Snarky, cold, black & white, aloof, pointed, sarcastic, unemotional, dispassionate, confusing...I'm thankful today because, in spite of these constructive criticisms, I know I am still adored by the friends and family that feel brave and safe enough to tell me these truths without mincing words. I am a lucky girl and I know it.
I'm thankful for all my vastly different friends who teach me new perspectives and challenge my thinking. I'm blessed with a humongous fambily that loves me unconditionally. I have a husband who treats me like a queen, and wildly unique children whom I love with such intensity I could eat them for breakfast. I'm honored I got a hand in raising my husbands little girl into a beautiful & smart woman, my 1st daughter. My heart bursts with pride that my firstborn son is the bravest man I know, proudly serving in the USMC. I'm ecstatic that these two oldest kids are now grown-up awesome people. By God's grace I've still got my health. I'm thankful for the twists and turns in life--the ups & downs that continue to stretch and teach me, that my glass is always half-full and I get to drink coffee, eat chocolate and laugh every day. I'm privileged to get to sing and lead worship each week with an amazing bunch of uber talented people. I'm thankful that my home is always buzzing and chaotic, our paid-off cars still run, the hubs and I are still employed. I'm thankful that my sister, Christy, is still alive. I also thank God that one day I'll see my dad and son, Kaden, again. I'm thankful for family that are also my best friends and that my best friend, Stephany, is family. I'm also lucky enough to live next door to one of my bff's. I'm fortunate to live in a country where my dreams can be a reality if I'm willing to work for it --and it doesn't hurt that I'm connected to a network of incredibly gifted friends and family. I have an uncertain and amazing future to look forward to and God Himself to walk me through it. And I love my kitty...and makeup.
We are all gonna get old. This is a reality I cannot contend with, but I don't have to like the effects of it. As I sit here and bemoan my looming fate, I realize getting older is not really what I have a problem with. At thirty-seven, I feel as though I have physically reached the crescendo of my youth. All facets of my personal wherewithal are working together in perfect harmony--health, beauty, youth, wit, drive, intelligence and chutzpah. Maybe thirty-seven is not even my summit but its a great plateau! I've actually not felt more secure with my looks, style, personality, spirituality and relationships than ever before. For the first time in all my life I feel like I, at last, have the confidence and perspective to achieve anything I put my mind and hands to do. I want to keep this feeling and I want to stay this youthful and driven and fashionable forever, I want to vacuum pack it and preserve it until I'm dead.
I burned the dinner. Normally, I wouldn't admit it but my neighbor slash blogger friend next door, inspired me to write about food. The more she raves about her magical cooking pot, the more it makes me want to tell the world what I'm cookin' up. It just so happens to be my luck that last night I incinerated what was meant to be pulled-pork. A disaster still noteworthy, nonetheless.
It's actually my friend's fault. I blame her for enticing me to whip out my electronic slow cooking french-oven. With all this 'set it and forget it' business she keeps blabbering, somehow I got caught up in her enthusiasm, lost touch with my inner chef and really did forget I was cooking at all. Now my pig taste gross and it looks like poo.
But this disgusting cremation wasn't all for nothing. I learned that teryaki marinade turns somewhere in the 4th hour of simmering. My house stinks now.
After the children and husband gagged down their single blackened pork biscuit (and to my further embarrassment) our lovely friend, Yuliya, dropped in unexpectedly. Our friend is so hospitable. She swore up and down that our house smelled just like chocolate chip cookies!...eh? Well, Yuliya is European, their culture must make them think chocolate chip cookies smell like burnt teryaki butt.
Anyway, I must go and dispose of my shredded chocolate chip carcass (that Jeff accidentally on purpose left out all night). So, no serious blogging today. For that you will have to visit my witty friend, 'Christina the Southerner's' page. She is funny. I'm funnier in real life than in writing. Especially at night. She should blog about that.
