Celebrating our Differences

Once upon a time I started making Waikiki (beef) meatballs for my little family of four from my beloved Betty Crocker cookbook that was given to me as a wedding gift. Here I am 53 years later, still using that treasured cookbook and you can see I haven’t been too careful while making the sauce.

What’s different this year about my recipe, is my “different” family members. This photo represents our “different” food choices. One group still wants beef meatballs, another no-red meat group, gets turkey balls, and we have another one this year – meatless “balls” for my one vegetarian – our 13-year-old Bryson, the animal-lover, who refuses to eat an animal that was once alive! I love this family so much. I want to give them what they prefer. Bryson even said “I can’t tell any difference from the meat ones” that he loved every year before now.

These, my people, are all different. “Different strokes for different folks” is a saying that means there are different ways of doing something. We are all different and we all have different needs and wants -- which is ALL okay! What an amazing God Who created us with so much incredible diversity and variety – just like my meatballs! And, to top it off, He gives HIS kids so many options to what we prefer in life.

I’m always amazed when I think of how God created a world of different kinds of colors, tastes, sounds, foods, scenery, animals, ideas, and the list just goes on and on. But one area that is especially intriguing is the variety of people He has created. In fact, everyone is different. There are no two of us alike. We are each, individually, special.

In spite of our great diversity, the Bible says that we were all created in the image of God so we all have some things in common. We all think, reason, make decisions, worship, communicate, create, appreciate beauty. Those are "image of God" traits and abilities. But every one of us is unique, a one-of-a-kind, special, limited edition! This uniqueness doesn’t happen by accident. It’s also part of God’s grand design and plan. He forms each one of us lovingly and intentionally. There’s purpose, planning, and design that led up to our existence. Whether our parents rejoiced when they received the news of our pending arrival, or regretted their decision to procreate and conceive, we are here nonetheless, because God wanted us here!

David became a voice for each of us, expressing gratitude to God for His creative involvement in making us: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:13-15.

When we become a Christian, God’s creative work in our lives begins again in a different way. God gives each of us spiritual gifts through the person of His Holy Spirit. And with those gifts comes the opportunity to "serve up" a variety of "meatballs" -- er, rather, a variety of love and care and concern for believers and unbelievers (I Corinthians 12:7). The more we "serve up" a big old plate of kindness and generosity.....the more we hunger for more opportunities to serve. Sometimes, God will even change our minds about our likes and dislikes so we can serve even more, even better than before. Sometimes He will even change our ministries as we mature. Just like changing our food preferences – like my family! So, be YOU -- the you that God created to flourish and to be His representative to the world He has you in right now -- in this season!

The Little Things Can Mean So Much

When itemizing those things we are grateful for, we'll often list things that money affords, like our home, car, food, clothes, electronics, and those things that add to our comfort. Since my washer and dryer are 25+ years old, I thank God each time I get my washing and drying done, But this Thanksgiving week, my gratitude goes way beyond the big “things”. I've come to realize that the little things, that money can't buy, mean so much!

Thanksgiving usually brings families "home". "Home" isn't necessarily the brick and mortar of the home we live in. For example, my oldest grandson and wife, and 2nd oldest grandson didn’t make it to Frisco this year and that’s okay. They were “home” where they were. I've realized "home" is WHERE I AM at the time. Home is Austin, Frisco, Tulsa and anything in between where I "light". Home is family, friends, church, the places where "the little things" are really the big things.

My Frisco family and I and an invited guest had our traditional Thanksgiving meal and celebration on Thursday. My "Austin" family, on their way to Muldrow, OK to celebrate Thanksgiving with Shawntel's family, detoured to Tulsa to see Granny for a couple of hours. Granny is my husband's Mom, and at 96, though she's still sharp-as-a-tack and moving about, we just don't know if it could be the last time, so spending time with her is so important. It’s the little things that mean so much.

