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Friday Night Lights

One of the not-on-the-official-agenda activities I did this past weekend was go to the movie “Friday Night Lights” with my hotel roommate and friend, Stacee. We went Friday night, after the first session ended. Our search for Starbucks was halted when Stacee saw the big yellow United Artists theater sign a few blocks away. We chose the movie based on two factors: #1, it was starting at that very moment, and #2, the other movie that was starting at that time was a horror movie called “The Grudge”, apparently about a dark, frightening room in a house that is filled with old newspapers, bikes with flat tires, a broken upright freezer, and items for a yard sale that we all know will never really happen…oh wait, I am thinking of “The Garage”…

“Friday Night Lights” is based on a book of the same name, written by H.G. Bissinger. It is about the stranglehold high school football holds on the culture, the boys, the families, and the entire town of Odessa, Texas. Growing up in a smallish town, I could identify with some of the things in the movie–the excitement of Friday night football, the importance and pride that a winning football team brought to the school and community, and the ways that football players were treated–a strange mix of being on a pedestal and being enslaved, at the same time. What a hard burden for a 17 year old boy to carry–the entire hopes and dreams of a town pinned on your letter jacket.

Naturally, I started thinking of my own boys and wondering if they will want to play football.

I think Ryley will be the kicker. With his big feet and impeccable aim (let’s just say I don’t have to clean up after him in the bathroom very often), kicker seems like a great position for him.

Sammy would be great in any position that would allow him to showboat and invent a touchdown dance–perhaps wide receiver, like Ed Mc Caffrey, who did McDonald’s commercials as well. Yes, it sounds perfect for Sammy.

Who likes to bark orders? Who has the million-dollar smile? Who has the used-car lot, runs for Senate, and gets the girl? The Quarterback! This position would fit Tommy like a helmet.

Since Joel just turned one, his place on my dream football team isn’t yet cemented. But if I had to guess, it would be a 300 pound lineman who can drink a gallon of milk at one sitting (straight out of the “jug”), rarely speaks except in grunts and chuckles, and sleeps with his teddy bear every night. That’s my baby!

I cannot leave my only daughter, Aidan, out of the football fantasy. She will not be a cheerleader. She will be the color commentator on “Monday Night Football”, with an opinion on everything and an unlimited clothing and hairspray budget.

It is fun to sit here and dream about the future. But part of me is scared to let them play football. The injuries, the social aspects, the cost, the pressure to win, the smelly socks, the jock straps, the smelly socks, the grass stains, the smelly socks, the dirty cleats, travel expenses, medical expenses, the milk bill, the Tide with Bleach bill, and the smelly socks–all conspire in a big testosterone-laden whirl of doom in my mind’s eye.

I suppose that if they truly want to play football, and show talent, we should support their choice as much as we can. I know that each of our kids has their own special gifts and talents. It would be shameful if we stood in the way of those gifts and talents. I hope we are wise enough to guide the kids in exploring where their talents lie, and that we have the resources to help them.

When people ask how we are going to be able to send all our kids to college, I answer: “scholarships!” I am only half-joking…

Ryley, keep up the good aim! Sammy, catch! Tommy, throw your banana peel in the trash, for once! Joel…here is your teddy bear!

October 26th, 2004 | Category: Life, Little Ones | 4 comments

Weekend in Pictures

It was such an extraordinary weekend. I thought I would share some pictures. Tomorrow I will get back to the usual–complaining about the horrors of cooking, shamelessly gushing about my button-nosed children in their starched pinafores and pincurls (even the boys), and sharing little tidbits about the ways I am a graceful klutz. When asked “how do you do it?” I will reply, from now on, by God’s grace and the seat of my pants.

The Brown Palace Hotel, where I stayed, prayed, laughed, ate almost a gallon of creme brulee, sang, read, toured, admired, and learned a lot about how I can best use my gifts to serve God, my fellow women and moms, and my family:

brown palace

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. I toured this amazing, historic, enormous church and found myself awed by the artistic mastery, the size, the scope, and the meaning. I saw colors in the stained glass windows that I did not know existed in real life. The size is humbling, the beauty was quieting:

the cathedral

Hand-carved Italian marble statue at the Cathedral. I just liked it, alot. Somehow, the marble conveys a gentleness and love that rocks rarely achieve:

faces

Joel, celebrating his birthday. Can’t say much more than “baa”:

baa

Joel, posing to best show-off his birthday cake and frosting facial, in a lovely shade of October orange:

cake face

October 25th, 2004 | Category: Life | Leave a comment

Wow and Whoopies

Wow!

I have returned from an amazing weekend. A true retreat. My surroundings were luxurious, my friendships deepened and grew, and my spirit has been recharged. I feel equiped to tackle the world. I feel equiped to shine, to share, to make an impact on the world.

I want to thank my “guest blogger”, known as hubby-of-mopsy, for stepping in and writing a truly beautiful post–he is such a gifted writer and poet. I am blessed, and our children are too–their daddy adores them and prays for them. I love that he can see our baby as a future man, and our older kids as former babies…anywhere they are on the spectrum of life, they are the same precious souls entrusted to us.

and Whoopies

Here is the recipe for Edie’s Whoopie Pies:

Whoopie Pies

Cookies:
1 C granulated sugar
½ C shortening
2 large eggs
2 C all purpose flour
½ C baking cocoa
1 ½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 C buttermilk*
1 tsp vanilla extract

Filling:
2 large egg whites
1 ¼ C shortening
1 tbsp vanilla extract
¼ C milk
4 C confectioners’ sugar

Preheat oven to 350°

Cookies:
In a large bowl using an electric mixer, cream together granulated sugar and ½ C of the shortening. Add eggs and mix well.

In another bowl mix together flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Add to the wet ingredients, alternating with the buttermilk. Add vanilla and mix well. Drop by tablespoons onto baking sheets. Bake until tester/toothpick comes out clean (time depends on how big you are making them – I tend to make them smaller and bake approx 6 minutes – 8 if I make them a little bigger – don’t overbake them or they will be dry).

Remove from oven and cool.

Filling:
In large bowl using electric mixer, beat egg whites until stiff. Add the remaining 1 ¼ C shortening and 1 tbsp vanilla and mix well. Add the milk and sugar, and beat until smooth.

I use a cake decorator to fill the cookies, but you can spoon the filling on as well. Put the filling on the flat side of one cookie, and top with another cookie. I usually have filling left over, but we all like extra filling so I just put it in the fridge. The whoopie pies should be stored in the fridge – they also freeze really well.

*I “make” my own buttermilk by using 1 tbsp vinegar or lemon juice + milk to make 1 C – let stand 5 minutes

When the recipe states “I”, that is Edie from Maine speaking. Not me. It would never occur to me to fill cookies with a cake decorator. Aren’t cake decorators the people that work in the SuperTarget bakery?

October 25th, 2004 | Category: Life | Leave a comment
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