Still thinking....

Well, if you've been reading at all, or more currently, checking to see what's up with Amy now? you'll see I haven't even blogged lately.  I have been thinking, and praying, hoping for an obvious idea for continuing this ministry. I have said in earlier blogs that I couldn't maintain the pace I was keeping.  My family (or familytime) was suffering and I felt like that defeated the purpose.  I have had, since I've last written, someone give me some nice tupperware to use in my cooking.  That was very cool.  I also had someone write me a thank you note for the meal I made their family and in her note was a book of stamps.  Awesome!  And I think I've told you before that someone has offered to contribute financially if I continue.  That really makes it exciting. But I am trying to come up with a system and nothing seems to scream, "that's it!"  The only idea I have right now is to deliver a meal once a week.  That would leave me the option of Who and How many.  When cooking a meal, it is very easy to make 2 so I may do that.  I have added 3 students so I have also been juggling where everything will happen.  The buying, the cooking, the delivering on top of the living, the loving I already do around here. So if you have any ideas or suggestions on how this ministry could go on, let me know.  I welcome all comments.  I may not be able to act on them but I will consider. And, as always, I am hoping this spurs conversations and ideas of how you can love on other people.  We have all been blessed, in some way or another, and we are all loved, by Someone and perhaps, others .  Share the wealth!

Meals #29 and 30

Well, I can't believe it!  The 30 meals project has been completed.  I delivered the last 2 meals Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.  The last I posted was Tuesday and I noted that I would be making the cavatini for them.  Well, the funny thing is, I was in that "cook-mode" and got the hamburger meat and starting browning more than I needed of the hamburger meat. Ugh.  So I actually made 3 9x9 pans of this Italian casserole (very similar to lasagna but has pepperoni in it as well).  I took that to the couple on Tuesday night, along with a garden salad and some cream cheese cookies.  The other thing is I have 2 more pans in my fridge....trying to decide who to give them to or do I freeze them? What?  Not sure.  If you live around here and could use it let me know.  You can have them.  :) 
So Wednesday, I began to work on the gluten-free meal.  The difficult thing about gluten-free meals is not o much cooking without gluten (well it would be if it were all the time) but to just KNOW what is gluten-free.  I have a friend who has a close relative that is so after consult I knew what to take.  First of all, the 5 cup salad which I'm sure you've noticed has been a staple through all of this, works for this meal.  Also, my homemade vegetable beef soup works.  I found out that pudding is gluten-free so I made that as well.  I took over some whipped topping too, because what's not to like about that? :)    Okay, so meanwhile, in my regular life, Derek is serving a lunch to some ladies at the church for Thursday (the next day).  I asked Derek if he needed me to make some soup for it.  He thought that would be great.   So I thought I would make 2 batches of the vegetable soup and then later do a broccoli/cheese soup which is very low-maintenance.  Also, my mother was coming Wednesday night, in-route to Nashville, so I had to wash sheets, and so on, to turn that room around. Fortunately, God gave me Moira, who being almost 13 years old, is as strong as I am (well, almost, I still can take her in arm wrestling....which for some reason, is important to both of us....hahaha) and she helped me do some of the lifting, carrying to trunk, cleaning up the kitchen.  Fortunately, God gave me Mason, who, for some reason, likes to clean everything else.  He vacuumed the whole house, swept the kitchen floor, picked up, dusted, wiped up bathrooms, etc.  Fortunately, God game me Meril, who is the BEST soup stirer I know.  Plus, it is her room that Gram sleeps in so she cleaned it beautifully and I made the bed fresh.  I got the veggie soup together and that took a bit of time.  Made the pudding, packaged all of it together to take to their house.  The soup pot was so heavy I had to drive it over.  My younger two went with me.  I certainly needed their hands.  They had enough soup for 2 meals at least.  Back home I still had a pot of it for the lunch.  When I got home, I made the broccoli/cheese and decided Derek would need a dessert at that lunch so since it was all in my pantry, I made the cake with the pecan/coconut frosting in the batter.  It turned out beautifully.  By this time, it's getting later in the day.  We had to be at the church for someone's birthday to play volleyball.  Yes, you heard me correctly.  It was a volleyball birthday party.  Good times had by all!

