Being sincerely compassionate

I had the idea for this post a few months ago. But, like many other things in my life, it takes me this long to even sit down and think about it.

This year, I have been an Iraq widow. My husband, away earning dough in Baghdad, started this whole 'experience' mid-July 2009. Since families are not allowed (nor would I want) to go with, we moved to Rexburg, Idaho. Why? We already owned a house & my in-laws live there. Going from Cairo, Egypt to Rexburg is quite the culture shock. Or should I say, religion shock. I haven't lived around this many Mormons since I was at BYU. A frequent exclamation from my kids was, "Hey Mommy! She goes to our church, too!!" Yes, honey, as does 98% of this town. At least it's a familiar environment, compared to an almost 100% Muslim country.

Being a pseudo-single mom in a mostly Mormon community has not been easy. I just don't think they know what to do with me. Husbands don't want to get caught in the hallway alone around me and the wives, I don't know, maybe don't feel like we have anything in common. If communication could be accomplished, it usually started with,

"Yeah, you're the family that's lived all over the world."

"Uh, nice to meet you too. Seems you know all about me. What's your name?"

I understand that there is an 'exotic' taste to my life. But instead of asking other people, you could just talk to me.

I have tried to reach out; inviting people over for dinner, taking walks through the neighborhood and saying "Hi" to anyone that's out in their yard. Once winter hit, boy, everyone is holed up, including ourselves. But unless you were friends before the flakes started flying, you sure as heck weren't meeting anyone new!

Snow = need to shovel the driveway. We were gone during Thanksgiving for the first snowstorm and when we returned, my driveway was shoveled. Aww, how nice! Thing mostly melted the week before Christmas and then, Christmas Eve, we got our wish of a white Christmas. So, shoveling needed to happen again. I went to Walmart (bless that store), bought a shovel and began digging my way out. My neighbor pulled up & said,

"You know, Sister Penrod, myself & a couple other neighbors are keeping an eye on your driveway. You don't need to get out there and do that!"

Aww, how nice! I finished up the job; because I really don't mind. Seriously, after sweeping up sand for 4 years, I like me some snow! The next snowstorm, I had sick kids, but didn't worry about the drifts because they said I'd be taken care of. Four days passed, still not a shovel in sight. On the evening of the fifth day after the storm, I hear the motor of a snow blower in my driveway. Ok, thanks. But after pulling in and out of the garage twice a day for 5 days, there was some compacting of snow. You know, the grooves of solid ice that mark where you've driven over the snow. And, a snow blower, as fast as it may be, doesn't really do the full job. But hey, beggars can't be choosers, right?

I wanted to just be grateful for what I had. But it was really hard driving past the service givers houses that didn't have those annoying ice grooves and a shoveled walk. (they omitted my stairs & walkway. a snow blower 'doesn't do' stairs.) If you guys like having a shoveled walkway and don't like having twin lumps in the driveway, do you think I like it? I hated feeling like this! I would give myself a time out and push that little sassy, ungrateful monster back down and count my blessings.

Mid-January brought more snow. On top of the snow from previous dumpings, it was quite an impressive amount. And in the deep of winter here in the 'Burg, snow usually doesn't melt between storms. This time, a week and a half after snowfall, and still no sight of any do-gooder. I felt stupid sitting inside, like a princess being waited on. I got sick of looking at everyone else's cleared driveways. I got out my shovel and did it myself. Just as I was finishing up my piece d'resistance, my same neighbor is pulling into his (clean) driveway and gets out to scold me,

"Now, Sister Penrod, I said we were handling your snow this winter! Don't do this again!"

Huh? Now I'm just flabbergasted. I make a concession and hold back the tide of flaming comments that could have been fired upon this lame-o. This pattern continued through out the winter. Snow, Wait, no clean driveway, do it myself. Except I never heard from The Neighbor again.

The Conclusion:
Give service willingly without any thought of recompense. But don't make people on the receiving end feel like beggars. Give service as thoughtfully and completely as you would want it. And don't move to Rexburg. Too much snow.

For more service-oriented posts, ideas & projects, go to The Service Soapbox for more inspiration, reality or good times!

