Happy! Happy! Birthday Girl K!

It's K's birthday!!  Yep, the gorgeous lady in this pic is celebrating her birth today!!  Happy!  Happy!

 

 

So you know what that means!  Yep, I get to share 5 things that I have learned from K in hopes of bringing her a smile and reminding her how much we love her.  It didn't work out for us to hug her neck and have a good visit this year's birthday, but hopefully we will make that happen very soon.  We love you, K!

 

Alright, so here are 5 things I have learned from K...

 

5) Avocados make the world go round. 

 



E thinks that bacon makes the world go round.  So I suppose an avocado BLT is just about the perfect signature sandwich to represent their marriage.

If we could combine avocados, bacon and strawberry pie into one, that could be the signature food item to represent their family.  But that's another story for another blog post.

4) Sparkles are not good.  Wait?  What?  Sparkles are not good?  Yep, that's right.  They aren't good.  They are DA BEST!!!  Decorate with them every chance you get whether that is in your home or on your person!!  (Even if you're an "old" person like me!)

 

3) Compliment.  Tell people - especially older women - that they look nice that day. (Even if there are things that they could have improved that day.) A kind, complimentary word does so much for the hearer's heart and soul.  And K is generous with compliments for me every time I see her.  It makes me want to see her even more!  <insert heart emojis here...>

2) Listen to little ones.  That usually means slowing down, giving them your full attention, and giving them the time they need to find their words.  But the end result is always worth it.  (And if Dad can toss in a funny face along with it, then everybody smiles and feels the love!)

1) When life doesn't quite turn out as planned, make a new plan.  K has experienced this often in her life.  I could list a few of these, but I don't want this to turn into a DDD (Deb Dissertation Downer).  I want to celebrate that K continues to find a new plan and embrace it despite how hard that might be.  I have a great deal of respect for that sort of fortitude and positivity.  I was so excited to see that this "little" announcement was made yesterday, because this is just another example of how K seeks God and makes a new plan when life doesn't turn out quite as originally planned.  We can't wait to meet this grandchild and cheer this plan on every step of the way!!!

Happy!  Happy!  We love you and hope your birthday has been totally wonderful K!  We hope to see you all very soon!!!

Happy! Happy! Birthday Girl Aunt R!

Ready for one more birthday post?  I promise I have plans to post something that isn't birthday next week, but this beautiful lady is having a birthday today! 

She has been my aunt my whole life, which means that she is turning something north of 70 today.  I am well aware that you are never supposed to say a woman's age, so I'm not going to commit that sin in this post.  While I know her age today, let's just simply say that I know my age, and Aunt R would have at least been older than 20 when I was born, so she must be something north of 70 but not quite 100 today.  Regardless of the actual number, she is worth celebrating plus she has taught me a few things through the years. 

Beyond that?  Aunt R is one of only two left from this generation of The Original Eight.

I'm not sure if anyone else in our family calls these particular eight individuals "The Original Eight," but this is my pet name for them.  You may not realize it, but this picture shows eight people from The Greatest Generation, so declared by Tom Brokaw.  To my knowledge, all four of the men above served overseas in World War II.  I believe all served in Europe rather than in the Pacific, but I can't guarantee that particular fact is accurate.  And I'm pretty sure that all four couples married either during or just after WWII ended.  Yep, these Original Eight gave birth to 17 Baby Boomers, 16 of whom lived to adulthood. 

Who are they?  Well the man on the left in red, is my Uncle L.  He was the oldest of my mother's siblings. The lady behind him was his wife, Aunt S.  Uncle L. only had sisters, so that makes the three ladies to her left my mother (2nd born), Aunt FB (which does NOT stand for "FaceBook", but her real birth certificate name combined with her nickname, the only name anyone in the family ever calls her), and finally our birthday girl, the baby of the family, Aunt R.  Since they were seated and standing as couples, that makes the man in front of my mother my father, followed by Uncle O and Uncle B.  The Original Eight.  And of those eight?  Only two are still around on this side of heaven - my Aunt FB and our lovely birthday girl, Aunt R.  Therefore, she gets a birthday post about 5 of things she has taught me!

But before I start with that, one more thing about that pic above.  It was taken at a family reunion in the Duncan Cabin at Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center in Oklahoma in the early 1980's.  (I never knew anybody who ever called it anything other than "Falls Creek", but Google says it's full name is that mouthful I typed up there.)  This below pic was taken at that same reunion of the grandkids born at that time, and I am fairly certain almost all, if not all, are now parents themselves.  I think I can only name about six of these little guys, but I bet Aunt R can name all of them!

