I wrote a skit for MOPS. It was performed at this morning’s meeting, which was themed around the meaning and symbolism of the family dinner table. Even if schedules, temperaments, and life make having a nightly family dinner replete with candlelight and mom-in-pearls impossible, it is still possible to pass along the benefits. We can create a sense of belonging, open lines of communication, and nourishment no matter where we happen to be.

Here is Love, Served Warm, by Me. I played Child #3.

Characters:

Mom
Child #1 (youngest and very picky)
Child #2
Child #3

Scene: Dinnertime. Children are sitting around the table as mom brings bowls and platters and sets them down. They look eager as she begins to serve the food.

Child #1: (alarmed) Mommy, what is this?

Mom: It’s just mashed potatoes. We’ve had them before.

Child #1: (picking at potatoes with wrinkled nose) What is in mashed potatoes?

Child #2: Potatoes!

Child #3: Greasy grimy gopher guts!

Mom: That’s enough. It’s just potatoes, milk, and butter whipped together.

Child #1: I guess that’s okay…

Mom continues serving each child

Child #1: What is this!?

Mom: (after deep breath): It’s chicken. We’ve had this many times before too.

Child #1: (looking puzzled) What is IN chicken?

Mom: Chicken is chicken.

Child #1: But what is IN chicken?

Mom: It’s just chicken. Chicken is chicken.

Child #2: You know, like the birds from Kentucky that Santa Claus cooks and puts in those big buckets mommy brings to picnics?

Child #1: But what is IN chicken?

Mom: Fatty acids, including linoleic acid, phosopholipids, asorbic acid and beta-carotene, to some extent. The chemical composition varies from producer to producer. Then you get into the whole free-range debate. We will save that for another night.

Child #1: Is there flour in chicken?

Mom: No, flour is usually in things like cookies.

All Three Children: Oh! Oh! Can we have cookies?

Mom: (shaking head and laughing) No!

Child #1: Um, okay. (takes hestitant bite).

Mom dishes out the final bowl onto childrens’ plates.

Child #3: What is this!?

Mom: It’s love.

Child #2: Love?

Mom: Love. You’ve had it before.

Child #3: I think we had it last Christmas, when grandma and grandpa were here?

Child #2: Oh, and we always have it on Thanksgiving. It’s always the first thing I like to eat after daddy says the prayer. It’s yummy!

Child #1: But what’s in it?

Mom: Patience, mostly. Also there is a lot of tenderness, hope, and joy mixed in.

Child #1: I like those things.

Child #2: Hey, is it a holiday or something? Why are we having Love tonight?

Mom: (laughing) I serve it every night. Sometimes I slip it in the green beans or behind the cauliflower’s ear. Other times it is in our chocolate cake we have for dessert or in your glass of milk. It’s always there. Sometimes, it seems we don’t notice the love that is sitting on the plate right in front of us.

Child #3: I think it tastes best mixed with chocolate.

Child #1: I think it tastes best when it is warm. Can I have some more?

Mom: Sure. There’s plenty. (she scoops more onto everyone’s plates)

I was tagged by Melanie at dandelions and roses. This meme is a little like a chain letter, in that you put your blog on the bottom of the list and bump the other blogs up.

I am death to chain letters and emails. The buck may have stopped on President Truman’s desk, but the chain letter stops at my house/inbox. Because other people are fun and good sports, I will play along:

1. My Bountiful Life (this link isn’t working here or at Melanie’s. Sorry)
2. Today’s Lessons
3. Hind’s Feet
4. Dandelions & Roses
5. Lifenut

What were you doing 10 years ago?

Hubby and I were blushing at each other in Southwestern Lit. class. I was working at Hertz Rent-A-Car, located at the airport, and preparing to graduate from college (finally).

What were you doing 5 years ago?

Sam was 3 months old on October 13th, 2000. Aidan was 3, Ryley was about 21 months. I spent that fall going to toddler story time every Tuesday morning at the local library and becoming frustrated by having to chase Ryley around the whole time. Ryley, come listen to the story! Ryley! It’s about bunnies! Ryley! Don’t touch that! No! No! Don’t color in that book, put that down, sit on my lap, Ryley! All of this hissed out of respect to our fellow library patrons and mothers with well-behaved toddlers.

What were you doing one year ago?

This is what I was doing (and it happens to be one of my favorite blog entries).

What were you doing yesterday?

Jury duty.

5 snacks you enjoy

Guacamole and chips
Brownies
Claussen kosher dill pickles
M&M Kudo bars
Yoplait Whips lemon meringue

5 songs you know all the words to

“Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond
“Amazing Grace” (every verse)
“Where It’s At” by Beck
“Our House” by Madness
“City of Blinding Lights” by U2

5 things you would do if you had a million dollars

Fly British Airways, first class.
Go to Target
Order an appetizer at Red Robin
Make a large donation to the children’s ministry at our church.
Invest

5 things you like doing

Writing
Reading
Making brownies
Bargain hunting
Taking pictures

5 bad habits

Failing to line the small trash cans with plastic bags
Failing to stock toilet paper in the bathroom cupboards until it is too late.
Pop-drinking
Generally lazy
Forgetting to water flowers

5 things you would never wear again

White jeans
White heels
Big 80s-styled plastic earrings
Stirrup pants
Head-to-toe paisley

5 favorite toys

iPod
Computer
Printer
Minivan
Oven

Now it is my turn to tag, so I will choose:

My husband.
Newish blogger and Laundry Queen, Heather.
Vashti, because she needs to smile.
To help distract her as she waits for the owner of The Dallas Mavericks to send her to the U2 concert, Lexie.

If you decide to participate, put your blog on the bottom of the list and bump #1 off the top.