Then they traveled to spend time with Shawntel's family where 54 family members gathered at her precious 90-year old grandmother’s home for their traditional Thanksgiving meal and celebration. The little things that are really huge things to a sweet grandmother. Then, they made their way to Frisco where I had Bryson's "traditional" scavenger hunt ready for his birthday that was on November 17th. The four cousins helped him decipher the clues and find the treasure. Yesterday’s hunt won treasures for all of them – including the wax lips. LOL! My traditional day-after-Thanksgiving Waikiki meatballs were on the menu. Today, we’re heading to the Wallace’s for breakfast of huevos rancheros then we'll go to a movie -- another family tradition. We'll have our traditional Mexican food for lunch. It’s the little things that mean so much.

Thanksgiving traditions always included my annual family photo being taken. It was a must do that everyone tolerated and because it meant so much to me -- they always complied. I was excited that my big milestone birthday in August meant I could let the family off the hook for another photo. But, my two sweet girls, without my usual need-to-plead, wrangled up everyone for a quick Thanksgiving photo. They know it’s the little things that mean so much to me.

It won't be long before all these grandkids will be grown up with families of their own, so I realize these little things, little traditions; little intentional, purposeful moments mean so much. Yes, I'm so grateful for the blessings of the simple, little things and family and friends that keep reminding me that the greatest blessings on earth come without a price tag.

How often is it that the BIG things are what stresses us out? Notice that the things that fill our hearts with warmth are things that we didn't have to look far to find. It means learning to live our lives as if everything were a miracle, and being aware of how much we've been given. Gratitude shifts our focus from what our life lacks, to the abundance of what we already have. Maybe, the best prescription we could take to dispel the common "woe-is-me" attitude is to offer thanksgiving for the "little things".

Treasure Your Treasures

Still here in Austin, I was able to celebrate my youngest grandson’s 11th birthday. His birthday isn't until November 17th, but they’ll be out of the country on that date – so Nana must do what Nana always does. I threw my Bryson a birthday celebration last night, complete with the fam’s favorite – Waikiki Meatballs, followed by Nana’s chocolate cake (I have to give credit where credit is due – it’s Great Granny’s recipe), and then the Pièce De Résistance – Nana’s family tradition for years – the Birthday Treasure Hunt.

My grandmother's claim-to-fame, in my books, is that she introduced me to my future husband when we were just 13 and 12 years old. Her words were "Ronnie Wuerch says he likes you". My reply was "Tell him I like him, too!" From that point forward, we were destined to be together forever. I loved my grandparents and they loved me so much -- their prayers for me are still working. As precious as they were in my eyes as a young child, I never knew that "hands on" grand-parenting, like my grandchildren do. I didn't even realize I didn't have it, until years later when I became a grandparent. When our grand-parenting time came, we knew we wanted an "up close and personal" relationship with our grandchildren. So from the get-go, we set out to be those doting, over-the-top, in love in words and deeds, grandparents. Way before our first grandson was born, I had a "Hope Chest" of toys, puzzles and books.....that would stay at Papa & Nana's house. In fact, to this day, I still have the old Nintendo 64 controllers and games. I still have their favorite book "Barbapapa" and I still have the Lincoln Logs and Legos. They all know they'll find those "treasures" at Nana's house! Maybe I’ll soon have great grandchildren and they’ll have their own “Romper Room” at Nana’s. No pressure -- Braden & Ruth! LOL!

Treasure Hunts have always been a part of our grandchildren’s lives. It was my way of spicing up the Nana & Papa fun. It’s a work out to get the rhyming clues together then hiding them at specific locations, then it’s the birthday boy or girl running to all the locations for the next clue until it concludes with the grand finale gift found. I love making these memories.

Since Bryson is home-schooled, I had to get up early yesterday morning to make the cake, before he woke up. But I knew the wonderful aroma would be lingering, so I had to hide the cooked cake, by quickly baking cinnamon rolls that hid the cake aroma. Talk about secret tactical operations!!!

