Sweetest

Saturday was one of the sweetest days ever. Though the fires continue to burn (and we can see flames at the end of our street, and a family we know has lost their house and belongings), we are trying to make the best of things inside our home. Lyndsay and I spent the entire day together on Saturday, working together and being together. She kept thanking me for spending the time with her, but really, I was the grateful one. Long stretches of time together are becoming more and more rare, and the easy-flowing love between us was a peaceful and joy-filled antidote to the worries outside the door.We worked the majority of the afternoon on the dress she wanted to sew. It was one of her value projects for her YW Recognition Award, which she is almost finished with. She picked the pattern and fabric, and did most of the sewing. It helped her get to know her own machine quite well, and the finished product turned out perfectly! So darling, so Lyndsay.


Afterwards, with a houseful of hungry boys, she and I started the dough for the cinnamon rolls, and once rising, we prepared Taco Salad, one of our favorite meals. She and I have great synchronicity in the kitchen. Oh, and if you're wondering, here's how to make the perfect Taco Salad:

Taco Salad Jenna's Way

lay a bed of Fritos on a plate
next cover with shredded Romaine and baby spinach leaves
next comes ground turkey, browned and seasoned with Taco seasoning
A nice pile of refried beans, warmed
shredded cheddar cheese (to melt a bit on the warm ingredients)
diced tomatoes
sliced black olives
a bit of salsa
a dollop of light sour cream

Anyway, once dinner was done, we got back to work on the cinnamon rolls, and may I say that we found the absolute best recipe ever? Over at My Kitchen Cafe, Vanilla Pudding Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting. To. Die. For. A whole box of vanilla pudding, prepared, in the dough, which makes the dough so soft. The rolls are HUGE, like Cinnabon huge, and so, so good. They were finished around 9pm, and we let the boys come down to eat them fresh from the oven and dripping with cream cheese frosting. We definitely have a new go-to favorite recipe now. You should try it. They're all eaten now, but the memory of them makes me smile. And want more soon.

We went to bed full and tired from a productive, homey sort of day. I took my journal out and shed a few tears as I recorded the tender feelings of my heart about my almost-grown daughter who is so lovely, and so breathtaking. Then I wrote a letter to her in the journal I keep for her, and have since the day I first discovered she was growing within my womb. I told her how much it means to me that she loves me, and that when given an entire day to spend however she would choose, she chooses me. I told her how I search her face and her hands and her feet for remnants of her childhood, and what I wouldn't give to have back just a snatch of her sweet little girl days. A few days of baby teeth and ponytails. What a privilege it is to watch her grow and bloom and become far more than I ever, ever imagined possible could come from me. I am in awe.

And I am blessed.