Time.  It marches. So feel free to take your best guess as to our birthday girl's age today, but this is more about remembering The Original Eight and the...

...5 things that Aunt R has taught me at one time or another.

5 - Think outside the box about home.  Or at least marry someone who does.  Aunt R and Uncle B had the coolest house in Duncan, OK, when I would get to visit as a kid.  It was a two-story that was not particularly fancy (except for the dining room and living room), but to a kid, it was fascinating!  For one thing, when you walked into the house from the car port, you entered the den.  (Do people still call rooms "dens" any more?)  To your right was the kitchen, and right in front of you was the everyday table.  And just beyond that was the TV.  Pretty normal stuff, right?  EXCEPT!  The TV was sorta magical, because it sat like "in" the wall - or really a cool hole in the wall between the den and Aunt R and Uncle B's bedroom.  Cause see...the TV was on rollers and could be turned around to be watched in either room!  How cool is that?  Keep in mind that this was back in the days when a TV was a piece of furniture, like a table, and people didn't necessarily have 7.35 TVs in their house as a common thing.

But as cool as the TV Hole was, you wanna know the coolest thing at that house?  Aunt R and Uncle B gave birth to three boys and one girl.  My cousin, B, the girl, had a pretty girl's room on the first floor.  But the boys had rooms upstairs.  And I'm not sure exactly which one of the boys was the train enthusiast, and I only saw this live and in person once or twice, but the model trains were setup in one of the boys' rooms upstairs.  Not necessarily a big deal, right?  EXCEPT!  The trains and tracks and village buildings were all set up on a large wood table without legs.  I don't know the exact size, but this train table looked to be almost the size of the entire room.  It hung from the ceiling and could be raised and lowered via a pulley system.  Genius, right?!  So yes, think outside the box about home.

4 - Use pecans.  Cause...pecans.  And if you coat them in butter and sugar, then really use them.

 3 - Love generously.  I have personally benefited from Aunt R's generosity more than once.  Aunt R seems to believe family people like me are worth it.

2 - Stay on mission.  Know your life's mission and stay on it, long after you may be something north of 70.

1 - Love your sister well.  Especially when she's the only one you may have left this side of heaven.

Happy!  Happy!  Aunt R!  Hope your birthday is wonderful, and I'm looking forward to seeing you and Aunt FB again very soon!!!  Love you!

Happy! Happy! Birthday Boy E!

Yep, it's another birthday boy!  (The big one in this pic, not the little one...)

 

 

Happy!  Happy! E!  Hope you're having a wonderful birthday! 

 

Here are 5 things E has taught me...

 

5 - Finance stuff.  E is one of those financial genius types.  He has a monthly newsletter on finance stuff, and I learn something from it most every month.

4 - Become a world traveler.  Especially if you can do it for free, from excelling at your career. That is the best way to be a world traveler.  See # 4 for further details.

 

3 - Ducks raise money to help kids.  Every year.  Those are some pretty talented ducks.  E’s finance genius skills even work for ducks.  Amazing.

2 - Green Eggs.  Not the Dr. Suess kind, but the Big bbq/smoking/grilling kind.  E is a serious Big Green Egg evangelist.  I may not have ever paid the tithe to become a believer yet, but E preaches a passionate sermon.

 

1 - Bacon is life.

Spice is life.

Combine bacon and spice, and life is full.

 

We love you, E!  Looks like you've had a good birthday with your family.  So glad!  Hope to see you soon again!  Happy!  Happy!



Happy! Happy! Birthday Boy D!

This guy is having a birthday today! 

Happy!  Happy!  Birthday boy D!  Hope you're having a great birthday!

Here are 5 things that D has taught me through the years as his mama:

5 - Txt lingo.  Idk it well, and most ppl I txt w/dont talk txt, but d does.  So he taut me it mor than anybdy else.

4 - Golf is life.  But then so is fishing.  And so is baseball.  I just need to keep up with which life is life at that moment.

3 - Despite what you may see above, there really is only one kind of pie.  Apple.  Ok, wait, maybe two.  Apple and cherry, but only if you’re taking them to small group to share with friends.

2 - C & I can beat D & G in the game of Sequence.  Not always, mind you.  But every once in a while we do, like this past weekend.

1 - Brothers need to throw balls to each other way more often than they do.  It wasn’t the same as when they were kiddos, but it did this mama’s heart good to see D and S tossing a ball back and forth Sunday evening in the backyard. 