So today, I didn't have a meal to deliver, per se, but I carried a cake, salad and 2 soups over to the church......kind of like 7 meals in one.  :)
I would like for you, those who have read any portion of this blog, to pray with me, think with me, or brainstorm with me, on just what exactly this ministry could look like now - post 30 days and 30 meals.  I know a meal a day is not feasible long-term although it is do-able, but the beautiful responses and smiles that I have witnessed made it worth it this past month.  I know for every smile I was given, there is heart-ache as well that I don't even know about.  There are a few people here in my neighborhood and our school that I feel led to follow-up because of things shared, and I will be faithful to do that.
I will be taking the Christmas week off and thinking and praying on how to go further.  Feel free to share any ideas.  I have actually had someone say they'd like to contribute to this project.  That's very cool.  Makes it even easier to accomplish.  I will get back to you in the new year to let you know what's next.  I can't wait to see what's next.....I know it will be Loving God, Serving People.

Meals #26, 27 and 28

Well, Friday night, even though I knew that I had soup for the 26th meal, I still needed to find someone to give it to.  We originally had plans for Friday night but since Moira had the flu those plans were canceled. I already had a portion of soup made, I just had to make some cookies and cornbread to go with it.  I tried a neighbor of mine and couldn't get them so I tried a different one.  Don't know this family all that well but had a great conversation with her.  She has a few things going on in her life right now so she asked me when I delivered the meal if I would visit a little while.  So on Saturday, I had choir practice that morning but my lunchtime I was home.  I baked my stuff and was waiting on Derek to get home from a church meeting he was having.  He ended up getting home pretty late and was whooped so I went by myself which was probably better anyway.  It was just 2 ladies talking.  I stayed for 2 hours.  She's also looking for a church home.  I'm hoping for good things out of that connection.
Saturday night, I got on the phone and tried to line up the rest of the week.  I knew I would finish Wednesday and I knew it needed to come out of my neighborhood so I just sat down with the directory to see who I should call.  One lady I wanted to call is a single mom with 3 boys.  I got a hold of her and was able to take a meal to them for Sunday.  I had the cavatini ready to go for that meal, however, in talking to her, I found out they only eat chicken and fish.  My ground beef was already thawing but I stuck it back in the fridge and pulled out chicken breasts that was bone-in.  I had all the ingredients for chicken tetrazzini, fortunately, but it was going to be a long night getting that ready.  I made a large pan for her family and a smaller pan for someone Monday or Tuesday.  On Sunday when we got home from church we found out our furnace was broken.  Not a good time for that to happen.  Getting someone here to look at it and figuring out how we would sleep that night with no heat took a chunck of my afternoon  but I did finally deliver my meal about 4:30.  I delivered the meal with a salad and a hunk of pound cake.  A lady from my church stopped by Friday night and gave me a pound cake.  She said to use it for my meals or keep it for myself.  I kind of did both.  It was yummy and I was glad to have something to give without having to make an additional something when things like the furnace go out, ya know?
I got back on the phone Sunday night to line up Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  I lined those up and was glad that the last 3 meals are booked.  Monday, to a couple with one child; Tuesday to a couple and Wednesday, to a family of about 4 but she told me she was gluten-free.  Hmmmmm.  Got to think about that one.  Monday, I made another huge batch of 5 cup salad.  I packaged up 3 of them.  I took the smaller pan of chicken tetrazzini and 5 cup salad and brownies.  I got the nicest phone last night from her and thought to myself if everyone was that nice and kind with their words, I'd probably make meals for people full-time.  One of my love languages (if you don't know what that is, look it up...pretty cool) is words of encouragement so she energized me with her voice mail.  when I got home she had also posted something on my facebook wall, and again, I was moved by her words.  Certainly makes the huffing and puffing of running around worth it for me.
I will be making the cavatini later today but I'll get back to you on that and the gluten-free meal for tomorrow.  Got some good ideas brewing and the good thing is, it is already in my freezer and pantry. :)

