Another well-spent day

Ah yes, I met up with my friend Jen at the local "tunnels" playcenter. She brought her little boy, Archer, and I brought my 4 year old, Madison. About two hours of popcorn, free coffee, and ring pops for the kids later...plus lots of talking.

We haven't seen each other in, oh for forever, well a month. Last time was just before Christmas (she lives in Hillsboro), Jen's my best friend. We have lots in common, shared faith, a deep love for children. And a commitment to nurture the friendship, whenever we find the time.

She brought me the sweetest gifts, and I should've really taken a picture. Here, a 3-wicked scented candle (vanilla blackberry, I mean black currant vanilla...) and a lotion from that Bath & Body Works, aromatherapy. Plus, and this is the clincher.

Instead of a pack of my Senseos, she brought coffee pods with creamers, only by a different manufacturer. Can't just swap coffees with any single-serving coffee brewers. She's going to return them and get me the right ones, though I insisted she shouldn't.

But she will, and we'll meet up again in a month or so.

A simple method

It's a perfect day where the unexpected occurred. My two young ones surround me, she's my forever sidekick, he simply stayed home from school. A sink filled with plates sticky with syrup, this morning's breakfast waffles not homemade, but getting close.

Filling this house up with memories, last night's spaghetti with breadsticks turned out spectacular. And only inches away from this oatmeal pancake mix, nourishment and deliciousness all wrapped up in one. Heading out.

I'm 37 now.

So I kind of planned for this breakfast the night before. Simply laying out dishware and a few ingredients, plus early this morning pulling the butter out to soften it. We had leftover banana bread with Carnation Instant Breakfast hot cocoa (with fun pink and green holiday marshmallows). Colton ate a portion of what was left over from Taco night Tuesday, on a multigrain tortilla. Whole grain bread buttered and of course my Senseo.

The energy rolled easily as I scooted them out of the h0use.

Borrowed recipes

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
Bread sticks

Classic Lasagna
Make 2 and freeze one

Cheesesteak Subs
Meatball Subs
French bread rolls

Mac and Cheese

Sweet and Sour Chicken
Baked brown rice

Classic chili

Dynamo

Cooking up a storm lately..., last night it was two chicken pot pies with a third one in the freezer. Night before I made Chicken Marengo, which needed nothing to satisfy my husband, well maybe black beans. Found the greatest cookbook where I'm gaining my inspiration, it's Fabulous Freezer Meals that don't actually have to go in the freezer (only if you want to).

So, I'm flipping through all my Taste of Homes lately, planning full-on to make carrot bran muffins, can already taste them.

Plus, winning contests.

Chocolate and cheese

In my sink, after today's post-school snack, I found chocolate pudding and a pile of cheese graters. I'd been serving these options to my kids absentmindedly...not the cheese graters, the CHEDDAR! Sharp. Never for once admitting it was all about the fat and flavor. You know, chocolate oils and cheeses? Very oily both.

Gourmet in other words, yes that's my interpretation of today's afterschool cooking.

Knitting is my calm lately

I just knit a wrongside row, which is the easier shift when the reverse side is filled with knitted cables and surrounding purls. It's a sweater I'm knitting for myself in one piece, sideways. One of those tasks I keep around to occupy myself during my many dread-filled, "what has life become" moments.

All I can consider lately is what life has become since my newborn never made it home from the hospital, then thrived healthily. I'm left with thoughts and fears with the main theme being that life is not what I expected, or should be. Even projecting such aimlessness onto my children, as in, will life rock them to their core someday? Will they be prepared to handle it?

Of course I say no, because none of us seem to be without struggle, let alone regret...my other pal for this century. Can't look backwards and find a shred of that perfection I once believed in and thrived on. Only wonders as I question every past thought, hope, or action. None of it feels like it's going to settle toward peace again.

I mean, there are the moments. When things fall into line and I know the best I can do is celebrate and savor all the great moments, the ones filled with effort. And create more, ignoring those times in between when I falter. Healing the heart and soul is no easy task, facing the dark truths of life is a journey we all have.