I can honestly say that I have had one of the most fulfilling weekends that I have recently experienced. And I really didn't do anything special or even leave the house, except to run to Starbucks this evening. What I did do was have the right mix of activity, relaxation, and intimate time with my husband.
On the activity side....at the end of the weekend I have one perfectly fitted Audrey Heprburn sheath that I will now use as a template to create one perfectly fitted Audrey Hepburn gown. The Pretty In Pink dress has been totally re-worked so that it barely resembles the pattern it started from. It no longer looks like something Barbie threw up and now looks like a princess dress. We are now calling it the Charlotte dress from The Princess and The Frog and are scheduling an appointment for a blonde job and thinking of a tiara. On the homefront, despite all the haute couture in the house, I managed to keep the house picked up, cook three amazing dinner meals, and complete ALL the laundry so we are starting the week fairly stress-free. Praise to my husband and daughter; they helped with dishes, picked up after themselves, and did the grocery shopping.
For relaxation, I managed to watch two movies that I have had from Netflix for 3 months! Three months! I have NOT been intentional about in that area of my life, have I? Frost/Nixon and Milk were both thought provoking and dealt with serious isuuses, but I enjoyed taking the time to watch them. I also enjoyed sleeping in until 10AM each morning.... easier to be productive when I am well rested.
As for intimate time....well my husband and I took a late Saturday afternoon "nap" and stayed up quite late Saturday evening to "talk about birthday presents". All I will say is that they were both very productive and satisfying. :) Also, we ended up eating dinner alone on both Saturday and Sunday evening. I can't decide if they were to mini-dates or practice for being empty-nesters. It was nice to have the time to talk without teens at the table but it did prompt some serious discussion regarding how we will deal with life after our daughter graduates high school this year. I think I am feeling the potential loss less than my husband at this point but we did have constructive conversation about activities and things we hope to do in the near future.
And what can I glean from all of this? A busy Cubed is a happy Cubed. I feel more in control and more productive if the house is neat and well-organized. Note....I did not say "clean"....just being neat is enough on a weekend with so much going on. Having a stimulating and creative project makes me happy and leaves me with a good sense of accomplishment. My husband is a great provider and a willing helper, but it's important to make him feel like he is the top priority for some of each day. Take some time each day for rest, refelection, and relaxing. This weekend makes a good template for how to live my life!
Showing posts with label cooking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cooking. Show all posts
Monday, January 11, 2010
Saturday, January 9, 2010
A Relationship With Food
The following is an excerpt from a letter written today, describing my life to a long-lost friend...
I am still an active volunteer at our church, mainly by feeding the flock. I prepare dinner every Wednesday evening as a part of our mid-week choir practices and Bible studies. I also cook for the Senior Luncheon once or twice a month. You can often find me cooking, again, at many of the special meals throughout the year. My next special event will be a Valentine Luncheon for the seniors (about 120) that I have been doing for that last few years. I led a Disciple 4 class a few years ago, and found that very spiritually challenging and fulfilling, but I seem to gravitate back to the kitchen.
Some may think that being stuck in the kitchen is not much of a ministry….but I disagree….that is where God has called me to be and that is where I am. Did you ever notice how many stories in both the Old and New Testaments involve God’s people gathered for a meal? Our Wednesday evening program was all but dead two years ago. God told me to go in and cook dinner, no matter if people could pay or not. Providing a meal seems like such a small thing but it has been huge. Existing classes grew in size, more classes were added. This year they began programming for children and middle school children. We accept donations on an honor system but I welcome all to eat, even the few indigent people that occasionally appear. I know that other people are not thrilled about that….but, oh well. I don’t recall the scripture that says “Feed my sheep, but only if they can pay”. In the end, it’s all good. Everyone gets fed on Wednesday, spiritually and physically, and our dinners have become self-supporting.
People often drift into the kitchen to thank me….but really I thank them! It would feel hopeless if I cooked and no one showed up. Some people think it is a burden for me….but I don’t look at it that way at all. Wednesday is my favorite day of the week, and my time in the kitchen feels more like a blessing to me. I feel God’s love pouring though me and then on to others. I operate an “open kitchen” and people of all ages come and hang out in the kitchen, help, talk, laugh, share their struggles, express ideas, share their faith, etc. Sometimes I am feeding more than their stomachs, and always they are feeding my soul!
....this reminds me of an antecdote from many years ago...
My husband would come home from work most summer evenings to find all of the neighborhood children and most of their mothers playing and visiting in our front yard. Parents of young children, a new mortgage, and still paying off school loans, we were on a tight budget with little left over for "extras". Often I was dolling out snacks to the children. Most mothers would bring a treat to be shared by all every now and then, but a few never contributed anything. Once, as we came into the house, my husband sternly and somewhat sarcastically asked me "Do you have to always feed everyone in the neighborhood?" I looked him and answered "Yes, as a matter of fact I do!" He calmed down....and it was the last time he ever complained about my compulsion to feed people. Through the years, he has cheerfully and financially supported my "need to feed", has been gracious about my time spent away from the family, and welcomed an unending parade of unexpected dinner guests that show up at the dinner table.
.....just a few thoughts on my ongoing relationship with food.
I am still an active volunteer at our church, mainly by feeding the flock. I prepare dinner every Wednesday evening as a part of our mid-week choir practices and Bible studies. I also cook for the Senior Luncheon once or twice a month. You can often find me cooking, again, at many of the special meals throughout the year. My next special event will be a Valentine Luncheon for the seniors (about 120) that I have been doing for that last few years. I led a Disciple 4 class a few years ago, and found that very spiritually challenging and fulfilling, but I seem to gravitate back to the kitchen.
