Moments of Grace: Creating Joy out of Chaos

My morning did not start out looking like this picture above...or below...

"Breakfast with Teddy", a picture on a greeting card that I love...
by Jessie Wilcox Smith - 1909

What seemed to be a good idea quickly began to deteriorate as I attempted to pull the container of Quaker Oats out of the cupboard, only to have the lid fly off and dry oats scatter literally all over my kitchen.  So much for my good intentions...

No, I wasn't planning to have a bowl of oatmeal...actually I wanted to mix up a batch of blueberry muffins since I had some fresh ripe juicy berries just waiting to be enjoyed.  The recipe I had decided to use called for oatmeal in the batter.  (Recipe to follow). But now I had to clean up a big mess before I could even begin to bake the muffins. Not a good way to start the day...

However, I was determined to have those muffins, so I persevered and soon the delightful aroma of blueberry muffins permeated the kitchen.
Then I decided to make a little tea party out of the occasion.


 My hubby joined me, but only for the muffins. He wasn't too interested in the tea party part.

Since it was a dreary, rainy chilly morning we had decided we weren't going anywhere. And because the kitchen was already in a state of chaos from my earlier fiasco, I decided I may as well continue on making a mess by baking a batch of oatmeal cookies! After all, if the carton of oatmeal was in a state of destruction, we might as well finish it off and get rid of the offending container for good!

The only thing about all of this activity that I haven't told you was that while I was busily "creating" these delectable concoctions...which, if you do any baking you will understand how important it is to be able to concentrate on what you are doing and not have a lot of interruptions...well....here's the rest of the story...

Since my recent retirement hubby and I have been adjusting to our new routine together. He had already been retired for several years, and although he was anxious for me to come home, he had his own little schedule of daily activities, which did not include having me around to interfere.  However, he seems to have adjusted quite rapidly, and now requests my attention frequently...especially when I am busy trying to accomplish something in the kitchen or the opposite end of the house from where he is.

Baking cookies with my little boys many moons ago...

Today was no exception. As I was mixing up the batter for the cookies or trying to place the raw dough on the cookie sheets and time the baking of the ones in the oven, etc. (you know the routine)...he kept calling me from the living room (a long hike from the kitchen in this house) and asking for my assistance with a project he was doing on the computer.

It reminded me of the way it used to be when my kids were little and I was trying to bake...and they would be begging for my attention from all parts of the house...and soon they would come running into the kitchen to sample the cookies and lick the beaters...

But I digress...anyway, this morning I found myself getting agitated with his constant interruptions and a little bit frustrated and almost ugly...and then I had to stop and catch my breath for a minute...and give thanks to the Lord because my husband is here in this house with me, safe and healthy and wonderful.  Too many of my friends, loved ones and acquaintances not much older than I (and some younger) have already lost their husbands to cancer or heart attacks or other horrible events.  How ungracious of me to lose my patience with the one I love and cherish when I should be thanking the Lord he is here, alive and well.

So, after working through the numerous interruptions the cookies did finally get baked...and miracle of miracles, they actually were good enough to eat!













And now we are both back to doing what we like to do during the day...

Hubby is enjoying listening to some music on the computer

while I am sitting here on my computer telling you all about it.

(notice I am wearing my new flannel shirt) (click on link for that story)

Oops..I just looked at the clock and realized that we are going to be late getting the meatloaf into the oven if I don't stop writing and get back to the kitchen...so, guess who came in and actually helped me in the kitchen?   Yep, my sweet hubby.  And that is Joy, Joy, pure joy!

Oh, here's the recipe I promised you:

This is a combination of a couple of recipes in my Betty Crocker cookbook.  I tend to adjust recipes to suit my mood:

Blueberry Muffins:

1 egg
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil- (I used 1/2 cup applesauce instead of the oil)
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup quick-cooking oats (dry)
1/3 cup sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup fresh blueberries

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Grease bottoms only of about 12 medium muffin cups. Beat egg; stir in milk and oil.(or applesauce in place of oil).
Stir in remaining ingredients all at once just until flour is moistened.
Fill muffin cups about 3/4 full.
Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes
Immediately remove from pan.

Enjoy!


Click HERE for the recipe for the Oatmeal Cookies