Meals #24 and 25

Well, yesterday nearly killed me, trying to get everything done.  My goodness! I knew Wednesday night after church that Thursday was going to be a doozy-of-a-day but a couple more things were thrown in that were out of my control so what can you do?  As I am trying to recall the order of yesterday (as this is Friday while I write), I can't believe that was even yesterday because it feels like last week.  Anyway, on Thursday morning I am usually teaching by 8 a.m.  I was to meet my husband for lunch with the church staff at 11 so I had many things planned for that short window (post office, kroger, bank).  We woke up to ice (not that much, really) but school was delayed by 2 hours and that also meant by voice lesson was delayed by 2 hours.  I heard this loud noise in my head that I'm sure was my window slamming shut.  I made the cornbread to go with the last batch of broccoli/cheese soup and the cookies that I had already made. When I was finished teaching, I packed up the car thinking I could still make the bank and school to deliver meal before I met them at the church.  But my oldest kids were still sitting there waiting for their bus.....oh yeah, it's 2 hours late so I sat back down waiting with them.  I had the car loaded and when the bus went by I jumped in the truck and waited down by the stop sign to see them get on (I didn't want to get stuck behind the bus, ya know).  I'm sure my kids thought I was a nut...suppose I am.  I went to the school, delivered the meal to the chorus teacher.  Left there and went to the bank.  Came out of there and high-tailed it to church.  After a wonderful lunch, I came home to get my self together for teaching all afternoon.  This is the last time I see them before our break so I had gifts for them.  I come home and it's about 2 (I teach at 3), and I sit in front of my computer, contemplating if there was enough time to blog before I taught and my phone rang.  It was my oldest, sick in the clinic with 101 degree temperature.  Oh boy!  So I jump back in the truck and rush to get her. My youngest gets home about 2:50 so I can't dally.  I got home by 2:40 and made sure I was set up for piano.  I realize sometime during my teaching that my schedule for Friday morning was shot as well because of having a sick child at home who would more than likely need to go to the doctor.  I had a school party at 1:00 on Friday and on and on it goes for that day as well.  You get the idea.  So when I was done teaching, we eat dinner and Derek says, "how can I help you?"  I'm guessing he knew I needed help because of the perma-wrinkles that I'd developed on my forehead from the day I'd had and the headache that resulted from that.    I had to go to Kohls because I had $30 that would expire on Sunday and there was no time to go before then but I also needed to make a pot of Santa Fe soup for the family on Friday.  He offered to go to Kohls and take pictures of stuff, text it back to me and then purchase whatever I said.  That made my headache feel worse..... so I gave him instructions for the soup instead (and I may have passed him the headache as well, not sure).  I got home at 9 and the pot of soup was made, by him and my youngest.  He asked me what else was needed for the family's meal so he put on a batch of the cranberry walnut oatmeal cookies while I got the batch of cornbread mixed.  One came out and the other went in.  Done.  We sat on the couch with the tv on in the background and he told me something that almost made this day not seem so hectic.  While making the soup with Meril, she said when she grows up she wanted to be an artist and to be a good cook for her family and she also wanted to make 30 meals in 30 days.  I created new perma-wrinkles around my mouth from the smile I made.  What a treasure!
I delivered meal #25 before the Christmas party today (Friday).  Looking for which neighbor will get meal #26 in my neighborhood.  Moira has the flu.    But life is great.....and I have the wrinkles to prove it.