We love you, D!  Hope you are smiling!  Happy!  Happy!  It was great to see you, C and B-man this weekend!

Why I Believe…Every Atheist Will be a Theist…

…Someday.

Yep, that’s a crazy bold statement, especially in this day and age of political correctness and “tolerance” for all beliefs.  And I don’t mean anything disrespectful to any atheist who may read that statement; it is simply what I believe.  And I would like to explain why.

First off, this isn’t an original statement to me.  I heard it first this past Sunday morning, and it stuck with me.  So I thought I would blog about it.  Nor is this a blog full of cute pics of little ones to bring a smile.  This is much closer to a Deb Dissertation – words that I hope are laid out in a somewhat logical sequence.

Because I tend to be a word geek who makes a point of defining terms when I do any sort of training, I would like to define three primary terms.  These aren’t my definitions; they come from dictionary.com.

·         Atheist - a person who denies or disbelieves the existence of a supreme being or beings

 

·         Theist -  a person who believes in one God as the creator and ruler of the universe, without rejection of revelation

·         Christian - a person who believes in Jesus Christ; adherent of Christianity

So this DD is about why I believe that every atheist – one who denies or disbelieves the existence of a supreme being – will one day be a theist – one who believes in one God as the creator and ruler.  But a theist does not necessarily equal a Christian, as a Christian is one who believes Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, and who recognizes their need for a Savior and trusts in Jesus as the One who saves.

Ready?

Let me begin by saying that I’m not trying to take on atheism.  I’m not.  Many people have reached the choice to be atheist from a multitude of angles.  I’m not qualified to argue all of those angles.  I’m not arguing against that choice or position.  I’m simply offering another perspective of what will be true if atheism is a false logical conclusion and Christianity is true. 

See, if atheism is right – that there is no God, there is no life after this life, there is no higher purpose to life – then no one really has anything to lose.  This life is it, followed by oblivion.  Granted we Christians would lose all that we’d hoped for in this life; but once we were in oblivion, it wouldn’t matter anyway.  Since, by definition, oblivion is a state without awareness or thought of any kind.

But if Christianity is true – there is a God, there is life or awareness after this life, and there is a higher purpose to this life – then there is no such thing as oblivion.  There would instead, by virtue of the premise that Christianity is true, be life – or really LIFE! – and the contrast thereof, or awareness in a reality absent of LIFE.  For Christianity clearly teaches both.  There may be a variety of interpretations of what awareness after this life may look like, but the teaching is clear from Christianity.  This life isn’t it.  This life points to something after this life.  Or really Christianity points to Some One after this life.

I’ve read a book twice recently simply called Imagine Heaven by John Burke.  It was the first book in a long time that when I finished it, I turned right back to the beginning and started reading it all over again.  This book is a collection of near-death experiences (NDE’s) from all over the world.  People from many cultures and belief systems are clinically dead but come back to life with a story to tell of what they experienced while dead.  What is fascinating to me about these stories is how many of them have such common elements, not the least of which is being aware – AWARE of a reality that is more REAL than this life.  I get how impossible that is to believe.  I can’t imagine something more real than what I know now.  But nor can something two-dimensional imagine a third dimension.  So I allow for more dimensions than I may know here as a viable possibility that I could experience in another realm. 

This book describes more than simply being drawn to The Light.  It describes color and beauty that we don’t have words for here.  Even people who are profoundly blind from birth – and still blind after they come back to this life – describe seeing sights that they cannot see here.  People talk about seeing lush plants and trees and flowers that are so full of life and energy and color that if they pick one, a new one grows right behind it, since there is no death in this place. 

Another common element to NDE’s is a life review, seeing their life events from a different perspective – yet remarkably without judgment.  They are instead, surrounded by love and compassion.  Because they know they are experiencing this life review with Jesus, the very embodiment of Love Incarnate.  Keep in mind that these are people and children who may not know the Name of Jesus from any sort of teaching or belief system prior to their NDE, yet they know they are talking with Jesus and being loved by Him. 

Where am you going with this?  Deb, have you lost track of your original thesis? 

No, I haven’t lost track of what I started out saying.  Hang with me a moment longer.  For see, there are also stories of people who don’t believe Jesus is the Son of God who meet him in an NDE.  For example, Mr. Burke shares one story of a lady who has been Jewish her entire life.  She dies, and experiences a life review with Jesus.  She felt His love and compassion, and yet after coming back to this life, she says that she still does not believe that He is The Christ, The Messiah, since her life-long Jewish teaching tells her that Jesus is not Messiah.  In other words, this woman would be a theist but not a Christian. 

