Back to Monday

Posted: July 5, 2010 at 11:16 am

How do weekends go by so fast? I don’t fully understand it.  I hope some of you out there are enjoying an extra day off. Technically, I should be too since Peter is off work. Sadly, though, he is having to work on his car at his brother’s the entire day. I could use his help around here today. I need some rest after the busy weekend we had. I shared my fun from Friday & Saturday already and the actual 4th was loaded as well.

Sunday morning we woke up and had a red, white, and blue breakfast. It consisted of homemade blueberry pancakes and a strawberry smoothie.

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The pancakes are a really basic recipe that we adapted from www.allrecipes.com and always use for our once in a blue moon pancake mornings.

Ingredients

  • 1.5 C flour (all-purpose or mix of all-purpose & wheat)
  • 3.5 tsp baking powder
  • 2T sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 1/4 C milk (I like using vanilla almond milk)
  • 1 egg
  • 3T melted butter
  • 4 large handfuls fresh blueberries

Mix the dry ingredients first (flour through salt) and create a well in the center. Pour the wet ingredients (milk, egg, butter) into the well and blend until batter is smooth. Fold in blueberries. Cook on a griddle or pan like any other pancakes. 😀

After breakfast, we headed to church for an excellent service. It was all about the freedoms we have, not only within the country we live but also in our faith. Our pastor discussed how we need to really consider what we are free from and be grateful because none of that freedom came free. All of it came from huge sacrifices. From the many men and women who have fought for the freedom of our country across centuries, but also for the one man who sacrificed himself for each of us to be truly free and the countless others who across time made sacrifices to keep his word and truth flowing to others. The message brought people to their feet at the end and there were many sniffles heard among my fellow church friends.

Later that afternoon we headed to my parents’ place for some July 4th fun. The plan was to hang out for awhile and then gather up a picnic dinner to eat and games to play while waiting for Atlanta’s Lenox Fireworks show. There was a little bit of a glitch in that plan thanks to a “moment” between my father and I. Our relationship has had its fair share of strain and typically we can handle each other for the times we do see each other. Yesterday he was somehow set off and I had to face that look of pure hatred in his eyes and the anger that can come from his lips again. The evening evolved into a much rougher time than I expected and I fought the darkness I could quickly sink into from him the remainder of the night.

However, we persevered and gathered our forces to delight in our time together. My brother would leave in the morning to return to his home in Arizona, so we packed the cars and ate our picnic dinner or Publix chicken with potato chips & salad. We donned our happy faces to laugh and be goofy.

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We played some Apples to Apples and adored the darling Makenzie.

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And we also dove headfirst into a fabulous dessert – S’mores Brownies. Somehow Jess always gets it right. Always.

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Then I viewed the fireworks through Makenzie’s eyes yet again. Believed in the magic of fireworks, instead of the realities of pain that can still infiltrate even after you thought them to be resolved. Now, it is today. A new day. A day where I can sweat out some tension in a spin class; spend time laughing with my daughter; and with any luck have a husband who comes home at a reasonable enough time to give me a break. I have a feeling there will be some prayer in my future on finding a way to let it all go and find a way to forgive (even with no apology present)…again.

I wish you all the best of days! Now, tell me…how was your weekend?

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25 Comments to “Back to Monday”
  1. So glad you guys like the brownies!

  2. Ameena says:

    I’m glad that your 4th was fantastic! And I can relate to a strained relationship within my family as well, not with my dad but with my sister. I do believe that every family has it’s one difficult person to deal with so I hope that you feel better that it isn’t just yours!

    Have a great Monday and I hope you get that break you so deserve!

  3. So sorry to hear about the strained relationship with your father. Hugs to you. Hope you had a great visit with your brother though. Have a great day!

  4. Love the game Apples to Apples! 🙂

    Sorry to hear about the little spat, but it looks like you managed to have a wonderful time and got to enjoy the fireworks!

  5. That picnic looks like so much fun! Can you believe I don’t think I’ve ever had an *actual* picnic? Although, I guess lunch on the beach counts, right? And those brownies look OUT OF CONTROL! I’m not a huge fan of chocolate, but I definitely make an exception for brownies (especially when they’re smothered in some sort of icing or, uh, marshmallows!).

    You make such a great point about how freedom is not free. I definitely take that fact for granted WAY too often. And when I do consider it, it’s often easier to be thankful for having so much freedom in our nation than for the fact that we also have freedom from SIN!

  6. I’m glad you had a great fourth despite the issues with your dad. Boo. It really looks like you guys were ale to have a great time though – and who doesn’t love apples to apples? Such a fun game! Happy 4th!

