Come and Dine

There once was a ten year old boy who was being raised, along with his brothers, by his grandmother. She tried her best, but she was disabled and times were hard.

Their tiny rented house was literally falling down around them and he would never invite friends over to play, because he was too embarrassed for them to see where he lived. 

The boy's clothes were too small and too few. There were no toys in sight, as these were only luxuries that his friends had, but never him.  

Until one day, a beautiful lady entered the house. Like a fairy godmother, she helped the family find a more suitable home. She cleaned it, mowed the grass, and filled the home with special touches.

The house was almost ready for the family to move in. When the lady asked the boy what he would want most in the house, assuming he would ask for toys and such, she was stunned by his answer.

His one wish - a dining table. 

His family had never had a table to eat on. He wanted to gather his family and sit around a table to have their meals, to laugh, and to share about their day. Mostly, to have a time of coming together.

That wonderful lady fulfilled his wish of a table, and in addition, a complete house of furniture and all bedding needed for the house. Some she bought herself, and for the rest, she worked and worked until she had enough donated for the cause. She even brought toys and clothes for the family. When the family moved in, they were incredibly thankful.

The little boy spoke few words, but you could see he held his head a little higher after that day.  And he gathered his family around that wooden table.

How long has it been since we've gathered our families? Held hands and said grace? Laughed and cried together?

Never underestimate the power of the gathering of a family around a dinner table, big or small, fancy or plain, especially in the eyes of a child. 

Or the magic of stopping our busy lives to notice someone else.

Love, 

Elizabeth

This is a true story that happened several weeks ago and Elizabeth has the honor of knowing the beautiful lady and the boy..  The pics are not the boy's dining room, (it's Elizabeth's), but can't you picture him gathering his family at his table? Go gather your people.  

Party With Your Red Sleeves On - A Tale of Two Brothers

I did something I've never done last weekend. I left Little B (my 20 yr old) in charge of The Bear (10) overnight. For two nights. As in....the whole weekend. 

I know! I can't believe it either!

Little B is fully capable of taking care of the Bear, don't get me wrong, but when The Bear gets creative with his mischievousness, you just don't know what to expect. Even a seasoned veteran can be taken over with a surprise attack. When I came home, the house was not burned to the ground, it wasn't a wreck and no one was tied up. Hooray! However, there were some oddities, of course...

1) There was a pair of shirt sleeves laying on the kitchen island. Not a full shirt, just long sleeves. It seems The Bear decided he wanted to wear just sleeves one day instead of the whole shirt, so he cut them off.   The visual in my mind I'm sure cannot compare to the reality of a shirtless boy appearing from his bedroom wearing only red long sleeves, announcing to his brother that he is ready for the day. I do not remember doing this kind of thing to my parents...or my brother.

2) There was a pot of red Kool-Aid on the stove. Apparently, before Little B realized what was going on, The Bear was boiling a pot of Kool-Aid and insisted on serving him a glass of hot deliciousness.       

No red flags there!

This was actually an attempt to hide the fact that he really made the Kool-Aid to use as a dye for his hair, since I won't allow him to otherwise- this is the fourth or so attempt, but the first with hot Kool-Aid. For some reason, he thought boiling it would make it a more potent dye. Thankfully, he let the Kool-Aid cool down before pouring it on his head. And bonus points for him, he did it outside. I did notice a slight auburn tone to his hair when I came home.  An extra ten points for creativity. Ten points to Little B for just going with the flow and accepting a glass of hot Kool-Aid like a boss.

3) Little B and The Bear accompanied my friend to the store to buy her son an airsoft gun - that looked like a machine gun. While driving down the road, The Bear decides it's a great idea to wave the machine gun out the car window...At A Policeman.

All bonus points deducted.

4) The most surprising one of all- The second night, Little B had a couple of friends over. No worries, I adore his friends and was fine with this. However, The Bear, who is usually made to follow a fairly strict bedtime policy, had been allowed to stay up way too late the first night. So by Saturday night, he was really tired. He told Little B's friends that they were playing music way too loud, didn't they know it was TEN O'CLOCK and we had neighbors who might be bothered by this! (We live on 7 acres...the neighbors are not even close). I don't even know who that was. Bonus points to the little old man who entered my Bear's body for a few minutes.

So, all in all, my red-sleeved, machine gun waving, redheaded child had a great weekend with his hot Kool-Aid drinking, loud music playing, late-nighter brother while I had a relaxing weekend celebrating with their dad on his birthday.