The book also shares a few stories describing a place that is full of darkness and fear and taunting criticism.  This is also a reality that is more real than this life, yet most unpleasant.  These darker stories also come from all over the world, from people with many belief systems yet share striking similarities, like those stories that are full of Light and Love.  In essence – an awareness of being in a place, yet in a place that is not this earth and in a form that is not this body.

How could people from so many diverse backgrounds experience events so similar and so vividly REAL?  It seems harder to me to believe that there isn’t life after this life than to believe that there is.  Beyond that, to believe so gives this life infinitely more meaning and purpose and hope than to not believe such.

Which brings me back to my opening statement – that all atheists will be theists.  Someday.   Not that all atheists will someday be Christians.   But I believe they will realize that God is. REAL.  Jesus is.  REAL.  More Real than today’s reality.  It may not be a change of philosophy experienced this side of the grave, but what is so compelling about the NDE stories is that there is life and awareness after this life.  We don’t die to simple oblivion.  We merely pass through a veil to Something else…to Some One else.

One of the writers of The New Testament even talks about this Someday – that every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord.  And I happen to believe that “every knee” will include every atheist who has ever lived, famous ones such as Stephen Hawking, and less famous ones who have chosen to conclude that God is not.  

Atheism is a choice that I respect even though I cannot embrace it intellectually.  I find it more forced to deny so much evidence FOR God’s existence than to simply accept how much He has revealed about himself in so many places: creation, our conscience and innate sense of right and wrong, Scripture, how we define time, etc. But I don’t speak for everyone.  I speak for me only.  In addition, I am not trying to say all of this from a “we win in the end” viewpoint.  That is not my intent here.  I’m merely articulating in a quiet way why I believe there is Something … Someone…Someplace…beyond this life we know here and now.  While I have not studied every belief system out there, Christian teaching of grace and mercy and love and communion with God provided by the sacrifice of Jesus is so outrageous and scandalous yet evidential, that nothing else comes close to being able to replace what I’ve believed since I was 9 years old.  And if I believe Christianity is true, which I do, then a reasonable conclusion of that view is that someday, whether here or there, all people, including atheists, will recognize God as not only Real but Supreme, the essence of being a theist. 

Do I think that writing this will change anyone’s mind?  Nope, that isn’t my intent either.  This blog isn’t about being famous or making money or gaining internet fame.  This blog is a means of communicating with a few family members and friends, so they have a record of some of the things I did and how I did them, plus how I thought – perhaps a glimpse into my heart and mind – as long as the internet is around and after I’m not.  So this is simply one more glimpse into my heart and my approach to faith in God. 

Thanks for reading if you’re still with me.  If not, that’s cool.  Maybe you will enjoy the next post better!

Happy! Happy! Birthday Boy A-Man!

I don’t normally post one of these “5 Things Taught” DD’s for the grandkids, but this guy is now 8 years old, which let’s face it, is half-way to driving.  (Yes,  I do believe that I just gave his parents a heart attack with that line.)  Besides that, he taught me these 5 things this past weekend, so it seems as though a post is due. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy!  Happy!  Birthday, A-man!  Here are 5 things you’ve taught me.. 

5 – The Wipe-Out bike beats the Rock-It.  Trust us on this.  It just does.

4 – Grandpa G & Grandma Deb need to see a baseball game soon.  A-man likes to hit a ball.  Far.  And hard.  We need to see this live and in person.

3 – Kissing scenes in movies are bad.  Like gross bad.  Like really yucky bad.  I wish you could have seen his face when he’s teaching me this, because my words can’t do it justice.  (Hide your eyes!!!)

 

(But I think this kissing scene is still ok!)

 

 

 

 

 

2 – Rat Bat.  He’s one of the Decepticon Transformers, and he has “bat” mode and “flight” mode (or something like that).  Anyway Rat Bat can transform like the best of ‘em.  And then he can fight the bad guys.  I’m still learning who the bad guys are.  The bad guys may be Pokemon with water energy and fire energy and hyper power that Rat Bat is fighting while also keeping the Beyblades at bay (did you catch that pun there?)  Oh, and Chewbacca (not the now famous mask, but the “real” Chewbacca) fights for the good guys, too, so I think he and Rat Bat are friends.  I’m sure that I have this story right, right?  I still have a lot to learn about Rat Bat.

1 – Courage comes in many shapes and sizes, even relatively small sizes.  Whether that shows up as being the only boy to sing with a group of girls or sharing his faith in Jesus, A-man is one courageous fellow.  I’m pretty sure that if you looked up “child-like faith” in the dictionary, no words are necessary.  They just show A-man’s picture.

