“I’m Running Away…”

When Bren was 8 years old- he was having a hard day. His afternoon expeditions and joys of lizard chasing with the neighbor boys and His brother were cut short by me….
I had called him in-
It was time for dinner, reading, baths and bed. 
I notoriously let the boys play until literally the last possible moment to maintain peace and yet preserve the 10+ hours of sleep Bren so often seemed to need. 

On this particular day- my directive was received with harshness. 
“I’m running away” Bren quipped as he slung open the front door. 

“Where will you go?”
I asked, wondering how solid his plan was. 

“To Grandma’s house!” He replied with surety. 

“Well I wanna go there too!” I said. 
“I love it there…and there’s a candy drawer…”

“You can’t come with me,” he said…
“I’m running away…”

“It’s getting late and will be dark soon…”
I reminded him. “Maybe you should run away tomorrow…”

The frustration was diffused and lost its momentum. The next day- his desire to get away from me and the household structure had past…
I phoned my mother-in-law and let her know of Bren’s plan- 
Just in case on another day- he successfully traveled the 2 miles across sagebrush, crossing several highways…and showed up there. 
I imagine she would have received him with love, made him a sandwich, and helped him back home. 

Years later, as a sophomore in high school. – Bren was having another very obvious hard day. 
As a Mom- I knew it would never serve him well to just tell him what to do or how to solve his troubles. So I winced a bit- hoping it was a good idea and began to ask him questions. 
After the first question I realized the situation was beyond my earthly knowledge to navigate. I said a quick prayer- sitting on the sofa with him and trusted that Heavenly Father would take over the conversation and help me help His child. 

A few months later- Bren shared his process about that day to our church’s congregation in a talk. 
He said of it:

“I was talking with my mom and told her my life wasn’t good. I bombed my finals, lowering my grades in all of my classes. The tests were a lot harder than I thought they would be. I guess maybe I should have studied more. I had the worst basketball game. I couldn’t shoot! That’s all there is to it, I missed every shot. We lost in overtime. Part of what made it so awful was everybody who saw me play- my grandpa, aunt and other family was there, the Varsity head coach, even Conner and his Dad came. I’ve never shot that bad in my life. So school’s bad, basketball is bad, Mom’s idea of family cleaning every Saturday is bad too! 

So as I talked with my mom last night about how my life isn’t good right now, she asked me what I had done right this week. I read my scriptures, said my prayers, and went to church. I felt like I did all that and got nothing.  Then Mom asked, “Well, if you got nothing, then does God really exist?” 

I know He does. Even after all the bad this week, I still trust the Lord. He has helped me before and I know that He will help me again. I don’t know why I had a bad week.  Maybe I need to practice more and study harder. Maybe this week was supposed to be a learning experience.  But I do know that I still put my trust in the Lord. I trust that maybe the Lord is saving up my blessings for another day, maybe even another game…The Lord has helped me before and I know that He will help me again as I put my trust in Him.”

As a mom of a kid who was struggling a bit, I needed to hear this.  I needed to know that everything I didn’t know, the parenting skills I so desperately lacked, and the energy that never seemed to be enough didn’t matter. 

I only needed to step back, let go and let God prevail in my home.  He would teach me how to teach His children that I was entrusted to help raise.  He would teach me how to love and how to forgive.  He would teach me what to say and how to listen.  Then and only then could my kids get what they needed from me as their mom.

One of my favorite places to run away to (visit) is still my Mother-in-laws home.  There is love there. It’s a safe and happy place to be.  I’m reminded of times and seasons where there was exhaustion in my life always mingled with just the right amounts of reprieve and love as I entered her home.
And I am ever grateful for a perfectly loving and wise Father in Heaven who teaches me how to parent His children with love, grace and wisdom.

I pray that as seasons change, and their challenges follow, that I can be a little better and bolder in faith and charity. Christ walks with me and He walks with them. I’m grateful for this Christmas season, where we more easily find reminders of Him and His purpose with the Father.

-JC

Peppermint Crunch-Chocolate Marbled Cookies

Make a batch of: Peppermint Crunch Cookies
½  cup soft butter
¼   cup vegetable oil
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
½ teaspoon peppermint extract
1 ⅔ cups all-purpose flour
¾ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup peppermint crunch

Cream butter, oil  and sugar with an electric mixer on medium-high for 1 minute or until well blended. Hand stir in eggs and peppermint extract; don’t overmix. Add dry ingredients all at once and mix until fully incorporated.  Gently fold in peppermint crunch. Add 1-2 Tablespoons more flour for high elevation. 

Make a batch of: Chocolate Sugar Cookies
½ cup soft butter
¼  cup vegetable oil
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
½ teaspoon peppermint extract
½ cup cocoa 
1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
¾ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt

Cream butter, oil  and sugar with an electric mixer on medium-high for 1 minute or until well blended. Hand stir in eggs and peppermint extract; don’t overmix. Add dry ingredients all at once and mix until fully incorporated. Add 1-2 Tablespoons more flour for high elevation. Scoop out approximately 24+ 1” balls of each kind of dough.  

Marble cookies by placing a disc of Peppermint Crunch Sugar Cookie on top of a disc of Chocolate Sugar Cookie. Break into half, length-wise and place one half on top of the other. Flatten slightly. You now have four layers of alternating flavors. Break and stack again. Roll into balls. For a richer flavor and smoother texture, form cookie dough balls, flatten slightly and refrigerate or freeze until ready to bake. Place on greased or parchment paper on an aluminum cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 9+ min. Cool. Dip into melted Peppermint Chocolate. Drizzle with white melting chocolate and garnish with peppermint crunch as desired. Let set. Share!

Peppermint Chocolate
2 cups melting chocolate wafers
¼ teaspoon peppermint extract

Melt chocolate wafers. Stir in peppermint extract. Use immediately.