I remember when Amera, our firstborn, was a little girl. She had these little beanie baby toys. One was a frog that was orange, yellow, and purple. I can't remember what the other animals were but she would sit on the floor and pretend that they were talking. She would do the voices. She loved to play this way. She wanted me to play too. At first I would agree to it, but after a few minutes I was ready to move on. The fact of the matter is I hated the game and found it to be boring and awkward. There have been occasions when I have been in a crazy-fun sort of mood and I've had the kids giggling over my funny-voiced characters. But that is me in rare form. I often struggle trying to find things for the characters to say. I usually start off well, but then it begins to feel like a waste of time.
Even now, there are things that we enjoy doing together and things that we do on our own. I think I had to learn to not feel guilty about not enjoying her little animal game. It was just something we couldn't really share a love for. And that really is ok.
One thing that I really looked forward to as she was growing up was a time when we would sit and have "grown up" conversations. Conversations about life and about God. Sharing our thoughts with each other. I wondered when those days would finally come. And even now I'm not quite sure when it happened, but I think it must have been a gradual process from the time that she was little. Because even though I didn't like to play "let's talk with the animals", there were other things we did. And I think we've gotten to know each other quite well as we figured out ways we liked to spend time together.
This morning I enjoyed a cup of coffee with her. Conversation over our Colossians study was rich and meaningful. Things we've been thinking long and hard about, things we are questioning and wanting to understand more. I love hearing what she thinks about things. It's exciting to see that she is learning to think biblically about the world around her.
I have six other children now. They are in various stages of growth. I delight in them. Though our conversations are not very deep right now, my time with them is precious. Before I know it they'll be at that point. I just have to make sure I pave the way by talking with them on their level and making sure they know that what they have to say is very important to me and it always will be.
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Here is a recipe that Amera and I really like. This is a recipe from a friend who has a blueberry farm. After purchasing a bucket-full of her delicious berries, I knew this was a recipe I wanted to try. I think they are best right after that twenty minute cooling period and still warm from baking in the oven. :)
blueberry zucchini muffins
ingredients:
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup vegetable oil
3 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups white sugar
2 cups shredded zucchini
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon
2 cups blueberries
directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl, beat eggs, oil, vanilla and sugar together.
Fold in the zucchini.
In medium bowl, combine flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon. Stir to mix.
Pour into egg mixture and beat to combine.
Gently fold in the blueberries.
Ladle the batter into 24 greased muffin cups (or 2 loaf pans, or 4 mini loaf pans).
Bake for 45-50 minutes. Cool for 20 minutes in the muffin pan. Then remove and transfer to wire racks to cool. These are so delicious served slightly warm. Enjoy!
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