 

 

Happy!  Happy!  Hope your birthday has been wonderful, A-man!  We love you!!

Happy! Happy! Birthday Girl S!

This beautiful daughter, mother, teacher, student, manager and lady celebrated her birthday today!!! 

 (I chose this one 'cause she be holdin' two of our grand babies here!)

It is late in the day, but I hope it's not too late to share with you 5 things that I appreciate that S has taught me....

5 - Family pics matter.  I haven't always been good about this, but S always has been good about this.  And hopefully I'm learning. 

 

4 - Excel.  My work world is all SAP now, so I don't use Excel as much as I once did.  So when (note I did not use the word "if" but WHEN) I get stuck and want a new formula in Excel, S is one of my go-to ladies for this sort of thing.  She's as good as any Excel Google answer you'll get anywhere!

 

 

3 - A renewed appreciation for tea.  For ladies' teas.  For gloves and special treats and simply taking a bit of time to appreciate each other and catching up over a cuppa...

 

 

2 - A renewed appreciation for SAP.  I've been going through a bit of "empty nesters' syndrome" of late, because S has truly, completely flown the coup in recent months.  She found herself a new job, and is doing wonderfully at it.  But the place she is working doesn't run SAP.  Yet.  They probably will in the next few years, because their parent company runs it, but today, this shop doesn't.  And she has said to me more than once how much she can appreciate all that a system like SAP brings to an organization.

 

 

1 - Juggling motherhood and work and school and teaching are not easy, but they are fulfilling and worthy pursuits.  And S does it with many smiles and good humor and grace and balance.  She doesn't expect any of them to be perfect (as much as she might like each thing to be!), but she takes each moment as it comes...even when those moments may include broken bones of little ones...and keeps moving forward.  All part of what makes me so proud of her. 

 

Happy!  Happy!  Birthday to you, S!  I hope it has been truly wonderful, full of love and laughter and joy and memories.  I love you!!

 

Love,

Mama Mia Quesadilla



Inspirational Leadership

This quote appears on the walls at one of the buildings where I work.  Its intent is to inspire.  It was chosen, because by itself it does – or at least should – inspire.  Inspire the hearer to lead a life that draws out dreaming and learning and doing and becoming in others, for the observers of our lives will see those same traits in us.

John Quincy Adams had another quote that fits hand in glove with what has been on my mind as I read the first quote from President Adams above:

Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.

For the first time in a long time that I can recall, I have personally heard more friends and acquaintances say that they really didn’t know what to do in yesterday’s Missouri presidential primary.  Should they vote for someone they want?  Should they vote for the one who stands the best chance of elect-ability?  Should they vote the opposite party to block the one they perceive as the worst?  It was remarkable to me how often I heard that.  Remarkable enough, I suppose, that I am blogging about it.

And why is that?  Why do so many people feel this same conflict?  Voting is never easy, and we cannot expect to agree with any candidate on 100% of the issues or expect them to always do or say or act in the way we think that they should.  If that is what we expect, we might as well give up now. 


But why is the privilege of voting such a burden these days?

Part of me wants to say that it goes back to these two JQA quotes.  For the first, we have a real leadership gap in this world today.  Whatever happened to candidates that sounded like reasonable fellows – someone you could have a brew with and a reasonable debate about ideas?  When did we become a nation that prizes bombastic celebrities or idealizes government as the means to take care of everyone or ignores law and deceit and lies in the name of “progress” to have a woman president?  Now I realize I probably just offended a whole bunch of people, including family with that question, but who in the list of remaining presidential candidates truly epitomizes JQA’s idea of living a life that inspires others to “dream more, learn more, do more or become more”? 

Bombastic rhetoric that rouses a crowd but doesn’t have real substance behind it doesn’t inspire me.

Condescending insults to my intelligence espousing ideas of the government providing for all of my needs doesn’t inspire me.

And “what difference does it make anyway?!” definitely doesn’t inspire me.

How many leaders these days live the kind of life that demonstrates dreaming big dreams, learning what works and what doesn’t work, doing more with less and becoming a better friend, confidant, worker, person, spouse or parent?  If there were more, it might inspire me to vote with more energy and belief.

