Broken Cookies...

My friend Tarrah laughs at me because I tell her to frequently ask me; "Are you following the broken cookie principle?" This principle has become my new standard of operating.
My top gifts that God has given me are giving and serving. And I feel filled up and joyFULL when I use my gifts. However, awhile back I had a shocking realization - which led to the "broken cookie principle."
I had finished baking cookies and Phil came in the kitchen. He started looking around on the counters and finally after a few minutes, asked:

"Where are the broken cookies?"
"There aren't any this time...I actually made a perfect batch!"
"Oh...that's too bad"
"You can have one from the cooling rack"
"Really?"

Now that may seem like an innocent conversation, however, it hit me soooo hard and made my heart HURT! I realized that I was giving my family the leftovers. In all my baking, cooking, serving OTHERS, I had made my family feel second best, second place. AND sure enough, Lukas came into the kitchen a few minutes later and we had the SAME conversation. "OKAY GOD....I GET IT!" Then Evalin, in her sweet voice "I get a BEAUTIFUL one today!" OH MY HEART! (Kathryn and Isaac haven't observed the pattern so they were as equally happy to get a perfect one as a broken one because....SUGAR!!!!!!!!! HA!)
Needless to say, lesson learned! This is also why my blogging has hugely tapered off....I can't sit and blog all while saying: "No, honey, I can't read you a story, because I am writing our family's story for the world!" I exaggerate, but truly, they can't have my leftovers...including time. So when I have extra time (LOL) then I will blog:)
So if you see me walking around.... you have my permission to ask...."Have you served any broken cookies lately, Amanda?"

Back on the air again...

So I did temporarily have this blog go private because I freaked out about privacy issues. However, I have heard from soooooo many people that they so enjoy our blog and stories that I decided to go "public" again.
My freak out started with a Starbucks barista who I didn't know (and who is probably reading this right now...nothing personal, okay?) saying "Oh I recognize you and your kids from your blog" which made me think..."How many people notice us and know us from our blog?" So I am still deciding what to do and have not decided yet. I am not finding a lot of time to blog anyway, so in the meantime, enjoy the blog....