go to his morning Bible study. Even though my contractions continued they remained short and the pain low in my abdomen, signs that it was false labor....according to the internet.

I was confused as to what my body was doing, but the pleas of my toddler to go outside won me over. Needless to say, the rest of my morning was spent on the playground, crawling around building train tracks and picking up toys. I'd stop to work though my 'false' labor and then continue about my day.

Mike got home and I felt a sense of relief to have him nearby. Josiah went down for a nap and I jumped into the shower to try and slow down my contractions. I'll spare you the details of the other signs of labor. By now I was seriously thinking I was in labor and started asking God for signs if I should go to the hospital. I like to labor at home, but I didn't want to be foolish and wait too long if this was indeed labor.

With a wet head and comfy clothes on, we began timing my contractions again. They were still only 30 seconds long but 3 min apart and very painful. It was then my water broke and my very excited husband exclaimed that we were going to have a baby!

Our babysitter and ride rushed over as fast as they could, and we were off to the hospital.

Mike and I were separated as he had to fill out paperwork and dress for the delivery room. I don't think the nurses knew how far along I was in my labor. But when the doctor checked me she said I would have this baby in 20 minutes.

It all happened fast. I remember asking where my husband was, snapping at the doctor when she told me not to push and asking if they saw a head. And then it was all done. I had a wet, little blue baby on my chest. He made his gurgling first cries right in my arms. It was beautiful.

Evan Alexandru was born May 5th. He is all sweetness. Mike and I are amazed at the little life God has made and feel beyond blessed that God has entrusted him to us.

   

Easter Weekend

Last weekend was a beautiful time to spend together as a family. It was also refreshing to stop, remember, reflect and rejoice in God's grace.

Friday evening was spent in communion with believers at our church. We quietly reflected on what Christ went through, nailed written praise on a cross and prayed with one another. I enjoy this day. It is a day to remember the power of Jesus' words, "It is finished." And indeed it is. Redemption was made complete. We were made right with God. There is nothing we can do to obtain salvation because Christ has done it for us.

We spent the weekend strolling around a very quiet Chisinau, dying Easter eggs and hanging out in the parks. 

Sunday morning we enjoyed a nice Easter breakfast with the traditional sweet bread served on this holiday. Then we played a Balkan Easter egg game we learned while in Macedonia; our toddler made sure every egg was cracked. Then it was off to fellowship at church, where we greeted one another by saying "Hristos a inviat!" (Christ resurrected), and responding "Adevarat a inviat!" (Indeed resurrected!).

Thanks to Gigi, who sent us plastic Easter eggs, Josiah got to have his first Easter egg hunt. He was excited to open every egg he found and promptly eat what was inside. Lesson learned for this momma! Then it was off to our nearby park where we enjoyed the beautiful afternoon with other families.

  

Sunday's Sermon:

City Wheels

"The wheels on the bus go round and round....all through the town." As a parent of a toddler I know this song very well. I even sing it on the bus with my Juju-Bug, who loves to entertain those around him.

Chisinau is an easy city to get around. Most apartments and homes are located near public transportation. Ours is a little bit off the main road and takes us about 10 minutes to walk to, depending on the zig-zagged path of our two year old.

There are a few options for traveling around the city if you don't own a car. One can travel by foot, by public bus or trolleybus, and by marshukas/rutieres. If you can pay more, there are plenty of taxis to get you through the city. 

Chisinau is slowly replacing the older buses for newer ones with help from other European countries. Though we do hear that some of the money gets pocketed and not all of it goes to replacing the buses. It only costs 2 lei (less than 20 cents) to ride the trollybuses. You have to make sure you don't lose your ticket on the bus or you could be fined if someone were to check. If you have a cute toddler with you, you are guaranteed a seat...okay, Moldovans will kindly give up a seat for any parent with a toddler.

Marshukas (Russian), rutieres (Romanian) or properly named maxi-taxis in English can be a quick way around the city. They have designated routes but no designated stops; you need to tell the driver when to stop. Marshukas aren't for most westerners. Once the seats fill up, they can get tighter than a sardine can with people pressed against one another standing in the aisle, and with not much ventilation it can get very hot inside. As tall as Mike is, he opts for the buses unless they aren't jammed packed. But for 3 lei (30 cents) and a little bravery marshukas can get you places quickly, especially if you have a certain driver from marshuka 113! 

Finally, I can't pass up a picture of our little stroller. This little stroller has just about been retired by our self-proclaimed-independent two year old, but it has served us well. It has been our 'family-wheels' for over the past two years. It has journeyed from the four corners of the US, to the not so easy streets of Chisinau and Ukraine and has hauled bags and bags of groceries. It is torn, wheels bent inward from over loading and lasted us longer than ever expected. But all good things must be retired.....or we could get a few more bumpy kilometers out of it for baby number two.