A Post-Weekend List
Below is a collection of very random thoughts. Bear with me. And thanks, as always, for stopping by to visit.
1. I am tired of having candy in the house. We started using it for rewards, and it has taken over like an uncontrollable monster. I think it was the cake pops that finally did me in this past week.
From now on, I plan to use frozen berries as an alternative to candy rewards. The kids like them – why not?
As for my sugar cravings, I plan to eat lots and lots of fruit.
2. You know kumquats, those little orange, blurry fruits in the middle of the picture above?
Around here, they’re “gumpwots.”
I love mispronunciations!
I don’t love kumquats, though. They’re sour, and I wouldn’t buy them for myself again.
But the kids like them. So why not?!
3. Our party last weekend was not quite what I expected!
First of all, I had misunderstood: This was only supposed to be a trial run for a bigger party later in the spring! Oh my.
My husband has a Cuban coworker who grew up doing whole pig roasts with her family to celebrate special occasions. She talked my husband into trying a Cuban pig roast! So he ordered the pig, invited a few people for the trial run… and then, sadly, the friend’s father died, and the friend was not able to come.
We are thinking of her.
It knocked the wind out of the sails of the party, for sure. We ended up just spending the afternoon and evening with another couple and their two boys. And it was fun!
It was a huge relief that this family was the adventurous type who didn’t mind standing around a pig roaster, digging in when it was cooked to perfection.
The meat was delicious, by the way. Beware, if my husband ever invites you over for dinner. The roast was repeatable!
4. Annie doesn’t have access to a computer right now. We will have to wait to hear how her 40 chicks are doing. Oh, the suspense!
Her part of the blog – and mine – should be so much easier once I’m living within an hour of her. Two more months! Oh, the suspense!
I’m still holding my breath that things will calm down for Julie. I wish I could go in and make life fall into neat, predictable boxes for her.
My promised post about preventing lying is here.
5. I’m ending this list with another blog link, if you’ll bear with the links. Before you click over there, find some Kleenex.
The blog is written by a mother who lost her toddler son in an accident in their home in December. Yes, that was just a few months ago. Her “about” page doesn’t mention the accident, as if she’s still trying to wrap her mind around it.
This is where the rubber meets the road. This is where it’s really at. Her words are pure gold.
Amazingly, her blog, as she wrestles openly with the issues, is giving encouragement and healing even to those who haven’t experienced the same grief.
I’m praying for her and for others who grieve the unfathomable loss of a child. One of the greatest joys in heaven must be seeing mothers wrap their arms around their precious children to hold them once again.
We do not grieve as those who have no hope…
I hope you’ve had a happy day after Easter.
wow, that blog shook me to my core. I’ve struggled with those same questions. Thankfully, I have not lost a child and pray never to experience that. My dad died after falling off a 35 foot cliff so her words still struck close to home. Thanks for sharing, her post was incredible.
On a more positive note, your post made me smile just thinking about that pig roast. And I too am sick of having candy here!
It shook me, too, Emily. I keep replaying, making it not happen, even though I know God can bring amazing good out of these things that seem to crush us.
Debbie, 43 years ago this week, in the Top of the Cove Restaurant overlooking the ocean at La Jolla, CA, I ate roast duck with “gumpwot” sauce. Delicious. Obviously, it was a memorable experience!
Oh, Emily! I’m so sorry to hear that. I’ve had those questions, too.
Mom, I know you’ve been there, and so has Mom W. I also pray I’ll never experience it.
On an vastly different note… I clearly need to look up a kumquat sauce recipe. Although, now that all of this was tied into one post, I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to look at kumquats in the same light.
Maybe I should name my daughter “kumquat”. … then her middle name could be “may”.
Oh my gosh, Annie – It took me a while to get this, and then when I did, I laughed until the kids thought I was nuts. Where do you get this stuff?!
Very cute, Annie. Debbie had to tell me to say both words out loud. I guess I am little dense.
Yeah, I know that many Nobel winners get asked the source of their inspiration, also…. honestly, I would say it’s a gift, except that there is so much responsibility that comes with it….. I guess it is just “pun”ishment that I am willing to bare! haha.