Meals #22 and 23

Well, I haven't blogged every day this week but I have delivered my meals.  Obviously, this time of year makes it hard  to have the extra time.  When I was thinking about this project in October, my plan was to start this in November even though I knew it would overlap Thanksgiving.  However my dad ended up having open heart surgery the first weekend in November so I decided to push it back. I ended up starting the blog knowing I would start later in November and it was okay if it overlapped the holidays or it was in the midst of them.  It has turned out, I believe, that this has been the best season of all to pursue this project, busy or not.  I think the receivers of these meals have felt like these have been gifts.  I have certainly felt like I am giving a gift.....a gift of time, love and even monetarily, I suppose.  Regardless, it has certainly been my pleasure to give this season. 
Yesterday, I took the meal to the IT guy.  He was in the front office with  many of the other administrators that I've already taken to.  I told him that he had soup for dinner.  One of the ladies spoke up and said, "Oh, it is so good.  But I remembered hers was Santa Fe and then another lady spoke up and I had taken her vegetable beef soup.  So that was cool that it wasn't all the same stuff.
I made arrangements yesterday before I left to bring a meal to the art teacher so I took that today.  That was my last bit of 5 cup salad.  I was not able to talk to the chorus teacher so I left a message for her to call me.  She did and this was the first time in all of this project for me to not ask in-person for me to bring a meal.  But the chorus teacher knew me pretty well.  I don't think I would advise a phone conversation with people you don't know well.  It is best to talk in-person.  I will be taking her meal tomorrow.  I have one more container of the broccoli cheese soup and one more package made up of cookies.   I will need to make cornbread tomorrow to go with it.  I will have to line up someone for Friday and then I will finish out this project in my neighborhood over the weekend and into next week.  I just have a week left of meals for the 30 days.  hmmmmm what will I do next?

Meal #'s 20 and 21

Yesterday was a packed day and I just didn't take the time to write that I did deliver my meal.  It was a long and emotional day at church so when I got home a little before 3, I loaded up the last portion of Santa Fe soup to take to a lady in our church who has had knee surgery.  I haven't seen her in several weeks so I thought she could use the meal.  My daughter went with me. 
We rested a little after that but Derek had another meeting by 6.  I returned a few phone calls and in the back of my mind I know that I have nothing for Monday.  When Derek came home we all watched Prince Caspian but when the kids had to go to bed I got the chicken out to cook for the chicken tetrazzini. I did that in between scenes and Derek helped me by putting away dishes, holding the heavy bowl as I pour into casserole pans, etc.  This morning after taking one child to school, I put cookies in the oven to bake and got the makings for 5 cup salad.  I was able to make enough where I have 4 portions (again, one of those being for my family).
I delivered the meal and tried to find the IT guy again.  This time I got him.  Didn't talk to him long because he was on the phone but he did accept.  Probably thought I was crazy.  He is a single guy so I only have one to cook for tomorrow.  I have the makings for broccoli cheese soup and will probably make that for him and Wednesday, whoever that is. 
When I came in the school today, the ladies asked me, "what was on the docket today?"  I answered.  I love being the "regular" that is coming in everyday.  When I gave the meal to the reading teacher, she said when she told her husband what I was doing he couldn't believe it.  I remember taking a meal in the first week to someone and when I was asking them if I could, I could tell the whole time they were waiting for "the catch."  It almost makes me sad that we are so skeptical.  Perhaps the only way to overcome these skeptics is to continue giving with no strings attached, these unconditional acts of love....that they would be a common place for us as neighbors.  Wouldn't it be great if we wouldn't need systems or programs to take care of everyone because people just took care of each other, that it was a way of life?  That would be an investment in .......... people.   I like that!

Meal #19

Yesterday afternoon, I got the makings out for cavatini.  I meant to have 2 lbs. of meat thawing and I only laid out one so I was only able to make one meal at a time.  But I got that put together pretty quickly.  I also remembered that while I was at Sam's this week picking up our Christmas cards, I bought a multi-package of brownie mixes, just to have something different for people.  So I also baked those yesterday.  I had plans last night with friends but I felt good about leaving knowing that most of my work was done for today's meal.  Today, got going fairly early with a rehearsal at the church at 9.  I was home by 10:30 so I called the family to see if I could bring the meal over.  I finished chopping up the romaine lettuce and cherry tomatoes for a salad.  I loaded up the truck and delivered.  When I brought it in she told me more specifics of this family that just recently lost the father.  Last week we had a tragic accident happen in our area of a man driving and a tree falling over on his car and killing him.  This was the same family.  I do not have a connection with this family and I don't know the connection of these two families with each other  but I know our God knows this family.  I pray this family knows they are loved and I was honored to be a part of anything the Lord has going on.
This afternoon, I said to my daughter, "what sounds good for dinner?"  She thought about it for a minute and answered, "tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches."  Well, Hallelujah, I can do that...easy.  In fact, she offered to get it going.  I can't believe she asked for soup. :)
Don't know who I am taking something to tomorrow. I gotta go get on that.....