Brain Surgery Was Scheduled…

Jodi’s surgeon was confident he could help her. 
The path to get there was outlined-
Brain surgery was scheduled in Denver, Colorado.
Plans and accommodations were contrived.

There were more unknowns than not as to what to expect. 
Simply put—
We needed a miracle. 
But we had needed one for some time…
God was in control now, as ever.  We managed the logistics-  
Details were lined up to receive the pleadings of our hearts and prayers we had uttered for so long. 

Would THIS be the answer…?
Only time would tell. 

I left the Arizona property on the market in great hands with a top-notch realtor and flew to Utah ahead of meeting Bry and Jodi in Colorado. 
I checked the boxes of tasks there in Utah and delighted in time with the grandkids.

I scheduled a lunch date with my four-year-old granddaughter. She was getting older, more independent, and more amazing in her strength and fortitude. 
We left Chick-fil-A after a delightful lunch date. My granddaughter was chattering about all the things circling in her mind.
I giggled to myself as she shared the random comings and goings of her preschool class. As we stepped into the parking lot from the curb of the sidewalk. I quietly interrupted her with a “ Hands, Hands, Fingers, Thumbs…”   She clutched my hand. She knew the routine and the expectation. I wanted to freeze time. 
She wouldn’t always want to clasp my hand. She was growing up right before my eyes and stretching autonomy by the day. 

I gave her small hand a gentle squeeze as she continued her one-way conversation. 
I simply took it all in—
Every little random thought she shared…

We came back to the house. It was an atypically nice day in March and so we headed to the backyard. 
She explained to me the rules of the “game”.  The turf was hot lava. We obviously couldn’t touch it. So I placed patio furniture every which way so she could hop from piece to piece to get from the patio to the trampoline. 
I quickly came to understand the trampoline was actually an ice rink…
(Of course.)
She showed me her routine complete with jumps and twirls. 
With her imagination — we could be anywhere— doing anything….
It was freeing…
This is exactly what happiness looks and feels like…
I wanted to imprint the feeling and experience in my mind.

As I engaged with her in imaginative play—
There was stillness in my mind. 
There were no concerns about the dangers and possible complications of surgery. 
No stress—
No anxiety—
No fear—
Just joy…
The “joy in your posterity” as promised by God. 

It was available only upon quieting the noise of the unknown and focusing completely and wholly on the beauty of the now…
That’s God’s way. 
We get to choose what we take on…
What we allow to block His light and love.
Or-
We get to choose to open our hearts and minds to it. 
We get to choose what we silence…
What we hold onto…
And what we let go of. 

I was seeing exactly the work it took to get “there”.  I was grateful for a granddaughter teaching me how to find joy on a random day in March ahead of a potentially life-changing scenario awaiting me a few zip codes away. 

I lingered as long as I could and then caught a flight to Colorado. 

-JC

Frosted Sugar Cookies

¾ cup soft butter
3 tablespoons sour cream
¼ cup vegetable oil
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup powdered sugar
2 eggs
¼ teaspoon coconut extract (optional)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 ½ cups flour
¾ teaspoon baking powder
¾ teaspoon baking soda
¾  teaspoon salt

Cream butter, sour cream, oil, and sugars with an electric mixer on medium-high for 2 minutes or until fluffy. Hand stir in eggs and extracts; don’t overmix. Add dry ingredients all at once and mix until fully incorporated. Scoop out approximately 24 balls of dough. Gently roll and slightly flatten dough balls. Chill for 3 hours.
Place on a greased or parchment paper lined aluminum cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 11+ min. Let cool completely. Pipe swirls with Buttercream Frosting.
Let set. Share!

Buttercream Frosting
1 cup soft butter
3 ½ cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon coconut extract (optional)
Pinch of salt
Food coloring (optional)

Mix together butter and powdered sugar. Stir in cream, extracts, salt, and food coloring. Continue mixing on medium-high speed for 3 minutes. Spoon into gallon size freezer strength Ziploc until ready to use.