Some may think that being stuck in the kitchen is not much of a ministry….but I disagree….that is where God has called me to be and that is where I am. Did you ever notice how many stories in both the Old and New Testaments involve God’s people gathered for a meal? Our Wednesday evening program was all but dead two years ago. God told me to go in and cook dinner, no matter if people could pay or not. Providing a meal seems like such a small thing but it has been huge. Existing classes grew in size, more classes were added. This year they began programming for children and middle school children. We accept donations on an honor system but I welcome all to eat, even the few indigent people that occasionally appear. I know that other people are not thrilled about that….but, oh well. I don’t recall the scripture that says “Feed my sheep, but only if they can pay”. In the end, it’s all good. Everyone gets fed on Wednesday, spiritually and physically, and our dinners have become self-supporting.
People often drift into the kitchen to thank me….but really I thank them! It would feel hopeless if I cooked and no one showed up. Some people think it is a burden for me….but I don’t look at it that way at all. Wednesday is my favorite day of the week, and my time in the kitchen feels more like a blessing to me. I feel God’s love pouring though me and then on to others. I operate an “open kitchen” and people of all ages come and hang out in the kitchen, help, talk, laugh, share their struggles, express ideas, share their faith, etc. Sometimes I am feeding more than their stomachs, and always they are feeding my soul!
....this reminds me of an antecdote from many years ago...
My husband would come home from work most summer evenings to find all of the neighborhood children and most of their mothers playing and visiting in our front yard. Parents of young children, a new mortgage, and still paying off school loans, we were on a tight budget with little left over for "extras". Often I was dolling out snacks to the children. Most mothers would bring a treat to be shared by all every now and then, but a few never contributed anything. Once, as we came into the house, my husband sternly and somewhat sarcastically asked me "Do you have to always feed everyone in the neighborhood?" I looked him and answered "Yes, as a matter of fact I do!" He calmed down....and it was the last time he ever complained about my compulsion to feed people. Through the years, he has cheerfully and financially supported my "need to feed", has been gracious about my time spent away from the family, and welcomed an unending parade of unexpected dinner guests that show up at the dinner table.
.....just a few thoughts on my ongoing relationship with food.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Today Was Nothing and Everything
Today was Epiphany.....but no epiphany moments here.....just the continual gradual realization that I am happiest when I am busiest.
Started off the day with a Rosca de Reyes, a King's cake, and coffee. A little fondling and some passionate kisses with my husband before I had to run off for a day of cooking. Toting along my new Gourmet Cookbook, as well as half my kitchen, I headed for church where I prepare a budget lunch for about 60 seniors. Today's menu: Apricot Almond Glazed Chicken Breast, Rice Pilaf, salad of Baby Greens/thinly sliced red onion/dried cranberries/mandarin oranges/mushrooms and champagne vinaigrette, Hawaiian King rolls, and Applesauce Pecan cake. A winner.
Before all the lunch dishes were washed I began dinner for all ages at our Wednesday evening program. Tonight's menu: Pork Loin chops braised in Orange and Soy, Smashed Red Potatoes with Roasted Garlic, Same salad from lunch but with the addition of leftover toasted almonds, buttered french bread, and Red Velvet or Spice cupcakes with Cream Cheese frosting. Also delicious.
Clean up, pack it all up, drive home, unpack, put it all away, put on my jammies, unwind!
What did I learn today? I feel more fulfilled when I have had a productive day. My body feels better when I have been physically active all day. I am gratified by serving others. I love to cook. And eat. And talk to many different people throughout the day. I still wish I came home to a house cleaned by a maid. My husband is thoughtful and made our bed with all the pillows in the right spots after I left this morning. He understands how I like to come home to a clean house. My daughter is still a mercurial teenager and she had total attitude meltdown on me this afternoon in front of others less than 24 hours after I had written such nice things about her. And an hour later was eating dinner with me in the kitchen as sweet and loving as she could be. And my mom has a generous spirit and shows up to help me cook, even when it isn't even her church.
Today was nothing special, no big aha moments, but it was a great day!
Started off the day with a Rosca de Reyes, a King's cake, and coffee. A little fondling and some passionate kisses with my husband before I had to run off for a day of cooking. Toting along my new Gourmet Cookbook, as well as half my kitchen, I headed for church where I prepare a budget lunch for about 60 seniors. Today's menu: Apricot Almond Glazed Chicken Breast, Rice Pilaf, salad of Baby Greens/thinly sliced red onion/dried cranberries/mandarin oranges/mushrooms and champagne vinaigrette, Hawaiian King rolls, and Applesauce Pecan cake. A winner.
Before all the lunch dishes were washed I began dinner for all ages at our Wednesday evening program. Tonight's menu: Pork Loin chops braised in Orange and Soy, Smashed Red Potatoes with Roasted Garlic, Same salad from lunch but with the addition of leftover toasted almonds, buttered french bread, and Red Velvet or Spice cupcakes with Cream Cheese frosting. Also delicious.
Clean up, pack it all up, drive home, unpack, put it all away, put on my jammies, unwind!
What did I learn today? I feel more fulfilled when I have had a productive day. My body feels better when I have been physically active all day. I am gratified by serving others. I love to cook. And eat. And talk to many different people throughout the day. I still wish I came home to a house cleaned by a maid. My husband is thoughtful and made our bed with all the pillows in the right spots after I left this morning. He understands how I like to come home to a clean house. My daughter is still a mercurial teenager and she had total attitude meltdown on me this afternoon in front of others less than 24 hours after I had written such nice things about her. And an hour later was eating dinner with me in the kitchen as sweet and loving as she could be. And my mom has a generous spirit and shows up to help me cook, even when it isn't even her church.
Today was nothing special, no big aha moments, but it was a great day!
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