Muffled.

This weekend we went to Philly. It was a great time, we saw family, watched a play, ate a lot, and laughed even more. But that's not the story I'm going to tell right now. No, today's story goes a little something like this:

We started the four and a half hour drive.
But then our muffler fell off.
And so the drive took much longer than expected.

That's the short version anyway.....
About halfway through the drive, Dustin and I heard a terribly loud noise. We were scared for a minute (well, I was) but realized pretty quickly what had happened: the muffler on my beloved 1998 Corolla had come loose, and was now dragging on the highway. Ugh.

Thankfully it had stopped raining (we had been stuck in torrential downpours several times already), so Dustin stepped out to take a look. The muffler was attached, but dragging, so it needed to be reattached. A call to AAA proved unsuccessful- their only option was to tow the car. Ummmm, no. Not an option. So instead Dustin had to figure a way to fix it himself.

Enter, the MacGyver method:

I stayed in the safety and warmth of the vehicle, so I can't tell you his exact solution, but I know it involves a carabiner, some golf shoelaces, and maybe some chewing gum. But however he did it, he got the job done, and it held for the whole rest of the drive. Unfortunately, in doing so, he burned his fingers on the car, resulting in a couple of painful blisters.

But luckily for him, I was able to pull a MacGyver of my own: at the next rest area, we stopped to get ice, but there were no plastic bags. No worries- I asked the nice Annie Ann's worker for a plastic glove, and made a makeshift ice pack.

He doesn't look happy, but I think it helped.....

So, that's the long and the short of our most recent road trip. It may not have gone as planned, but it really could have been so much worse. I was so impressed with Dustin- he fixed the problem quickly (if a bit creatively), and didn't even get upset. It's so easy in situations like that
to get frustrated and take it out on each other, but he didn't complain or sulk. I'm so thankful we got home safe, and blessed to have a husband that takes such good care of me.

But I don't think we'll be driving to Philly again anytime soon....

Content

soooooo....it's been a while since I wrote anything around here. (and it's been a reaaaaaaaaaally long while since I wrote anything more than a few nonsensical sentences wedged between some photos.) I guess I just haven't had much to say. We've been plenty busy (what's new?!), and have had tons of fun in recent weeks, but....well perhaps it's because of that, that I haven't felt the urge to write. I've been content just to be. For the past few weeks, our weekends have been a delicious mix of fun and complete nothingness. We've gotten to hang out with friends one night, laughing until our stomachs hurt, and then sleep in the next day, with no plans more pressing than finding somewhere to each brunch. Our weekdays are packed with activities, but somehow we've lucked into what seems like a impossibly long string of weekends where we don't have major commitments. And I have to say: it's been glorious. Last night I was up late watching some TV and surfing the internet, and I was overwhelmed with a sense of calm, quiet, joy.

Contentment.

It's not that the sitcom I was watching was that good, or that web-browsing was truly feeding my soul. I was just hit with what a simple, and blessed period of life Dustin and I are in. We are sickeningly happy with one another (seriously, I'll spare you from the schmoopy talk), we're gainfully employed, the weather is on the upswing, and we have amazing friends to spend warm evenings with. There is also a lot that we don't have: no puppies, no babies, no full-time responsibilities keeping us from Sunday afternoon naps. And while our lives are far...FAR, from perfect, I can't help but be thankful for this sweet time in our marriage, when it's just us, a cute little house, and a charming little city.

Of course I don't say all this to brag. I know that I am blessed beyond all reason. I just want to remember this feeling; what it's like to appreciate the little things; how it feels to be purely and simply happy. I know that soon there will be trials to face, inconveniences to bear, and days when I just feel gloomy. Pressure will mount, tempers will flare, and messes will pile up. I realize that life is cyclical, and as effortless as it all seems now, there will be a pendulum swing that leaves me feeling all but hopeless. That's not pessimism, it's just reality of experience, that makes my current bliss taste that much sweeter.

Last week at our church's monthly women's gathering, the topic was worship. The speakers shared about what worship is, and what worship isn't. They were extremely insightful, and the one point I really hung on to is that worship isn't just a feeling. It's not something you do just because you are in the mood, or just when you're happy, or just when it seems God is blessing you. It's something that you do out of duty- and the concious knowledge of the Lord's truth. We are called to worship based on who He is, not on how we feel.

So I realize right now it is easy. I want to praise God for the beautiful family He has given me, the friends He has provided, and the abundent resources He has blessed us with. In this time of happiness and connection, it is easy to see His beauty, and appreciate all His work in my life. But how much harder is it to praise when things are going wrong? When the sun isn't shining, and my phone isn't ringing? How well do I continue to worship my perfect God, when my life doesn't feel perfect? Is my love and adoration based on my emotions? Or my Creator?

