Adventures with Uruguay

It started out as it always seems to, a school project for a child. This time my son needing to make a food from Uruguay (who thinks of these projects?). Thankfully we live in the Internet age and he found a recipe we had all the ingredients for. A simple tortilla like bread needing to be cooked in hot oil.

The instructions were vague, but we felt we would have no problem. That was our first mistake ("our" because no mother in their right mind would allow the son work with hot oil). Being from California and not frying anything in hot oil, I soon learned that it melts plastic utensils. Since our oil now had plastic in it we switched to another pot. Still no luck producing anything edible, then the finish seemed to be boiling off the inside of my pot onto our Uruguayan dish. I wrote a passionate letter to his teacher explaining our dilemma and was ready to call it a night.

My son however was off on the Internet again. So at 9 p.m. we had produced some rather delicious meatballs. We also learned a valuable lesson. It doesn't really matter if you have all the ingredients, if the instructions are bad.

In an epiphany I realized my experience was kind of like life. We may have all the abilities and ingredients for a successful life, but without good instructions we make a mess of it. I'm so glad God provided the best instruction book of all.

An Easy Life vs. Reality

When life goes smoothly we take things for granted. We smile at our to-do list as things systematically get checked off. Life goes by easily, just as we planned, and we are able to enjoy and savor each day. I have no idea if that is really true -I am afterall a parent!

Yes the past few weeks I did have plans - a party, some baking, Christmas shopping, Christmas cards, readying the house for Christmas. The reality was helping gather supplies for school projects, three trips to the orthodontist for broken brackets (another trip next week), the stomach flu, and a broken washing machine. Not exactly a wild, fun, invigorating time to savor.

But I will savor it. This week we put a package in the mail to friends who lost their home in the fires. A fun animated Christmas decoration. Their home used to have many of them. They are gone. We wanted to help them start new.

I can be thankful for having a washing machine that can break, friends that I should send cards to, orthodonture for my kids, and projects that need helping with. My life would be so dull and predictable without them. The stomach flu? Yeah, not so thankful for that - but it did allow me to rest!

Life's Surprises

We didn't think it could be done. Three out of four of our children knew of the surprise - and the fourth was the person to be surprised. There were close calls, but everyone kept their lips sealed.

What better way to celebrate our daughter's 25th birthday than with flying in her boyfriend. She even accomodated by running errands (some provided by us). She walked in the door totally surprised and to our amazement began backing out of the door. Sometimes your body just doesn't know what to do when you're in shock. So much for those Hollywood movies where people are surprised by a visit and run towards each other - not our girl.

Surprises are fun, not only for the person being surprised but for everyone involved. There is something exhilerating about keeping a secret and being part of a surprise.

May this season bring many happy surprises.