I had the most WONDERFUL day with Sheila*!  Thank you so-o-o much!  We came here and talked about all the ways that a homemaker adds value to her family, then she decided what she wanted to make:  a dinner for her family and chocolate chip cookies.  We planned our healthy meal: fruit, vegetable, protein (meat), decided on a recipe, made a list of what we needed.  For dessert, she only wanted to make chocolate chip cookies.  No other Easter option interested her!  So, with our list, we headed for Green Hills, where we ate a quick lunch at Bread & Company.  It was so fun to watch her experience something new to her. We walked through and I explained what everything was: the different breads and choices for a sandwich; then all the salads, and soups in the case.   I got my usual chicken salad sandwich and she wound up selecting a couple of fried chicken tenders and a scoop of tuna salad.  She did not opt for any of their beautiful fresh fruit, or pasta or bean salads to complement her choices–just the chicken and tuna.  During the blessing, I thanked the Lord for her, describing how special she is, and thanking Him for this time together and I am still thanking Him!

Anyway, we did our shopping, comparing prices and getting the better deal on items we needed.  We arrived back home about 1pm and cooked and cooked!  She said she had never made anything from scratch before and seemed to enjoy every step!  She enthusiastically did every thing herself from cutting up onions to measuring flour and sugars for the cookies!  She patiently stirred and stirred waiting for the pot to boil for the creamed chicken sauce, savoring the looks and smells of those onions and garlic cooking before adding the milk and chicken broth.  She talked and talked as did I.  One thing she said was that she loved how quiet it was.  With so many in their home, it was never quiet there.  Anyway, I can’t speak for her, but it was a really wonderful sharing, learning, and listening time for me.

When we were baking the cookies, I found a box for her to take them all home (Well, almost all.  She insisted that she leave some for Skip and me.  She kept trying to add more to those, but I kept insisting that she was doing me a favor NOT to leave them as I was trying to cut back to lose some weight.).  I lined it with aluminum foil and chatted about how “presentation” was all part of it.  I got out paper doilies and we figured out that putting a bright, green paper placemat under the doilie made the design on the doilie  “pop”.  When she finished putting all the cookies in we put another doilie on top, and she suggested we could wrap the box.  So I found some bright, spring colored wrapping paper and we wrapped her gift to her family.  I just loved how she put herself in to all we did! 

I am so excited about what lies ahead for her!!!  A miracle that we (PTM) have gotten to play a small role in.  When you look at her, you have to feel good about the work God has given you to do in helping all these children!  She is one success that really will stand out in your/our memories!

Thank you again!!!  With much love, Margaret

P.S.