What I really want to eat this week

I will miss making all of my husband's family's favorites...whipped sweet potatoes, broccoli casserole, the "dressing", the green beans, the endless lines of pies, the apple stack cake

But we will eat together, and I will not miss the stories, the games, the time.

I will miss my grandma. My first Thanksgiving without a living grandparent. Their traditions, their steadfastness, their ever-present love.

But we will make her noodles, and pile them on mashed potatoes, and make a ham instead of a turkey, and remember her in each bite.

I will miss my "boy"...his willingness to hold my hand in public - or any motherly PDA; his boyish features; my slight advantage in strength....all have been fading, and with this, the 12th birthday, are disappearing.

But we will eat his All Boy birthday menu on his Thanksgiving Day Birthday (who else gets to eat corn dogs on Thanksgiving Day? Anyone? Anyone?) and sing to him and be so thankful for the boy he is and the man he is becoming.

I will miss the "way things were" - I've always been bad at change - but I will embrace the "way things are" and remember the One Who Always Is - He is my Rock.

And I will eat...

"Come, all you who are thirsty,
    come to the waters;
and you who have no money, 
    come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
    without money and without cost.
Why spend money on what is not bread,
    and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
    and you will delight in the richest of fare.
Give ear and come to me; 
    listen, that you may live." 

The Art of Getting Things Done

If I hadn't flown to Texas to see my new nephew, I might not have realized how easy making breakfast burritoes in bulk could be.

If I were my sister, I would've done this for my husband a long time ago. If I were Lisa or Pam, I'd have headed to my backyard farm for these 36 eggs, instead of the $1.59 per 18 deal I got at Kroger.

If it weren't for my mom, I wouldn't have had this handy-dandy tool for chopping up the sausage and eggs into perfect form. Oh, modern convienences.

If I hadn't married a southerner (by heritage) with a penchant for protein for breakfast, there would probably be nothing more than Cheerios on this bar.

If I were in control of my life, I might not have these three beautiful daughters (assembly-line workers today!) to make the process go quickly and easily. I thank God for all my children!!
If I were my husband, I'd be up early and hard at work each day designing machines and solving problems, providing for our family. The least I can do is give him some breakfast!

We're a vegetable-free (twilight) zone

As seems to keep occuring, today is a birthday day in our household. Much to our chagrin, someone has had the gall to turn NINE around here, and thus, participate in the Choosing of the Menu. He has had the most practice at this, and knows that since he will not be getting most of these foods the other 364 days of the year, he'd better stock up now. So he stocked up, and we have all had sugar/carb rushes and subsequent crashes today that have left us pretty much lifeless (and just in time for Thanksgiving!).

Breakfast: doughnuts and sausage, OJ
Lunch: hot dogs, Cool Ranch doritoes, tater tots
Supper: Pizza, Cherry Delight, ice cream

Add to this that we ate a Thanksgiving meal with our church group last night, where the kids snuck cups of Coca-cola and we don't know how many cookies, and you can imagine how we feel tonight!

When he first made out his menu and showed it to me, I had to at least ask, "don't you want any vegetables?" He added pickles to his supper list. We were so stuffed by supper though, that we forgot all about the "vegetable."

We do love our newly-nine-year-old and are so thankful for him, carb-lover and all. : ) Happy Birthday Levi!