Raw

How do you make friends? Do you pick your friends, or do your friends pick you? It doesn't seem like much of a difference, but I think answering that question can help shape who you are. I am one who waits to be picked. That sounds conceited, but really it's because I'm not confident enough to initiate. I wait to see who comes to me.

I went to a small private school until 8th grade. In our graduating class, there were only 5 girls- not much of a pool to choose from. I assumed if one of the girls wanted to be my friend it was because- don't laugh- I had long hair, or got good grades. Everything I felt was based on conditions, not just because they liked me.

Even now as an adult, I'll meet a potential friend and the first thing to run through my head is that they don't have time or room in their life for me. I sabotage potential friendships in an effort to not be rejected. I know we were made for relationship, but why is it so hard for that to sink in?

I feel like I have to convince someone that I am a good person to be friends with. In reality, I need to convince myself that I'm worth the effort.

Dinners with Trish

It was about 3 years ago when it all started. We were hosting our small group and my friend Katie mentioned that she needed to visit Dream Dinners and stock her freezer up with meals. Dream Dinners was a local business where you could assemble ready to cook meals, then store them in the freezer for later. She was going back to work/school and wanted something easy for her husband when she was away. I mentioned that I had the new "Dream Dinners" cookbook. Why didn't we all get together and split the cost?

Since then, I've pulled recipes from many freezer meal cookbooks, and have expanded from just our small group to high school friends, neighbors, facebook friends, church friends, and friends of friends. This last week, I hosted two groups and we made 16 sets of meals. It has grown to be a wonderful outlet for me to have people in my home while hopefully making their lives a little bit easier.

Thank you to all who have come and made this a satisfying experience for me. You are the reason it continues and you keep me striving to find yummy family friendly meals.

Fettuccine with Chicken and Asparagus

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Pork Tenderloin with Garlic Rub Chicken in Raspberry Sauce

An Education

What I've learned from raising boys:

Just because you see a black, leggy insect at the bottom of the junk drawer, doesn't mean it's real. It's probably a plastic spider left over from Halloween.

A boys first language is Sound Effects. They never grow out of their native tongue.

Dressers are not only for holding clothes. They are very useful for those stray Legos, bouncy balls, and anything else Mom wants off the floor.

Forget the table or bookshelf, BEDS are the best place to keep well loved books.

If all else fails when cleaning the room, shove it under the bed.

Boys can be picky about what they wear. One child of mine doesn't wear long sleeve shirts. Another doesn't wear underwear.

Rolly Pollys are the greatest garden bug. Not only are they a creepy crawler, they are part Transformer. They turn into "ball mode".

They come up with absurd, why would you even think to do that, type games. For example "Blackout" where 2 or more people are on the trampoline with their eyes closed trying to run into each other.

Tying shoes is over-rated. Tie them once, then use the shoes as slip-ons, or just wear Velcro.

Marti-gras beads are in reality pirate beads and therefore not girly.

And above all else, avoid the pink isle at the toy store at all costs!

Dreams

A blank page...that's where it all begins. What possesses a writer to fill a page with a story, tale, opinion? For me, it's a dream I've never had the courage to pursue.

Dreams are a wondrous thing. I've wanted to be many things in my 30 odd years. Among them were astronaut, teacher, financial planner, American Sign Language interpreter. Above all else though, I wanted to be a writer. What have I done with this dream?- nothing!!! Instead of putting my heart and soul into a dream that I could fail at, I've chosen other activities I know I can do.


I KNOW I can knit. I'm a self taught knitter, and I really enjoy it. Knitting is a very practical and relaxing activity, and I am a very practical girl. Once I found a market to sell my knitwears in, I enjoyed it even more (for along with practical, I'm also very cheap and like to save money).


I'm pretty good at organizing groups. I host a dinner making party every couple months where I do all the shopping and planning. My friends get to gather, assemble their dinners and stick them in the freezer for later.

Where has this left my "writing voice" as my husband calls it? Still too scared to fully step out and try, but I'm edging closer. A couple years ago I submitted a story to MOPS and was rejected. I felt like that satisfied my need to make an effort. I'm not sure where I stand on that issue now. I feel there is something out there for me, but it hasn't presented itself yet. In the meantime, I'm going to keep blogging, keep knitting, keep creating, and keep enjoying the life that I am blessed to have.