Which brings me to the second JQA quote – “vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”  While I love the ideal expressed herein, I can’t help but feel the angst of the need to vote to “win” despite principle.  Those of us who identify as republicans can feel this quandary particularly sharply after the last two presidential losses, but I don’t believe that this is unique to republicans.  Regardless the political party affiliation, we all want to win, and we all hate the sting of defeat.  And JQA’s sentiment about cherishing “the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost”, doesn’t really feel like that. It feels like your vote is lost – that one vote does not really matter…or that the whole system is so rigged and crooked it doesn’t matter.

But that line of thinking is a dead-end street.  And is the antithesis of what JQA expressed in the quote that appears on the walls of one building I frequent. 

So herein is where I will conclude.  My vote may not matter in the grand scheme of things.  I may cast a vote that isn’t for principle, but that will not have been how I want to remember my voting experiences.  I will instead do my best to vote and vote well.  I may not brag on it, but I will trust that my voting – no matter how pointless it may feel at times – may, just may, inspire someone else to dream more, learn more, do more, become more and vote more.  I may not be a “leader” in title or celebrity or media or power, but I hope I live a life of leadership of the kind that ol’ John Quincy Adams had in mind. 

That goal – in and of itself – will not have been a waste.

Happy! Happy! Birthday Girl MJ!

My kiddo's Mama J is having a birthday today!

The day is almost over, so I hope Mama J has had a really nice one, but I still thought I'd surprise her with a little note of appreciation for who this lady is to me and my kiddos.

Mama J - here are 5 things I appreciate that you taught me.  Hope this brings a smile!

5 - Beer bread - Mama J was the first one who ever introduced me to this little genius baking trick.  Back in the day when we would get together more often, the kids and I would go see Mama J and Papa S for a meal, and she would treat us to this little wonder lots of times.  Good stuff - and EASY!

4 - Let your talents bless others.  Mama J has been sharing her piano and organ talents for as long as I have known her, and I'm sure she has been sharing them much longer than that.  Playing at church on most Sundays and holidays, teaching countless students and even selling lots of instruments to many.  Yep, Mama J has brought the joy and love of music to many people.

3 - Laugh easily and often.  Mama J has an easy smile and laugh and finds the humor in life easily.  It's all part of what makes # 1 below true.

2 - Take pictures.  Take lots of pictures.  Mama J has some of the cutest pics of my little ones.  I am still learning this picture taking trick, but Mama J is an old pro at capturing cute moments.

1 - Be a fun grandma.  My kiddos have often spoken of how much they enjoy spending time with MJ and PS.  I often think of Mama J's gifts and easy spirit with my kiddos all these years, and I want to be that kind of Grandma/Mimi.

 

We love you, Mama J!  I hope this gives you a small glimpse of knowing that you are loved and appreciated.  We need to figure out how to make getting together more often happen!

Happy!  Happy!

Happy! Happy! Birthday Girl J!

This beautiful lady, my sister is celebrating her birthday today!

I realized earlier today that next year is one of those "big" birthdays, which just really surprised me, because J is perpetually 35 in my mind.  40 at tops, but nothing more than that.  Of course, that doesn't exactly fit the math since I know my age, and J is older than me...but in my mind, I am also perpetually 35...38 at tops.  Now that is how my mind feels...my body may feel differently, but...that is another story!

But today - this birthday - is a "regular" one for my YOUNG sister, so it is my chance to honor and appreciate her for 5 things that she has taught me.  Trust me, I've known this wonderful lady my whole life so she has taught me WAY more than 5 things, but these are the 5 that came to my mind today.

5 - Breastfeeding.  Yep, that's right, breastfeeding.  J had her oldest, A, when I was a teenager, and J thoroughly enjoyed nursing A.  I had never given breastfeeding any thought one way or the other at that time, but J made it so real and wonderful and doable, that she sold me.  When I had my babies, it never really occurred to me to feed them in any other way.  I'm not shaming any mama who fed their babies by other means, but I will always treasure that time of feeding each of my children as only I could.  And that is due, in large part, to J's teaching when I was but a teenager.

4 - Read.  Lots.  Out loud and often.

3 - Stay in touch.  I am HORRIBLE at this, so J is still very much teaching me this one, but J is pretty much THE BEST at this.  J makes friends easily and has made many friends in many places all over the world.  But beyond that - she stays in touch like a champ.

2 - Compassion and empathy.  J gets it.  She has experienced deep hurt and loss in her life.  J has not let it close her off, but she stays open and gives compassion easily and genuinely.  J is approachable, and people know it  People of all ages.

1 - Family history.  J and I are the only ones left from our birth family.  She knows some; I know some; we still have gaps.  But nobody else can teach me that stuff about our parents and siblings - places we lived, jobs, schools, churches...memories.

