The “For Sale” Sign Next Door

I nearly escaped the dredges of my third round of post-partum depression. It had been the most relentless thus far. My feelings of inadequacy as a mother were multiplied as I felt like a failure with the two older boys, and now again a perfect baby, this time a girl, stared back at me- an unworthy worthless soul. My spiritual heart knew there was no truth to such sentiments. And yet, they were the very thoughts that seemingly swept across me ignoring my microscopic attempts of the fight. 
Rebounding and emerging from the grasps of the condition always involved settling back into an exercise routine and avoiding brownies as my primary source of nutrition.

My heart longed for a friend: loyal, kind, without judgment. I was plenty hard in judging myself and super quick to see all of my imperfections. I needed a friend who was a safe place to land: physically and emotionally.  
 
We were blessed to have purchased our home five years prior in an incredible neighborhood. It was down the street from the new elementary school and filled with the most amazing people. Right next door, we were blessed with great neighbors. As the years passed, they all moved on and out of our starter home neighborhood. We added a couple of extra bedrooms and a large family room to the house and thus had plenty of room for our growing family. However, the dynamics of our neighborhood had changed, and I felt a bit lonely. 

When the house next door again sported a “For Sale” sign, I returned to the spiritual process that had worked so well as a Junior in high school. I fervently prayed daily for good neighbors that could provide friendships for me and my kids. God smiled largely on us and the most remarkable family moved next door: the Disneys. I have no doubt God was involved in the details of bringing that family next door to us. They were exactly what our family needed at that time in our lives. We would often hear the doorbell ring and answer it to see their oldest daughter with a warm plate of cookies. Her sweet smile and attitude of love as she represented everything her family was- filled and mended my heart and soul. Life seemed momentarily perfect!

Dawn, the mother, was everything in a friend that I felt like I needed and I soon realized she was everything I wanted to be as a person who exhibited Christ-like love to others. I noted how she spoke to her children- and mine with kindness and a gentle tone. I noticed how she served without hesitation or judgment. I noticed how she included everyone around her and yet deferred praise and recognition.  

I feel like God blessed me with a friend, but truly so much more. He needed me to refine a bit… And he placed an example of the most Christ-like person I had ever met right next door as a model for goal attainment. My Father in Heaven needed me to try a little harder to understand, believe and therefore become a bit more Christlike. He needed me to understand and see first hand the good and ripple effect that comes as we act as Christ did- and as we love as Christ did. I was extremely blessed to have this incredible woman as my neighbor and blessed beyond belief to call her friend. I knew I needed to pay attention and learn from her how to be a bit more kind, gentle, and charitable.

Over the years, life took us on different courses. We’ve each changed zip codes a half a dozen times in the past 20 years… However, recently, as I sat across the table from her at lunch, we delighted in having both relocated to the same zip code- 1240 miles from where we initially met. I could see God giving me a gentle reminder to refocus my efforts on developing Christlike characteristics. It was as if He was telling me- “I brought her back to you- learn from her.”

-JC

Fluffernutter Sandwich Cookies

1cup soft butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup peanut butter
2 XL eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream butter, peanut butter and sugars with an electric mixer on medium high for 1 minute or until fluffy. Hand stir in eggs and vanilla; don’t overmix. Add dry ingredients all at once and mix until fully incorporated. Add an additional 2 Tablespoons flour for high elevation.
Scoop out 36 1.5” balls of dough. Flatten slightly.
Place on greased or parchment paper on an aluminum baking sheet. 
Bake half (18) of the cookie dough at 350 degrees for 12 minutes. Let cool.
Bake remaining half (18) of the cookie dough at 350 degrees for 10min. Remove from oven and immediately place ¼ of a giant campfire roaster marshmallow (I slice each marshmallow into 4 discs).  Return to oven for 2 minutes.
Place a dollop of marshmallow cream onto puffed up mallow while cookies are warm and place a top onto each cookie, creating a sandwich. 
Let set! Share! 


-JC