I had to stay up late putting the clues together the night before as well as wrap his birthday finale gift, and then when Bryson was at his golf lesson in the afternoon, I hid all my clues, and decorated the kitchen table area (our usual birthday location) with birthday balloons and décor. Oh, how I love this sweet season of grand-parenting. I’m making memories that will outlive me and I know they’ll be carried on to my grandkids’, grandkids. I’m leaving fingerprints and footprints.

Maybe you’re still in the parenting mode – but, before long (Trust me…..the time flies!), grand-parenting will become a part of your world, and in that case, my “professional grandmother” recommendation to you is to get intimately involved in their lives. While moms and dads are no doubt the greatest influencers, grandparents can come in a close second.

We always wanted our grandchildren to know that we pray for them, stand ready to be there for them, and to support them as best we could, given there are miles that may separate us. I'm, by no means, wanting to be dishing out a guilt trip to anyone that doesn't have that "bent", but I assure you, there is nothing to compare with that precious love. There is nothing sweeter on this earth than to hear "Nana, I love you so much!"

Gratitude for Simple Pleasures

When itemizing those things we are grateful for, we'll list a lot of things that money affords -- like our home, car, clothes, food, electronics, appliances and all those THINGS that add to our comfort. But now, in retrospect, I realize those precious treasures that money can't buy. The Simple Pleasures.

Thanksgiving usually brings families "home". "Home' isn't necessarily the brick and mortar of the home we live in. For example, my oldest grandson and wife couldn't make it "home" to their families, but they were "at home" with friends who invited them to their Thanksgiving meal. Our 2nd to the oldest grandson couldn't make it home, but was also invited to the home of friends. For me, I've realized "home" is WHERE I AM at the time. Home is Austin, Frisco, Tulsa and anything in between where I seem to "light". Home is family, friends, our church, the places where "simple pleasures" abound.

Ryan, Shawntel and the boys made it to Frisco after spending time with Shawntel's family in Muldrow, OK. I loved the photos she took of their big family gathering of over 60 family members. I loved seeing the cousins having such a good time playing together and being "home" with their precious grandmother. Simple Pleasures.

On their way to Frisco, they made a stop in Tulsa to see Granny for a couple of hours. Granny is my husband's Mom, and at 94, though she's active and vibrant, we just don't know if it could be the last time, so spending time with her is so important. Simple Pleasures.

Then, they made their way to Frisco where cousins could frolic and play and have great fun times together. Ping Pong, Light Saber battles, movies, roller blades, and turkey hats. My traditional day-after-Thanksgiving Waikiki meatballs were the menu yesterday, plus our annual movie theater visit. We loved the new Disney movie, "Moana". The day ended with our "traditional" day-after-Thanksgiving dinner -- Mexican food. Simple pleasures.

Our time together at Thanksgiving has always included my annual family photo being taken. It was always a MUST DO -- that everyone tolerated and because it meant so much to me -- they all always complied. I was excited that my grandson's wedding photo would be this year's photo and it would let the family off the hook for yet another photo. But, my two sweet girls -- without my usual need-to-plead, got everyone dressed in grays, black and white and all I had to do was find a gray top and whoa la -- this year's Thanksgiving photo. Simple pleasures.

It won't be long before all these grandkids will be grown up with families of their own. Yes, I'm so grateful for the blessings of "simple pleasures" -- family and friends that keep reminding me that the greatest blessings on earth come without a price tag.

This is the time for counting our blessings, noticing simple pleasures. It means learning to live our lives as if everything were a miracle, and being aware on a continuous basis of how much we've been given. Gratitude even shifts our focus from what our life lacks to the abundance of what we already have. Maybe, the best prescription we could take to dispel the common "woe-is-me" attitude is to offer thanksgiving for the "simple pleasures". We just might be re-energized, have new vitality and excitement for this beautiful life that is made up of "simple pleasures"!

I had many of those these last couple of days. We celebrated many "simple pleasures". Yes, it's the simple pleasures that are life's treasures!