Sharing-It's the Right Thing to Do

The following is VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION.  Pay close attention, people. I discovered something recently.  I am compelled to share my discovery with the world, just in case there is someone out there who might not know what I did not know up until a few days ago.  I did not share right away because I had to confirm what I thought might be true; further data was necessary.  Now this is a secret that I cannot keep to myself.  It would be wrong.

In the not too distant past I bought a new cake pan.  I had no 9x13 metal cake pan, only glass baking dishes.  I bought it for Christian's birthday cake, but went a different route with it (I needed a really big cake so I made the Pioneer Woman's sheet cake in a clay jelly roll pan-it was perfect).  I considered returning the unused pan, but decided that it might come in handy sometime.  Now I know what an important, no, crucial crossroads that was.  The other day I planned on taking a meal to a friend who had a baby recently and I wanted to take brownies along with the meal (Hello-oo, new mother with three other children?  Brownies, not optional.)  Several years ago (I promise this is relevant) I read a book by Edith Schaeffer, wife of Francis Schaeffer, called What is a Family? and she suggests in her book that whenever you make food for another family you also make the same thing for your own family, for they are special, too.  (Wow, count how many times I used the word "family" in that sentence...is there a substitute for family?  I think not.)  I decided this was a good time to try out my new metal cake pan with a double batch of my brownies (they are actually Ghirardelli's brownies, but I've made them so many times that they are practically my own).  I paid careful attention to these brownies since doubling a recipe can be tricky, timewise.  I made a chocolate cream cheese frosting, topped the brownies, and just to make sure I wasn't sending this family bad brownies (does that even make sense?!) I had a taste-testing.

THE BROWNIES WERE SO GOOD AND MOIST AND SO GOOD WHILE CHEWY ON THE OUTSIDE AND SO GOOD WITHOUT BEING OVERDONE AND DID I MENTION THAT THEY WERE SO GOOD THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE BEST BROWNIES I HAVE EVER HAD!!!  THEY WERE SO GOOD.

I quickly covered the pan, lest I eat all of the brownies and have to do all that work over again, plus have the mother of all stomach aches for the next three days.  That would defeat the eating of a great piece of chocolatey, gooey, chewy goodness. My initial thought was that it had to have been the pan.   I've made these brownies, like I said, many, many times.  I've always used a glass dish before, though.  I wanted to test out my theory, and since I gave half of the brownies to this other family and we were down to one last portion (three servings or one, depending on who you are) with company coming last night, it was the perfect time to make a new batch.  (Um, any time is the perfect time to make a new batch.  Right, got it.) 

I didn't double the recipe for one dinner guest plus our family, and the only small metal pan I have is a round cake pan.  I used that, and found to my absolute delight that these also surpassed all of my previous glass-dish brownies. I have been converted to the metal cake pan club forever.  I would hand-wash my metal cake pan if it were dirty in order to make such scrumptious brownies.  

Maybe you already knew this information...WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?  If you didn't know it, then I hope you, too, go forth and make delicious, perfect brownies with a metal pan now.  And you're welcome.

Growing Pains

My children are growing up so quickly.  Long ago I laid Eliana down on this changing pad and her body took up half of it when I changed her tiny newborn diapers.  Now it is a recliner.  Not only that, but my first baby that we brought home from the hospital just yesterday is now big enough to make a changing pad into a recliner, strap her baby little sister in it, and read to her.  How are these things possible? 

I have been going through clothes in an effort to get rid of stuff we don't need (and give it away to folks who can use it); I had piles of Eliana's baby clothes on our bed.  Things like this...

That is so small.

My mom and dad gave this to me before Eliana was born.  We lost two babies before she came along.  The story of her beginnings is one for another post, maybe...it's a miracle.  And she was totally worth the wait.  And the weight.  (Mom, I'm keeping this one.)

This used to be so big on her!  She'll always be the little sister though, no matter how old she is.

This is also a keeper...she came home wearing this.

She might be able to get her left leg in there now. These are the things I'm keeping, but I have two garbage bags full of clothes to give away.  There are other little girls who need sweet, teeny, pink outfits with bunnies and fruit and stripes this summer.  The only thing Eliana needs this summer, really, is her bathing suit.  She has been obsessed with her swimsuits for a while now.  She wants to live at the pool.

Let's try this again...

When all else fails, get creative...make it a purse...

She learns so much from Michaela and Christian...she always wants to do whatever they are doing.  They got into the Legos the other day; I said,"Show me what you're doing."

So she showed me...

Sandwiched in between these two girls we find Christian.  He, too, refuses to heed my instructions.  "Stop getting bigger!" I say; I shake my finger at them, but no matter how stern I am they keep on growing.  One of his favorite things to do is read to Eliana before she goes to sleep.  This works out well, because one of her favorite things to do is sit next to Christian in her bed and listen to him read.

I just sighed because the kid who used to be my baby is now reading to another kid who used to be my baby.  Next thing you know she's going to be reading!  Will this madness never end?  And no, to the funny jokester who is amending my sentence to read,"She's going to be reading to the new baby!"  I'm done having babies who insist on growing up...it's too hard. 

