A brief post on the birth of a new grandchild. It is the season of our joy, and we are indeed celebrating. This note of gratitude is intended specifically for you, dear readers.

This past week our children welcomed a beautiful baby girl into the world, and we are frankly ecstatic. I am telling you this because the last time I shared personal news about my family, it was to say that our daughter-in-law had become very ill in the third trimester of her pregnancy with our beloved grandson. At that time, we were all in shock, and feeling devastated by this terrifying blow to a young family. We were also profoundly moved by contributions of all kinds of love and support that found their way to our extended family. One example: A special meal was delivered one night by friends of friends, people unknown to any of us, who had heard our children’s story (#cancerandababy) and just wanted to help. This and other acts of goodness preserved our sanity, and made all the difference.

But that was last time. This time we get to tell a different story. Today, we have only good news to share. And so, today, grateful beyond words, I am here to tell you that our daughter-in-law has delivered a magnificent little girl. We are also grateful for the gift of this baby girl’s older brother, our 3 1/2-year-old grandson, for his appetite for life, his laughter, his milestones, and the tremendous joy he brings us all. He was named for my father, and that should tell you a lot about this delicious child. I am so happy to share this good news with you. To you, dear readers, I say thank you. Thank you for all the myriad ways that you stepped up to help lighten the burden for people whom most of you barely know. It took a village.  

In the words of a beloved friend who is also an obstetrician, “I know that all babies are special, but knowing how this family became a family makes this birth very special. It wasn’t inevitable, it was both a gift and hard won.”  Thank you, once again, for having served as listening ears and supportive voices, for allowing me to share my posts with you, and for being there for us in ways remarkable and unexpected.

Finally, I pray that my children and my children’s children will henceforth go on to experience the privilege of living long, healthy, and otherwise unremarkable lives.

Now I’m ready to talk about food. In our family, it is traditional to serve chickpeas to celebrate the birth of a newborn child. This dish is called nahit, and I learned it from my mother. 

2 cups cooked chickpeas (canned or fresh)
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon hot paprika
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil

Empty the chickpeas into a strainer, rinse well, and set aside. In a small frying pan, heat the olive oil on medium-high heat, and add the chickpeas as the oil begins to shimmer. Shake the pan intermittently, until all the water has evaporated and the chickpeas appear barely dry. Remove the pan from the heat, add the spices, and continue to shake the pan until the chickpeas are well coated. Set aside to cool for a few minutes, and then empty into a serving bowl. Serve at room temperature. Add to a table filled with other yummy treats!