They say marriage is a series of peaks and valleys. What they don't say is how many valleys there are and how hard they are to get out of sometimes. We have certainly had our share of valleys and some of them have been pretty dang deep. And sometimes I wondered if there were anymore peaks.
Jim really stepped up and got me through the last few months. Though he may not look so much like the skinny boy I married, I've been reminded that the boy I fell in love with is still there. How is this, you may ask? Let me explain... Last May our oldest daughter graduated from college, commissioned into the Army and moved across the country. In July I found out that my part time job of 17 years (that I really loved) was being eliminated in December. Thank you, recession. In September we dropped our baby off at college at the other end of the state. In September, anticipating my impending job loss, I also went back to school to start a whole new career. At the end of December the job I loved ended and I was hired out of my internship to start this new career, which I found did not come naturally nor easily. For some weird delayed reason, everything hit me in January. I was an empty nester, I didn't love my new career, I didn't have time to do anything with my friends anymore and my back hurt. I was a mess emotionally and physically and I can say with all honesty that I have never cried as much in my life as I did in January. I'm sure I was just a delight to live with and quite lovely with tears, snot and mascara on my face.
So, where is the happy part of this sob session? There are actually still peaks in our marriage! Jim,who was used to having a clean house, clean clothes and dinner on the table at 6:30, suddenly didn't have those luxuries anymore. I went from working 15 hours a week to 50 hours a week. He didn't complain once. He held me when I cried (which was all the time), he tried to fix everything but shut up and listened when I started to cry again, he gave me permission to quit my new job (I didn't), he started dinner, started laundry, did the dishes, went with me to all my doctor's appointments and got me through back surgery. I think I was so focused on our girls for so long that I lost sight of, and probably didn't try very hard to see, the guy I married.
Jim is the epitome of a Type A personality, but is messy and a collector of things. He still makes me laugh. He still holds my hand. He is a good dad. He works very hard (Type A!!) at his job, still has time to volunteer and is proud of what he does. He loves meat and potatoes, German Chocolate cake, a good Bourbon and Snickerdoodle cookies. So, to honor this good man on his birthday I am going to make him meat and potatoes for his birthday dinner and I am sharing my Snickerdoodle cookie recipe with you. I hope you get to enjoy them with your special person - unless they don't like Snickerdoodles. In which case, you might want to bake them something else. :)
SNICKERDOODLES
1 Cup Butter-Flavored Shortening
1-1/2 Cups Sugar
2 Eggs
2-3/4 Cups Flour
2 tsp. Cream of Tarter
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1/4 tsp. Salt
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix shortening, sugar and eggs until well blended. Add dry ingredients and mix well. Roll into walnut-sized balls (I used my cookie scoop first, then roll into balls). Roll balls into a mixture of 2 T Sugar and 2 T Cinnamon. Place balls 2" apart on cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes. Cookies will be light-gold in color when done. Sooo yummy with a cold glass of milk or a hot cup of tea - or maybe even a good Bourbon, if you are like Jim. :)
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