We’re making cookies together!

 

It’s Thanksgiving week and as you read this, the big Thanksgiving dinner is upon us! I’m getting my last minute preparations done, because before you know it,  I’ll be in the office with the crazy that comes after a holiday break, looking forward to having some Thanksgiving leftovers for dinner! But as I write this, I’m making Thanksgiving dinner at my house for twelve. Since I’m in the hospital the day before the holiday, I’m getting as much of the prep done as I can before Thursday morning. I want to watch the parade!

 

Because my youngest has allergies and sensitivites, she can’t have most of the traditional cakes and pies for dessert after the feast. So I thought I’d do an almond flour based recipe for her dessert so she has a treat like everyone else. I printed up a bunch of recipes and decided on chocolate chip almond flour cookies. I was going to whip them up, stick them in the freezer, and pull them out with the rest of the food on Thursday.

 

My almond flour cookie options…

 

Then I changed my mind. About two years ago, while the older kids were out doing a big kid activity, I took the baby to Panera for a Mommy-Anora date. She keeps asking when we’re going to do that again. A year ago, the boys were out of town for the weekend, so we had a girls chili dinner in front of the fireplace. She keeps asking me when we’re going to eat chili on the blanket again. So when I decided to make the almond flour cookies, I thought we’d make them together.

 

Except I didn’t really want to.

 

No, really. It’s a little crazy around here with me doing the bulk of the Thanksgiving cooking, getting the house cleaned up, and managing the kids and their issues. For example, yesterday I spent hours helping my son work through the consequences of a doozy of a lie he told his dad. Because my husband wanted to avoid the temptation to knock him into next week, he nicely asked me to step in, and like a good mom I did so. Then when they were supposed to be going to bed (and I was going to eat), I sat with my oldest who had been nursing hurt feelings all day over some issue she had with her sister earlier in the day. But we worked through it, tears and all, and they made up and went to bed friends again. This morning they all came downstairs bickering, and because I had to referee, I didn’t get to read my bible or get in my yoga before I had to leave for the morning. So when it came to the idea of walking a five year old through a cookie recipe, I just didn’t want to.

 

Reading through the recipe together…

 

But I did it anyway. The reason why Anora keeps asking to do some of the things we’ve done before is because they were special to her. They’re moments in her heart and mind that mean something to her, even if they didn’t seem like much to me at the time. I realized something: We never really know the impact of our moments in other’s lives. It might seem like something small to you, but it may be a very special memory to someone else. I remember making rum balls around Christmas with my mom every year for gifts. I griped and complained about the work, but I love thinking about all the times I was in the kitchen with my mom, cooking and listening to Home Alone playing in the background.

 

I don’t know whether she’ll remember this time making cookies with her mom, but at least I do know that every time I spend time with one of these kids, we’re building our lifetime of memories together. They will have what I have – a beautiful collection of memories of time with their mom. We won’t live together forever, so this time we have now is precious. So instead of battling against the situation I’m in (mom with young kids, working mom, busy life), I’m going to do my best to enjoy the times I have. Everything isn’t fun – some things are routine and boring. But each day is a gift. We don’t get to go back and do them over again. So I’m grateful for now!

 

 

What are you grateful for today? Please share in the comments below!

Happy Thanksgiving!