I'm a wascal

Tonight was a big dinner and silent auction at our school. There were many lovelies to bid on; photography sittings, scrapbooking supplies, books, guitars, and much more. There was also a live auction after the silent auction closed. I had decided beforehand what I would bid on. And one thing that was a definite "no" was the adorable rabbit. The kids spotted it's cage before the dinner and were sticking their fingers in, trying to stroke the dense fur.

"Please, please, please can we get the bunny?" they begged.

I said no way, no how, but that I'd keep my eyes out for something. Anyway, I was outbid on a couple of items in the silent auction, but I still only had eyes for the magnificent Fender classical guitar with hard body case. Oh baby! Well, my good friend & I got into a bidding war over the guitar and I let her win. I wasn't even considering the rabbit, until a couple at my table said that this breed make excellent pets. They don't need to be walked (like any rabbit does), are very gentle and love attention. And, they added, if we couldn't find anyone to take the rabbit, when we move in August, they said they'd be happy to take her! So, I bid on Raison d'Etre (Reason to Be) and whaddaya know, I won! She's all ours for $35. Whoopee!

We are searching for just the right name for our queen of a bunny. She is a pedigreed rabbit and apparently rare & on the ALBC's 'critically endangered' list. She is a Silver Fox rabbit, bred for their fur and meat. Blugh, don't even make me think about eating this precious bunny. (though I have eaten rabbit. and it is delicious, I might add) She will be a wonderful addition to our family!

Pot Love

No, this isn't a post devoted to a love of illegal substances. I just had to make a special dedication to my pots & pans. Back in October, my Mom came to visit & 'suggested' (in a way only a mother can) that I needed some new pots. Some of my pots were kind of warped, but that is to be expected after 10 years of use, no? We had just gotten a new stove, the flat top kind, and when I would boil water or put something to cook, the pots would rock back & forth as if possessed by the demon of cookery. This, my Mom pointed out, would eventually lead to a cracked stove top. Yikes!

So we went to Sam's Club later that week and bought a brand new set of everything. And totally worth the $139. Every penny. It was a bit hard getting rid of my old pots & pans. It was like giving away my children. We had been through so much together; the triumphs & the failures. If pots could talk . . . But I have since recovered from my self-imposed loss and have learned to love again. Probably even more than before. These babies are non-stick. Truly non-stick. I have for you, Exhibit A.



This is what happens when you start Ramen for your 3 year old, then forget about it until your 10 year old sticks her head in your shower and asks, "Did you start cooking some Ramen?" Uh oh. I told her to go turn off the stove and I'd take care of everything. I was imagining the worst. Boiled over, burned to the pan and stove; an ugly mess. But behold, Exhibit B.



My clean pot. I did nothing to the pot or picture. After sitting and boiling away for who knows how long, I picked up the pot and slid the patty 'o' Ramen out onto a plate. Nice and clean. Completely amazing. These pots take a little extra work, i.e. I don't put them in the dishwasher, I handwash them with a washcloth. But when this is all the cleanup required, it doesn't seem like work at all. Just pure pleasure! Oh, and if you were curious, here's what 'Baked Ramen' looks like. Bon Apetit!

YouTube Tuesday: Welcome to the Family

Ah, I had such noble intentions for today's video. But any intentions, productive or otherwise, were flushed down the toilet when I got a text at 6:40am this morning. It read:

" Goodmorning :) school is out because of snow. all of IF and Rigby have been shut down . . . have a grear snow day"

I'm sure she intended to say 'great' but today will be anything but. Today was supposed to be the first day back to school after Spring Break. Yesterday, the mantra, "Tomorrow is school. Tomorrow is school." kept looping in my head. Oh, so without further ado, I give you the YouTube clip of the day. Yes, I find this hil-arious.

Spreading the word

Ok, I'm not big into blogging about other's blogging. I find it redundant. But this time is for a really good cause. This gal is doing her thesis on . . . *drumroll* . . . blogging! She needs people to fill out questionnaires and send them back to her. In return, you are entered in a drawing for a $100 gift card to Target. Or in French - tar-get. Oh yeah, it sounds the same in print. You know what I mean!! I'm all for entering a drawing, but I also think it's a great reason to help out. Because between you, me and the computer screen, the truth is . . . I never win anything. Ever.