And they actually ended up positive on the bonus scale. Last night they hugged goodnight without me making them. What planet am I on? Or was this secret code? A celebration of getting away with their wild weekend undiscovered?

I'm just going with all is well in the world. Bonus points for everyone, wear some red sleeves, drink the Kool-Aid (or dye your hair), crank the music and have a great weekend!

Elizabeth finds the sleeves amusing. I do not.

Love,

Elizabeth

The Top Six Things That Destroy A Marriage - A Letter From A Divorce Mediator

Today I'm guest posting from Her View From Home.  This topic is a little off the beaten path from my usual, but sometimes a post is begging to get out and I'm just the typist :). Maybe someone somewhere needs to hear this one.

'Wife, remember when you’d get all dressed up and you’d show up at his work with those cookies you made him? Husband, you’d compliment her and tell her she was the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen? Yeah, that.
Oh, wait, you were just dating then…

Don’t quit dating...'

Come join me over at Her View From Home for the list of marriage destroyers and what to do instead.

The Junk Food Junkie Diaries Entry 2, A Recipe and Some Dark Days

IF YOU MISSED Entry One, find it here.

Day 7:

The Junkie is feeling surprisingly like a human. Maybe even feeling amazing! Has decided to be a grown up, just in this eating/exercise department. No more crying, no more pity parties and drinking stress away with Mt. Dew.  

Still loves Mt. Dew.

Has exercised every day and eaten 'clean' in the past week. (Learned that means more than the food was just washed). Ok, the bleu cheese dressing and a fried green tomato smothered in cheese was a stretch (mmm, there's a secret love affair with cheese going on), but otherwise every meal has been whole, non-processed foods, no preservatives, chemicals, etc..

OKAYYYYYYY.  There was one night of pizza and popcorn because it was the weekend, and that's reason enough.  So, keeping' it real, by end of week 1, there were two cheat meals.  Junkie feels no remorse.

The rollerblades have been banned to the basement. No child has been duct-taped anywhere. There is still the desire to do this, however, when the ten year old provides commentary during the workouts, or when tucking in at bedtime, when the kid says, 'Hey, Mom! Your leg looks smaller! Oh, nope, yeah, still just as fat.'

Kid is lucky to be alive. 

The house is clean, the music is playing, Junkie is twirling around like that lady in the Sound of Music and the family has been fed. Even likes them again. Has lost four pounds.  Proof that if a Junkie can do it, so can you. (Or if you are one of those fortunate people who have already have this down because of this fabulous metabolism or already follow this kind of lifestyle, Junkie will put you in the 'Friend I Like But Cannot Sit Next To In A Bathing Suit' category).  You know who you are.

And remember the Beach Body participant, Carolyn?  

Still an overachiever. 

So, Junkie will end this series for now (with updates here and there) and close out with her favorite breakfast recipe.  Because she writes it a week ahead and she already knows that week 2 brings on dark days.  DARK days, my friends.  You know the days,  where you get busy and don't put exercise first so you go to bed at night wondering where the day went.  The days when you attend a woman's conference for the whole weekend and somehow end Saturday night with your face in a delicious bowl of creme du brûlée mousse.  OH MY WORD. DELICIOUS. But she's hanging in there because Monday always comes back around and Monday allows for a fresh start. Week 3 will be awesome! Never give up!

But oh, those Saturday nights can be dark, my friends.   

On to the breakfast:

21 DAY FIX - BROCCOLI CHEESE EGG MUFFINS

INGREDIENTS

• 12 eggs
• Veggies of your choice, I used broccoli, sundried tomatoes and artichokes (diced peppers and onions work, chopped spinach, whatever you have, like an omelet).  There's no right or wrong amount, I believe I used about two green containers full or between 2-3 cups.  If you're splurging a little, crumbled bacon or turkey bacon is good to add as well.
• 1/2 - 1 teaspoon of salt, to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon of pepper
• One cup of shredded cheddar cheese (optional) (A must in Junkie's mind)

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Spray 12 cup muffin tin GENEROUSLY.  These muffins will stick in your muffin pan so bad you might just give up and throw the whole pan away. Not that that has ever happened over here.  
3. Saute or steam broccoli until soft and chop sundried tomatoes and artichokes into bite size pieces.
4. Mix all veggies in a large bowl with cheese.  
5. In a separate bowl, whisk the 12 eggs as if you are making scrambled eggs. Pour over veggie mixture and stir.  
6. Fill each muffin tin 3/4 full and bake for 20 minutes or until you can insert a toothpick and it comes out clean.
7. Enjoy!  These lasted around three days in the refrigerator and can be frozen.  Great to make ahead for an on the go breakfast or snack.

