My Pumpkin Trifle Has a Salvage Title

Pumpkin bread with cream cheese frosting is making me happy these days. Probably a little too happy. I had a new friend over to bake on Friday and together we produced 3 loaves of chocolate/pumpkin bread (she gave it a thumbs down, but I just can't leave it alone!), 3 loaves of regular pumpkin bread, one pumpkin roll and a pumpkin trifle.

I shouldn't admit this, but the pumpkin trifle was my friend's genius as she watched as what was supposed to be the second pumpkin roll completely fall apart as I attempted to remove it from the pan. I'd made these rolls several times before, but this was an utter flop. There was no amount of frosting that could bridge those chasms. It looked more like a pumpkin mountain range...not a smooth, even plain ready for a flood of cream cheese frosting.

But thanks to my friend, the mountain range was broken into pieces and when layered with pumpkin pudding and cool whip in a pretty trifle bowl, it worked and it tasted good. I'm glad Jodi was there to suggest the salvage operation...otherwise the whole thing would've ended up in the trash.

Salvaging. Seeing beyond a messed up appearance to what can be. The person I know who is best at this is my mother-in-law, Connie. She has a mechanically-wired brain, so she knows how to fix a lot of stuff. She's a veritable sewing machine whisperer -- takes them apart piece by piece, cleaning and fixing as she goes, then puts them all back together, sometimes into a newly refurbished cabinet to boot.

My sewing machine was giving me fits recently, so I sent the contrary machine her way and she had it working in no time (of course, it helps to have the bobbin inserted in the right direction if you expect your machine to be happy). She's also great at getting stains out of stuff that others would give up on. It has greatly reduced the amount of money I've spent on clothes over the years! Connie just sees value and life in stuff that's a little beaten up and knows how to get it there. I tend to think that kind of stuff has just had its day and needs a merciful, quick death by way of the garbage dumpster. I like the wisdom of Connie's way and while I don't aspire to dismantle and repair sewing machines, I know there's much more to learn from her.

Funny...all this because of a pumpkin trifle. Who knew that layered deliciousness would prompt anything beyond a "Hmmm, that's pretty good"?
Granted, this may all be for my benefit alone. But in the spirit of Thanksgiving, it's a simple but good reminder to choose to see what is good in what looks dismal or maybe downright hopeless. Nothing new there but I know I need that reminder today.

There's stuff in my life that disappoints me. Stuff I wish were different. But when I mentally camp out on those things, I'm not at peace and not fun to be around. But when I discipline myself to articulate what is good in life and cultivate gratefulness, peace comes and I'm free to enjoy what is.

Hope you enjoy a peace-filled Thanksgiving and may each bite of pumpkin pie (or trifle) remind you of the sweetness that can come when we look for the good that lies just beyond the mess.

Hello Again, Guitar

Today I got my guitar out after not having touched it since last winter. The months just came and went, but there was no spark inside me to want to keep trying.

But this morning had some tough moments, and the thought just kept coming to grab my guitar (despite the fact that I only know like 5 chords) and go to the church sanctuary to be alone with God. It took a few minutes, but pretty soon I was slowly finding my way through the songs I had half-way learned. Your Blood Speaks a Better Word, How Deep the Father's Love for Us, Be Still My Soul, Jesus - Be the Center. I felt frustrated that I couldn't play the way I want to, but it felt good to at least try and produce a marginally recognizable progression of chords. To just be bare and safe before God -- offering Him what I had, knowing that He's after a pure heart, not a perfect performance.

My son Josh (age 7) was just clearing the table. He stopped and smiled as he said, "Mom, I feel like God is smiling down on me." I smiled back and said, "Oh yes. He is. Because He loves you." That was it. But it was a sweet moment. One that touched me on his behalf but also because I needed it for me, too.

You know that song that has the lyrics, "You dance over me while I am unaware. You sing all around, but I never hear the sound. Lord, I'm amazed by you, how you love me." If the loving, reassuring voice of my Father is the one I'm tuned into, I'm free.

Well, that same boy is now at my elbow reminding me that I said he could practice his SpongeBob typing at 7:15. And 7:15 it is, so off I go. Funny - he's reading what I'm writing. A funny thing, this new era.

Progress & Poop

I don't know why I feel so compelled to title my posts with two unrelated words. I guess it's because so often the events of the day, or even the moment, are so unrelated. Life just happens all at once.

You never know what kind of drama will unfold when you sit down to write. Anyone else find that? Tonight it was dog poop. And we don't even have a dog. One of the kids unknowingly tracked in the neighbor's dog poop and left smudges on the living room and dining room carpet. Yuck. I have to laugh because I know people who'd scarcely react to that, if at all. Not a big deal...it's just poop.

Yep. But I have to work at maintaining that perspective. And honestly, there wasn't that much drama. We cleaned it up -- Paul and I each taking a few smudges. I was on my knees with my booted foot way up behind me. It's funny...you just figure out ways to do things. Tonight it was cleaning up poop.

OK, enough of that. I've said "poop" more times in a few paragraphs than I normally would in a week. Onto another topic.

I'm two weeks into recovery now and each day I can tell my foot is slowly healing. I've slept two whole nights in my own bed with no pain meds! Yay for progress. I'm still gimping around, greatly slowed by this huge boot, but I guess that's the point. Before I know it November will be over and hopefully my foot will be ready for shoes. No question as to what'll be on my Christmas list this year.