othersomethings.com

Monday was a great work day. We got a lot acomplished.

Today was a bit slower. We had a slower start, we’ve had an episode of migrain, an episode of vomiting, and had to take the car to the mechanic. And so the packing and yardsale prep was impeded somewhat. I’m hopeful for tomorrow though. The house is starting to get that transition feel. And and as long as I keep everything in lists and steps, I’m confident we will accomplish our goal.

And the evenings have been occupied by movies, games, popcorn and hot chocolate. That’s the way it should be, right?

A few days after Christmas, Shannon and I packed up the van and headed north. With us we brought Kelly, Peter, Ruth Ann, Elin, Myja and friend Robin.

Sunday night we arrived, and I made spaghetti for dinner. Apprently it was good because we had no leftovers. Oh. And everyone effusively said so.

Monday night I made roast beef, and apparently it was good, because…lack of leftovers. Oh, and they effusively said so.

Tonight, we had a baked potato bar. There are a few potatos left, but the toppings are all gone. And Ruth told me “you were right…broccoli does taste good on baked potatos.”

Let’s see if I can keep the running streak. Good to know my cooking tasty food in large quantities skill hasn’t diminished.

God shows us He loves us in a number of ways. A myriad of ways. An infinate number of ways, really.

He’s used a few of those on Shannon and I this weekend.

Hands down one of the hardest weekends I’ve ever experienced, and I’m putting that up there with some doozies. Things beyond our control, and nothing makes sense, and lots of tears shed, and prayers prayed and questions unanswered.

But God has shown us He loves us. He wasn’t content with letting it be a cerebral thing we know and stuff down in the back of our heart or mind because we have to. No, He used some grand gestures. Not grand on his part. But from my puny perspective, it feels on a grand scale.

I can just say that I’m very thankful for our family and friends. And I’m very thankful that they know and listen to and obey the same God I do. Because He’s used many of them to say “I love you” in a time when I needed to hear it from Him the most.

Thank you.

While Lily was here we went to the beach. It was hot. Sandy. Sweaty. And I was concerned that the water would be yucky from the storm that week, but it was it’s usual gorgeous self.

I’m such a beachgoing pessimist. The beach may as well as be nazareth to me…”nothing good can come from there!” it’s a pity I live by one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and it’s charms are lost on me.

But we stayed for a bit. Lily loved the white sand, warm water, etc. She’s a central Cali girl. She said the water is always cold, in her experiance.

I had more pictures of Ella and I by the water, but I realized they were highly NSFW thanks to Ella clinging to my shirt neckline. Yikes.

My sister-in-law Lily came to town. Spent a few days with us. Cuddling with Ella, seeing a sight or two, and of course the main purpose of all human get-togethers…eating. We made some food. Some stellar, some ‘meh. But mostly stellar.

Case in point, she was telling me about an eclair recipe she’d made. I said “oh, we should make those!” thinking yes, throw that out there and see what comes back. It took her about 10 seconds to realize she really did want to make them. And so we did.

The puff pastry itself was surprisingly easy. Just a few ingredients.

Filling them with a vanilla pudding/whipped cream(the real stuff) mixture.

a chocolate frosting/glaze that will probably get added to the top of my food chain. It was epic.

Well hello there my friends, I can’t wait to get to know you better!

And get to know them we did. Over coffee, for breakfast, for lunch, for dessert, and just for the heck of it cause there were two left.

I’m thinking about when I should make these again. Because my instinct says “now.” But my common sense says “Maybe wait til you burn off a few more calories.”

Family with good recipes is the best kind of family.

I have 5 brothers. The youngest was born just a few weeks before I got married.

Hard to tell from the small photo, but he’s drooling like mad. Dad knows how to have fun.

This was 2005, in Indiana – attending our cousin Cassie’s wedding.

I had a hard time when Graham was born. I was in my 20′s, had been away from home and was about to leave for good. And while in hindsight I know he was born at the right time, back then it felt like the timing could have been better. The reasons for my mania were a few. A big one being grand selfishness on my part – I felt upstaged by his birth while I was trying to plan my wedding. I felt like my parent’s attention was so divided that I was robbed of the glory that is one’s wedding experience. My mom was either pregnant or seriously postpartum. I cannot imagine being in her shoes that year.

I realized at some point that I just felt this horrid bitterness about Graham. I don’t think I touched or held him for at least a week after he was born. I cannot believe how selfishly I acted – I’m amazed at my own capacity for such bitterness and resentment.

There were some other reasons behind my attitude. On some level, I felt like he was supposed to be a replacement brother. And on some level, I felt like “geeze, how much do I, as the oldest of all these kids, have to bear? When does the train of giving and sacrifice pull into the station so I can get off?”

Unbelievable, right?

At some point, I got a reality check – God know’s how to kick you where you need it. I had a heart to heart with my mom and apologized to a tiny 2 week old Graham. And I finally held him. I think there was a lot of healing in my heart. God didn’t send him as a replacement. But as a gift of another kind, to fill a void we didn’t know was there. Our family was incomplete until he got there. It took 22 years, but he finally got there and you could (and still can) feel the whole-ness.

He’s almost five now, and I think he changed the Shropshire family in a drastic but good way. He’s a comic and a hero at the same time. And being stapled to the bottom of the totem pole with 4 bossy girls directly above him, he’s grown a massive personality that refuses to be sissified or ignored.

Case in point:

If you tilt your head upside down, you can tell he’s grinning from ear to ear. I guess having older brothers who can chuck you over their shoulder (or over the edge of a cliff)  helps keep the “tea party machine” at bay. This was 2008, attending our brother TJ’s wedding. Both men pictured put on the ol’ tux pants for that one.

Graham is one cool guy, and I’m so glad he’s my lil’ brudder. I’m glad I get to watch what happens in his life. How tall is he going to get? How old will he be when God smashes into his life? Is he going to be a fixer? A fighter? Will he have the same air of authority that seems to come with all Shropshire men?

I really want to find out.

I’m glad that I get to.