What Goes Up Must Come Down (Strike That and Reverse)

This week's adventures in cooking have been something, I'm not quite sure how to begin.  The food poisoning was unintentional, although Sparta has told anyone who will listen that it was my attempt to kill him and I fell into my own trap.  Sparta, Ben and I were the unfortunate recipients of staphylococcus aurea (at least that is the diagnosis I came up with during my 3am Google search which was later confirmed by the 7am Google search).  That happened Tuesday evening, Wednesday is a blur.

Thursday was Leah's birthday and although not eager to jump back into the kitchen, I'm the mom. More dependable than the post office- neither rain, snow, sleet, lack of sleep, fever, or things that should not be mentioned can prevent a birthday dinner from completion.  Leah's special dinner request was for fried chicken, mac-n-cheese, potatoes, and rolls. Nope it wasn't balanced at all.  She didn't want a cake because that is for today when the ten friends sleep over. I could not let her birthday pass without candles so, I thought cupcakes would be perfect. Perfectly easy, perfectly quick, perfectly perfect.  Unfortunately, I was a little less than right. No cupcake liners and Wesley got sick, thus making a simple task virtually impossible to complete.

After I got Wesley situated, inspiration struck and I cut liners out of aluminum foil. How clever was that?  I put the mix, eggs, milk instead of water, and a dash of vanilla in the bowl and mixed away. After pouring the batter into each muffin tin and sticking them in the oven, I realized I didn't put the oil in sooooooo what's a normally competent cook who has poisoned her family earlier in the week to do?  I took the batter out and divvied the oil into the cups 1/4 teaspoon at a time and incorporated it with a toothpick. Twenty minutes later the cupcakes were ready, looked okay and I didn't tell what I'd done.
Since we made it through the night without their reappearance  I don't think I have to let them in on my little secret. The other dishes turned out tasty and also toxin free.

This has been one more week. Certainly not the way it was planned. Between auto trouble, food poisoning, break-ups, the virus that struck Wesley, the birthday gift that arrived inoperable, and the birthday dinner that almost wasn't this week is not one I'll long to repeat. Now that the pity party is over, time to finish the birthday cake for today's gaggle of girls and the real party.  It's gotta' get better.

Baby It's Cold Outside

I bought a new white coat yesterday. It's absolutely lovely. Micro-fiber fabric, fitted, detachable hood with fabulously fluffy faux fur trim. It spoke to me in the store and I listened. When I found that it was 50% off, the thing became even more tempting. I did try to resist the impulse but only half-heartedly.  At the checkout counter the cashier oohed and ahhed with me(all the confirmation I needed). 

When I got home with  shopping bags in tow (yes, I bought more than just the one thing), I put the coat on and was feeling quite cute. Anticipating a less than warm reception to my splurge from Sparta and because I felt guilty about it myself, I defensively attempted to justify why I had spent money on myself at this time of year when there are many other expenses to consider.  The explanation went  like this, "for one thing it is winter after all and in our entire marriage I've never purchased a coat for myself and since I've lost weight nothing fits right anymore". Honestly, under cross-examination those reasons wouldn't hold up.  I have some nice hand-me-downs from my sister Tara and my Aunt Ann which have kept me warm so it's not like I was ever without. I've lost some weight this year but coats are bulky enough that size really doesn't matter much. So Sparta watched as I pirouetted to get a look at all angles pulled the hood up and back down and grinned ridiculously at myself in the mirror. Without a question or rebuke, he smiled back saying only that he was glad it brought me pleasure.

I wore it to church last night and put it on again this morning to take the kids to school. It was a bumpy ride. A flat tire, a really flat tire that I continued to drive on in order to get both children to their respective schools on time.  Tires as you  know are rather close to the ground and black and dirty. Did I mention the coat is white?

Not Ready For The Kiln

In the very good times I remember to whom I owe praise. In the really difficult times I know where to direct my cries and pleas for mercy and help. It is in the normalness of life that I fail to see and seek God.

Those interchangeable days where any one is just like another. The mundane tasks that take place from ringing of the alarm clock to bath and bedtime all done in a perfect Ben Stein-like monotone. Wake the kids, feed the kids, make the beds, wash the dishes, feed the dog, do the laundry, clean the toilet, cook the dinner, watch TV, send kids to bed, go to sleep and repeat.

Psalm 139:16 says, Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

I read this verse, re-read it and then read it again putting my own name in the place of the personal pronouns. “All the days of Tracey’s life were ordained for Tracey before any of them came to be.” I have long thought that I was here on earth at this particular time in history in order to accomplish something for the kingdom of God, that I was purposed for this time not that time was purposed for me. The first line of Rick Warren’s “The Purpose Driven Life” seemed to confirm it , “It’s not about me” but guess what, maybe it is about me. Not exclusively mind you, but this verse affirms that each day is shaped for me. That word translated ordained is “yatsar” and it means to be formed, fashioned or framed like clay by a potter. The days I live in exist in order that I might be formed into the person the Creator would have me be.


In the everyday repetitions of life, my spirit is being shaped and smoothed in much the same way a rock or mountain is rounded and smoothed by weather, water, and erosion. Over time becoming something quite different that the sharp rough thing it was originally. These days were formed with me in mind. Your days are formed with you in mind by a Potter who knows exactly the ware He has in mind for that unformed embryo you once were.
 
Praying that I will be shaped more easily; compliant and yielding to the Father's will in my life and for my life that He may be glorified in  all circumstances especially in my day to day duties.