I have a confession to make. I was a party pooper last
night. I have been dealing with a cold for about a week and couldn't muster the
strength to stay up past 10:00p.m. My bed and sleep were calling my name. Before
my head hit the pillow, my husband and I did enjoy a nice evening out with
friends. During dinner, my husband and
our friend started discussing their plans to go to a friend’s house today for
the Blackhawks game and football. My
husband mentioned he needed to bring a snack and I volunteer to whip something
up. They were both razzing me that I
wouldn't be in the mood to get up and have something ready by 11:30, the time
when my husband would be leaving for the party.
Not that I wanted to prove them wrong, okay I did, but I
also saw the opportunity as my gift for the day. I decided to make chocolate covered pretzels
and Ritz crackers with peanut butter.
Not only did I make enough for the party, but I have some left for a
neighbor and a friend I wanted to mail cookies to at Christmas, but didn't.
When my husband came downstairs, I think he was a bit
shocked to see wax paper laid out on the counter, a pile of crackers and peanut
butter ready to be dipped, a bowl full of pretzels waiting for chocolate to be
drizzled and stirred and chocolate melting on the stove. What I love, but I also find annoying about
my hubby, is he jumped right in and started helping. I often joke with him that he jumps in to
help so he can take claim for my gifts!
The main job he took on was sprinkles. He dug in our cabinet for maize and blue
sprinkles so he could have Michigan University themed pretzels! Even though they didn't
make it to a bowl
game, he has been super excited about the announcement of their new head
football coach. He also wanted to make
the chocolate red for the Blackhawks, but unfortunately the coloring I had made
the chocolate clumpy so we had to nix that idea.
After the pretzels and crackers were dipped and dried I
found several leftover tin dishes from Christmas and packaged the treats up
beautifully so he could take them to the party.
Today’s gift was one I could have totally ignored and my
husband would have been perfectly fine swinging by the store and buying something
prepackaged for the party. I like giving
gifts that are not expected, but appreciated. Sure there were a hundred other
things I could have been doing in that hour, but in this new year, I’m focusing
on being intentional with my time, especially as it relates to giving back and
making a difference.
Blessing for 2015,
Stephanie
