Pilgrim Biscuits

Pilgrim Biscuits

Back when I was a second grade teacher one of my favorite things to do was to have the kids imagine what it was like to be a Pilgrim child crossing the Atlantic on the Mayflower.

 I would share with them the daily struggles of the Pilgrims and have them record their voyage in a journal. One of the interesting facts was that as the journey progressed food choices were limited and the Pilgrim children had to eat hard biscuits. 

Now as a teacher you wonder if your students are really paying attention or is your lesson going in one ear and out the other? As was the practice of my school district the cafeteria served a Thanksgiving feast each year.

 As luck would have it I was on cafeteria duty that day, and found myself approaching one of my students as she flagged me down with a waving arm. I was expecting a standard cafeteria request; something like a milk carton needing to be opened or permission to go to the restroom. I must say that what happened next caught me totally off guard. 

My student was quite ecstatic that the cafeteria had decided to serve Pilgrim biscuits that day.

 You know hard as a rock!

Wishing everyone a blessed Thanksgiving. 

Working My “Weigh” Through the Snickers Bars

Working My “Weigh” Through the Snickers Bars 

I have a confession to make. 

I’ve been working my way through the fun size Snickers bars left over from Halloween. 

Now luckily I don’t feel the same way about the lowly Milky Way and Three Musketeer bars, as there is still a plethora of those babies sitting in the GIANT bag of leftover Halloween candy in the pantry waiting to find its way to Chuck’s work. 

Judging how much candy to buy each year is a real challenge for me, especially when living in a new neighborhood. Last year I gave out small packets of pumpkin shaped pretzels, but this year I kind of felt bad denying the trick-or-treaters the good stuff, so I invested in a BIG bag of chocolate. 

Along with an almost daily Snickers bar this last week I still have continued to eat my Trader Joe’s dark chocolate peanut butter cup each night after dinner. In the Weight Watcher world that’s seven points, a little less than a third of my daily points. Not too smart I’d say!

Now the good thing is that there are only about six left, but unfortunately Chuck doesn’t return to work until next week so there’s no chance they will find their way to work before the damage is done. 

I think I might need to install a pantry alarm that says, “Step away from the chocolate,” when I open the door. 😬

Thanksgiving Musings

Thanksgiving Musings

Well I almost decided not to cook Thanksgiving dinner this year. 

It’s not that I wasn’t going to celebrate Thanksgiving, rather I was considering letting Kroger’s do the cooking.

Yes, at the time in a moment of sheer madness it sounded perfectly sane, because it sounded so easy. But after I came back to my senses I knew I’d be disappointed with the store-bought version of a feast. 

Now as it is I really do try to make Thanksgiving a little simpler. I cook my Butterball (my favorite turkey of all) in a roasting bag which is super easy. My cornbread dressing begins with a Pepperidge Farm bag of dried cornbread, and I ask my guests to each bring a side. 

I’m responsible for the bird, dressing, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. I wish I could claim the gravy, but it usually comes out of a jar. Rolls are our favorite brown and serve, and cranberry sauce has traditionally come from a can. 

A couple of Thanksgivings ago, though, I tried a fall Brussels Sprouts salad which is now a new favorite, and this year I plan on trying a healthier version of homemade cranberry sauce. 

As I think about the work required for a Thanksgiving meal, between planning, shopping, preparing and cleaning up afterwards, I realize that it really is a labor of love, but I’m so blessed to be able to do so. 

It seems that Thanksgiving is starting to take a backseat in the holiday world, being squeezed out by an early Christmas entrance. I still enjoy decorating for fall in November, remembering that first historical Thanksgiving, and eating the traditional foods of my youth. 

I look forward to spending time with my family all the while counting the many blessings in my life. After the feast as we gather around the TV for the Cowboy fans in the group, we also excitedly check out the Black Friday specials as we divvy up the sales circulars.

Brittany and I will be up early the next morning to take advantage of the sales, and for me to get at least two thirds of my Christmas shopping done. 

I’ll hold out until after Thanksgiving to put up my tree, but can’t wait for “the most wonderful time of the year.”

An Old Cat

An Old Cat

I guess you can teach an old cat a new trick after all. 

A couple of years ago I invested in a set of stairs for my dog, Cooper. I had noticed how effortlessly he jumped up and down off my very high bed, and realized that he wasn’t getting any younger, and I might want to be proactive about any future back problems. 

I spent several weeks enticing him up the stairs rewarding him each time with a treat. I made sure to remind him with the command, “Stairs!” each time he attempted to jump on or off the bed. 

Over time it became routine for him, and only occasionally world he jump down without using the stairs. I’ve noticed a few times, though, that he might have hurt his back, so the vet recommended putting him on some glucosamine. 