I love you, J!  You are one of the youngest people I know...eternally young at heart.  You inspire me as well as teach me.

Happy!  Happy!  Birthday J!!

So....Pinterest....

Deb Disclaimer:  This post could offend some.  It is not my intent to offend.  The views expressed in this post are solely mine.  They do not necessarily reflect Google Blogger or any past, (none), present (none) or future (possible) sponsor of this blog.  If you are easily offended, you may want to skip this post and join us next time for our usual programming of cute kids, birthdays, events and baking fun.

Ready?  Still with me?  Ok, here we go.

I found this caramel cake on pinterest and baked it.

I read the recipe and had a sense that I wouldn't like it, but the corresponding narrative reeled me in.  Talks of "wow!" and "amazing!" from merely  tasting the unfrosted cake lured me in.  Stories of "Rose" being famous in South Chicago for this cake lead me to go against my instincts and start measuring.

Alas, my instincts were right.  That's right.  Another classic case.  The dark secret of Pinterest.  You know it happens, but nobody talks about it.

Until now.  Yes, I'm going to say it.  Somebody has to.  Because I got sucked in.  Sucked in to the

PINTEREST OVERSELL.

It happens more than it should.  It happens everyday.  Words like "The Best!" and "Perfect!" and "Best EVER!" can't ALL be true.  All the time.  About everything.  

Oversell.

What ever happened to other words?  Words like "Tastes Good" or "Nice for a Tuesday Night" or even "Easy and Good Enough"?  

Not that these words necessarily applied to the above cake, but they would have come closer to the truth than the story I read of tasting the cake right out of the oven and expressing "Wow!" so they rush tastes out to the son in the garage, who also says "Wow!" or some such exclamation.  

Now don't get me wrong.  I'm sure the lady who wrote this means well and maybe the cake fits their idea of a great cake....similar to one taster at work who compared this cake to her husband's relative's preference for "crumby" cake.  

I would have chosen words closer to those from another coworker - "edible."  It was edible, but it needed help.  Help like ice cream and chocolate sauce.  Help like more soaking syrup than I added even though pinterest didn't say to use any soaking syrup.

Help like another friend gave.  He drizzled some coffee over his slice - and that moistened the slice plus complimented the caramel flavor in the icing quite nicely.  

Do I hate Pinterest?  Or think it's a major time waster?  No to both.  Well, ok, it may be a time waster but so is this blog if truth be told.  But it's not a total time waster.  I particularly enjoy the Ikea hacks and pin many of those.  The same friend whose husband's family like cakes on the crumby side?  She found a great trick to take a box of angel food cake mix and substitute Rum Chata for the water.  She says it is great, and I trust that she is not overselling this idea.  

So please don't hear me saying that I will never pin anything else ever again...although I have no idea how to post stuff to pinterest for others to pin.  But hopefully if I ever do figure that out, I will do my best to not commit the crime of the...

PINTEREST OVERSELL.

I may break the mold and become the Pinterest Queen of the Undersell.  Someday.  It could happen.  Posting cakes and pies that are "Strictly Ladies Luncheon" or "Kid Quality" or "Good for a Change of Pace" or "Not The Best Ever But a Keeper."  

Speaking of which...this caramel cake is not a keeper.  Hence, I'm not going to bother to share the recipe here.  But I may try to make some changes to it and make it again.  If those changes make it a keeper, I will let you know.

Happy! Happy! Birthday Boy S!

Today is S's birthday!  I love you, and hope you have a wonderful birthday!

That's right.  That would be my handsome S sporting some serious Christmas beard ornaments.  I did not even know that there was such as thing as beard ornaments, but I do now.  But that bit of learning does not count as one of the 5 things I've learned from S.

So here goes.  Hope these bring a smile to your face and heart, S!

5 - Ask questions.  Ask deep questions.  Ask hard questions.  And respect when your mama can't answer all of them.  And by all means, make sure that you ask those questions while your mama is driving.  Have crazy instinct like that.

4 - Sound tech matters.  And if you make it look easy, it matters even more.  And if you make it look cute, it matters the most!

3 - Go to work even when you don't like testing emissions.  Go anyway.  You're still building a life even if it doesn't seem like it at the time.

2 - Graduate.  You don't have to walk, but graduate.

1 - Choose mentors well.   S has chosen some of the best I've ever seen.  They have molded him into the man he is today.  Oh, and while you're at it, choose also to be a good mentee.

What a handsome bunch of great guys.  And this isn't all of the fine mentors that have invested in my son.  I don't have pictures of all of them.  But trust me.  They are da best.  S has chosen very well plus he can do both sides of the mentor life like a champ.

