“Pickleball. A Place and a People”

A few months ago, I found myself watching every video or news report that covered the recent Maui fires.
I mourned for those who were panicked not knowing which way to run for reprieve of the smoke and fire that would take the lives of so many.

Our original travel plans had us in Hawaii the very week the tragedy struck.
But that’s not my story.

We pivoted plans and vacationed without incident the week before.
My kids all shifted their summer travel plans and we were able to create an impromptu trip cashing in years of banked airline miles and hotel points to gather together in Maui.

Our week together was filled with magical moments. At one point we were all in the ocean in waist-deep water. The waves were gentle as we chatted.
My granddaughter looked one way and then the other; she turned around again in the water. Her life jacket gave her the ability to float with a bit more freedom.
Her assessment- ”We’re having a pool party!!”

Everyone was there. It was a party indeed.
Everyone. No one was missing, working, or otherwise engaged. We gathered together.
It was magical and spiritual. It was eternal.
These are my forever people.
We are not a large family- 9 in total at the time. (10 now!!!)

We also know that moments together are not easy to come by and need to be celebrated.
The reminder was evident as images of ash took the places of the streets and restaurants we had visited the week before.

Where do I go from here with cherished memories for myself and yet grief for those whose lives have changed forever?

I have to resolve with God that at this moment- His plan for me is not the same as for some of those who perished in Maui or whose lives were changed forever on the heels of destruction.
This time- I was gifted the blessings of magical memories.
And yet, I know without hesitation that God forsakes no one. We simply have different challenges, tests, and trials of faith. At any moment as I look around, everyone I see has a story, including my own. They are filled with moments of joy mixed with agonizing grief.

I’ve learned I need to be more gentle with myself and others as I journey.

And I’ve learned that on my hardest days, gratitude lifts my mood and can change my outlook.

I recently was having a rough day or several moments of hard that I chose to focus on. I had not done well managing my expectations and the aftermath left me exhausted and grumpy.
I opened my phone’s Home Screen to see a photo I had placed there over a year prior.

It’s the Savior’s hand outstretched toward me.

I was reminded that lingering in fatigue and crankiness is a choice.
I quickly opened my notes app and scanned to find a file created a few weeks prior.
I scanned the list I had made and resolved to add to it.
I quickly typed:
“Pickleball. A place and a people.”

I had begun a note of things I’m grateful for and challenged myself to deliberately add to it during tough moments.
It’s helped me understand the things I believe in and can talk over with God.
It reminds me to look for ways He sees me.
The practice has helped me trade exhaustion, fatigue, grumpiness, and crankiness for a bit of God’s light.

Sometimes the path still feels dark and I have a choice-
I can faithfully take one small step. I can re-commit to a belief in a God. I am not gifted with His perfect lens in turmoil.
Thus-
As faith and a moment of energy to act on it become part of my story, I am then charged to turn to a neighbor to assist them in building their faith, strength, or resolve.

Today- I believe God just wants me to talk it all over with Him, to include Him, and to love His children, including myself, as He does. And He wants me to celebrate and focus more heavily on magical moments that dot the calendar pages of my year. God is showing up amidst the calamities and chaos of our fallen world- He doesn’t leave us…
His Spirit and His son, Jesus Christ are always and eternally united to help us.

I’m working to better see…

-JC

Red Velvet Marbled Sugar Cookies with Whipped White Chocolate Ganache

Make a batch of : Sugar Cookies
½ cup soft butter
1  cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
6 Tablespoons sour cream
2 cups all-purpose flour
½  teaspoon baking soda
½  teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt

Cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer on medium high for 1 minute or until fluffy. Hand stir in egg, vanilla and sour cream.  Don’t overmix. Add dry ingredients all at once and mix until fully incorporated. Refrigerate dough for 2 hours. 

Make a batch of: Red Velvet Sugar Cookies
½ cup soft butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
6 Tablespoons sour cream
1 teaspoon red gel food dye
1 ½ Tablespoons cocoa
2 cups all-purpose flour
½  teaspoon baking soda
½  teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt

Cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer on medium high for 1 minute or until fluffy. Hand stir in egg, vanilla and sour cream.  Stir in cocoa and red dye. Don’t overmix. Add dry ingredients all at once and mix until fully incorporated. Refrigerate dough for 2 hours.

Place ¼ cup+ flour in a bowl. Use this to keep hands dry as you marble the dough. (Dust fingertips each time as you roll and marble dough.)
Scoop out 24 balls of each kind of dough.  
Place one of each cookie dough ball on top of the other.
Next, break the dough disc in half and stack. You now have four layers of dough in alternating flavors.
Break in half and stack again. Now, roll into a ball. You will see the marble effect. Flatten slightly. Bake at 350 degrees for 14-16 minutes, depending on size. Cool. Frost with Whipped White Chocolate Ganache.
Let set. 
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Whipped White Chocolate Ganache
2 cups white chocolate pieces
1 cup whipping cream
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste (or vanilla extract)
Dash of salt

Melt chocolate into whipping cream. Let cool until room temp. (Your freezer can fast-forward this job.)  Whip with an electric mixer for 3-4 minutes. Spoon into freezer strength Ziploc until ready to use.