Potluck Ponderings

I read a story once about a daughter helping her mom prepare a ham for Easter dinner. The mom instructed her to slice off about two inches on each end of the ham. The daughter asked why and with a puzzled look, the mom said she didn't really know, that was just the way her mother taught her to do it. When Grandma came for Easter lunch they asked her why the ends of the ham have to be cut off...more flavor? is that part of the ham not good to eat?....Grandma, chuckling I'm sure, said...."we had to cut off the ends of the ham so it would fit in my only baking pan...." Without any thought today I prepared a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. It suddenly struck me as odd, because for the first time in a long time while preparing such a sandwich for Emily, I didn't say out loud to myself...."okay, put the knife in the jelly first..." I just did it...didn't think about why, I just did it. I have taught everyone else in our house to do the same. The reason ...

Monday: Emily's actual birthday. I spent the morning pondering and pontificating that my eldest is now seven and I spent some time vividly remembering her birth. Those memories are more about me becoming a mom than about her...but the smells, the sounds all seemed as clear as they did the days (28 hours!) it took her to arrive. I am continually amazed by her...her sweet spirit, her beauty, her enthusiasm, her open love for all those around her (I'm especially amazed by how much she loves her baby brother, her sister-cousin Kayla and her cousin baby Sam). I am so thankful that I have the privilege of having a window seat to view her growing up...I know that it's going to be one big adventure. anyway... She got to spend her special day with the two youngest Holland boys (parents are house hunting...) and they got an awesome treat of a tour of the Fire station in Southern Pines (an impromptu homeschooling field trip is always a good thing) by our friend Fire Marshall Stone....

On April 11 (3 days before Emily's seventh birthday), we attended a tea party for seven little girls at Miss Lacey's in Sanford. Four mommies and one grandma were also in attendance. It was so much fun and the girls were so cute. They all (mostly) had gloves, hats and their prettiest dresses. They used real tea cups and saucers and had lemonade or tea. We ate lunch, drank tea with our pinkies out, opened presents, had cake...Emily said it was the best party ever! No, I didn't make the cake...Jennifer did. Isn't it just beautiful? It was such a bittersweet time, not only is my baby growing up but I also know there is a great possibility that Emily may not have these girls in her daily life a year from now. I know that she will always remember them and that we may visit and see them occasionally but somehow it will be different. These are her first girlfriends...they will forever make up the fabric of her memories of first sleepovers...the first g...

We've had a friend of the family spending part of the weekend with us...he's one of Emmie's closest friends...and a BOY...probably won't be long until they think each other too "yuckie" to hang out with... M: Our friends, they have this big yellow dog, her name is Dallas and she's a Golden Retriever...they have this house at the lake... E: (interuppting...we're working on that) Of course, I know them...I've been to their house at the lake too... They're our friends too...every time he sees me, he tickles me... M: Well, Dallas is a cool dog...she will go get sticks out of the lake if you throw them. She's a good dog. I turned my back and wept...knowing and continuing to grieve that relationships will never be the same...

7 Loads of Laundry 1 Dishwasher load of dishes A 1/2 hour of building L egos and playing trains with Nate 4 hours of school with Emily A clean kitchen sink A doctor's appointment for 2-year follow up scheduled (post-GOP) A few chapters of a good book A Lizard captured and de -TAILED, studied then released (oops, I really am sorry Mr. Lizard) A 2-1/2 hour nap by Nate A play date with a treasured friend for Emily chicken thawed with a plan for fried chicken for dinner...yum (and Mom's recipe for applesauce jello setting up in the fridge) No house hunting on-line, no painting, no real time spent agonizing over moving vs. staying...just REAL LIFE..