Happy!  Happy!  Good birthday to you, S!!

And look at me...I actually posted every day this week!  Woo-hoo!!!

Maple Bacon Cinnamon Rolls

That's right.  Bacon.  Maple.  Cinnamon Rolls.  Together.

I don't have pictures of making these, but I'm making them again tonight to take into work tomorrow for Bacon Day!  Since I'm trying to post more regularly again, I thought I'd share these with you.  I made this batch a couple of weeks ago, at which point one of my taste testers nominated January 29 as our First Annual IT Bacon Day!  So let it be written!  So let it be done!

The first step?  Well, maybe not the first step, but at some point while the roll dough is rising, half cook some bacon - your favorite brand, which for me is from Aldi! - and then cut it into pieces.  (I will leave it up to you to know the "right" size for your bacon.)

I used my standard go-to King Arthur Flour Soft White Dinner Roll recipe but you can use whatever roll recipe is your favorite (or even frozen bread dough!).  After at least one rise, I rolled the dough into a rectangle (about 12" x 16", give or take) and then spread this maple cinnamon mixture over the top.

1/4 cup soft butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
2 T. maple syrup
2 t. cinnamon
Dash of salt
Dash of vanilla
2 drops of maple extract (if desired)

Now take about half of that half-baked bacon and spread it over the dough.  Did I say how much bacon to use?  Why no, I didn't, did I?  Hmmm...I'm fairly certain that if we need to ask how much, then perhaps this isn't the Maple Bacon Cinnamon Roll recipe for you!  Hah!

Then I rolled them up from the long side and sliced into rolls like standard cinnamon rolls. My recipe will yield 16 rolls.  After rising, I then baked at 350 for about 25 minutes.

The final step was to pour on the maple icing glaze and garnish with the rest of the bacon.  I used a very simple maple icing glaze, but you could get fancier, if you wanted.

1 T. soft butter
3 T. maple syrup
2 T. brown sugar
1 cup powdered sugar
Dash of vanilla
Dash of salt
1 - 2 T. milk (or to desired consistency)

I just mixed those all together and spread over the warm rolls.

Yummy Goodness!

Happy! Happy! Late Birthday Girl W!

W for Wednesday, right?

Ok, so this is another late birthday posting, but at least I'm in the right month still!  And I'm pretty sure W will be celebrating her birthday until her new remodeled kitchen is done and ready!  It's going to be so purrrrty!  I can't wait to see it!

Sorry this is so late, W, but here are 5 things I've learned from you that I hope bring you a smile!  So glad you are one of my sisters!

5 things I've learned from the Wonderful W....

5 - Don't ask why that dinner guest is wearing an eye patch.  We know you're tempted to ask, but don't do it.  Just don't.

4 - Boxers are easy to love.  Even when they break your heart by not living forever.

3 - Set a pretty table.  For dinner.  For tea.  For a wedding.  For holidays.  For everyday.  Set a pretty table.

2 - Aspic is funny.  Especially when you hear Deb say it out loud and you have no idea what it means.

1 - Host.  Because you can. Because someday you may not be able to host.

Oh - wait!  There is one more thing I've learned from W - Nam's Beef and Noodles.

Good times.  Good memories.  Good friends.  Happy!  Happy!  Love you W!

Happy! Happy! Way Late Birthday Girl C!

This is well over a month late, but this is intended to still bring a smile and bless this sweet sister, C.

I haven't gotten to spend nearly enough time with C, but she has still taught me some important things.  Here are 5 of those things.

5 - Give.  Period.  Give.  And this girl loves to give.  Everything from lotions and shower gels to low-rise lawn chairs to Eddie Bauer travel bags.  (We have enjoyed all of them!)

4 - Welcome.  Choose to err on the side of welcoming new family members and calling them "sister."  Whether that is at a family funeral or a trip to Kansas City.  She should totally rescind that welcome now that I have been so remiss in posting this for her birthday which was like 15.3752489 weeks ago, but I still appreciate the designation.  Truly, she should totally rescind it.  Totally.  (Did I use enough totally's?)

3 - Share your faith.  Boldly even.  And every chance you get.

2 - Stories of Greg as a child.  Sisters and cousins be good for dat stuff.

1 - KC culture pockets.  Kansas City is not all BBQ sauce and sports.  Who knew?  C.  C knew.

We love you, C!  I have no excuse for not being more prompt with this, but I hope you had a wonderful birthday and still smile as you read this!  Thank you for being my sister!