So, here's the linky-do --> Blogging Questionnaire <-- Have fun!! Oh, and here's a fun picture of Grant. Ah, a time in his life when he won't mind Mommy taking a picture of him in the bath.

Cookies!

I tried my hand at royal icing. First time I've tried this recipe. I've stayed away from royal icing because I hated it; that nasty tasting, cement-like devil posing as frosting. Not like I make icing & cookies & baked goods very often. I find it's not worth the mess sometimes. I got some icing tips and tried this new recipe. Wow. I could frost all day! This one is my favorite design.

Here is the recipe I used. I got it from this blog, Sweetopia. Scroll down for the recipe if you go there. And go here --> How to Decorate Cookies <-- for great step-by-step instruction on frosting technique. And if you can't find meringue powder, it's just powdered egg whites. I used something called 'Just Whites'. You could also just use egg whites. But I wouldn't know the ratio. I guess you could look up another royal icing recipe and see the measurements. I think the biggest difference in this recipe is the adding of vanilla. (or lemon, peppermint or whatever flavor.) Follow the directions *exactly* and you will get perfect royal icing. I watered down half the batch and used it for flooding. It is royal icing, so it will harden like cement on anything, but just keep a bowl of warm water handy to plop a spoon or icing tip into. I am just giddy with the results.

Royal Icing Recipe

Ingredients:

6 oz (3/4 cup) of warm water
5 Tablespoons Meringue Powder
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 kilogram (2.25 lbs.) powdered icing sugar

*** Note; if your meringue powder has no vanilla flavour (vanilla powder) in it, add a teaspoon of clear vanilla to this recipe.

Directions:

In mixer bowl, pour in the warm water and the meringue powder. Mix it with a whisk by hand until it is frothy and thickened…about 30 seconds.

Add the cream of tartar and mix for 30 seconds more.

Pour in all the icing sugar at once and place the bowl on the mixer.

Using the paddle attachment on the LOWEST speed, mix slowly for a full 10 minutes. Icing will get thick and creamy.

Cover the bowl with a dampened tea-towel to prevent crusting and drying.

Tint with food colourings or thin the icing with small amounts of warm water to reach the desired consistency.

Easter Grass

Today, on the third of April 2010, that title is an oxymoron. Seeing as how we didn't have a flake of snow left on the ground as of Thursday, I am taken back a bit. There is no visible grass. It is all buried under the 4 inches of snow from the unexpected storm blowing through. Yes, blowing through because it's still falling. I listened to the wind whip around last night and this morning in my bed. I thought that we were just getting a lot of wind (as predicted). No, what met my eyes when I looked out the window was a shock. I wouldn't have been more surprised if the Easter bunny had brought me breakfast in bed.



A white out. Complete curtain of white and piles of snow. I was thinking about driving to Idaho Falls this afternoon, but forget that! IHOP is having this wonderful promotion in April; kids eat free every day from 4 to 10 pm. Yay. Though we'll probably only do it once or twice, it will be a fun diversion. Not today. I think the cabin fever will be hitting early on today. Not that I won't have my diversions. General Conference is this weekend, so the next two days will be split into two hour segments from 10am to 4pm. To quote Wikipedia, which sums subjects up much better than I can,

"General Conference is a semiannual world conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held in April and October, where members gather for five two-hour sessions to listen to instruction from Church leaders. General Conference is broadcast via satellite from the Conference Center at church headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah."

This year in the States for us is especially unique because we are able to listen in 'real time' and watch it on T.V.! We are usually able to listen to the stream on the internet and hear the morning sessions. Then we have to find time the next day to listen to the afternoon session that took place while we were sleeping. If anyone is interested, go here to --> Listen to General Conference <-- Happy Easter, everyone!



*I bought these tulips last Friday because they looked so spring-y. Little did I know I'd need a reminder of Spring in my kitchen.*