Celebrating a mother’s love
Mother’s Day may be over, but it should go on year-round.
One of my favorite quotes is by Washington Irving. He said, “A mother’s love endures through all.”
Many of us are fortunate to not have to do much “enduring.” Our children and spouses are healthy, we have good jobs and no one has shut off the power!
That’s not always the case, however.
Sunday, we traveled to Spokane with Fernando Moreno and some of his employees from McDonald’s to serve brunch to some 50 people at the Ronald McDonald House.
We had a great time. (The picture is of one little guy who loved the grapes we brought to share!)
It’s amazing the people you meet there. These are folks who are staying at the house mainly because they have children in the nearby hospitals, such as Sacred Heart or Deaconess. Their children are suffering from any one of many different afflictions that put these families into situations most of us will never have to face.
For us, we first became acquainted with the staff there when my grandson was born 5-1/2 years ago. He was four months premature and weighed 1 pound, 10 ounces. He spent a little over four months in the neonatal intensive care unit at Sacred Heart. Weekends were often spent in Spokane.
His mother was there most of the time. She would stay for a two or three week stretch, come home for a day or two and head right back up to do it all over again.
While he was in the hospital, his mother and father (my son) spent many nights at the Ronald McDonald House. The staff is so helpful and caring. They go out of their way to make sure everyone is as comfortable and secure as possible.
Today, my grandson is like most other 5 year olds. He loves to run and play, ride his bike and go to preschool. He’s rambunctious and healthy, temperamental and smart.
You’d never know by looking at him that he had such a precarious start in life.
Since then, we try to do something for the families at the Ronald McDonald House two or three times a year. We understand the fears they face and the loneliness of being away from their families at such a stressful time.
And that’s why we helped serve a great Mother’s Day brunch this past weekend.
For the brunch, the menu was pretty simple – pancakes, eggs, potatoes, bacon, sausage, English muffins and fruit. We kept it easy as families at the house come and go throughout the day, shuttling back and forth from the hospitals.
A basic menu meant they could stop in when they had the chance and enjoy a good breakfast, a meal that is often neglected when dealing with sick children and unusual schedules. We were just glad everyone enjoyed the food and got plenty to eat.
If time permits, there are a number of recipes that can be prepared to make breakfast a special occasion. Here’s one that can be made up the night before and popped into the oven just before serving.
Additional ingredients can be added, such as spices or seasonings, mushrooms or onions. Adjust baking time accordingly.
Breakfast potato casserole
6 cups hash brown potatoes
6 eggs, scrambled
6 (1-ounce) slices processed cheese
6 slices bacon, crumbled
Layer ingredients in a greased 13-by-9 inch baking pan in order given. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees and bake, uncovered, for 30 to 45 minutes. Serves six.
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