I have these thoughts, these "How can my little ones be so big?" thoughts, and I know my mom must think the same things about me.  "How can my baby girl have these three kids?!"  I know she loves being a grandma, but it's got to be weird.  An older generation watches a younger generation, teaches them, raises them.  This is life.  It is bittersweet.  Mothering is filled with heartache, a longing for those treasured moments snuggling with a newborn or watching older siblings with the new babies.  But it is filled with so much joy.  I'm happy to find that things often come full circle...

The onesies she wore when she first came home from the hospital don't fit anymore, but they still bring a smile to my face.

I'm a Poet, Not a Planner-Herein Lies the Evidence

My sister-in-law asked me tonight how last night went...she wanted to know if I accomplished what I had planned.  The truth is I did something that was much more important.  

I've written about how I feel about making plans.  It's not my favorite thing to do.  I really rebel against schedules (I took a family a meal this afternoon even though I didn't sign up on the online calendar to do it and someone was already bringing them a meal for tonight-mine was frozen, homemade, but I didn't want to sign up on the calendar and feel locked in, committed!)  And usually if I do make a plan and things don't go how I thought they would for some reason I get frustrated.  Or even mad.

Yesterday I made a commitment to stay off of the computer in the evening so that I could work on a few areas in the house that have gotten a wee bit out of control.  The desk where our computer is would be one of those areas...did you know that if you leave your papers alone for long enough they begin to multiply?  Yes, they are very naughty.

I did not get around to cleaning the desk last night, nor did I put away or even fold the laundry, but God knew that I would need the time to connect with someone who is important, someone I needed to talk to.  He had a plan that trumped mine, but used my plan at the same time.  I'm so grateful that He is in control, that I can rest in His grace, and that one day my plans will line up perfectly with His and I'll no longer be a rebellious child.  I'll always be His child though.  What blessings are mine!  

I'll take one day at a time, and one mess at a time.  I'll take comfort in knowing that my heavenly Father loves me even though I have a hard time keeping house.  I'll try to be cheerful rather than weighed down by my own feelings of failure. It's so easy to recognize how important the relationships in my life are when it's late at night, quiet, and peaceful, when I can reflect and focus on the sweet moments of the day rather than the unpleasant ones.  It probably seems like I'm writing haphazardly...in some ways that's true.  A bit of stream-of-consciousness. 

It started with a plan.  But the plan didn't stand.  Still it didn't hit the fan.  I'll tell you what, man.  You just do what you can.  Love on your clan.  Clean up your van.  And keep makin' plans.

What can I say?  I live to rhyme.  I do it all the time.

All right, all right, now I'll say good night. Sorry, sorry.  I'll stop. 

Really I will. Do you love me still?

There Is an Apology in Here

I usually post at night, but I sent the kids outside (Eliana is asleep), and I'm going to try to get some things done around here while I can.  I am also going to do the same tonight. 

Do you want to know something?  Last night I told Mike that it was no problem for me to get some clothes ready for him to wear to an early morning meeting today (7:45-ish).  He told me that it was okay if I didn't have a chance to do it, and I assured him I could.  I did the dishes, switched out some laundry, and sat down to do a post about Michaela's game.  After that I read a few other blogs, and then I totally forgot about his clothes.  Until this morning around 8:45...helpful, no?  I feel pretty bad about that.  He wouldn't say anything, but I have no excuse for my messed up priorities.

So tonight I'm going to iron everything in his wardrobe, even his boxers. Just kidding.  I don't ever iron underwear.  (Although, have you ever noticed that it gives you ironing instructions on the tags for socks and stuff?)  

I am actually going to get to work on a couple of areas of the house that are desperately in need of attention. All of this is to say that I will be taking a break tonight, and it will be good for me because it will be hard to do.  I've discovered over the course of the year or so that we've been keeping this blog that I enjoy writing so much, and reading other people's writing, that it's hard for me to call it quits. So, "Quits!"

But I'll be back.  And, Mike, I'm really sorry that I didn't keep my word.

Just to Be Fair

Michaela had her final softball game tonight.  This is the first set of pictures we have taken at a game.  What happened?!  I just don't know.  At any rate, I was determined to get some shots at this one, so Grandmas and Grandpas and cousins and whoever else might be interested could see Michaela in the game. (I'm not promising that there's a lot of action, but she is in the game.) The girls got to play on the high school softball field, which is quite a different experience than playing on the elementary school fields.  Being in a dugout?  Very cool...

Before each game all of the players say the YMCA pledge...this is the line-up waiting for the other team to come over...

They were so fun to watch sitting on the dugout wall...they were all beaming.

Michaela up at bat...she bats left-handed.

Unfortunately, she struck out, but she always comes off the field with a smile on her face.

Here they are on the field.  It's almost like the Big Leagues...

Ready and waiting...

Does she look like the happiest kid in the world, or what?

I really like this one...

And what's not to love about this one...

Out in left field...(oh-so-much like her mother...she's way sweeter and cuter, though)

These girls had so much fun, and it was so much fun to watch them!

Is it hard to believe?