For 21 Day Fix: Three muffins = One and 1/2 red, 1/2 green, 1 blue

Pin for later!

Low carb too! 

The Junk Food Junkie Diaries

A PEEP INTO THE LIFE of a Junk Food Junkie who has decided to eat healthy and get fit.  

The Day Before:

Naps instead of making grocery list. (Guys, it's Sunday). Is very grumpy. Is supposed to have groceries to cook in bulk by 6 pm- still has not made the list.

Cries about 5 pm. Overwhelmed at thought of not having french fries for a long time.  Two other family members who are already nice and fit have decided they want to do the program too, so Junkie has to make an additional two other meals to her one.  Food prep up 66%. Or something like that.  Doesn't like math either.

Cries again, blames it on sad episode of Cake Boss.

Finally makes grocery list at 9 pm.  Texts it to oldest son who is out and tell him to get these items so family will at least have enough for breakfast and lunch.  

He brings it.  Junkie wishes she’d just have given him the whole list but knows he would never bring home the right things (he once brought home FAT FREE cheese - NO), so just gave him the basics.  Now still have to go to grocery tomorrow.

Tries to figure out the color coded box system which comes with the Beach Body 21 Day Fix that Junkie has signed up for. Was hoping they'd just send her a new bod with the program. Hates the boxes. No new bod in there. Wants 10 blue boxes, only gets 1.  Blue box gets cheese.  Who can live with only a tiny box of cheese?

Already feeling withdrawals even though had Mt. Dew and Pringles while making the grocery list. Goes to bed feeling ashamed for being so grumpy with family.  While in bed looks at Facebook, sees member of the Beach Body group has started a day early.  Pics of food prep and sweaty selfie after her workout.  Dislike her immediately. Carolyn. Remember that name.

Official Day 1:

Wake up still grouchy and overwhelmed. Tell hubby his usual oatmeal is within the program and he can have that. Hubby looks afraid to talk to Junkie and politely leaves for work.

Must have coffee before making any decisions.  Thank goodness it’s on the program or someone might get hurt.

Day 3: 

Rest of Day 1 and Day 2 a blur.  Slightly remembers feeling like passing out during workouts.  Workouts not helped by 10 year old on roller blades circling around Junkie during the workout video, yelling, ‘Come on, Mom, even the fat lady on TV is doing better than you.’ 

Child may or may not have been duct-taped to the couch.  Who knows, still a blur.

UPDATES TO COME: (dramatic voice) - Will Junk Food Junkie make it through the 21 days??  Will family be fed at all?  Will rollerblading child survive?? Was he actually duct-taped to the couch???)  Stay tuned, there may be another installment in the Junk Food Diaries.  Or Junkie may have quit by tomorrow, in which case, this series is over.

If Elizabeth, er, I mean 'Junkie' continues this diet,  I"m going to Grandma's.

A Wife For My Husband

Just so you know, my hubby will be totally taken care of in the event of my death.  Not that I plan on going down that path any day soon, but it pays to be prepared.  Bear actually has planned it all out, which came about as follows:

On our way to church several Sundays ago, we spotted a car stopped with their hazard lights on.  In the car was a very attractive woman and her two small children who’d run out of gas.  Being the knight in shining armor that my husband is (after 23 years, I still really like that guy), he volunteered to get her gas from our garage.  Bear was beside himself with excitement.  The thought of helping a pretty lady was almost more than he could take. 

On the way to get the gas, he says, "You know, mom, she’s VERY pretty….I’d say you are #1 when it comes to pretty and I’d put her as #2.....Except for in the mornings, then she’d be #1."

Well, gee. Thanks so much. I had a good thing going until that morning part.

We got back to Pretty Lady and Bear helped his dad carry the gas can and fill up her tank.  He hopped back in the car and announced, "I’M A HERO!" He was very proud to say the least and still very taken with the beautiful woman.

I’d just about recovered from being demoted to #2 Pretty status when Bear says, "Ya know Mom, I bet if you weren’t around, Dad would marry her."

Whoa Nelly.  Say whaaaaat??

Needless to say, that woman mysteriously disappeared from our area. 

Ha, just kidding!

So, I haven’t felt too secure in the looks depart since this 'pretty' incident, and I'm rethinking that fuzzy plaid purple bathrobe I wear every morning. I do know that if something happens to me, Bear will make sure that my babe has an instant replacement. 

I bet she won't wear a fuzzy purple bathrobe.

And she’ll be #1 Pretty. 

❤️, Elizabeth

I love the purple bathrobe.