  7. Maren says:

    We had a very similar service at my church. I really liked it, he incorporated all this history around the founding fathers as well, which being a history buff kept me very attentive. Relationships with dad’s are hard. I struggle with similar issues. I think it’s important to keep being positive and keep giving chances, going and being around him is a very positive thing. It’s important to forgive, and it always makes you feel better in the long run. I’m sorry it turned out to be sour!

  8. homecookedem says:

    Oh no, I’m so sorry you were hurt by your father once again. I wish I could give you a big hug right now. Just remember that YOU are loved by so many people, including your father. Some dads just have a hard time communicating and showing their love properly. I’m glad you’re going to forgive and keep on keeping on. You have such a great attitude!! 🙂

    I love Apples to Apples!! My family plays it quite often when we get together!! 🙂

    M is looking so super cute – as always!! Those smores brownies look incredible!! Yummmmmm!! 🙂

  9. Jenn (GH) says:

    Glad you had a good despite the hurt feelings. ((hugs))

    You know I’ve never played Apples to Apples. I was on a women’s retreat and the girls played it but I opted to go to bed instead. I know…BORING! Ha! I have heard it is great fun! Would like to try it someday.

  10. Kailey says:

    Your daughter is SO adorable!! Oh my gosh.

    But I’m sorry about you and your dad 🙁

  11. Jennifer says:

    I’m sorry that had to happen between you and your Dad. But you handled it great by not receiving any of that negativity. I can at times go from being completely happy to completely down in matter of minutes from being on the phone with my mom. (She tends to be negative) but my husband one day asked me, who controls your happiness? You or your mom? That question really taught me a lot. I love ya girl and I hope the rest of your week is great!

  12. katie says:

    Aww girl i am so sorry about that with your dad. but WOW you are so incredibly beautiful to be so wise about it and not let that steal your joy. you have Gods joy inside of you, which nobody can take away!

  13. Run Sarah says:

    Sorry to hear about you and your dad but it sounds like you have such a great attitude and mindset regardless. I love that photo of Mackenzie – gorgeous!

  14. the brownies look awesome and i was on another blog today and she had made them. not jessica’s recipe but same concept and you ladies are making me wanna try those!!!!

  15. Glad you had a good time despite the strained relationship issues… that must be really hard and I admire you for dealing with it well. I had a nice weekend, hung out in some little town with some other peace corps friends and celebrated in our own way. I miss american 4th of julys though!

  16. Hayley says:

    I love Apples to Apples!!! It looks like you had a great weekend, which you deserve! I’m sorry about your relationship with your dad, but it sounds as though you’re handling it well. I love seeing pictures of Makenzie – she’s so adorable. 🙂

  17. I love Apples to Apples. It’s such a fun game!

  18. Sorry you had some trouble with your Father this weekend,, just so glad that you were able to be the bigger person. Hoping it all works out for you!

  19. Apples to Apples is awesome!!! I am sorry you had a rough patch with your Dad but I am glad you made the most of the situation and still enjoyed yourself!

  20. Rachel says:

    Sorry to hear about the argument. You seem to have a great attitude about it.

    My holiday weekend was really chill…just what I needed actually. I got a lot done around the house, did 1 or 2 social things, got a little schoolwork done, and otherwise just hung out!

  21. I love apples to apples!

    I seem to get in arguments like t hat with my dad when I see him. I can only handle him in small doses. Im sorry you had to go through that. Im glad you focused on all the other good stuff going on that day!

  22. Jess says:

    I’m so late in responding but after reading this and your “moment” with your father, I had to respond. I’ve had a very up and down relationship with my father over the years, too. It’s had some very dark moments and a LOT of time spent not talking to one another at all…for months, and even years in some cases. We’re in a fairly good spot at the moment but it’s hard for me personally to trust that it won’t happen again so I’ve learned to keep him at arm’s length as best as possible. It’s sad that its come to that but at this point in my life, I have to look out for ME first, not him and if that means having a less fatherly/more “friendly” relationship with him than anything else, so be it, right? Anyway, I’m so glad the rest of your fourth turned out well! The s’mores brownies look amazing!

  23. Sami says:

    Awhhh Kenzie is TOO cute. Your 4th looks enjoyable! I’m glad 🙂 And those brownies?!?! MMM! Jess is seriously a genius! I’ve been drooling over her Cheesy Sweet Potato Crisps!

  24. oooh, your s’mores brownies turned out so pretty! I’ve wanted to make those for a while but need to make sure and do so when we’re hosting a crowd. Otherwise, I think I’ll eat them all myself. 🙂

  25. Mandy says:

    Hugs sweetie. I’m gonna catch up with you soon to make sure everything is ok!

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