However, when it comes to my cat Abby she has her own way of getting on and off of the bed. She jumps on the end table first, and then on to the bed. Remember she figured this out all on her own, but as she is now over fifteen I thought maybe encouraging her to use the stairs as well might be easier on her. 

Last week I showed her twice how to get up on the bed. I noticed this past Saturday she was using the stairs on her own. Mind you this was with no other training, treats, command words or encouragement.

This cat cracks me up. Using the stairs takes less effort than jumping off the end table, and she pretty much figured that out without too much help from me. You know cats don’t do anything they don’t want to do as that is their “purrogative.”

This old feline has a way of finding the most comfortable spots in the house, namely my bed. 

Resting

Resting

Ruth Chou Simmons in her beautiful book, Gracelaced, writes about resting in God’s faithfulness. 

Recently I’ve found myself somewhat restless searching for something I can’t quite put my finger on. I can always tell when I’m in this place when I become obsessed with personality tests. 

Since my twenties I’ve been on this quest to figure myself out. If I could only identify which Myers Briggs or Enneagram type I am, then I’ll finally know which direction my life should take. 

As it turns out this becomes a struggle within itself because I never quite fit into any of the types exactly. I waver back and forth between extroverted introvert or introverted extrovert wondering if aren’t they pretty much the same thing?

What I’ve come to realize is that, although, these tests might have some benefit, I’m actually putting my trust in the wrong place thinking they have all the answers. 

Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds me, 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” 

What I’m also coming to understand is that sometimes I just need to rest in the assurance that what I am to do next will be made known to me in God’s timing. I don’t have to be in charge. 

As we head into the holiday season I’m going to put away the personality tests, and enjoy spending time with family and friends, and being ever grateful for the blessings God has placed before me.

The Same Thing

The Same Thing

The words of David Usher, author of Let the Elephants Run resounded with me:

“We tend to go to the same places, to do the same things in the same way most of the time.”

As I thought more about this I came to the conclusion that there isn’t anything actually wrong with this. It is a personal preference for some who take comfort and enjoyment in the known. 

He continued with the following:

“Trying something new is for most of us, the exception rather than the rule.”

As I thought about my own life I realized that I vacillate between the two. I crave routine until I don’t. One day I wake up, and know that it is time to do something new. 

Interestingly, though, sometimes it takes convincing to do so. Fear of the unknown has a way of kicking in, and I find myself reluctant at first to make a change. 

What I have found time and time again, is that I rarely regret any new thing I’ve tried, and if I do there usually is some life lesson presented to me like a gift wrapped with a shiny bow. 

Of course, everyone is different, and needs to follow their own path. What I am offering for your consideration today is not to avoid the new and different, even if there is some discomfort involved. 

Keep it interesting, my friend. 

Ask the Question

Ask the Question

I’ve found in life that taking the time to ask a question often elevates a somewhat mundane activity into something more interesting. 

This very thing happened a few Sunday’s ago on the way home from church. We noticed that a large plantation style home was having an estate sale on their property, and thought it might be fun to check it out. 

The stately home stood on over thirty acres, and the long driveway was flanked by oak trees on either side. We noticed each one was marked with a pink tag. 

We had seen a sign pop up earlier in the summer advertising a new neighborhood that was going to be built on the property. It seemed kind of a shame that the palatial estate was going to be carved up into a series of McMansions. 

We wondered about the beautiful home that set further back on the property. We also wondered if each marked tree was destined for the wood chipper?

After arriving and parking in the adjoining pasture we made our way to an area that had been set up with white tents. Since it was already Sunday most everything was already picked over. I had noticed that the owner was selling her collection of original Cabbage Patch Dolls still in their boxes, and it brought back memories of the eighties. 

As we were leaving a woman making her way up the path stopped to ask about what was left. I mentioned the Cabbage Patch Dolls, and the parking attendant commented on the owner, and her doll collection. 

I stopped to ask her if she knew anything about the owners. Always curious I 
wanted to know more about the future plans for the place. 

As it turned out this was no ordinary parking attendant, she was actually the daughter of the estate owner. I braced myself to hear the heartbreaking story of her parents passing away, and they having to sell the property. However, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that what I had imagined in my own mind was not true after all. 

Within a matter of moments her mother arrived on scene carrying a large pizza. She proceeded to fill me in on the rags to riches story of the young couple from Oklahoma. The home had just gotten to be more than they needed, and they just like most of us were wanting to downsize. 

We learned that the beautiful oaks lining the driveway would stay, and so would the home. New houses would be built on the front end of the property. 

Now what began as a routine garage sale of sorts ended up being a fascinating story of a young couple who had built a life for themselves and their family in Colleyville. 

I’m so glad I stopped to ask a question. If it’s not your practice to do so you might consider it because it sure makes life a lot more interesting. 

Stay curious my friend.