I realize that I have an opportunity to grow, to look outside of myself, and reflect on a wise, and loving God. But I also believe that He wants me to enjoy these times of plenty. To relish who He is, what He has given me, and who He has made me. To be content.

Triflin'

Remember when I found this delicious recipe for Pink Lemonade Cake?

Well, I made it.
Perfect right? Looks exactly like the real thing! (if you squint....or maybe just shut your eyes.....)So, needless to say I failed miserably. The cake and the icing themselves were actually pretty good....but the cake pretty much glued itself to the pan, requiring me to poke, prod, scrape and eventually maul it out like a bear. I thought I sprayed the pan well enough, but I think the lemonade concentrate acted as a sort of cement, weighing the cake down and permanently bonding it to the metal. Not so good.

But I refused to be deterred, so following Dustin’s suggestion (yelled from the living room....he hadn’t actually seen it yet) I attempted to just patch it up with frosting. Perhaps I shouldn’t have taken advice from someone sight-unseen. But still, I wouldn’t admit defeat, and insisted that all it needed was some pink sugar sprinkles. Yes.....that’s what was missing!! Despite its unappealing presentation, I still thought my cake deserved its moment in the sun, so I brought it to Rachel’s, and we all dug in (five forks....one plate. No sense in getting fancy at this point). And I have to say, it actually tasted pretty good (if you don’t mind losing a tooth or two due to all the sweetness!). So, not a total loss...

But wait!!

I still had half a can of lemonade left. I couldn’t give up now! No....I had to try again, but this time I had a foolproof plan: Trifle

Oh yes....trifle is the solution to all dessert dilemmas. It’s easy to make, so good, and makes you look like you know what you’re doing (even if you...ahem, I..don’t have a clue!). Win, win, win! I’ve made it for pretty much every event, in pretty much every flavor combo imaginable, but I thought this would be a great spring treat. Behold!

See? Much better....pudding fixes everything. If you want to attempt to recreate my culinary masterpieces...let me give you some advice. Skip the fancy Lemon Buttercream frosting....throw it with some layers into a bowl. No one will complain. (oh, and even though I ruined my first try...it could have been worse....I could have pulled a Rachel, from Friends.....)

And now I present you with the recipe...in case any of you brave souls would like to attempt this masterpiece....

Pink Lemonade and Strawberry Trifle

Ingredients
For the cake:
(1) 6 oz can frozen Pink Lemonade Concentrate, thawed
1 box white cake mix
3 egg whites
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
Pink food coloring

For the toppings:
(1) 6oz box of instant lemon pudding.
(1) 8oz tub whipped cream (thawed)
(1) container strawberries
(1) small tub strawberry glaze (in the produce section...by the fruit dip)

Directions:
In a large bowl, mix the cake mix, egg whites, vegetable oil, and the pink lemonade concentrate with an electric mixer on low for 2 minutes. (mine was lumpy at first, but got fluffier and smoother the longer I mixed.) Add food coloring until it's pretty! Split batter into two 8x8 round pans. Be sure to coat your pans LIBERALLY with non-stick spray. No such thing as too much!


(need a reminder photo?)

Bake at 350 for about 25 minutes or until a toothpick is clean. Let cool in the pans for 10 minutes. Then let cool completely on a baking rack.

While your cake is baking/cooling: Make the pudding according to the directions on the box.Cut strawberries into quarters (removing stems of course). Put in a bowl, and mix in a few large spoonfuls of the strawberry glaze- just enough to coat the berries. Set the whipped cream out to thaw.When the cake is cool- wrap up one layer- using plastic wrap and aluminum foil. (you can freeze this one for later...only need one layer). Cut the other layer in half lengthwise (parallel to the bottom of the cake). Place one half in the bottom of the trifle dish. Add half of the pudding. Add half of the whipped cream. Add half of the strawberries. Repeat.


Brag about how domestic and thoughtful you are. Or just scoop into bowls and enjoy!

Monkey Hatchet

This Thursday at YL club we sang the song Umbrella (originally by Rihanna, but we rock the All Time Lowe version) I lead music with Dustin, so I’m singin’ my heart out....Midway through, right after I belt out the lyrics, “Take my old thumb, stick it out till the end.” I glance at the screen....And that’s when I realize that those aren’t the words.

At all.

As you all (who are way cooler than me) probably know, the correct line is: “Took an oath, I'ma stick it out till the end.”

Really. Hmmmmmm. (not sure where I got my version....I thought maybe it had something to do with hitch hiking?) Luckily no one noticed...But I felt dumb, nonetheless.

Now, I know I’m not the only one who’s gotten lyrics wrong (repeatedly)....so what are your musical mis-steps? Any song that you always seem to mess-up? I’m afraid I have too many to count.



The Monkey Hatchet title (like most things in my life) is a reference to one of Ellen Degeneres’ stand-up routines. Skip ahead to minute 2:40 (or watch the whole thing...it’s worth it).